Thomas, 1679-1747, a noted deist, was born at East Harsham, near Salisbury, where he was apprenticed to a glover, and afterwards became a tallow chandler. His parents were poor, and unable to afford him a liberal education; but, in the midst of his other avocations, he contrived to make considerable progress in scientific study. His favourite subject, however, was theology; and from discussing the question in a debating society which he himself had instituted, he soon became publicly engaged in the trinitarian controversy, then warmly agitated between Clarke and Waterland. He embodied his opinions in a dissertation, which was afterwards published under the title of The Supremacy of the Father asserted. Besides this, he published a quarto volume of tracts, and some minor practical and controversial works.