User:WilyD/William Case/Thomas Madden

Thomas Madden was a Methodist circuit rider, aligned with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Born in 1780 in Cambridge, New York, Madden's family moved to Earnestown, Upper Canada in 1789. During a visit to his hometown of Cambridge in 1797, to visit old friends, he was exposed to Methodist preachers. While there, he converted, becoming deeply pious. Returning to Upper Canada, he began exhorting, then preaching locally, before being accepted on trial by the New York conference in 1802. That year, he was assigned to ride the Long Point circuit, with Nathan Bangs. In 1803 he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit. At the 1804 conference he was ordained a Deacon and an Elder, and assigned to the Oswegotchie circuit. At the 1805 conference, a new circuit was creaked around Smith's Creek, and Elder William Case assigned Madden to it. In 1806, he was moved to the Long Point Circuit. Madden was assigned to Montreal by the Bishop Asbury at the 1807 conference. Before he made his way there, however, he was re-assigned the Quebec City Circuit by the Presiding Elder of the Lower Canada District, Samuel Coate. There were few Methodists in Quebec City, and the church's meager takings there could more readily support a single man than a married man and his family. With Madden as the town preacher, membership in the Methodist church increased from 10 to 12. Madden was again assigned to Montreal at the 1808 conference, and that year it stuck. Under his watch, membership in the Methodist church increased from 16 to 28 individuals. In 1809, Madden was assigned to the Ottawa Circuit. In the winter of 1809, he married Miss Mary Brakenridge, the daughter of magistrate David Brakenridge, who resided near Brockville. Madden had minor success in increasing the Methodist rolls on the Ottawa Circuit that year. In 1811 he rode the Charlotte Circuit in New York, and again in 1812. This was followed in 1813 with an appointment to the Brandon Circuit in Vermont.

Despite the war, Madden was assigned to Canada West in 1814, and managed to travel there successfully. He rode the Augusta circuit. Madden had a son born June 26th, 1814 in Augusta, who was baptised by Henry Ryan on October 17th. Madden was back on the Augusta Circuit in 1815, alongside Andrew Prindle. The pair saw an increase of twenty-nine members that year. In 1816 he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte Circuit with John Rhodes. Despite the competition between the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Madden belonged, and the Methodist Church of Great Britain, which had begun sending its own missionaries into the Canadas, the membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church on the circuit increased by one hundred six individuals. He remained on the Bay of Quinte circuit in 1817, assisted by Nathaniel Reeder. Competition with the British church remained fierce, however, membership in the American church increased from 730 to 755 members that year.

In 1818, Madden was assigned to the Hallowell circuit, alongside John Tuke. He remained on the Hallowell circuit in 1819, this time with Franklin Metcalf. The circuit was much reduced in size that year, after the restoration of the Smith's Creek circuit, and returned only 203 members. In 1820, he was assigned to the Belleville circuit. Membership in the Episcopal church on that circuit remained steady at 156 that year. In 1821, he was assigned to the Smith's Creek circuit. Membership numbers were recorded jointly between Smith's Creek and the neighbouring Duffin's Creek circuit, which was ridden by David Youmans. Between the two circuits, membership increased from two hundred fixty six to three hundred twenty seven. In 1822, he was assigned to the Augusta circuit. There he was accompanied by Solomon Waldron. In 1823, he was assigned to the Augusta circuit, where he rode alongside Joseph Castle Church membership on the circuit increased by 61.