John Wroe

John Wroe, alternatively spelt Roe, was born on 19 September 1782 in the hamlet of East Bowling, (present-day, Bradford) to Susannah Roe () and Joseph Roe, a farmer, worsted manufacturer, and collier. Baptised at Bradford Cathedral on 8 December, Wroe was raised in a devout Church of England household. Wroe claimed that he was mistreated by his father, who favoured his brother Joseph. Wroe had severe Kyphosis, which he claimed was a result of him having to carry "a window stone to the second floor" whilst conducting repairs on some houses bought by his father, and potentially a speech disorder which affected the fluency of his speech. Working with his father from a young age, Wroe received little education and was functionally illiterate. However, the extent of Wroe's illiteracy was possible exaggerated by both his followers and critics. Around aged 15, Wroe began an wool-comber apprenticeship with his uncle but was persuaded to return home by his father. Around 1810, Wroe set up his own farming and wool combing business on Tong Street. By the latter half of 1816, Wroe began exhibiting symptoms of mania. == Religious life ==

Visions In Autumn 1819, Wroe became severely ill with a fever. Christian Israelitism Following Turner's death in September 1821, William Shaw became the movements successor. Wroe, although often persecuted and threatened, travelled throughout Europe including Gibraltar, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. He later travelled to the United States, and Australia. Wroe's name was Latinised as Joannes Roes by his followers. On 5 February 1863, Wroe died in the suburb of Collingwood, Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria (present-day, Victoria, Australia) aged 81. Wroe left church affairs in the hands of his trustees. == Personal life ==

On 22 April 1816, Wroe married Mary Wroe (née Appleby; 1785–1853). Together they had at least 7 children, 3 of which died in infancy. ==Cultural depictions and legacy==

Wroe’s life was the basis of a novel, ''Mr Wroe's Virgins'' by Jane Rogers.{{cite book |first=Jane |last=Rogers |authorlink=Jane Rogers (novelist) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CF51GvYY2QC ==References==