The Gwent Archive in Ebbw Vale holds what is listed as a diary of Micah Thomas. It is in fact a notebook chiefly containing the record of his preaching (date, text, time, venue) from 1805-1853. A small calf skin (?) covered notebook, it contains c 93 pages, 27 of which are completely blank and 65 have writing on. To summarise, we have
1. Side with 2 notes [1]
2. Diary entries regarding students at
the Academy Jan 14 1807-Sep 26 1835 [20 pages]
3. Blank pages [7]
4. 4 sides on the plague 1665 [2]
5. Blank pages [4]
6. Blank side backed with some sort of
note [1] then a page ripped out
9. Sermon record 1801-1853 with notes
on baptisms & new members [40 pages]. Two pages cut after 17.
10. Blank pages [13]
11. Miserable attempt on one side at a chart of Bible
books covered [1]
12. Blank pages [3]
13. Brief quotation from Edwards'
Miscellanies [1]
The diary reveals that in the Ryeford period (1801-1806) he preached regularly at Ryeford and Ross but also at Bury Hill, Coleford, Gosley, Hoarwithy, Mitcheldean, Ruardean, Staveley, Tetbury and Tainton, as well as Bridgnorth, Broad Oak, Broseley, Coseley, Evesham, Leominster, Shrewsbury, Worcester; Bath, Bradford and Bristol and in Wales, Abergavenny, Cadoxton, Caerleon, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Dyffryn, Llangibby, Penygarn, Peterstone, Pontypool, Trosnant and Usk.
When at Abergavenny (1807-1853) he preached at various places in England and Wales, including on tour to places such as London and the Midlands.
He was ill at least one Sunday in Ryeford but at Abergavenny there were three big periods of lay off from preaching due to illness - six weeks in 1812, five weeks in 1828 (having a knee operation in London) and 15 weeks in 1845.
He did not preach every Sunday he could but there must be a record of something like 2,500 texts preached on.
We will try and say something about texts another time. He certainly repeated sermons in different places.
