He was born in Padstow, where he was baptized on 16 September 1810. He became a tailor. Converted in 1830, he joined the Padstow WM and became a local preacher. He moved to St Ives in 1835 and following a visit from the temperance lecturer James Teare became a prominent advocate of total abstinence in 1838. As secretary of the influential St Ives teetotal society he led a secession of WM teetotalers in the area and they formed the Teetotal WM Connexion in 1841. Docton was Liberal Mayor of St Ives in 1876. He died at St. Ives on 6 March 1879 and was buried at the Barnoon Cemetery.

Entry written by: JKL and OAB
Category: Person
Comment on this entry