Matthew THOMAS

  General Notes:

Innkeeper of All Saints parish in 1758. Sword bearer to Mayor. Freeman of Hereford 1760/1

EXTRACT FROM ' HEREFORD JOURNAL' DATED WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1796.
On Wednesday died, in the 62d year of his age, Mr. Matthew Thomas, of the Bowling Green, and Sword-bearer to the Mayor and Corporation, of this city.- He was a man very generally known, and highly respected by all ranks. By early reading, and a retentive memory, he became the pleasant companion of his numerous friends; and his zeal was unbounded, whenever his exertions were likely to promote the interest of the community, or the welfare of the individual.

EXTRACT FROM THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE FOR JULY, 1796.
July .9. In his 62d year, Mr. Matthew Thomas, many years master of the Bowling green coffee-house, and sword-bearer to the mayor and corporation of Hereford. He was a man generally known and respected by all ranks. By early reading and a retentive memory he became the pleasant companion of his numerous friends; and his zeal was unbounded wherever his exertions were likely to promote the interests of the community, or the welfare of the individual.

Bowling Green public house, Site of Bewell Spring & possibly, the Mikveh:
It is believed Hereford had a mikveh, the ritual bath. These were frequently of great depth as they had to be fed by a natural spring. Some six medieval mikveh are known in Germany. At Worms nineteen stone steps give access to the entrance hall and a further eleven to the mikveh itself. It is possible that the Hereford mikveh was located to the north of Bewell Street, only a hundred yards or so from the western end of Maylord Street. There the requisite mixture of rain and added drawn water could have been easily obtained.

From Jean Dobson of Hereford (jld1801@btinternet.com)
THOMAS, Mathew. On 2 March 1761, Mathew Thomas was admitted & sworn a Freeman - for £5 - Foreigner, but late apprentice to George Bradford, weaver: [AdmC, CAc, HCCM, RF].
Mathew, son of William Thomas & Anne, was baptised on 3 October 1734: [St John the Baptist]. Mathew's parents may have been William Thomas (of St John the Baptist, yeoman, bachelor, aged about 33 years) & Anne Croon (of Sutton, Hfdsh, spinster, aged about 26 years) who married at Hereford Cathedral on 10 October 1726, by deanery licence. Possibly relevant: Anne, daughter of Thomas Croone & Joan, was baptised on 14 December 1699: [Sutton St Nicholas].
In the first half of the 1700s, there were several men in the City of Hereford with the name of William Thomas - making it difficult to discover which one was Mathew's father. Given the fact that Mathew Thomas eventually became an innkeeper, it is interesting to note that a man named William Thomas was sworn the College Brewer & Baker at a Chapter Meeting held on 27 October 1721: [Dean & Chapter Minutes]. It is also interesting to note that there had been a William Thomas, innholder, in the City of Hereford. On 21 November 1734, it was ordered that Mary, the widow of William Thomas, innholder, have £1 of Gardiner's Charity Gift: [HCCM].
Mathew Thomas petitioned at least twice for his Freedom. On the earlier occasion, he had petitioned on the basis of his apprenticeship to George Bradford of City of Hereford, weaver & woolcomber; however, it was rejected because of some doubt about his servitude. According to his second petition (undated), he had been promised admission on payment of a small fine of £5 - which he was willing to pay. At the HCC Meeting on 24 February 1761, it was ordered that Mathew Thomas, apprentice to George Bradford, weaver & woolcomber, be admitted on payment of £5 there being some irregularity in his service. [HCCM] The £5 was paid. [CAc]. The Admission Certificate records nothing of this irregularity - it stating that Matthew Thomas apprentice to George Bradford weaver was admitted & sworn a Freeman.
If Matthew Thomas was an innkeeper in 1758, it is interesting to speculate about which inn he held. In 1759, Thomas Smith was the innholder of the Bowling Green: [HCCM]. When the order was made on 8 December 1767 for a lease of the Bowling Green to be granted to Matthew Thomas, the wording of the order suggests that this was the first grant of a lease by the HCC of the Bowling Green to Matthew Thomas. The lease is dated 29 February 1768: [ref: G.H. 1/49]. The yearly rent was £15 with covenants that the premises be put in good tenantable repair, the same to be kept & left in such repair by the tenant.
Mathew Thomas voted in 1761 (maltster) & 1784 (of All Saints, victualler).
The Hereford Journal was first published in 1770. In 1770, Matthew Thomas placed an advertisement - wanted an apprentice to a good handicraft business - he must be a sturdy lad, not under 14 years of age, industrious, & not averse to confinement. Such an one, by applying to Mr Matthew Thomas at the Bowling Green, in this City, may hear of a master who will take him on moderate Terms. [HJ, 20 September 1770]. [jld: It is unlikely that Matthew Thomas was wanting the lad for his own business. Back in those days, publicans & their wives often acted, in effect, as an Employment Agency - helping to bring together masters who needed an employee & people who needed a job.]

[jld: the Bowling Green was one of the large pubs in the City of Hereford - so events were often held there - some of which were advertised in the Hereford Journal - I have given one example here] Hereford Races, 1778 - Tuesday 11th August + 12th & 13th .... There will be an ordinary each day at the Town Hall; and a Ball each night at the Music Room. Tickets to be had at Mr. RAVENHILL's Toy-shop. A public breakfast at MATTHEW THOMAS's at the Bowling Green, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, at 1s. each. The course is in exceedingly fine order, and great care will be taken to keep off the crowd. Frederick CORNEWALL, esq. Steward.] [HJ, 6 August 1778]


I know that Matthew Thomas had at least one child - as the son (also of the same name) became a Freeman of the City of Hereford. On 30 August 1787, Matthew Thomas jnr of London, draper, was admitted & sworn a Freeman - for 5s - eldest son of Matthew Thomas, victualler. [RF + CAc, HCCM].

Matthew married Sarah ROGERS, daughter of John ROGERS and Sarah, on 16 May 1758 in St John Baptist, Hereford, England. (Sarah ROGERS was christened on 27 Dec 1735 in St. John the Baptist, Hereford, England.)