THOMAS, TIMOTHY, I (1720-1768), of Maes-isaf Pencarreg Baptist minister and author

Born at Tŷ-hen, Caeo, 2 March 1720-1 second son of Thomas Morgan and Jane Thomas, and brother of Joshua Thomas, Leominster, and Zecharias Thomas, Aberduar, he was baptized at the age of 18, and started to preach before he was 20; he was educated at the Academy at Trosnant, 1740-1, and in 1743 was ordained minister of his mother-church at Aberduar and its branches, where he remained until his death, 12 November 1768. He was buried in the parish church of Pencarreg. He married (1), 1743, a native of Llan-llwnni, who died within a year, and who bore him a daughter, who married Rees Saunders, Bryn, Llanllwnni, uncle of David Saunders 'II', Merthyr; (2) 1753, a daughter of William's of Trebŵl, and grand-daughter of the family of Maes-isaf, whither he went to live. Five children were born of this marriage, including Timothy 'II' and Thomas

He was one of the most prominent Baptists of his time and, apart from his family traditions and for his service to the early cause at Aberduar, he is best remembered for his theological writings, particularly his Traethiad am y Wisg-Wen Ddisglair, 1759 (2nd ed. 1800). His other writings include Y Garreg Wen neu Draethiad bychan ym herthynas i Siccrwydd (together with a few hymns), 1759; a collection of hymns under the title of Moliant i Dduw, 1764; and two tracts - Amlygiad Byr, 1764, and Golygiad Byr on the rite of laying on of hands.

TIMOTHY THOMAS II (1754 - 1840), minister

His eldest child of the second marriage, was born at Maes-isaf, 1754. He started to preach in the winter of 1778 and was ordained at Aberduar in the autumn of 1783. This proved to be his only pastorate, although in 1831, owing to ill-health, he moved to Cardigan, home of his son, Joshua Morgan Thomas (died 1853), schoolmaster and editor of Greal y Bedyddwyr, where he died 21 January 1840. He was buried at Aberduar. He married a native of Llanfynydd, and ten children were born of the marriage, including TIMOTHY THOMAS ' III ' (1787 - 1870), Baptist minister at Newcastle Emlyn.

THOMAS THOMAS (1759 - 1819), minister and author

Second son of the second marriage of Timothy Thomas 'I,' and twin brother of John Thomas, M.R.C.S., Aberduar, was born 5 March 1759. He was educated at the school of David Davis, Castell-hywel, and was baptized at Aberduar by David Saunders 'I' March 1776. Admitted to Bristol Baptist Academy in 1777, he was ordained at Pershore, 1781? He moved to Goodman Fields, London, in 1788, conducted a boarding school at Mile End, and retired to Peckham in 1799. He married (1781) Sarah (1762 - 1808), daughter of Robert Moseley, deacon at Cannon Street Baptist church, Birmingham, and was the father of two sons and three daughters. He died 4 October 1819, and was buried in Bunhill Fields. His publications include sermons under the titles of The Mystery of the Seven Stars, 1809, and Jesus Christ an Object of Prayer (1819); hymns in Welsh and English, e.g. in Greal y Bedyddwyr; and elegies to his uncle Zecharias Thomas and his aunt Mary Evans, Pantycelyn. His funeral sermon, by W. Newman, D.D., was published in 1819. He is not to be confused, as was done by Henry Blackwell (NLW MS 9272A ), with Thomas Thomas, Wareham.

Author

• Benjamin George Owens

Sources

• Hanes y Bedyddwyr ymhlith y Cymry: o amser yr Apostolion, hyd y flwyddyn hon: yn ddwy ran (Caerfyrddin 1778), 1885, 527-9
• David Jones, Hanes y Bedyddwyr yn Neheubarth Cymru (1839), 334
• Seren Gomer, 1820, 1, 33, 217; 1823, 219; 1840, 1844, 161; 1849, 55; 1860, 88
• Greal y Bedyddwyr, 1827, 42, 245, 284: 1829, 223, 367; 1830, 8, 53, 60; 1831, 1, 33
• H. Blackwell, NLW MS 9274A: A Dictionary of Welsh Biography
• NLW MSS 10785, 12357
• A History of Carmarthenshire, ii, 230, 252, 433-4
• Josiah Thomas Jones, Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion Cymru (Aberdâr 1867-70), ii, 565, 573-4
• W. Rowlands, Cambrian Bibliography (Llanidloes 1869)

Further Reading

• Benjamin Thomas, Y dyn defnyddiol. Cofiant (buddugol) y diweddar Barch. Timothy Thomas, gweinidog y Bedyddwyr yn y Graig, Castellnewydd Emlyn (Llanelli 1878)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20804809

Published date: 1959

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