John Kingston (1769 – 24 April 1824 "Brontë Cousins In America." The Library chronicle of the University of Texas, University of Texas Library: HathiTrust Digital Library, p.179. Retrieved 18 November 2020.), 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."Chapter 10. Traveller's Tales. The second brother-in-law: John Kingston 1769 -1824." BRONTË TERRITORIES: CORNWALL AND THE UNEXPLORED MATERNAL LEGACY, 1760-1860, Melissa Hardie, 2019. Edward Everett Root; Illustrated edition (30 Nov. 2019), p.176. Retrieved 23 November 2020. 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."Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1532-1812 for Thomas Kingston." Towcester: Bishops Transcripts: 1706 - 1812. Ancestry.com, 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2020. At the time he was born, he had four older sisters, and two older brothers. John was baptised at Towcester on 21 April 1769."Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1532-1812 for John Kingston." Towcester: Bishops Transcripts: 1706 - 1812: Baptisms 1769, No.49.Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Parish Registers. Ancestry.com, 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2020."Towcester : St Lawrence : Register of unspecified type : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG baptism John Kingstone 21 Apr 1769." Retrieved 17 November 2020.

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."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (May 1799), p.209. Google Books. Retrieved 17 November 2020.

Overseas missionary work (1791–98)

John was present at the Methodist conference in Manchester, England, which took place on 26 July 1791."1791." Minutes of the Methodist conferences : from the first, held in London by the late Rev. John Wesley, A.M., in the year 1744. Volume 1. John Mason, London (1862), p.255. Retrieved 19 November 2020. While at this conference, he met Thomas Coke (bishop), and soon after this Thomas invited John Kingston to go to the West Indies and become a missionary there. John left London on 18 October 1791, with another preacher named Pattison and headed for Falmouth, Cornwall. They sailed on 27 October from Falmouth, on board the Dashwood Packet, and anchored in Carlisle Bay, Barbados, on 26 November."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (May 1799), p.210. Google Books. Retrieved 19 November 2020.

He was appointed as minister for Barbados, and preached his last sermon there on 6 January 1793. He was then appointed as the minister for Nevis, and arrived there on 22 February. In May and June 1793, there was an outbreak of Yellow fever in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica. This killed many people, including Rev. Mr. Dent, of St. George's, Grenada."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (May 1799), pp.212 - 213. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2020. John Kingston became ill with Yellow fever, on 13 August 1793, the day after a hurricane had struck the island of Nevis. He recovered slightly but then got worse.

So John then decided to recuperate in the United States and sailed on the brig Neptune, with John Harper from Sint Eustatius. They sailed to Kennebunkport, Maine, and from there, sailed to Boston where they were received by Mr. Baurells. Because he did not seem to be getting any better, John wished to sail back to England, where he wanted to die, but could not find a ship at the time that was bound for Europe. So he then stayed at the home of Mr. Johnson in Lynn, Massachusetts, for a few months. His strength recovered, and John was able to ride his horse a few miles. He attended the Methodist Conference in July 1795 where John met Francis Asbury, and was appointed for New York, which he reached on 26 July. John Kingston was in New York at the time Yellow fever broke out. Up to 80 people a day were being buried due to the disease. Shops were closed, and many people wanted to travel away from the city."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (June 1799), pp.261 - 263. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

He left New York on 4 October 1795, and went to Philadelphia. John preached to a large congregation at Christ Church, Philadelphia. Also in this same church, in October 1795 he saw George Washington, and his wife Martha."PREFACE." pp.vi - vii. THE LIFE OF GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. By John Kingston. Baltimore: Published by J.Kingston. A.Miltenberger Print, 1813. Google Books. Digitized 20 July 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

John travelled to Baltimore on 23 October 1795, where he met Francis Asbury. After a few weeks, Francis wanted him to go to Charles Town, South Carolina, for the Winter. But because of the death of Mr. William Jessop, a preacher of the Baltimore circuit, John Kingston supplied his place there until the following Spring."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (June 1799), p.264. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

He left the United States on 10 April 1796, on board the William, and headed for the island of Saint Kitts. He arrived at Saint Kitts after twenty three days and then was appointed to Dominica, reaching there on 26 May 1796 with a Mr. Baxter, a fellow missionary. They were received with politeness on their arrival by the Governor of Dominica, Henry Hamilton (colonial administrator). On 17 October 1796, he was summoned by Colonel Metcalf, of the St. George's Regiment, to appear in the field as a soldier the following Sunday morning. John petitioned to be excused because this was the day he was employed in the duties of religious worship. But this petition was treated with contempt by the President, and John was told to leave the island. He arrived at Saint Vincent on 6 November 1796. On 21 January 1797, John was appointed to Grenada, supplying the place of Mr. Hallett, who at this time was ill. Mr. Hallett recovered, and so John Kingston went to Saint Vincent's in June 1797."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (July 1799), pp.313 - 317. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

Return to England

He arrived back in Grenada by 1 February 1798. On 7 May 1798, John Kingston sailed back to England from Grenada on board the Cotton Planter, with Mr. Richard Pattison, reaching Portsmouth on 1 July. John then went to London and met friends there. After spending a few days with his parents, John travelled to Bristol, and was present at the Methodist Conference on 30 July 1798, when he was appointed to the Carmarthen circuit."Memoirs of the life of Mr. John Kingston, Preacher of the Gospel." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (August 1799), pp.365 - 367. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2020."1798." Minutes of the Methodist conferences : from the first, held in London by the late Rev. John Wesley, A.M., in the year 1744. Volume 1. John Mason, London (1862), p.416. Retrieved 19 November 2020.

John was on the Carmarthen circuit for one year. He attended the Methodist Conference at Manchester, on July the 29th 1799 and was then appointed to the Penzance circuit in Cornwall alongside Thomas Longley, William Pearson, and John Reynolds junior."Extract of The Minutes Of The Conference Held At Manchester, July 29, 1799. The Stations Of The Preachers: 41. Penzance." Methodist Magazine Vol.XXII (October 1799), p.506. Google Books. Retrieved 20 November 2020."Chapter 6. THE PENZANCE TIME LINE of the Branwells and Carnes: 1799." BRONTË TERRITORIES: CORNWALL AND THE UNEXPLORED MATERNAL LEGACY, 1760-1860, Melissa Hardie, 2019. Edward Everett Root; Illustrated edition (30 Nov. 2019), p.94. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

Marriage

While in Penzance, John Kingston met Jane Branwell. Jane was a sister of Maria Branwell. They were married at St Maddern's Church, Madron, by licence on 12 June 1800. It was witnessed by Thomas Longley, a preacher on the Wesleyan circuit of Penzance, and Elizabeth Branwell, who was Jane's sister."Madron : St Maddern : Register of unspecified type : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG marriage John Kingston to Jane Branwell 12 Jun 1800." Retrieved 20 November 2020. At the time of marriage, John Kingston was thirty one years old, and Jane Branwell was twenty seven."Chapter 2. Perfectly Her Own Mistress." The Mother of the Brontës: When Maria Met Patrick, Sharon Wright, 2019. Pen & Sword History, p.24. Google Books. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

Children born in England (1801-1807)

John Kingston and his wife at first lived at St Austell. Their first child, Thomas Branwell Kingston was baptised there on 1 April 1801."Thomas Branwell Kingstone, 01 Apr 1801; citing Baptism, St Austell, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Cornwall Records Office, Truro." England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, database with images, FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 20 November 2020. He was assigned to Truro, after the 1801 Methodist Conference, held at Leeds on 27 July 1801."No.LVIII. Leeds, July 27, 1801." Minutes of the Methodist conferences : from the first, held in London by the late Rev. John Wesley, A.M., in the year 1744. Volume 2. London, (1813).p.87. Retrieved 21 November 2020. In the following year, John was assigned to Launceston, Cornwall, and his daughter Anne Branwell Kingston was born there on 15 May 1803. John baptised Anne himself at the Church in Launceston, on 12 June 1803."England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1936 for Ann Branwell Kingston." RG4: Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths: Cornwall: Wesleyan: Piece 0429: Launceston (Wesleyan), 1794 - 1815, p.9. Ancestry.com, 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2020.