Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
MUSEUM COLLECTION

Acc. 1427

Ref: MUS/84

Letters and other documents connected with the seafaring Thomas family. The letters are mostly from John and Margaret Thomas to their son John on board ship around the world, and frequently mention John’s brother David, another seaman. There are also some letters from John and David to the parents. John Thomas senior also was a mariner during his working life and frequently gives the benefit of his advice to his sons.

MUS/84/1
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son about a visit home. Sent from Aberystwyth.
24 March 1872

MUS/84/2
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son giving advice on the loading of freight. Sent from Aberystwyth.
24 July 1872

MUS/84/3
Letter from John Thomas to his son; mentions the son’s current schooner ‘Prudence’ and contains a reference to the now waterlogged ‘Credo’. Sent from Rheidol Place, Aberystwyth.
5 August 1872

MUS/84/4
Letter from John Thomas to his son mentioning three letters waiting for the recipient at the Post Office, and advising against shipping limestone to Aberdovey, suggesting clay instead. Sent from Llanrhystud.
8 August 1872

MUS/84/5
Letter from John Thomas to his son. Similar content to MUS/84/4. Sent from Llanrhystud.
8 August 1872

MUS/84/6
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. The parents are concerned about the weather, and provide news of ?siblings David and William. Sent from Cilcennin.
16 August 1872

MUS/84/7
Letter and a brief note of the same date from John and Margaret Thomas to their son concerning his correct address. The parents send many blessings after the receipt of some money, and talk of the importance of health. Mention of the ship ‘Convoy’ being left to go adrift. Sent from Aberystwyth.
25 August 1872

MUS/84/8
Letter from John Thomas to his son. The father is again concerned with a correct address, and gives more advice on potential cargo. Sent from Aberystwyth.
2?th August 1872

MUS/84/9
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. It shows concern about his safety in Padstow, and talks more about the desertion of the ship ‘Convoy’. Sent from Aberystwyth.
4 September 1872

MUS/84/10
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. John displays more concern for his son, this time over the dangers of Garston dock. Sent from Aberystwyth.
10 September 1872

MUS/84/11
Letter from John Thomas to his son asking him to write back. Sent from Aberystwyth.
13 September 1872

MUS/84/12
Letter from John Thomas to his son. Opens with an apology for the letter written the previous day, and very little sympathy for the vessel’s lost dog. Also writes of a planned trip to Runcorn to see him. Sent from Aberystwyth.
14 September 1872

MUS/84/13
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. Contains advice on bargaining over and selling cargo, and a postscript regarding a loan made to the wife of one of his colleagues, John Joseph. Sent from Aberystwyth.
5 October 1872

MUS/84/14
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. Concerns the loss of the ship’s anchor stock at Holyhead. Also the father’s plentiful advice on how to proceed. Sent from Aberystwyth.
9 October 1872

MUS/84/15
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. Further concern over the loss of the anchor stock, and the suggestion of soup made from a bullock’s head will save some rations. Also, the father suggests his son doesn’t give any coal away as the price has gone up. Sent from Aberystwyth.
10 October 1872

MUS/84/16
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. In this letter John Thomas berates him for not writing back to his two previous letters, keeping them ‘in suspense and anziety [sic]’, and further advice on buying cargo. Sent from Aberystwyth.
18 October 1872

MUS/84/17
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. A religiously themed letter, discussing the recent bad weather and the upcoming ‘storm of Death’, and much on praising the mercy of the Lord. Sent from Aberystwyth.
22 October 1872

MUS/84/18
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. More advice to do with suitable harbours and information on wind direction. Also a complaint about wasted money. Sent from Aberystwyth.
26 October 1872

MUS/84/19
Letter from John and Margaret Thomas to their son. This letters mainly concerns the next spring and whether the tides will be suitable for him to return home. Sent from Aberystwyth.
27 October 1872

MUS/84/20
Letter from John Thomas to his son. The bulk of this letter concerns the loss of one of his son’s shipmates, and what John Thomas deems an unnecessary expense in an attempt to recover him. Sent from Aberystwyth.
5 January 1873

MUS/84/21
Letter from John Thomas to his son. Expresses worry about navigating the Liverpool river and concerns about having to stop at Holyhead due to high winds. Sent from Aberystwyth. (See MUS/84/14) Only date is ‘Saturday’.

MUS/84/22
Letter from a seaman (Mrs. Thomas’s brother?) to his sister and nephews, sent from Williams Town. Letter mostly concerned with the desire to see his sister and nephews again, and eliminate the need to write letters. Briefly describes the health of Bridget (?wife) and his own.
24 March 1875

MUS/84/23
Letter from a seaman (same as above) to his sister and nephews, sent from Williams Town. Letter about a visit from his brother David, and the kind things his shipmates had to say. It ends with David getting his discharge and staying in Williams Town with his brother.
30 December 1875

MUS/84/24
Letter from John Thomas to his mother. He writes of his and the crew’s good health, briefly tells her of their trip to the Ivory Coast, and reassures her that he was safe. He also writes of the parrots, and that he would have liked to bring some home.
22 September1878

MUS/84/25
Letter from John Thomas to his mother, from ‘Benin River’ (Ivory Coast). Tells his mother of his health, the weather etc. Expresses regret that he could not get a parrot to bring home.
17 November 1878

MUS/84/26
Letter from David Thomas to his mother, c/o an address in Cardiff and sent from Newport. A brief note after only a month on board, to assure his mother he was in good health.
Dated ‘Sunday the 25th’

MUS/84/27
Letter to Mrs Thomas from Lewis Davies, concerning the death of her son John. Gives a brief description of the illness which led to John’s death on 8 December 1878.
23 February 1879

MUS/84/29
Envelope addressed to ‘Mr David Thomas on board the S.S. Nestor’ in Russia.

MUS/84/30
Letter to David Thomas from Bateson, Warr and Bateson, a firm of solicitors in Liverpool, concerning the loss of effects on board. Cheque for £3 16s 2d was enclosed.
3 April 1890

MUS/84/31
Newspaper clipping about the ‘Credo’ and the family connections to late Sen. Hubert Humphrey.
No date but post-1970

MUS/84/32
Certificate of John Thomas’ previous employment aboard the vessels ‘Candace’, ‘Prudence’ and ‘Credo’, including relevant dates, from the General Register of Seamen.
3 September 1867

MUS/84/33
Reference for John Thomas for his time aboard the ‘Credo’, signed by Thomas Jones.
6 September 1867

MUS/84/34
Certificate of discharge for John Thomas from the ‘Lois’.
18 May 1871

MUS/84/35
Certificate of discharge for John Thomas from the ‘Winifred’.
20 March 1872

MUS/84/36
Certificate of discharge for John Thomas from the ‘Rheidol Queen’.
19 November 1875

MUS/84/37
Certificate of discharge for John Thomas from the ‘Wellington’.
12 January 1875

MUS/84/38
Certificate of discharge for John Thomas from the ‘Zouave’.
30 July 1877

MUS/84/39
Excellent reference for John Thomas from his time aboard the ‘Zouave’, from Evan Jones, the master of the ‘Zouave’.
25 May 1877

MUS/84/40
Letter from the General Register of Seamen to Margaret Thomas regarding a death certificate for her son John Thomas, late of the ship ‘Agenoria’.
17 May 1879

MUS/84/41
Mariners register ticket for the merchant seaman’s fund for the elder John Thomas.
1854

MUS/84/42
Membership certificate for the Royal Liver Friendly Society for David Thomas. Includes society rules and details of benefits receivable.
1869

MUS/84/43
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas, Mill St.
1865

MUS/84/44
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1866

MUS/84/45
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas. Inscription on reverse: ‘John Thomas, Prudence’
1867

MUS/84/46
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1868

MUS/84/47
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1869

MUS/84/48
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1871

MUS/84/49
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1872

MUS/84/50
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1873

MUS/84/51
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1874

MUS/84/52
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1875

MUS/84/53
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1876

MUS/84/54
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1877

MUS/84/55
Subscription card to St David’s Lodge of the Odd-Fellows for John Thomas.
1878

MUS/84/56
Subscription card to Loyal Temple of Love Lodge for David Thomas.
1889

MUS/84/57
Bill from the Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay Steam Packet Company to John Phillips, Grocer, for freight from Bristol and Liverpool.
31 March 1867

MUS/84/58
Bill for Mrs Thomas from Edward Samuel of 10 Great Darkgate Street, shoe maker, for various boots for John and David Thomas.
8 May 1875

MUS/84/59
Letter to Gunner William Richardson, Major Jackson’s Company, 5th Battalion ?Royal Artillery, Dublin from his previous commander Edward Hackett of the 4th Battalion Royal Artillery. Contains a very good reference of Richardson’s performance 1829-1835.
There is no indication of how this document is connected to the others in the collection other than its provenance.
13 April 1835