John Kingston

John Kingston (1769 – 24 April 1824 ), was originally a Methodist minister. He married Jane Branwell, a sister of Maria Branwell. John was expelled from the Methodist movement in 1807 for misdemeanours. He then emigrated to the United States with his family and settled at Baltimore, running a book and stationery store. He also became an author and publisher. John died in New York. Family and early life John was born in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, in 1769. He was a son of Thomas Kingston, who was a Staymaker, and his wife Ann (maiden surname of Osborn or Osborne), who married at Towcester on 30 October 1758. At the time he was born, he had four older sisters, and two older brothers. John was baptised at Towcester on 21 April 1769. John joined the Methodist movement from the age of sixteen, when he left all his old companions, and began to associate "with persons of a religious character." His parents were alarmed at this change at first. But John reassured them, by telling them that he had "only forsaken the mad and frantic ways of an evil world." He believed that by being determined to seek the Lord and serve him, this would strengthen filial affection rather than weaken it. Methodist ministry He moved to London, and joined the London Methodist circuit in 1789, staying at the home of Mr. E. Collinson, a head of a family who gave residence to Methodist missionaries. He increased his knowledge and experience in the ministry of John Wesley during the last two years of Wesley's life. John Kingston preached in Workhouses in London.