Thomas Aldham or Aldam (c. 1616–1660) was an English farmer, who was prominent in spreading Quakerism in the Doncaster district. He worked hard to combat wrongful imprisonment of fellow Quakers.

Founder

Nothing is known of Aldham's parentage. He farmed successfully at Warmsworth, near Doncaster. In 1644, he married Mary Killam (died 1660), whom her son Thomas described as "a Woman that truly feared God, and served him in her Day and Generation."Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 30 September 2011. ODNB entry. Subscription required.
/ref> Aldham's son William was instrumental in opening the first permanent Quaker meeting house in the area, a building that survives as a private house in Quaker Lane. Aldham was an early disciple of

George Fox George Fox (July 1624 – 13 January 1691) was an English Dissenter, who was a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends. The son of a Leicestershire weaver, he lived in times of social upheaval and ...

, with whom he was instrumental in establishing the Balby meeting. Fox, who had suffered violent assaults in Tickhill and Doncaster, preached for several hours under a walnut tree in Balby in 1652 to a large crowd. (A chair in the present Doncaster Meeting House is made of wood from this tree and a table made of it was sent to America in 1967.)

Imprisoned

Aldham was imprisoned in York in 1652 for speaking in a "steeple-house" (church), and fined 40 shillings for refusing to pay taxes, keeping on his hat, and saying "thou" to the judge, in keeping with the Quaker refusal to recognize ranks among men. He was imprisoned but released after two-and-a-half years, upon application, it is said, to Oliver Cromwell. He then travelled to various prisons where Quakers were confined and tried to obtain their release. He was attacked physically by non-Quakers in 1654, 1655, and 1658. He prophesied the downfall of the Protector for disregarding his petitions, but said of

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...

, "I find nothing to this Man." Aldham is counted among the Valiant Sixty, who were active in the early days of the Religious Society of Friends. He died in Warmsworth in April 1660."Aldham, Thomas". In: ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1885–1900).

Writings

During Aldham's lifetime, the Friends grew from a small group of northern religious separatists into a national movement. Most of his writings date from the period of his imprisonment. They show an interest in wider Quaker affairs. He set about establishing contacts between northern Quakers and printers in London, and promoting the first general Quaker fund for missionary work. According to Catie Gill, author of his entry in the ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', "His political and religious ideas were sometimes quite theatrically expressed. A parliamentarian sympathizer, he nevertheless once tore his hat into shreds when he was granted an audience with Oliver Cromwell, indicating, it seems, the certain belief that the protector would soon be torn from power." He did much to document and protest against the wrongful imprisonment of Quakers. Several of his letters appeared as or in tracts in the early 1650s, and in volume form in 1690.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aldham, Thomas Converts to Quakerism English Quakers 17th-century Quakers 1610s births 1660 deaths People from the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster English religious writers Year of birth uncertain