Robert Alfred Humble (1864 – 31 January 1929) was an Anglican priest, born in Heathery Cleugh, Weardale, Durham, England. His father was Reverend Emerson Humble (1837–1901). His career was marked with much pastoral work, including organising local fundraising events and meals for the elderly. He contributed to the work of committees, and joined in local social events, being a member of his church's cricket team. He was a "very popular figure." It is in this context of sociability and regular work among his congregation that the events surrounding the delayed discovery of his death, mentioned in several newspapers, remain a puzzle. Having suffered a seizure, he apparently lay openly on a flower bed in his vicarage garden on a dark February night, while his congregation spent eleven hours searching for him on the adjacent moorland. One of Rev. Humble's incumbencies was St Mark's, Old Leeds Road, Huddersfield, 1897–1901.
Background
His father was Rev Emerson Humble (1837–1901), born at Stanhope. Births Dec 1837 Humble Emerson Weardale vol24 p228 Deaths Mar 1901 Humble Emerson 64 Mutford vol4a p661 Robert Alfred's mother was Elizabeth Peart (born 1831).United Kingdom Census 1881: RG11/3480/101 p.55, 23 Wellington Grove, Stockport Emerson and Elizabeth married in Weardale in 1863. Marriages Sep 1863, Peart Elizabeth and Humble Emerson, Weardale vol10a p257 Between 1872 and 1897, Emerson was curate of Earsdon, Ryton, and Sacred Trinity Salford, and was rector of St Stephen Hulme and of Gisleham.Crockford's Clerical Directory (1898) OxfordYorkshire Gazette, Saturday 12 January 1889 p9: "The Church" Robert Alfred was born in Heathery Cleugh, Weardale, Durham. Births Dec 1864 Humble Robert Alfred Weardale vol10a p235 He married Louisa Mary Shepherd (1862–1952) in 1895. Marriages Sep 1895, Shepherd Louisa Mary Weardale and Robert Alfred Humble vol10a p391United Kingdom Census 1901: RG13/4105 p18, 88 Fitzwilliam St, Huddersfield Births Sep 1862 SHEPHERD Louisa Mary Newcastle T. vol10b p7 They had two children, including a daughter Elizabeth Greta, born 1900 in Huddersfield.Births 1900 Humble Elizabeth Greta Huddersfield vol9a p298
Career
He gained his BA from University College, Durham 1887.Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Thursday 26 December 1901 p3: "Ecclesiastical news, preferment and appoointments" He was ordained deacon 1888, and priest 1889 by the Bishop of York.Crockford's Clerical Directory (1907) Oxford
Sheffield
He was curate of St Bartholomew, Sheffield 1888–1890. While at St Bartholomew's he helped to arrange a three-day bazaar to raise funds for a Sunday school and a parochial room, and he manned the hardware stall. The bazaar was opened on Tuesday 22 April 1890 in the presence of J.B. Jackson, Mayor of Sheffield, and Archdeacon Blakeney.Sheffield Evening Telegraph, Tuesday 22 April 1890 p2: St Bartholomew's Church, bazaar at the Cutler's Hall
Lindley
He was curate of St Stephen, Lindley, West Yorkshire 1890–1897. On Saturday 3 January 1891 he helped to organise a gathering for over 400 elderly people, in which they were offered a tea with speeches and entertainment, and were given money and fruit, including oranges, which had been contributed by local gentry and tradespeople.Huddersfield Chronicle, Monday 05 January 1891 p3: "Old folks' gathering at Lindley" In 1891 he played cricket for his church team at Lindley.Huddersfield Chronicle, Friday 10 July 1891 p4: Local athletic notes" On Saturday 25 July 1891 at the Outlane Mission Church bazaar he batted for the gents' Cambodunum Druids against the ladies' Woodland Fairies in a lighthearted cricket match in which the ladies had bats and the gentlemen wielded broomsticks.Huddersfield Chronicle, Wednesday 29 July 1891 p3: Outlane Mission Church bazaar" On Wednesday 30 May 1894 he attended the funeral of David Midgley JP, riding in the first carriage of the very long funeral procession. He conducted the graveside service "impressively."Huddersfield Chronicle, Saturday 02 June 1894 p5: "Death of Mr David Midgley JP"
On Sunday 27 January 1895 he attended a public meeting of the Church of England Temperance Society in the Parochial Hall, Huddersfield, where he acted as clerical secretary. In general, the speakers took a liberal view on the subject of restricting and licensing public houses.Huddersfield Chronicle, Tuesday 29 January 1895 p3: "Church of England Temperance Society" On Saturday 12 October 1895 he attended a conference of the Huddersfield and District Bible Classes and Mutual Improvement Societies Association, providing support for the chairman. One the resolutions of that conference called upon the watch committee and the police to do everything possible to prevent the use of public houses for gambling, which speakers described as "rampant evil."Huddersfield Chronicle, Monday 14 October 1895 p3: "Huddersfield Bible Classes and Mutual Improvement Societies Association"
Huddersfield He was vicar of St Mark, Leeds Road 1897–1901. In 1899 his curate at St Mark's was Rev J. Morgan.Huddersfield Chronicle, Friday 28 July 1899 p3: "Local news" In 1899, at a meeting of the Huddersfield and District Shorthand Writers' Association, he read a paper entitled Amusements which gave "great satisfaction, nearly all the members present having something to say upon the subject."Huddersfield Chronicle, Monday 30 January 1899 p3: "Local news, Huddersfield and District Shorthand Writers' Association" In 1900, at a meeting of St Mark's Mutual Improvement Society in The Parish Room, Huddersfield, Humble read a paper entitled Hymns and Their Writers. "He gave some very interesting accounts of how certain hymns came to be written. He also impressed upon his audience the desirability of having their minds imbued with the spirit of a hymn when singing." He received a "hearty vote of thanks."Huddersfield Chronicle, Friday 12 October 1900 p3: St Nark's MIS"
Silloth In December 1901, he exchanged places with Rev. James Sowter, vicar of Silloth,Yorkshire Evening Post, Monday 02 December 1901 p4: Untitled paragraph and he was vicar of Christ Church, Silloth, from 16 January 1902 to 1928.Crockford's Clerical Directory (1908) OxfordBritish History Online: Records, The Church of the Reformation During his 27 years at Silloth, he was a "very popular figure",Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Friday 01 February 1929 p12: "Fatal seizure in garden of his Cumberland home" serving on the local district council, and taking part in many activities there. The 1911 Census finds him living at the ten-room house, "The Pines" at Silloth, with his wife, his daughter Elizabeth Greta, and a servant.United Kingdom Census 1911, schedule 42, R.A. Humble, The Pines, Silloth, Cumberland
Cumwhitton He was vicar of St Mary's, Cumwhitton, Cumberland from 1928 until his death in 1929.Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Friday 01 February 1929 p7: "Vicar's death, midnight discovery in garden"
Death According to reports of the inquest of 1 February 1929, Humble died from "heart disease" or "heart collapse" at midnight on 30 January, or in the early hours of 31 January 1929, aged 64. He had left the vicarage in the afternoon to post letters at the village post office but did not return for afternoon tea. "In a wild district of Cumberland", villagers "searched the countryside" for him for eleven hours and eventually found him at, or just after, midnight lying dead on a flower bed in the vicarage garden. The inquest found that he had "lain there for eleven hours."Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Saturday 02 February 1929 p4: "News in brief" Deaths Mar 1929 Humble Robert A 64 Brampton vol10b p816The Scotsman, Friday 01 February 1929 p14: "Vicar's strange death"Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Friday 01 February 1929 p12: "Vicar;s death, fatal seizure in garden of his Cumberland home"Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday 02 February 1929 p14: "Church services"
His wife Louisa died aged 89 in 1952 in Salisbury. Deaths Jun 1952 Humble Louisa M. 89 Salisbury vol7c p412
References
External links Picture Sheffield, ref y01982: St Bartholomew's, Sheffield, archive image Humble was curate here, 1888–1890 Picture Sheffield, ref y01977: Interior of St Bartholomew's, Sheffield, archive image