Robert Tomlinson (missionary) facts for kids
Robert Tomlinson (1842–1913) was an Irish doctor and missionary. He is well-known for his important work with the First Nations people in British Columbia, Canada. He helped many communities by providing medical care and sharing Christian teachings.
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Who Was Robert Tomlinson?
Robert Tomlinson was born in Ireland in 1842. His family was Roman Catholic, but Robert decided to become an Anglican. Because of this choice, his father, Thomas Tomlinson, decided not to leave him any inheritance.
Robert went to Trinity College in Dublin. To pay for his medical studies at Adelaide Hospital, he worked with horses. After finishing his training, he became a priest in the Church of Ireland. His church was St. James Anglican Church in Dublin.
Moving to British Columbia
In 1867, Robert moved to British Columbia to work as a medical missionary. That same year, he met Alice Woods, who was also from Ireland, in Victoria, British Columbia. She later became his wife.
He worked with William Duncan, another Anglican missionary from the Church Missionary Society. Duncan was in charge of the region and lived in Metlakatla, a community he started for the Tsimshian people. Even though they had some disagreements at first, Tomlinson and Duncan shared similar goals. Tomlinson even supported some of Duncan's new ideas for teaching Christianity.
Starting New Missions
One of Tomlinson's first big jobs was to restart an Anglican mission among the Nisga'a people. This mission had been started three years earlier by Reverend Robert A. Doolan. Tomlinson moved the mission from the lower Nass River to a new community called Kincolith, which is now known as Gingolx. This new mission became very successful, much like the one in Metlakatla. In 1883, Reverend William Henry Collison joined him there.
In 1887, William Duncan moved with about 800 Tsimshian people to start a new, independent mission in "New" Metlakatla, Alaska. Tomlinson thought about joining them. However, he and fellow missionary A. E. Price decided to leave the Church Missionary Society. They moved to Kitwanga, a Gitxsan village located far up the Skeena River from Metlakatla.
In 1888, the Tomlinsons helped create a new Christian village nearby for the Gitxsan people. They called this village Meanskinisht, also known as Cedarvale. This village was open to all Christians, not just one specific group.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1908, Tomlinson and his son, Robert Tomlinson Jr., moved to Metlakatla, Alaska. They went to help William Duncan. However, the elder Tomlinson became concerned about how Duncan was running the community. He felt that Duncan had too much control over the economy and politics. He also believed that Duncan was not doing enough to help the Tsimshian people become independent. Because of these concerns, Tomlinson returned to Meanskinisht in 1912.
Robert Tomlinson passed away the next year in 1913, at the age of 71. He died in Meanskinisht from a condition called hardening of the arteries.
His son, Robert Tomlinson Jr., shared many stories about his life and work. His wife, Roxie Irene Tomlinson, recorded these stories on tape. Later, their son, George Tomlinson, used these recordings to write a book about Robert Jr.'s life, told from his perspective.
Remembering Robert Tomlinson
Several places in British Columbia are named after Tomlinson's wife, Alice Mary Tomlinson. For example, there is a place called Alice Arm. Robert Tomlinson's father, Reverend Thomas Tomlinson, was also a priest in the Church of Ireland. He was the rector of St. James' Parish in Dublin, Ireland.
