THOMAS, RICHARD (1718 - 1807), the first Methodist exhorter from Anglesey

Christened at Llanfechell, 31 July 1718. Owing to some 'irregularity' - probably debts, which he afterwards fully repaid - he escaped to South Wales. From a letter written to Howel Harris, 27 July 1746, we gather that he was converted there c. 1739. He returned in September 1746, and continued his work as an exhorter in Anglesey. The story of his life afterwards is obscure: it is recorded that he preached in Caergeiliog twenty-five times between 1790 and 1799, and superintended the societies of Llanrhyddlad and Llannerch-y-medd. He was buried at Llanfflewyn from Tŷ'n Llwyn, Llanfechell, 29 January 1807.

He has been wrongly identified with RICHARD THOMAS, South Wales exhorter (died 1751).

Author

• Reverend William Griffith, (1916 - 1972)

Sources

• Llanfechell and Llanfflewyn Registers
• Letter to Howel Harris
• 'Richard Thomas, Pregethwr cyntaf Mon,' Y Llusern: cylchgrawn misol at wasanaeth eglwysi ac ysgolion Sabbothol y Trefnyddion Calfinaidd, 1890, pp. 163-165
• J. Morgan Jones and W. Morgan, Y Tadau Methodistaidd (1895-1897), ii, 178
• Minutes of the Anglesey Presbytery
• Y Drysorfa, 1813
• Robert Jones (Rhoslan), Drych yr Amseroedd (Llanrwst 1841), 181
• Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Hanes y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd, September 1928, 101; July 1949, 45, n. 1; 1950, 41-5, 73-9 (dealing with the two Richard Thomases)
• Caergeiliog Account Book in N.L.W.

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20804753

Published date: 1959

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