Mr. Thomas Thomas of Penlan, Whitchurch late
Manager of Melingriffith
Taken from the Western Mail - February 1882.
Funeral of Mr Thomas Thomas of Penlan Whitchurch
On Tuesday last the remains of the late Mr. Thomas Thomas
of Penlan, late manager of Melingriffith Iron & Tin Works were interred
at the Parish Church Whitchurch in the prescence of a large concourse of
mourners. The works were stopped on the occasion.
Mr Thomas was in his 76th year and became an agent in
1827 at Pentyrch & Melingriffith Iron & Tin Works. He was the great
grandson of Mr Thomas William George who was born in Bedwas in 1715 and
of his wife Miss Mary Blake who was born in 1713 and was related to the
Great Admiral Blake. Thomas William George laid the foundation stone of
Pentyrch works in 1740 and subsequently became Manager there dying at
the age of 91 years.
His son William was connected with the works for
fourteen years and afterwards became Manager of Blackworks, St Georges.
Nr Bristol. He died in 1806 at the age of 58.
The change of surname of George into Thomas or Ab Thomas
was formerly not unusual in Wales.
William Thomas born 1775 son of the last William Thomas
and grandson of Thomas William George became agent in 1797 but resigned
in 1832 and took Ely Farm after his brother-in-law. In 1843 he gave up
the farm to his son the present occupier and returned to Pentyrch where
he died in 1850. He was educated at Watford nr. Caerphilly under David
Williams (a friend of the famouse Dr.Benjamin Franklin and also of
Frederich 11 of Prussia] where he learnt the rudiments of engineering .
He surveyed the Glamorgan Canal in 1824 from the top of Cyfartha Lock
to the sill of the Sea Lock at Cardiff to ascertain the quantity of
water used which enbled him with his practical knowledge to give his
evidence clearly and explicitly on the deficiency of water to Pentyrch &
Melingriffith works in the great Law cases before Lord Chancellor Eldon
and other Lord Justices between Mr Blakemore and Glamorganshire Canal
Company which cost Mr Blakemore about £20,000.
Mr Thomas whose death we now record received his
education under Mr. Joseph Jonas at Melingriffith at the same time and
in the same school as the late Lord Justice James and the late John
Vaughan the great ironmaster of Middlesborough. He was succeeded as
Manager by his son Mr. John Thomas the present manager who is the great
great grandson of Thomas William George and the fifth successive manager
who has descended from him . He has been the Mill manger at
Melingriffith for a period of 27 years and has gained the reputation of
being one of the most practical mill managers in the kingdom in the
manufacture of Tin Plate and Sheet Iron and is a man of strict integrity
and sterling honesty in business transactions.
Also taken from the Western Mail 6th November 1883.
John Thomas died on Tuesday night at Oak Cottage son
of Thomas Thomas
Melingriffith .
After a somewhat prolonged severe illness Mr John Thomas
the respected Mill Manager of the works died on Tuesday night
12th November 1883
The funeral of Mr John Thomas
On Saturday afternoon the remains of the late Mr John
Thomas late manager of Melingriffith Tin Plate Works were interred at
the Parsh Church Whitchurch. Mr Thomas was in his 55th year and
succeeded his father 25 years ago as Manager of the works.
Any further information about the THOMAS family
would be welcomed by his descendents who are researching the family
tree?