User:WilyD/William Case/Joseph Gatchell

Joseph Gatchell was a Methodist circuit rider.

Gatchell was born in the United States, possible Pennsylvania. Gatchell was accepted on trial in 1809 at the Annual Conference in Philidelphia, and assigned to Caledonia and the Holland Purchase. The next year, he was reassigned to the Niagara Circuit, with Andrew Prindle. While on the Niagara Circuit, he courted and married the sister of Nathan Bangs. His wife exhorted where he preached. In 1811, he rode the Smith's Creek Circuit. He was reassigned to the Yonge Street Circuit in 1812.

Records of the circuit riders assignments during the War of 1812 have not survived, and Gatchell's actions during this time cannot be ascertained for certain. It is recorded that Gatchell was riding circuits in 1814 when he located. Suspicion may have fallen upon him as a native-born American, making circuit riding and preachers to strangers an undesireable task. He bought a farm on Dundas Street to support himself at this time.