Richard ap Thomas (1633 - 1683)

Born 1633 in St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Glamorgan, Wales

Husband of Alice (Howell) Thomas — married 1658 in St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Glamorgan, Wales

Descendants

Died 1683 at about age 50 in Chester Township, Chester, Pennsylvania

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Richard ap Thomas was born in Wales.

Richard ap was a Friend (Quaker)

Richard ap Thomas was a Pennsylvanian.

Biography

Richard ap Thomas was born in St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Glamorgan, Wales in 1633. He married Alice Howell in 1658 in Glamorgan, Wales. The family relocated from St Mary-on-the-Hill, Glamorgan to Whitford Garden in Flintshire, Wales in about 1765. (Whitford derived from White Ford (Welsh: Chwitffordd) is a village, community near Holywell in Flintshire, northeast Wales).

Richard and Alice had six children together (the first four died in infancy or early childhood, only two survived to adulthood):

1. Morgan Thomas (1660-?)- died in infancy
2. Margaret Thomas (1662-?)- died infancy
3. Ann Thomas (1665-?)- died infancy
4. Hugo Thomas (1667-?)- died infancy
5. Mary (Thomas) Parry (1668-1744)
6. Richard Thomas Jr (1672-1744)

In 1683, he and his son Richard immigrated from Wales to the American colonies aboard the passenger ship, The Morning Star. The Morning Star was part of William Penn's Fleet In 1683- they disembarked from Liverpool to Dublin to Philadelphia. Alice and their daughter Mary stayed behind in Wales.

Richard passed away in 1683 shortly after immigrating to Pennsylvania from Wales (and after purchasing 5000 acres from William Penn upon arriving in Pennsylvania). His wife Alice passed away after 1690 in Wales. Their surviving daughter Mary would later marry Llewellyn Parry in Wales and their family immigrated to the American Colonies in 1701.

Notations on Richard ap Thomas:
“ Richard ap Thomas, described as gentleman, as he was the owner of a freehold of £300 per annum, resided in Flintshire, at "Whitford Garden," or Crossforth, when he first appears in the history of the "Welsh Tract." Nothing is certain of his ancestry. He was one of the early converts to Fox's teachings. He made arrangements to remove with his wife, and two children, to Pensylvania, but his wife backed out at the last moment, and remained at home with their daughter. It is tradition among their descendants, that Mrs. Thomas was never converted to Quakerism, and therefore was not "inclined for Pensylvania." Mr. Thomas, with his only son, Richard Thomas, Jr., aged about ten years, and some servants, joined the Hugh Roberts party, and sailed from Mossom, in the ship Morning Star, of Liverpool, in Sep. 1683, and arrived at Philadelphia on 16 Nov. 1683. Mr. Thomas arrived in ill health, and died shortly, in town, without having had opportunity to attend to • !ie locating- o. his land, or even the disposal of thr goods he brought over to sell. His will, dated 18 Nov. 1683, was probably drawn up just before he died, though it was not proved till 15 Jan. 1695-G, when Richard, Jr., was of age. He devised his lands in Wales and Pensylvania to Richard, his heir, and appointed Dr. Thomas Wynne the executor and guardian of young Richard. To his wife and only daughter, he devised his personal estate in Wales.”…. Excerpted

Biographical Notations on Richard ap Thomas, father of Richard Thomas:
“ Richard Ap. Thomas of Whitford Garden Flintshire great Britain Gentleman, embracing the Tenets & practice of the Quakers (so called) Sold his Estates, & purchas'd of Wm. Penn a Grant of 5,000 acres of Land in Pennsylvania, with Life & Liberty. lots apportionment for 100 pounds sterling.

About the year 1683 he embark'd among many other Colonists with his only Son about 10 years Old, & arriv'd at the Port of Philadelphia. Soon after he fell sick made his Will, leaving his Land-rights to his Son (Thomas Wynne Executor) & died.

Richard his Son about the year 1711 Married Grace Atherton & Settled in the Great Valley in Chester County, on a Tract of his land call'd by the Indians settled there Cata-moonshink (Hazelnut grove in English).

He [Richard Thomas Jr] left one son Named Richard, & four Daughters viz. Hannah, Mary, Grace, & Elizabeth. Deceas'd about the year 1744, aged about 72 years.”…. Excerpted from bio on Find-Grave

Sources

• Richard ap Thomas had purchased 5000 acres from William Penn after arriving in Pennsylvania from Wales with his son Richard Jr. in 1683….

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226563426/richard-thomas : accessed 08 October 2021), memorial page for Richard Thomas Jr. (1672–1744), Find a Grave Memorial ID 226563426, citing Thomas Family Burial Ground, East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Flababo (contributor 47225301); [Find-Grave of his son, Richard Thomas Jr]

• Legacy NFS Source: Richard Thomas - Government record: death: after 1683; Pennsylvania, United States

• https://www.many-roads.com/xoda/Documents/Library/United_States/Pennsylvania/Welsh_settlement_of_Pennsylvania.pdf