Thomas Crosby

Thomas Crosby (1683–1751) was an English writer, author of History of the English Baptists.

Life Crosby was born in London, and was initially a sailor. He attended the Royal Mathematical School.

A Baptist convert, Crosby was a member of the Horselydown church in Southwark. With John Robinson as partner in the school, Crosby had a business selling instruments, globes and books. He married the daughter of Benjamin Keach, as did Keach's successor as pastor, Benjamin Stinton (d. 1719).

Crosby successfully advocated the divisive selection of John Gill as Stinton's successor, but then fell under a cloud with the church. Expelled, he joined the Unicorn Yard congregation (the secession of those dissatisfied with Gill), but was again pushed out. In both cases, his honesty was put into question. In fact, much of the materials used by Crosby were collected by Stinton. The work gave offence to Baptists when it appeared.

Crosby also wrote A Brief Reply to Mr. John Lewis's History of the Rise and Progress of Anabaptism in England, 1738, against John Lewis. He supplied Daniel Neal with information on Baptists for his History of the Puritans. In 1749 his The Book-keeper's Guide was published.