William Seward (preacher)

William Seward (3 January 1702 – 22 October 1740) was a Methodist open-air preacher who was killed while preaching. He is sometimes called the "first Methodist martyr".

Seward was born in Badsey, Worcestershire and was the brother of Thomas Seward.^[1] William went to London where he established himself in business. He met Charles Wesley in 1738, and went with George Whitefield on his first tour of America in 1739.^[2]

Seward started preaching in 1740. He was stoned by a crowd at Hay-on-Wye and died a few days later.^[3][4]