An American Family History

John Morgan Thomas and Mary Lewis married on December 25, 1827 at Kingswood Parish Church. There are two parishes called Kingswood in Gloucestershire. They were married at the one near Wotton-under-Edge. It was in the county of Wiltshire until 1844. According to Marriages solemnized in the Parish of Kingswood in the County of Wilts, in the Year 1827

John Thomas of this Parish, bachelor and Mary Lewis of this Parish, spinster, were married in this Church by banns, 25th December 1827, by me, Thos. Thomas, Minister.
This Marriage was solemnized between us: John Thomas, Mary Lewis In the Presence of: John Salter, Susanna Lewis.
(Register reference P193 IN 1/7, page 51, no.152)

They had thirteen children: five sons and eight daughters. Charles Lewis Thomas was born in 1828 in England. When Charles was baptised, John's occupation was carpenter. Thomas Lewis Thomas was born about 1829. A Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography said that John and Mary had five sons and eight daughters.

The family emigrated to Montréal from Bristol, England in 1832 on the brig Tobago. Their daughter Elizabeth Sheppard Thomas Musson was born at sea.

John Morgan Thomas began to manufacture pianos and became one of the pioneer piano builders in Canada.

Susannah Matilda Thomas Learmouth was born October 29, 1834 and  Eliza Mary Thomas Treahy was born in 1838. 

The family moved to Toronto in 1839. John manufactured pianos in what was then Chewitt's buildings on corner of King Street and York Street. The The Rossin House Hotel was built on the same site. It became the Prince George Hotel which was demolished in 1960 and the Toronto Dominion Center was built.

Jane Eliza (Jennie) Thomas Belford was born in 1839. Francis John Thomas was born about 1843.

In 1844 John moved the family business to a new building he built on King Street called Harmony Place. It was a showroom and manufacturing plant.

Mary Sophia Thomas was born April 14, 1845. Mary died when she was only 20 months old on December 17, 1846 of whooping cough. She was buried at St. James' Cemetery, Section R. The Reverend John George Delhoste McKenzie was present.

Twins, Celia Ann Thomas Brodie and the second Mary Sophia Thomas, were born in June, 1847. The second Mary Sophia died April 16, 1850 of inflammation of the brain. She was only two years and ten months. She was buried at St. James (Section R, Lot 8, North Grave) on December 20. The Reverend Stephen Lett officiated.

John Joseph Thomas was born in January, 1850.

In 1851, John Thomas & Son exhibited a piano at the first exhibition of all nations in the Crystal Palace, London, England.

Thomas L. Thomas was born about 1850,, and Edward George Thomas was born in 1853.

They were Episcopalian and baptisms and burials were at St. James.

The 1853 Toronto Tax Assessment Rolls show they were living in St. George's Ward on King Street West. They owned their home. In the 1860 Caverhill's Toronto city directory they were on the corner of George and Duke Streets.

Thomas "Pianoforte Manufactory" 1856

In 1861 the John Thomas family was living on the north side of Duke Street. The household consisted of 56 year old John Thomas, Mary age 51, Sussanah age 26, Eliza age 24, Jane age 22, Francis age 18, Cealia age 14, John age 11, Edward age 8 and C. Hamilton age 24. Frances Thomas age 19 was listed several lines below the family. Susan has the notation L.C. under occupation and Jane has W.C.

Mary died on May 7, 1862 when she was 52 years old of "decay" in Whitby, Ontario.

The 1870 Toronto City Directory lists John Thomas on Gerrard Street.At the time of the 1871 census, they were in St. John's Ward, Toronto, York County.

John Morgan died on March 2, 1875 in Toronto of erysipelas, which is a skin infection or congestion of the lungs. He was buried with Mary at St. James Cathedral Cemetery in downtown Toronto.

Charles Lewis Thomas Piano
Wellington County Museum

The Province of Upper Canada was established in 1791 to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States. It included all of Southern Ontario and part of Northern Ontario.

from The Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Mon, Jul 24, 1905

SOME ACTS ON THE PIANO TRADE
Pioneers in the Business in Canada
Early factories in Toronto
The Star has received an interesting letter from Mr John J. Thomas superintendent of the piano department of the Bell Piano and Organ Co of Guelph respecting the establishment of the piano manufacturing industry which has now in this Province attained large proportions.

He writes as follows: Editor of The ‘Star: Under the heading "A Piano Every Hour” in your industrial number you say that in some books about the old days of Toronto it is erroneously stated that the first piano manufactured in Toronto was about 1847 by Mr. John Thomas. This I agree with you is an error but not In the sense implied- My father the late Mr. John Thomas started piano manufacturing in Montreal in 1832 and in 1839 removed his business to Toronto and manufactured pianos in Chewitt’s buildings on which is the present site of the Rossin House.

In 1844 he built and removed to the building now standing immediately west and adjoining the Princess Theater on King street. A stone is in the front of this building with the inscription Harmony Place 1844. This building was used as a wareroom with manufacture in shop in rear and above.

I might state that the first organs in St Michael's Cathedral Holy Trinity Church and I think Saint George's Church were built on these premises and most of the parts o.f these original organs are now embodied in the present ones.

I have in my possession a patent deed issued to my father in the year 1840 for what is now known and universally used as the full metallic frame (Chickering claims 1843) I have also a diploma issued to John Thomas and Son, Toronto for a piano exhibited at the first exhibition of all nations in the Crystal Palace in London, England 1851 This piano was built in Toronto.

Some few years ago I saw an upright piano in Messrs Heintzman and Co’s repair shop built by my father in Montreal in 1833. In writing this letter I feel it a case of honor to whom honor is due and that you would be pleased to be correctly informed as to any statement you should make in your valuable journal.

Messrs Drew Heintzman and Anouskle dissolved business in Buffalo in 1859. Mr Drew went to Hamilton and associated himself with C. L. Thomas my brother under the style of the Western Piano Manufactory of Canada. Mr.T. Heintzman came to Toronto and associated himself with Thomas and Co (John Thomas and G H Turner) They occupied the building immediately in rear of the Iroquois Hotel and the sign can be seen on the gable at present date Mr Turner retired and father and Mr. Heintzman removed to Duke street and after having a fire father retired Mr. Heintzman continuing with the subsequent taking in ot Mr. Charles Bender was the establishment ot the present Heintzman and Co business.

You also make the statement that Mr Murray of the firm of W A Murray and Co bought the first piano manufactured by Heintzman and Co in I860. If this date is correct the piano he bought was a Thomas piano as Heintzman and Co. were not established until 1863 or 1864. This letter will I hope convince you that the Thomases were the founders of the piano industry In Western Canada if not in the Dominion as the family have been continuously in the manufacture of pianos or organs in Canada since 1832.

There were five brothers as well as father all of whom were practical piano and organ builders. Late Charles L Thomas Hamilton Late Thomas T Thomas (at one time associated with R S Williams) Late rank J Thomas piano builder Late E G Thomas founder of Thomas Organ and Piano Co Wood-stock and your humble servant J J Thomas superintendent of the piano department of the Bell Plano and Organ Co- Guelph for the past 18 years.