In 1855 a five part memoir of Micah Thomas appeared in the Welsh language periodical Seren Gomer by Thomas Lewis Llaneddewi. It begins with an English epigram and then is in Welsh. I translated the Welsh to english then checked it with Lewis's own original English version. It begins
"'Biography is a feeble struggle with death.' Such was the remark of the late Dr. Hamilton, of Leeds. It is full of beauty and pathos, It pictures to the mind's eye a bereaved one, sensible of the loss he has sustained, bending over the grave of a valued friend, as if he would do battle with the last enemy and pluck from the ruthless aggressor's grasp all that can possibly be rescued .of the precious prize that he has been permitted to sieze."
Micah Thomas, son of Joshua and Mary Thomas, was born on the 19th of February in the year 1778 in the parish of Whits[t]on in the county of Monmouth. His parents were farmers and also were religious. His father, most likely his mother too, belonged to the Independents in New Inn and was considered to be a very superior man. When the subject of this memoir was still a child his parents moved from Whitson and established themselves for some time in a place by the name of Pentopyn, in the parish of Llandegveth and thence they moved to a farm called Tŷ-yn-y caeau (House in the fields) in Llangibi on the edge of Llanbadoc, and about a mile and a half from the place where the Baptist Chapel of the Glascoed meeting now stands. While he was still young, Mr Thomas was sent to the school which was kept by Rev Mr Morgan, inbcumbent of Tredunnock. He continued with him for many years. About this time we have something of the future man coming into view for is it said by one who was an acquaintance of his at this time that he was a very pious young man. "He had a great desire to read and study and to that purpose he sought and loved retirement." He was not afraid, sometimes, to reprimand his fellow-school pupils for their sins, speaking to them about the dreadful end of the ungodly and in after years Mr Thomas might have exclaimed
When I was yet a child, no childish play
To me was pleasing; all my mind was set
Serious to learn and know, and thence to do
What might be public good. Myself, I thought,
Born to that end, born to promote all truth,
All righteous things! MILTON
His retired habits, in the time under review, so interfered with his secular avocations, after his return from school, that it was determined upon, to prolong his period of education. In the opinion of his parents and friends they would probably never make a farmer of him and so they resolved to encourage him in his favourite pursuits. They sent him, therfore, to another school that was kept in Trosnant, near Pontypool, by Rev Evan Davies, curate in Trevethin. About this time Mr Thomas made a public confession of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Glasgoed was a branch of Penuel, Llangwm at this time but some of the members of Penygarn were in the area. These brothers would meet to praise God in a private home, near the spot where the Baptist Chapel is now. In this house there lived one Joseph Wroth with his wife and three daughters, and they were all Baptists. This family was, please note, descended (and the last to bear the name in this area) from the celebrated Mr Wroth, vicar of Llanfaches, who can be called the father of Nonconformity in Wales.
Mr Thomas (for what reason I have not been able to ascertain, nor is it of much importance) turned his face to Penygarn and not to Penuel. He gratefully records that he "was baptised on profession of repentance and faith in Glascoed on Whit Monday 1795 and at the age of 17 on the 19th of February; joined the Penygarn church, which was, at this time, under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Evans who shortly after went to America." ....
