Thomas, Thomas (1804-1866)

Primitive Methodist Magazine
Englesea Brook Museum ENBM 1990.21.26b

Early Years

Thomas was born on 19 February 1804 at Bradley, Staffordshire, to parents William and Sarah. He was baptised on 22 April 1804 at Bilston, Staffordshire. His parents were Wesleyan. Sarah died when Thomas was about eight, and his father drifted from his faith. In 1820, the family moved to Codnor Park, Derbyshire and it was here that Thomas came into contact with the Primitive Methodists. He had his conversion experience on 19 August 1821. In June 1822 he went on the plan as an exhorter. He became an itinerant minister in 1824.

Ministry

In his obituary it is recorded that in 1841 he was the first married minister at Peterborough when he arrived with a wife and five children. The circuit had to find suitable accommodation and did not have sufficient money to pay him. His wife had to earn additional money to keep food on the table for his family.

Family

Thomas married Martha Clarke (1806-1875) on 7 March 1829 at Selston, Nottinghamshire. Census records identify seven children.

  • Martha (1830-1902) – married Obadiah Oldham Brittain, a PM Minister until 1870 when he becomes a schoolmaster and then school board officer.
  • Thomas (b1832) – a bricklayer
  • William James (b1834)
  • Ezra John (1836-1916) – a printer compositor
  • Clark Abraham (1840-1902) – a sanitary inspector
  • Joseph Anthony Fellows Ebenezer (1843-1900) – a printer compositor
  • Ann Elizabeth Mary Beardsmore (b1845)

Thomas died on 26 November 1866 in Stepney, London on a visit to his son and was buried at Boston, Lincolnshire.

Circuits

  • 1824 Belper
  • 1825 Nottingham
  • 1826 Welton
  • 1827 Fakenham
  • 1828 Yarmouth
  • 1829 Fakenham
  • 1830 Brandon
  • 1832 N Walsham
  • 1834 Mattishall
  • 1836 Norwich
  • 1839 Lynn
  • 1841 Peterborough
  • 1843 Ipswich
  • 1845 Swaffham
  • 1847 Nottingham N
  • 1849 Burton on Trent
  • 1851 Winster
  • 1853 Mansfield
  • 1855 Horncastle
  • 1857 Boston
  • 1860 Boston (Sup)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1849/129; 1867/350

PM Minutes 1867/9

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

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

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