Thanks go to Alun Burge for information on William's daughter Julia Mabel & her husband Bertram Frederick Higman.
William Pallister was the first child of Robert Pallister & Mary Anne Cook born July-September 1851 at Birtley, Co Durham.
In 1861 William was at home with his parents, 3 sisters & 1 brother at Belmont Colliery, Pittington, Co Durham.
William was still at home at Perkinsville, Pelton in 1871. He now had 5 sisters & 1 brother & William was now a coal miner like his father.
According to the index of Methodist Ministers held by the John Ryland Library, Manchester University, William became a Wesleyan minister in 1875.
William married Rose Emily Parsons on August 14th, 1880, the marriage being registered at Alderbury, Wiltshire. Rose was born Jan-March 1853 at Whaddon Farm, Alderbury, Wiltshire, the daughter of Ellen Phillips & Stephen Parsons, a farmer.
In 1881 William & Rose were living at Quakers Square, Stanhope, Co Durham & William was recorded as a Wesleyan Minister. Living with them was William's sister Isabella (17).
An article in the Wiltshire Times & Trowbridge Advertiser of September 17th, 1881 reported that William had preached in the Wesleyan Chapel at Calstone & he was a new minister recently appointed by the Wesleyan Conference to the Melksham Circuit.
By 1888 the family were living in Walsden, Lancs & it appears that Rose also gave sermons to the Wesleyan Sunday School there as mentioned in the Todmorden & District News of May 11th, 1888.
By 1891 William & Rose had moved to 19 Curzon St, Crosscanonby, Maryport, Cumberland. It appears that William's ministry involved the family travelling around the country as the first daughter, Julia M (9) was born at Stanhope, second daughter Minnie (6) was born at Kilkhampton, Cornwall, & third daughter Gladys (8 months) was born at Walsden, Lancashire. They had a domestic servant. The Carlisle Express & Examiner of January 31st, 1891 carried a report on a women’s conference of the Maryport Temperance Reform Society, the president of which was Rose, wife of Rev W Pallister.
It appears that William preached on the Melton Mowbray Circuit in the 1890s & moved from there to North Somercoates on the Louth Circuit in 1896. (Leicester Chronicle, August 15th, 1896)
In 1899 William preached his farewell sermon in the Wesleyan Chapel, Louth. (Hull Daily Mail, August 15th, 1899)
In 1901 they were living at St Martin's Place, Haverford West, Pembroke, Wales. All 3 daughters were still at home, Julia having become a music teacher. They still had a domestic servant.
Daughter Julia Mabel married Bertram Frederick Higman at the Denbigh Rd, Wesleyan Chapel, Kensington on July 28th, 1909 . Bertram, who was born March 22nd, 1877, & christened May 3rd, 1877 at Multan, Punjab, India, the son of Emma Elizabeth Rose & Frederick Andrew Higman, had been a Captain in the East India Railway Volunteer Rifles based in Delhi. At the time of the marriage he gave his occupation as superintendent of traffic with the East Indian Railway. Julia & Bertram are recorded as having made many trips back & forwards to India. Julia & Bertram were to have a son, Bertram Pallister Havil Higman, born May 9th, 1910 in Delhi, who sadly died when only 2 days old.
By 1911 William had retired from the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry & he & Rose were living at 2 Emsworth Rd, Shirley, Southampton. Only daughter Gladys was with them & it was noted that she had private means. Daughter Minnie was living in Brynmawr, Crickhowell, Breconshire, Wales as a boarder with Willie Davis, a coal agent. She was an elementary school teaching assistant, as was fellow boarder Lydia Asherall (32). Minnie was to become an active Socialist & wrote a number of books on socialism.
William died, aged 66, in July-September 1917, his death being registered at Lymington, Hampshire.
Rose died, aged 76, on February 2nd, 1929, at 3 Palmerston Close, Welwyn garden City, Hertfordshire. Administration of her will was granted on April 15th, 1937 to daughters Minnie & Gladys Mary, both spinsters. Her effects amounted to £67.19s.
The 1939 register shows sisters Minnie & Gladys Mary living together at 4 High St, Bexhill, Sussex. Minnie was described as a journalist & Gladys was a dispenser. They remained spinsters all their lives.
At the time of the 1939 register daughter Julia & her husband Bertram were living at 3 Palmerston Close, Welwyn Garden City & Bertram was now described as Chief Commercial Manager East India Railway, retired.
The children of William Pallister & Rose Emily Parsons were:
p.1.6.8.9.1.1 Julia Mabel Pallister born May 24th,1881 at Stanhope, Co Durham; died Oct-December 1960 at Battle, Sussex
p.1.6.8.9.1.2 Minnie Pallister born March 12th, 1885 at Kilkhampton, Cornwall; died March 26th, 1960 at Battle, Sussex
p.1.6.8.9.1.3 Gladys Mary Pallister born July 15th, 1890 at Walsden, Lancashire; died Jan-March 1972 at Battle, Sussex