Thomas Roberts

Thomas Roberts (1765/66–1841) was a Welsh radical writer.

Personal life Roberts was a son to William and Jane Roberts of Llwyn'rhudol. He was baptized at Llwyn'rhudol Uchaf in the parish of Aber-erch near Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire. In 1802, Roberts practiced at the firm of Weatherby and Roberts, goldsmiths and then worked at the firm of Thomas and R. J. Roberts in 1805. The radical pamphlet became a Welsh Enlightenment with the purpose of developing the Welsh language for learning and furthering sentiments of cultural distinctiveness to support Welsh Nationalism in the 19th century. The pamphlets used English to brand expressions and people as hostile to Wales and the Welsh language.

Roberts joined in challenging the clerical privilege enjoyed by the Established church and wrote against the civic inequalities experienced by the dissenters of Methodism in 18th-19th century Wales. Thomas picked up on the 'Apostles of Liberty' Richard Price and Joseph Priestley's demands for liberty of conscience as well as Thomas Paine's condemnation of 'priestcraft' as a pillar of corruption. His writings attacked tithing and the establishment of churches by a state. Roberts' pamphlets were satirized by Methodist Poet Evan Pritchard, who stated that Roberts had sent him a book from London that contained a complaint against the Methodist Bishops. Although Pritchard stated that he did not have much to say against Roberts, he suggested that he disliked Roberts' accusations. The Welsh Interpreter (London, 1831, second edition, 1838). Y Byd a Ddaw, by Isaac Watts (appeared in 1829) a re-issue of a translation by W. E. Jones (Gwilym Cawrdaf). Y Ffordd i Gaffael Cyfoeth neu Rhisiart Druan (London, 1839), based on Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard. He contributed to Welsh newspapers and periodicals of the period in both English and Welsh.