Thomas Crosby (1683–1751) was an English writer, author of ''History of the English Baptists''.

Life

Crosby was born in London, and initially was a sailor. He attended the Royal Mathematical School. A Baptist convert, Crosby was a member of the Horselydown church in Southwark. He kept a mathematical and commercial school there, from 1710 for 40 years. With John Robinson as partner in the school, Crosby had a business selling instruments, globes and books. He married a daughter of

Benjamin Keach Benjamin Keach (29 February 1640 – 18 July 1704) was a Particular Baptist preacher and author in London whose name was given to Keach's Catechism. Biography Originally from Buckinghamshire, Keach worked as a tailor during his early years ...

, as did Keach's successor as pastor, Benjamin Stinton (d. 1719). Crosby successfully advocated the divisive selection of John Gill as Stinton's successor, but then fell under a cloud with the church. Expelled, he joined the Unicorn Yard congregation (the secession of those dissatisfied with Gill), but was again pushed out. In both cases his honesty was put into question.

Works

Crosby's ''History of the English Baptists, from the Reformation to the beginning of the reign of George I'' (1738–40, 4 vols.), has biographical notices of earlier Baptist ministers, but is not acute in distinguishing different divisions of the Baptists, although Crosby acknowledged the distinctions made by Stinton. In fact, much of the materials used by Crosby were collected by Stinton. The work gave offence to Baptists when it appeared. The next historian of the English Baptists, Adam Taylor the nephew of Dan Taylor, distinguished the

Particular Baptists Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...

from the

General Baptists General Baptists are Baptists who hold the ''general'' or unlimited atonement view, the belief that Jesus Christ died for the entire world and not just for the chosen elect. General Baptists are theologically Arminian, which distinguishes them from ...

, writing about the latter. Crosby also wrote ''A Brief Reply to Mr. John Lewis's History of the Rise and Progress of Anabaptism in England'', 1738, against

John Lewis John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil rights activist who served in the United States House of Representatives for from 1987 until his death in 2020. He participated in the 1960 Nashville ...

. He supplied

Daniel Neal Daniel Neal Daniel Neal (14 December 16784 April 1743) was an English historian. Biography Born in London, he was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, and at the universities of Utrecht and Leiden. In 1704 he became assistant minister, an ...

with information on Baptists for his ''History of the Puritans''. In 1719 Crosby published ''The London Practice'', an instructional work for merchants. He wrote a ''Mariner's Guide'' (1751) or ''Complete Treatise on Navigation''. In 1749 his ''The Book-keeper's Guide'' was published.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Crosby, Thomas 1683 births Historians of Christianity English Baptists English biographers 18th-century English writers 18th-century English male writers 18th-century Baptists 1751 deaths British historians of religion