1885
The Rev David Dias Parnther was the son of the Rev Robert Myrie Parnther, a prominent and respected Afro-Jamaican Methodist missionary minister.
Jamaica Witness, Wednesday, JULY 1, 1885
THE JAMAICA SCHOLARSHIP
The Governor directs the publication of the accompanying pass-list stating the results of the matriculation examination to the University of London held in January last.
As a consequence of the results of this examination, the Jamaica Scholarship has been awarded to Mr. David Dias Parnther, of York Castle High School.
Lockett, George Vernon, York Castle High School.
These were the only two students who presented themselves from Jamaica.
Daily Gleaner, January 16, 1897
Daily Gleaner, February 23, 1897
David Dias Parnther
York Castle High School
Daily Gleaner, August 26, 1897
T h e F a r m e r, V o l u m e s 5 6 - 5 9, 1 9 5 2, J a m a i c a A g r i c u l t u r a l S o c i e t y
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The Methodist Uniting Conference,
London, 1932
The Rev D D Parnther was a representative
of the West Indies at this Conference.
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Daily Gleaner, April 2, 1952
Funeral for the Rev D D Parnther at Coke Chapel:
'The Rev. C. S. Cousins speaking of the life of Rev. Mr. Parnther referred to the fact that on his father's tombstone was the inscription "Man of God, Man of Prayer". And none who knew the son would hesitate to say the same thing of him, and to add: "Man of Faith, Man of Humility". His span of life was long - 86, of which 60 were spent as a Minister of the Methodist Church.
A son of the Manse, educated at York Castle, Jamaica Scholar 1885, University College, London B.A., Candidate 1889, [B.A. 1891] Richmond [Wesleyan] College tbree years, entered 1892. Convinced his proper sphere of service was among his own people, he returned to Jamaica and served with much acceptance in several principal Circuits in town and country, Wesley, Bath, Port Antonio, Duncans.'
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Robert Myrie Parnther:
In 1877 the first head of the York Castle Methodist high school, Dr Andrew Kessen, expelled two brothers who were illegitimate when their mother had another illegitimate child. Local Methodist ministers and others on the board of the school voted that illegitimacy of itself would not prevent a boy being admitted. The next headmaster, Rev J R Hargreaves, commented on that decision to the Methodist Missionary Society:
'The "bastards" Dr. Kesson will not touch are in the ranks of our ministry (and fine fellows men like Geddes, Murray and Parnther are); they are class leaders, local preachers and members; they are custodes, magistrates, landowners, merchants, and far too numerous in the lower ranks.' Hargreaves to Methodist Society, August 1877
Hargreaves was only in Jamaica from 1877 to 1879 but had realised that the Coloured sons and daughters of White men's relationships with Coloured and Black women formed an essential part of the society. Such a man, George Stiebel, was the richest man in Jamaica at that period.
Daily Gleaner, November 26, 1921
DEATHS
PARNTHER, ROBERT MYRIE- Wesleyan Minister at his residence Glenmore, Claremont on Friday 25th November, Funeral at Beecham Villa, 8:15 Saturday November 29.
