Charles John Thomas
Born 20 Nov. 1832 at Burnley, Lancashire, England.[1] Son of James Knowles Thomas and Margaret Spotswood.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1 Sept. 1850.[3] Married Charlotte Gibbs, 26 June 1854.[4] Prolific music composer, 1859–1916.[5] Sailed with his mother and sister to New York, arriving 16 June 1860.[6] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the Joseph Horne pioneer company, arriving 23 Sept. 1861.[7] Appointed as director of the Salt Lake Theater Orchestra and led Captain Ballo’s Band, 1862.[8] Directed the Tabernacle Choir, 13 Apr. 1862–Nov. 1865.[9] Participated in polygamy.[10] Appointed by Brigham Young to teach music in St. George, Washington Co., Utah Territory, Nov. 1865, and Beaver, Beaver Co., Utah Territory, 1868–1871.[11] President and musical director of the Deseret Sunday School Musical Union; directed major children’s concerts, 1875–1876.[12] One of seven presidents of the Eighth Quorum of Seventy, 1885.[13] Served a mission to Great Britain, Apr. 1885–Sept. 1887.[14] Led the Temple Choir, 1894–1918.[15] EBW heard him speak or perform music at various events she attended, 1897–1902.[16] Died 31 Mar. 1919 at Salt Lake City.[17]
[1] “Charles John Thomas,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 20 Mar. 2020). Church of England, St. Peter’s Church, Burnley, Lancashire, England, Parish Registers, 1562–1920, Baptisms, 1813–1865, p. 238, Charles John Thomas, microfilm 1517690, DGS 4420867, image 1291/2013, FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 20 Mar. 2020), Charles John Thomas (KWCX-BQL).
[2] Church of England, St. Peter’s Church, Burnley, Lancashire, England, Parish Registers, 1562–1920, Baptisms, 1813–1865, p. 238, Charles John Thomas, microfilm 1517690, DGS 4420867, image 1291/2013, FHL.
[3] Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Part 1, Twelfth–Thirteenth Ward, Segment 2, Charles J. Thomas, CR 375 8, box 7111, folder 2 (limited access), CHL. “Charles John Thomas,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 20 Mar. 2020).
[4] “Charles John Thomas,” Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1932, database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com, accessed 18 May 2020.)
[5] Charles J. Thomas Collection, 1859–1916, Printed Music by the Author, MS 4362, box 1, folder 3, CHL.
[6] “Charles J. Thomas,” Saints by Sea (https://saintsbysea.lib.byu.edu/, accessed 24 Mar. 2020).
[7] “Charles John Thomas,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 20 Mar. 2020). “Founder of Music in Utah Is Dead,” Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Apr. 1919, 10.
[8] David R. Gill, “Some Musical Memories of the Early Days in Utah,” Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Jan. 1912, 34. “Music and Musicians,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 16 Apr. 1910, 21. “Tickets for ‘Produce at Cash Prices to Be Had at the Globe,’” Evening Telegram (Salt Lake City), 23 Mar. 1914, 4. “First Utah Orchestra Organized for Theater,” Deseret News, 12 Apr. 1947, 5.
[9] “Mormon Tabernacle Choir Music Directors—Past to Present,” Tabernacle Choir Blog (https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/past-choir-directors.html, accessed 20 Mar. 2020).
[10] “Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, Sealings of Couples, vol. D, 22 Nov. 1861–29 Dec. 1866, p. 94, line 4987, Charles John Thomas and Annie Chunn, 30 Aug. 1862, microfilm 1149514, DGS 7226455 (restricted access), FHL.
[11] “Home Telegraph,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 23 Jan. 1867, 29. J. F. Tolton, “‘Reminiscences’ of Olden Times and Places,” Beaver (UT) Press, 11 Aug. 1933, 1.
[12] George Goddard, “Correspondence, Deseret Sunday School Musical Union,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 11 Aug. 1875, 3. “A Card,” Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 24 Feb. 1876, 3.
[13] Charles John Thomas to Franklin D. Richards, 13 Apr. 1885, First Presidency, Missionary Calls and Recommendations, 1877–1918, CR 1 168, box 2, folder 21, CHL.
[14] “Charles John Thomas,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 20 Mar. 2020).
[15] “A Pleasant Occasion,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 18 Dec. 1894, 1. “Temple Choir Notice,” Deseret Evening News, 14 Jan. 1918, 9. Charles Roscoe Savage, Photographer, Salt Lake Temple Choir, 1895, PH 2798 DUP, CHL.
[16] EBW, Diary, 29 Oct. 1897; 19 Nov. 1898; 2 Dec. 1900; 17 Feb. and 4 Aug. 1901; 6 July 1902.
[17] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 20 Mar. 2020); Utah Department of Health, Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 730/520 (1919), Chas. John Thomas. “Founder of Music in Utah Is Dead,” Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Apr. 1919, 10.