Rev. Thomas Morgan Thomas

Thomas Morgan Thomas

"Thomas Morgan Thomas was born on 13 Mar 1830, at Bridgend, South Wales. He was appointed to the Matabele Mission with the London Missionary Society. He was ordained on 11 May 1858, and married Anne Morgan in the same year. They sailed on 5 Jun 1858, and arrived at Cape Town on 14 Jul. From Kuruman, they left left for Matabeleland in Jul 1859. At Liteyana, Sechele's headquarters, he was joined by Robert Moffat and Mr Sykes. They proceeded together to Matabeleland, arrived at Moselekatse's Town, 28 Oct, and on 23 Dec, settled in the valley of Inyati, which had been granted to them by the Moselekatse. Mrs Thomas died at Inyati in Jun 1862. He remarried to Caroline Hutchinson Elliott. His connection with the Society ceased in 1872. He afterwards returned to Matabeleland. he died at Shiloh, Matabeleland, on 8 Jan 1884."

Quote from SOAS Archive Catalogue - http://squirrel.soas.ac.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqSearch=((text)='Thomas%20morgan%20thomas')&dsqPos=1

died 8 Jan 1884, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). He attended Mzilikazi during his last illness and was also present at the coronation of Lobengula.

Married Anne (Annie) Morgan who died 10 June 1862 aged 22

Children

1. Evan Morgan 1859 Griquatown. Murdered Oct 1878 p 43 aged 20
2. Charles David 1860 Murdered 1886 by his cook p47
3. Annie died 7th June 1862 aged 2 months
4. SAG says Maggie but seems unlikely as -

When Mrs Thomas died in 1862 aged 22 she left 3 year old Morgan and 2 year old David. Thomas took the children to the Cape, from where they were sent to Wales in 1871. They were away for about 10 years. On his return he left the Society and started working independently at Shiloh, half way between Bulawayo and Inyati.

"Mr. and Mrs. Moffat had scarcely left when my beloved wife and three children were prostrated by fever. They were taken ill on May 29th. The baby died on June 7th, and Mrs. Thomas early on the morning of the 10th. They were both buried under an acacia where more recently, several other white people have had their last resting place." [1]

Thomas went home to Wales in 1871.

2nd Marriage of Thomas Morgan Thomas was Caroline Hutchinson Elliot, youngest daughter of Rev. William Elliott of the London Missionary Society at Cape Town. Born Mowbray Cape in 1839 Died Bethlehem OFS 1905 aged 66. She learnt the Matabele language and translated the New Testament into Sindebele.

She had 11 children in 17 years - on her DN (ZIM) 9/280 reference is made to 9 children but the list has not been located.

The following has been gleaned from [2]

• The first in 1865 – Ebenezer and Samuel died at Shiloh in childhood.
• Daughter Mrs Caroline born 1869 Inyati 4th? child– married 1st Argent Kirton killed in Dec 1893 p48 3 children from this marriage – farm Farleigh Transvaal. 3 year old *daughter drowned 2nd marriage Kirkham of Zeerust
• Gwendoline
• Charles Celt Thomas (Charlie) – at sea on journey to Wales aboard the Celt
• a child born in Wales
• born 1875 in Inyati
• daughter who married Baron von Ahlefeldt
• daughter Margaret who was about 11 years old in 1889
• Sidney 9 years old in 1889
• John 8 years old in 1889
• Thomas died in 1884 enteric. One of the daughters named Caroline left Shiloh Nov 1889

Guide to the historical manuscripts in the National Archives of Rhodesia

Entry on page 470 reads

"THOMAS, Thomas Morgan (jr) (1875-1949 REF TH 3 TM Thomas was born 11.8.1875, the son Rev TM Thomas the well known missionary in the service of the London Missionary Society and of his wife Caroline Hutchinson Nee Elliott). Young Thomas spent his childhood in Matabeleland where Sindebele became his second tongue. After his father's death Thomas remained at Shiloh with his mother and her younger children until 1888 when he was sent to school at Zeerust. He subsequently entered the Post Office working both at Zeerust and Kroonstad. In 1897 when the Chartered Company's service was being re-organised. He joined the Southern Rhodesian Native administration as an Assistant Native Commissioner obtaining a promotion to full Native Commissioner in 1911. Thomas saw service in many parts of S Rhodesia, including Bulalima, Bubi, Belingwe, Insiza, Selukwe, Wankie and Gwelo, finally retiring in 1935. During the Second World War he temporarily joined the administration to work in the Veterinary Dept., In addition he was for long an Assessor or in the High Court for the purpose of advising on native law and customs.

Articles (TH 3/1/1-4) How I nearly assaulted a reigning monarch"; "Smacking Lobengula's face"; "Execution of Prince Hlangabeza"; and "Bayete".

Diary TH 3/2/1: 1898 Work as an Assistant Native Commissioner at Fort Mlugulu: patrolling; engagement of staff; disarmament of natives; procurement of labour: tours and visits; native disputes; collection of hut tax and other matters.

With the "articles" notes I think you should also have a look at NADA - the Native Commissioners publications - published by the Historical Society of Rhodesia.

[1] See Extracts from Thomas Morgan Thomas, Eleven Years in Central South Africa, 1873, p. 219

[2] Boggie Jeannie M. (1940) First Steps in Civilizing Rhodesia Philpott & Collins, Ltd. Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia.