Blades, John
c. 1750-post 1807

A native of Northumberland, he was on trial as an itinerant for a short time in 1778, but broke with John Wesley in 1784 to found the 'Bladites', with societies scattered between Newcastle and Whitby. Though joined by some local preachers, he proved an enthusiast who was discredited in 1788 when predictions of the Day of Judgment proved false. He fled with some of his followers to America, where he was last heard of among the Shakers at Albany, NY in 1807.

Sources
  • WM Magazine 1797 p.533
  • Anthony Steele, History of Methodism in Barnard Castle (1857) pp.162-75
  • Luke Tyerman, Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley (4th edn., 1878, 3 pp.536-7

See also

Entry written by: JHL
Category: Person
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