Jarvis and his wife Elizabeth Harkerhad two children; John born at Dyke Heads in 1816 and Ann born at Crosby Garrett in 1819 and baptised at GunnersideWesleyan Methodist Chapel.

For a time they lived at Chapel House, Crosby Garrett and then moved to Enterbar near Kirkby Stephen. A butcher by trade, Jarvis sold his meat at the markets at Kirkby Stephen, Brough and Appleby.

His spare time was devoted to the cause of Methodism. In 1814 he had been a Class Leader at Gunnerside Methodist Chapel and now had become a preacher in the Methodist Circuit. Each Sunday he rode his horse to whereever he was preaching and at other times was trying to raise money for the building of chapels.

Jarvis was buried at Kirkby Stephen Wesleyan Methodist Burial Ground and, according to his son John, the poet remember, his coffin was born by four nephews, all fine tall young men.