Rev Micah Thomas 1778-1853: The original college

This picture appeared in The Cardiff Times September 21, 1907

Chronology

1778 19 February Born Whitson, Monmouthshire
c 1782-1792 (4-14) Farmer parents move from New Inn to Llangibby; schools: Tredunnock then Trosnant, Pontypool
c 1792-1799 (14-21) Helping on family farm?
1795 (17) Baptised, joins Pen-y-garn Baptist church
1796 (18) Begins to preach
1800 (22) December enters Bristol Baptist Academy
1801 (23) Preaches first sermon at Ryeford, Herefordshire, Christmas Day. Text: Luke 19:10
1802 (24) Voted £5 by London Particular Baptist Itinerating Society to itinerate in Herefordshire
19 September Ordained Ryeford
c 1804 (26) Marries first wife Sophia Wall of Ross, 23 years his senior!
1806 (28) Moves to Abergavenny
1807 (29) 1 January Academy takes first student Jonathan Davies.
February two more arrive
19 April English Baptist church begins under him with four others. Two baptised in the river
1808 (30) 12 June Baptises 4 Independents including John Jones, later of Blakeney
1810 (32) 5-7 June S East Baptist Association Doleu, Radnorshire; preaches in English
1811 (33) 3 October publishes Salvation of Sovereign Grace; a Sermon preached at the Baptist Meeting-house, Abergavenny, September 22, 1811
1812 (34) June Visit of Andrew Fuller to South Wales
1813 (35) 6 January Leads opening services of Caerwent Baptist with students
April Preaches at opening of English Baptist, Merthyr, on Zechariah 13:7
1815 (37) His student Rees Davies from Aberdare becomes first pastor at Caerwent
19 March Second wife's brother-in-law John Conway dies leaving 7 children 10 and under
1816 (38) February 22 Church's Frogmore Street building registered then opened
1817 (39) Baptises and receives into membership 8 people including the Conways
1819 (41) 30 August Death of John Harris, deacon and future father-in-law
1820 (42) Spring In London and Watford
1821 (43) Preaches at induction of former student W Johns at Caerwent
1822 (44) June Preaches for BMS, London on James 5:20
2 September Thomas Thomas becomes student, stays 2 years
1827 (49) John Jenkins criticises Thomas and Academy in letter to Cyfrinach y Bedyddwyr. Split in Abergavenny church leading to formation of Bethany
1828 (50) Undergoes operation on his knee in London
19 November Takes part in induction of E A Claypole to Ross Baptist
1829 (51) 21 April First wife Sophia dies (born 1755) Endorses Booth's book against paedobaptism
November House burgled by gang while preaching
1830 (52) 29 June Marries second wife Rachel Harris, daughter of John Harris, Govilon
1834 (56) 10 December 5 disgruntled students leave the Academy over differences
1835 (57) Rumblings continue through the year following the students leaving
1836 (58) Resigns from Academy, which transfers to Pontypool under Thomas Thomas
1839 (61) Chartist riots
1840 (62) 22 January Writes to Lord Normanby pleading for the Chartists' lives
2 June Speaking at induction of Daniel Jones in Llanthewy
1841 (63) The Error and the Delusion and Destructive Tendency of Infant Sprinkling practised as Christian Baptism
1842 (64) Infant Christening Falsely called Baptism Explained in its nature and basis, chiefly in its Evil Workings
1843 (65) 5 July preaching at opening of new building Longtown, Herefordshire.
July 26 The Important Claims of Ministerial and Pastoral Conduct addressed to the students at the annual meeting of Pontypool Baptist Theological Institution
1845 (67) Unable to preach for 15 weeks of the year - his longest lay off in 43 years
1846 (68) June 24 Preaches to students of his old college at service in Old King Street Chapel on 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
1848 (70) Deaths of sisters-in-law:
9 March Mrs John Conway (nee Anne Harris)
2 May Elder sister Mrs Joseph Price (nee Catharine Harris)
1853 (75) September 25 Preaches last sermon
November 28 Death after a few days illness
[1865 December Death of second wife Rachel]