Thomas Lloyd

Background

Thomas Lloyd was born in February 1640 (baptized April 17, 1640) in the parish of Meifod, Montgomeryshire (now Powys) in Wales. He was the son of Charles Lloyd of Dolobran, and Elizabeth Stanley of neighboring Shropshire.

Education

He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford. He was probably the Thomas Lloyd who graduated in January 1661/1662.

Career

Lloyd was interned at Welshpool near Dolobran from 1665 until 1672, but was allowed considerable freedom to practise his profession. He arrived in Philadelphia August 20, 1683, was appointed master of the rolls in December, and was elected to the provincial council early in 1684. The council acted as chief executive of the province from Penn's departure to England in August 1684 until it was replaced by an executive commission of five members in February 1688. Lloyd was president of the council during this period and was the most influential member of the executive commission which served until the arrival of deputy-governor John Blackwell in December 1688. He also received a commission from Penn (August 1684) as keeper of the great seal of the province.

The appointment of Blackwell, who was not a Quaker, was displeasing to Lloyd and he refused to affix the great seal to certain commissions which Blackwell had prepared. His attitude was insolent and the legality of his conduct was doubtful, but he had popular support and, in spite of Blackwell's opposition, was reelected to the council in 1689. The quarrel lasted for more than a year and was finally settled by the proprietor himself, who removed Blackwell and restored the council's executive powers. Lloyd was again chosen president of the council and served in that capacity until March 1691, when Pennsylvania was temporarily separated from the three lower counties on the Delaware.

He was then appointed deputy governor of the province, while William Markham was made deputy governor of the lower counties. When Pennsylvania became a royal province, Governor Fletcher requested Lloyd to remain in office as deputy or lieutenant governor, but he refused and was superseded by Markham in April 1693. He died in Philadelphia.

Achievements

• Lloyd was the ablest and most popular political leader in the history of Pennsylvania from 1684 to 1693, a worthy predecessor of his "kinsman" David Lloyd.

Religion

He was a member of the Society of Friends.

Politics

The dominating factors of his career were his love of democracy and his loyalty to the principles of the Society of Friends. His controversy with Blackwell involved the right of the executive to organize the judiciary and to interfere with the legislative branch of the government. He and his Quaker friends were also offended by Blackwell's efforts to establish a militia force for the defense of the province against the French and the Indians. His orthodoxy was likewise reflected in his opposition to George Keith and the so-called Christian Quakers.

Connections

Lloyd married Mary Jones of Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales, November 9, 1665. They had a large family. After the death of his first wife he was married, possibly in 1684, to Patience Story (née Gardiner), the widow of Robert Story of New York.

Father:

Charles Lloyd

Spouse:

Mary Jones

Spouse:

Patience Story

Brother:

Charles Lloyd

References

• Political Leaders of Provincial Pennsylvania (Classic Reprint)
• Quakers in the American Colonies, The
• Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania (Classic Reprint)
• History of Pennsylvania, in North Am: From the Original Institution and Settlement of that Province, under the First Proprietor and Governor William ... after the Year 1742 Vol. 2 (Historiography)