Thomas, John (1824-1867)

Ministry

A transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by J Barnes is attached. He sums John up as follows.

“He was a member twenty-three years, and a travelling preacher seventeen years. His mortal remains rest in the Primitive Methodist chapel yard, Oswestry. He was a kind husband and a loving father. As a minister he was attentive to duty, and he laboured to promote the general good of the circuits in which he was stationed.

His preaching was generally acceptable, and often productive of great and lasting good.“

Family

John was born on 21 April 1824 at West Felton, Shropshire, to parents John Thomas, a stone mason (1841), and Elizabeth Parry. He was baptised on 16 May 1824 at West Felton.

Before entering the ministry John worked as a builder.

He married Hannah Smith (1830-1875). I have not been able to identify a marriage record. Census returns identify five children.

• Sarah (b1856) – a domestic servant (1891)
• John Andrew (1857-1940) – a sub-postmaster & music teacher (1911)
• George Edward (1859-1871)
• Hannah Elizabeth (b1862)
• Richard Henry (1863-1874)

John died on 20 May 1867 at Oswestry, Shropshire.

Circuits

• 1850 Stafford
• 1851 Cawley
• 1852 Ludlow
• 1853 Leominster
• 1855 Redditch
• 1856 Coventry
• 1858 Ramsor
• 1861 Minsterley
• 1864 Kidderminster
• 1866 Oswestry

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1867/484

PM Minutes 1867/17

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers