He was ordained along with two other men, Robert Fleming and Mercer, at the Union Chapel, Islington, London on 22 January 1818.
On 17 February, he and his wife, Joanna (née Barr), left England aboard the “General Graham”.
At Malacca, Ince studied the Chinese language at the Anglo-Chinese College founded by Robert Morrison and the first principal, William Milne.
There he established schools for Chinese children, with the patronage and assistance of the government of the British Straits Settlements.
In 1821, Ince and his fellow missionary, Thomas Beighton toured the coast of Queda on the Malay Peninsula, first visiting Queda Muda (Kuala Muda), so that they could distribute copies of the Bible in Chinese as well as Gospel tracts while engaging in personal evangelism.