Richard Thomas (cleric)
Encyclopedia
Richard Thomas was a Welsh
Anglican priest
and antiquarian.
, was born on 10 December 1753 in Ynyscynhaearn, Caernarfonshire
, north Wales
. Like his elder brother, he studied at the Friars School and Jesus College, Oxford
before being ordained. His brother John died in 1769, bequeathing him his collection of manuscripts; the manuscripts were used by the editors of the Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales. Some of his genealogical manuscripts were sold to the College of Heralds.
Thomas obtained his BA
degree in 1775 and was curate
in Llanegryn, Merionethshire
in late 1777, where he was also the schoolmaster. From there, he was able to reach the library at Peniarth, which contained a number of important manuscripts; he said in a letter to the antiquarian Owen Jones
in 1778 that he had been asked to make a catalogue of the contents of the library. He died in 1780 in Ruthin
, having been the curate there since at least 1779.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Anglican priest
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and antiquarian.
Life
Thomas, who was the younger brother of the priest and antiquarian John ThomasJohn Thomas (cleric)
John Thomas was a Welsh Anglican priest and antiquarian.-Life:Thomas was born in Ynyscynhaearn, Caernarfonshire, in north Wales, on 22 October 1736 and after studying at various places including the Friars School in Bangor, he went to the University of Oxford, matriculating as a member of Jesus...
, was born on 10 December 1753 in Ynyscynhaearn, Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
, north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Like his elder brother, he studied at the Friars School and Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
before being ordained. His brother John died in 1769, bequeathing him his collection of manuscripts; the manuscripts were used by the editors of the Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales. Some of his genealogical manuscripts were sold to the College of Heralds.
Thomas obtained his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1775 and was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Llanegryn, Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
in late 1777, where he was also the schoolmaster. From there, he was able to reach the library at Peniarth, which contained a number of important manuscripts; he said in a letter to the antiquarian Owen Jones
Owen Jones (antiquary)
Owen Jones was a Welsh antiquary.He was born on the Llanfihangel Glyn y Myfyr in Denbighshire. In 1760 he entered the service of a London firm of furriers, to whose business he ultimately succeeded....
in 1778 that he had been asked to make a catalogue of the contents of the library. He died in 1780 in Ruthin
Ruthin
Ruthin is a community and the county town of Denbighshire in north Wales. Located around a hill in the southern part of the Vale of Clwyd - the older part of the town, the castle and Saint Peter's Square are located on top of the hill, while many newer parts of the town are on the floodplain of...
, having been the curate there since at least 1779.