GREY
,
THOMAS
(
1733
-
1810
),
Independent minister
;
son of
William
Grey
of
Llangyfelach, Glam.
, and christened there
26 Dec. 1733
. He began life as a
collier
. It is said that he experienced conversion when a number of his mates were killed in a
colliery accident
on a day upon which he had been sent on an errand to
Neath
. This was probably in
1754
, for five men were buried at
Llangyfelach
on
11 Oct.
of that year, one bearing the name of
John
Grey
. He became a member of the
Congregational church
at
Tir Dwncyn
or
Mynydd-bach
,
Llangyfelach
, and was encouraged to prepare for the ministry. On
3 Oct. 1757
he entered the Academy kept by
David
Jardine
(q.v.)
at
Abergavenny
. Grants were made to him from the
Congregational fund
in
Jan. 1758 and 1759
. Upon the death of
Philip
Pugh
(q.v.)
in
1762
he was called to be
pastor of the Independent churches
at
Llwynpiod
and
Abermeurig, Cards.
He m.
Letitia
(
née
Jenkins
)
, widow of
Theophilus
Jones
of
Blaenplwyf
,
Llanfihangel Ystrad
, a
local squire
upon whose death in
1758
William
Williams
,
Pantycelyn
, wrote an elegy. They settled at
Sychbant
,
Nantcwnlle
, a farm on the
Blaenplwyf estate
. Their only daughter
Letitia
was born
about 1767
. She m.
John
Hughes
(
1760
-
1813
),
vicar
of
Nantcwnlle
and
Llanddeiniol
;
William Gray
Hughes
,
vicar
of
Mathry
, a young
clergyman
of great promise who d. aged thirty-two, in
1824
was one of their children.
Thomas
Grey
co-operated with
Daniel
Rowland
,
Llangeitho
, and
preached
regularly at
Llangeitho
and at other
Calvinistic Methodist
chapels and Associations. He
established Nonconformist churches
at
New Quay
,
Llanarth
,
Ffos-y-ffin
, and
Llanddewi Aberarth
. Upon his death,
2 June 1810
, his churches joined the
Calvinistic Methodist presbytery
, and the nucleus of the older nonconformity in the upper reaches of the
Ayron valley
was lost.
Grey
is said to have been remarkable for his wisdom, and to have been of great service to the
Calvinistic Methodists
in their organization. He is described as a man of great stature, rough mien, and a majestic figure in his large Puritan wig. Though he is generally styled ‘
Gray
’ he himself used the surname ‘
Grey
.’ Elegies upon his death, by
H.
Harries
and
Joseph
Richard
, were printed at
Aberystwyth
1810
.
Bibliography:
-
Griffith Jones (Glan Menai)
,
Enwogion Ceredigion
, 1869
, 55-6;
-
J. Evans
,
Byr-gofiant am naw a deugain o Weinidogion
Ymadawedig sir AberteifiYr
Ail Fyr-GofiantY Trydydd
Byr-Gofiant
, 1894; [1908]; , 1913
, 60-3;
-
Hanes Eglwysi Annibynnol Cymru
, ii, 16;
- Minutes of the Congregational Board;
- Mynydd-bach church book;
- Llangyfelach register;
- tombstones at Nantcwnlle;
-
National Library of Wales Manuscript
6405.
Author:
Evan David Jones, F.S.A., (1903-87), Aberystwyth
