Displaying items by tag: Rev Thomas Thomas part 1
POYNTZ ADAMS 1789-1870 Part 2.
May 1811 Dr Poyntz Adams left London to set up as a general practitioner in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. His career as a country practitioner was ahead of him with a set of expensive instruments bought for him, by his uncle Rev.Thomas Thomas.
In a letter from Poyntz Adams at 5, St Thomas’s Tents, Southwark to his uncle.
‘I go to church every Sunday and it is Mr Neve who does duty, his wife called to see me about a poor woman that I am attending. I have got already twenty -six patients on my books.
I have not had any midwifery yet, but I have been spoken to by two persons who live about four miles from Sodbury. Mr Drayton, surgeon called upon me last week, he has no doubt but I shall do very well. He left this place eighteen months ago; the reason he left was on account of the prejudices of the people was so much against him on account of him becoming an anabaptist while he was at Sodbury. The population of Sodbury was taken three weeks ago and it amounted to twelve hundred and thirty five including women and children.’
Grandson of George Foxton of Kibworth
correspondence with his uncle Rev.Thomas Thomas.
‘A youngest son who had to make his own way’
Whilst Poyntz Adams did not live in Kibworth except on visits his grandfather was George Foxton who lived in Manor Farmhouse, Main Street, Kibworth Harcourt and his aunt Elizabeth Thomas, nee Foxton. His mother Sarah was born, lived her early life and was married in Kibworth before moving to Essex. (see The Foxton Family of Kibworth-modern). From the Rev Thomas Thomas’s’ correspondence we see that Dr Poyntz Adams was educated and financed by him. The letters reveal the difficulties and hardships facing a young man of small means but the ambition to undertake medical training in the early 1800’s.
Poyntz Adams went as a medical student to London in 1810; he gives us an outline of his weekly schedule in letters written to his uncle and sponsor Rev.Thomas Thomas.
It was this uncle who funded him throughout his studies and training to become a surgeon and who helped him to set up his first practice at Chipping Sodbury.
REVEREND THOMAS THOMAS
1741 – 1826
Part 2
Rev. Thomas Thomas was a very talented aninteresting character; in addition to his secular duties he was a grazier and a man of letters. During her research into Rev. Thomas Thomas’ life, Jeni Molyneux discovered many artifacts of interest at the Record Office in Northamptonshire. This selection of those artifacts attempts to portray the many facets of Thomas’ writings and musings.
MEMORANDUMS for 1780 in his parish book.
Incidents 1780
Levies, horse hire
Jack Cleaning 1s
Dined at Cheney’s 4s
Mrs Eaton for dinners £1. 18s
Newspapers 10s 6d
Vails 1780 (gratuities or tips, bountiful bestowing to other people's servants rather than one's own who were paid to be in your service)
Samuel Eaton £1-11-6
Mary Eaton £1-11-6
Mr Hanbury’ s servants £1-1s
Mrs Frank’s servants 9s
Ambrose 1s
Gwenion Mrs Eaton’s 4s 6d
in all £5
Letters 1780
Mr Morton 3s
G. Hill etc etc etc
Total 6s 7d
Rhoddian (gifts, but perhaps in the sense of charitable donations)
Charles Frank’s widow 2s 6d
Houghton hire 2s7d
Hospital 7s
Ruled paper, singers 6s
Oxenden Ringers 1s
Kelmarsh ringers 5s
Xmas Boxes 6s 9d
MEMORANDUMS for 1783 in his parish book.
 |
Rhoddion1783 (gratuities or tips, bountiful bestowing to other people's servants rather than one's own who were paid to be in your service) Books 14s Hospital 7s In all £10.14 Incidents 1783 Mrs A Eaton £2 D. 10s:6d ???? In all £7
Vails 1783. Eaton’s 9s:2d (gratuities or tips, bountiful bestowing to other people's servants rather than one's own who were paid to be in your service) Mr H ???? servants? 1.2
Letters 1783 |
Prayed in 1784
List of names and dates for those he prayed for in this year.
Difficult to decipher, so bit of guesswork – Dr = daughter.
Ann Dr of Robert & Eliz Carter KB January 10
Matthew son of ??? & Ann J Colman JH January 28
Ann Dr of John & Ann Herb JH February 6
Robert son of Robert & Mary Tilley JH February 16
John son of John & Sarah Markham KB February 22
Elizabeth wife of Francis Fletcher KH March 6
Samuel Burdett KH March 9
Priscilla Dr of John & Sarah Markham KB March 18
Elizabeth Foxton KH March 23
Ann Dr of Thos & Eliz Perkins KH March 25
Jane Dr of Samuel & Mary Shipley SW March 30
Thomas Smeeton KB April 1
William son of Willm& Sarah Perkins KH April 1
11 June 1793
Writing to his friend William Hanbury of Kelmarsh Hall at Christ College, Cambridge.
‘It happened in the morning I received your letter, that I was at the house of a clerical friend to see what wonders his solar microscope could produce. Appearances were in just proportion to what we had to expect from a splendid and benignant sun. The works of Nature were clothed in a very entertaining garb. Every object, tho’ ever so minute in itself, was not precluded from rising to Notice and Consequence, except by the unseasonable Intervention of an unexpected cloud.
The dark changes obtruded by a lowering and unwished sky led me to compare the amazing powers of light with the wonderful consequences of wealth. Both have the virtues to make others seem enormously big- to swell a mite to the Magnitude of an Elephant, yea and to extend the Arms of a rich person to such a surprising lengths to embrace the Hills and Dales of distant Counties’.
I always sincerely wished for the Microscope of Content to magnify res to the size of Canterbury but human life is so circumstanced in many cases that mere shades are incompetent to gratify the reasonable pursuits of man’.
Late 17th early 18th Century
Writing to John Hinchcliffe the Bishop of Peterborough about the new insolvency act.
‘It happens that dishonest farmers and graziers buy cattle with design to transfer them to others knavishly on purpose to defraud the sellers, trusting that they are not liable to a Statute of Bankruptcy’.
C1798
Writing to his recently married niece Phoebe Williams at Hendre Eynon in Pembrokeshire he offers some sound marital advice:
‘I hope that years will only tend to increase your friendship and that you will prove, as originally designed by the appointment of marriage, a mutual blessing to each therein worldly affairs and spiritual concerns. I will add no more now on this subject, than I trust you will always consult each other’s felicity not merely as matter of duty, but from habit, choice and sincere affection, which will make the bonds of wedlock quite agreeable and delightful’.
1798
Thomas wrote a poem about Sir Horatio Nelson's Victory at The Battle of the Nile in August 1798
In rain the Tyrant Gaul’s nefarious guile
Attempts to rule the many mouthed Nile
Whose billows dy’d with Gallia’s streaming gore
Like Thunder’s tongue the praise of nelson roar
His bravery to surrounding nations tell
On Skill and courage of his Captains dwell
1802
On 28th October 1802 The Kibworth Theater produced two plays, ‘School for Scandal’ and ‘Gretna Green’. It was believed that none of the poster for this production had survived until one was found among Rev. Thomas Thomas’ papers. (See Kibworth Theater-Modern) The poster appears to have been used as notepaper.
1805
Rev. Thomas Thomas writes to his nephew John Howells, newly qualified as a surgeon, at Mr. Price’s London Hospital and wishing to go to India with the East India Company. (see Rev. Thomas Thomas part 1)
‘Exactness in dates is absolutely necessary to prevent disputes and mistakes.
You spell occasion and solicit thus. Consult Johnson’s dictionary to know whether you are right or wrong in spelling these two words.
About the 20th February I expected to settle with my Isham Tenant who came to Farndon within the appointments hour, but to my disappointment - on balancing accounts I was indebted to him above £15 for rebuilding part of the barn which fell down through the unskillfulness of the first builder. Thus no money was due from that tenant.B’.
He goes on to say that he has received a request from John Howell’s parents in Abernant, Carmarthenshire asking for advice on raising £150 ‘towards an India equipment.
‘Last week I applied to a gentleman in Surrey to know if he could procure an East India Appointment for a surgeon who is exceedingly desirous of going to India on the company’s medical establishment. But I flatter not myself that my application to this gentleman will succeed. I have had some correspondence with the brother- in -law of Marquis Cornwallis- and sometime ago I knew the Marquis’s nephew - a very learned gentleman. But merely to be acquainted with such men is not sufficient to excuse an application, or to ensure success if a person has the hardiness to apply. Some are unreasonably affronted by an application and others will reply a polite answer without either meaning or caring to do an essential service to a deserving candidate’.
He continues
‘this month I was invited to a ball, I believe very cordially where the company might amount to perhaps a hundred. Some of the chief fashionables were Viscount Althorp, Sir William Wake and lady, Lieutenant General Gwynne. I declined the invitation as it would be of no service to you or to me. It is not in my power I believe to get this appointment you wish, but tis our power, thanks to God to improve ourselves as long as our faculties remain unimpaired. God, not my professed friends has enabled me by diligence, care, discretion, a constant heed to the duties of office and the blessing of health to live comfortably. My prayers are that the same god would enable you to live equally so.’
‘P.S. Time is on the wing-ready to fly off and to leave you destitute of instructing help.
Avail yourself of a goose quill to embellish your prescriptions and to arrest the quick eye of judicious taste and true elegance’.
1807
October 31st. Rev. Thomas Thomas writes to his niece Phoebe Williams and her husband William in Pembrokeshire. He is replying to news of his brother and sister’s deaths earlier in the year.
‘Notice was justly taken of their departures by relations, friends and neighbours. When I put on my black garments I consider that two of my nearest and dearest relatives were lately clothed in their last earthly robes, white as emblems of the robes of righteousness….’
He is discussing how farm leases operate in Pembrokeshire and says
’I have a lease of some grounds from Merton College for 21 years but it is renewed every 7th year by paying a fine for its renewal’
Rev. Thomas Thomas’ Verse.
Thomas never lost his love of his native home and he wrote a verse ‘In Remembrance of native Soil’ referring to Trelech, the parish where he was born at Castell Gorfod.
In Remembrance of native soil.
Trelech, I love thy Glebe & limped streams
Where first I saw the Sun’s delightful Beams,
The path of Childhood in Amazement trod
Informed of a great beholding God
who made the World around with all therein
And threatens every child of wilful sins
But for each Minor good a joy creates
superior to what’s felt in another states
’Twas always in this fame I felt the Cross made sign
And faiths allied to map of realms divine
where myriads in perfection’s candid Robe
eclipsing far the day’s meridian Globe
In triumph sing on high Redeemer’s Fame
And him adore in style of sinless Frame
Now Dust of mother mild in long Repose
And her kind wishes oft my Thoughts engross
that showed maternal need of care unfeigned
which Fondness from a Bosom grateful gained.
When parents are consigned to sacred sleep,
A right Affection will spontaneous weep,
And looks will show the feelings sore within
for wail’d demise of much regretted kin
Who breath to Jehovah resigned with steadfast hope
For second Life in Glory’s envelope
1810
Rev Thomas Thomas writes that:
mutton and beef are 8 pence a pound, cheese 7 and half pence for a pound, good wheat 5 guineas a quarter, barley 53 pence a quarter and oats 25 pence a quarter. If you recollect the 4 runts I bought last summer which cost £10 each, you may guess how dear such are this year, when I gave £12 each for runts this year which are perhaps not quite so good as those in 1809’.
1811
Writing to his niece Phoebe Williams and her husband in Pembrokeshire.
‘The human mind, I believe is seldom idle, at least it appears to my understanding. Among the different objects that occur to my thoughts, the family of Hendre Eynon is often uppermost in my thoughts.
It is a great time since I heard from you and your Darlings, therefore when you have leisure from needful avocations that require immediate notice it would give me pleasure to know that you and yours are in the enjoyment of such health as I possess every day through the Almighty’s kind beneficence.
Remember me kindly to your children, also to Thomas and Amy Skeel(his other niece)
Though I never saw either of them except Amy, there is something of natural affection marvellously fixed in the minds of relatives, never to be thoroughly eradicated but by continued ill conduct, and mutual affronts, which is not the case with us at so great a distance. I have constant occasion to thank God for uninterrupted health for many years and I sincerely aim to be sufficiently sensible of so valuable a Blessing’.
1811
Writing to his niece Phoebe Williams and her husband in Pembrokeshire.
‘I hope that you are not satisfied with only paying for the schooling of your children; but that you also bestow much time to examine them and to explain to them matters within the compass of their comprehension, age, and powers of reasoning. By examining them yourself, as often as there is an opportunity; you may do them more essential service than you can easily calculate. Some parents are too sparing in the expense of books for young scholars.- I flatter myself that you have more wisdom than to save a few pounds in their reducation fro, books which may possibly occasion to their loss of hundreds, or perhaps thousands of pounds in the course of their lives. I desire that you will without delay buy the book mentioned on the other side as very necessary for latin and Greek scholars. You can do them much good in the way of learning’.
1815 27 June
Writing to his niece Phoebe Williams and her husband in Pembrokeshire about his accident on his travels when he was 74 years old.
‘.. though I have nothing of importance to communicate as to myself going on as usual without any fit of illness, but being liable to accidents every day – I was lately reminded by providence how much exposed we daily are to accidental mishaps - in hurting my knee by crossing a ditch. The skin was not bruis’d no blackening appear’d - and the swelling was but little; yet it continued to pain me in such a manner as to make me thankful to the Almighty that I was no further injure’d - than to have the sinews some-what strain’d - which will require time to be reduc’d to their proper tone. As to the ....’
1815
Extract fromThomas Thomas’ verses 1815.
In Praise of Wine.
The Grape well us’d in Reason he commends that to improve the bliss? of Friendship tends a lov’d Hilarity of Heart inspires and fills the mind with amicable Fires.
1815
Writing to his niece Phoebe Williams and her husband in Pembrokeshire
‘ I suppose that you take the trouble of teaching your sons a little Geography as an amusement, and likewise of some advantage especially in perusing the journeys of the Israelites through the Red Sea and the River Jordan -as also the travels of St. Paul.
On a small scale everybody has some concern with Geography and Mensuration - the knowledge of which I earnestly recommend as Opportunity offers. - Some from Pembrokeshire and I imagine from every county in the United Kingdom have suffered by the bloody conflict at Waterloo, and other sanguinary contests.’ Arising this year from the vices of the Corsican Despot. ‘It is high time that you should determine what line of life your second son is to adopt that his studies may tend to qualify him for what you design.- It is no further my purpose in mentioning the propriety of your second son naming what he is to be, or at least, designs to be -than that his schooling should be directed more particularly for attaining more science in one branch than another.
Wishing the happiness of both worlds to you and your spouse and young family’.
I am Dear Sir your most humble servant TT
1815
Reference in a letter about the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte
‘May we not refer to the fingers of God – that the tyrant monster Napoleon who who has been endeavoring to ruin his Country for many years – has been compelled to surrender himself to Captain Maitland, who by today’s paper has brought the savage despot to the Coast of Britain to be delivered unto our Government’
1825
Letter from the Vicar of Kibworth James Beresford to his neighbour the Rev. Thomas Thomas.
My Dear Sir,
I congratulate you on the successful termination of your business with Messrs. Green and Ward. I cannot do so without renewing in my name and that of the parish the expression of our profoundest gratitude for your most extraordinary kindness and liberality.
You my dear sir most
faithfully and cordially and
respectfully
James Beresford, Kibworth Rectory. Wed. 21st Sept. 1825
Researched by Jeni Molyneux
Acknowledgements
Northamptonshire Record Office