Previously to his settlement at Ryeford in 1802 Mr Thomas had been preaching for about five years. During that time he kept no minute count of his sermons nor of the places in which he preached but from the third of October 1802 to the end of his life he kept a correct record of the places, times and texts from which he discoursed. His preparation for the pulpit was always exact, elaborate and fastidious perhaps to a fault. He wrote sermons with the greatest possible care and that generally at full length and finished them as neatly and correctly as if all learned eyes in creation were to examine them. Several of his manuscripts have been given to friends who wished to possess them as mementos of one they sincerely loved when emigrating to America, Australia or India. A vast number nevertheless is still left behind and the writer counted about 1580 sermons exclusive of 14 copies full of addresses, lectures and sermons for special occasions !!
In the following table which I compiled from Mr Thomas's manuscripts it is shown how many times he preached at and from home every year, how many he baptised during his life and there will be appended a few notes that may prove useful and interesting to many
The order is Year, Home, Away from home, Baptisms
1802 14 16 -
1803 54 60 -
1804 42 67
1805 46 66
1806 44 48 -
1807 95 20 5
1808 66 28 16
1809 68 25 9
1810 75 34 5
1811 47 34 1
1812 59 31 5
1813 54 38 4
1814 54 34 16
1815 58 29 13
1816 69 25 24
1817 77 25 8
1818 87 55 1
1819 105 43 18
1820 78 77 -
1821 91 28 6
1822 85 25 4
1823 82 18 3
1824 99 32 6
1825 111 16 7
1826 98 17 7
1827 104 13 13
1828 96 13 5
1829 85 6 5
1830 85 14 3
1831 88 6 3
1832 93 10 1
1833 82 8 10
1834 91 10 2
1835 80 17 -
1836 95 6 7
1837 108 7 -
1838 101 8 3
1839 114 6 10
1840 91 5 -
1841 82 3 30
1842 106 5 22
1843 120 4 32
1844 119 2 7
1845 91 - 4
1846 110 4 2
1847 110 4 11
1848 110 5 3
1849 103 2 12
1850 86 2 8
1851 109 1 3
1852 111 2 2
1853 88 2 10
Notes to the preceding table
1803 During the years Mr Thomas was at Ryeford he frequently preached at the following places – Hoarwithy, Gorsley, Coleford, Ross, Ruardean and Mitcheldean. In the same years also he preached at Leominster, Bridgenorth, Llanwenarth, Usk, Caerleon, Abergavenny, Blaenavon, Penygarn, Trosnant, Bristol and Hereford
1804 This year the Baptist Chapel at Ryeford, was repaired. It was re-opened Oct 17 when Mr Bowland of Pershore and Mr Symmons of Wootton under Edge preached. The former from Isaiah 4:5 and the latter from Isaiah 66:14.
1805 This year we find Mr Thomas preaching at Bradford, Bath, Broseley, Shrewsbury, Cosley, Pershore and Evesham.
1806 This year he preached at Caerphilly, Peterstone, Cardiff, Cadoxton and Worcester. In this year we meet with the first account of his being baptising. He baptised 27 persons at Ryeford so it is stated in the letter to Mrs Mack.
1807 January the fourth was the last day of preaching for Mr Thomas at Ryeford. The next day he left for Abergavenny and Mr Jonathan Davies from Llanthony brought over his furniture. This Jonathan Davies was a member at Llanwenarth and a very respectable man. Truly pious. his children are now ministers at Llanthony and they are now sons and deacons there. The said JD and Mr John Williams of Tresaison were the originators of the Baptist interest at Llanthony about 60 years ago. Their descendants are still there and have been much blessed.
June 3rd Mr Thomas preached at Llysfaen from Acts 19:2.
June 21 Mr Miles Edwards, Pontypool, baptised for Mr Thomas. His text in the morning was Revelation 18:18, that in the evening John 10:20.
July 12 Mr John Harris was baptised at Abergavenny by Rev James Lewis when Mr Thomas preached at the water from Matthew 3:15. This Mr Harris was one of if not the most respectable man in the country and he was greatly respected. He was the father of Mrs Edmunds of Caerphilly and the father of Mr Thomas's second wife. Mr Thomas married Miss Rachel Harris, July 2nd, 1830.
Later notes are found in summary form elsewhere on this blog
