THOMAS FAMILIES
THE THOMAS FAMILY OF MASSACHUSETTS:
Source: Harry Mason Palmer III & Myrtle Lucille Veale (1969)
1. CHARLES WESLEY THOMAS, in the London area of England
Notes for JOHN WESLEY THOMAS:
As written by Harry Mason Palmer III
“The record of Charles Wesley Thomas is not as complete as I would like. The Thomas Family Bible was not available and what records I have gleaned from information supplied by Mrs. Charles C. Veale of Daviess County, Indiana, whose husband is related”.
EARLY THOMAS NOTES:
Source: PEDIGREE CHART by Mrs. Virginia Ginger” LeMay-Stender of Kent, Washington State
1. JOHN THOMAS, b. about 1621, d. 1691 he m, SARAH PITNEY, she b. 1628, d. January 02, 1681/2
CHILD:
2. ISREAL THOMAS I, b. 1640 on Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts he m. Unknown in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
CHILD:
3. ISREAL THOMAS II, b. 1670, he m. Unknown
CHILD:
4. BERTHA THOMAS, b. March 04, 1704/5 in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
END OF NOTES:
Child of JOHN WESLEY THOMAS & UNKNOWN Family
+ 2. JOHN THOMAS
GENERATION TWO****************************************************
1st member of Charles Wesley Thomas & Wife Unknown Family
2. JOHN THOMAS (CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. circa 1625 in Morgan near London, England he m. LYDIA WETERMAN
Notes for JOHN THOMAS:
He came to Massachusetts in 1635 from London. The Broderbund CD, Shipping Logs does show a JOHN THOMAS who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1635 as a single person aged 10 years old.
Notes for LYDIA WETERMAN:
The New England record shows that NO WETERMAN’S were in Massachusetts until around 1640.
Child of JOHN THOMAS & LYDIA WETERMAN is:
+ 3. JOHN THOMAS M. D
GENERATION THREE**************************************************
1st member of John Thomas M. D. & Lydia Weterman Family
3. JOHN THOMAS M. D. (JOHN 2, CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. 1724, d. 1776
Note #1: The next entry comes from the Maryland DAR stating that JOHN THOMAS M. D. is from the MASSACHUSETTS THOMAS FAMILY
Note #2: Mrs. Emily Terrell of New Mexico, a member of the Indiana Thomas family and I have had a long discussion on the Thomas Family. (Including these findings):
Notes for JOHN THOMAS M. D.:
Emily and I believe that the M. D. is not for Medical Doctor, but is for Maryland.
Military service: Served in the War of Revolution
It would only be an assumption that this JOHN THOMAS was born in Maryland, but not proven. In looking at the 1790 Census of Maryland that this John would not have been listed as he died in 1776
However, the 1790 Census of Maryland shows two separate families.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
DAVID THOMAS (page 10)
2 white males 16 and older (b. before 1775)
2 white females
4 slaves
WASHINGTON COUNTY
JOHN THOMAS (page 10)
1 free white male 16 and older (b. before 1774) {JOHN}
2 free white males 16 and under (b. after 1774)
4 free white females
JOHN THOMAS (page (?)
3 free white males + 16 (b. before 1774)
2 free white males – 16 (b. after 1774)
4 white females
9 slaves
DAVID THOMAS (page 14)
1 free white male + 16 (b. before 1774 {DAVID}
2 free white males – 16 (b. after 1774)
2 white females
JOHN THOMAS (page 14; 13 names down the list)
2 free white males + 16 (b. before 1774)
1 free male – 16 (b. after 1774)
1 free white female
Note: Herein lays a big problem in just who belongs to whom. There is a WILLIAM THOMAS who married URSULA VEALE of the family of CHRISTOPHR VEALE and he WILLIAM THOMAS brought his brother JOHN THOMAS with him to Maryland. This marriage took place on January 11, 1760 in Ludvgan, Cornwall, England. Here we have two THOMAS families in the same area of Maryland at the same time. (RLV)
Again using the Harry Mason Palmer III report:
Children of JOHN THOMAS (M. D.) and wife unknown are:
+ 4. i. DAVID THOMAS
+ 5. ii. BENNETT THOMAS
GENERATION FOUR****************************************************
1st member of John Thomas (M. D.) & Wife Unknown family
3. DAVID THOMAS (JOHN (M. D. 4, JOHN 2, CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. 1762, d. 1831 he m. 1st ELIZABETH HARPER, she d. 1800 and he m. 2nd JEANETTE TURNER
Children of DAVID THOMAS & 1st Wife ELIZABETH HARPER are:
+ 6. i. WILLIAM THOMAS, b. 1791, d. 1863
+ 7. ii. GRANDISON THOMAS
+ 8. iii. ORMS or ORMES Thomas, b. 1780, d. 1790
2nd member of John Thomas (M. D.) & Wife Unknown Family
5. BENNETT THOMAS (JOHN M. D.) 3, JOHN 2, CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. 1769 in Maryland, d. 1855
NOTE: Due to the fact that we only have one BENNETT THOMAS ever found in Daviess County, Indiana, and that he was born August 26, 1796 in Kentucky, and with the speculation that he, BENNETT removed with his parents from Maryland to South Carolina. Later he removed to Kentucky where his son BENNENT was born on August 26, 1796 in Kentucky.
NOTE #2: The 1790 & 1800 Census of South Carolina shows no Bennett Thomas. This would indicate that their longevity in South Carolina was for only a very short time.
NOTE #3: However, in the Kentucky 1810 Census’ two Bennett Thomas’ shows up.
1810 JASSAMINE COUNTY, KENTUCKY CENSUS
BENNETT THOMAS
1 male 36-26 (b. 1746-1784)
2 females 26-45 (b. 1764-1783)
2 males 10-16 (b. 1794-1800)
4 males – 10 (b. after 1800)
2 females – 10 (b. after 1800)
1810 WASHINGTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY CENSUS
BENNETT THOMAS
3 males – 10 (b. 1800-1810)
1 male 16-45 (b. 1765-1774)
3 males – 10 (b. 1800-1810)
3 females – 10 (b. 1800-1810)
Notes for BENNETT THOMAS:
According to the American Biographical Dictionary, Published by Scibbner, the Thomas Family came to Daviess County, Indiana in 1818.
Due to the fact that no 1800, 1810 or 1820 personnel census records exist in Daviess County, Indiana, I’ll place the notes of Emily Terrell in at this time. (RLV)
1). We know that Bennett spent time in Kentucky between leaving Maryland {where he and his son was born according to the 1850 Daviess County, Census} A number of his children were born in Kentucky, including my great grandfather Solomon was born (1850 Census) and arriving in Indiana {where son William was born} (1850 Census + family lore}
2). A BENNETT THOMAS appears in the Kentucky tax-rolls for 1800 in Washington County, Kentucky (there are a lot of other Thomas’ of Washington County, Kentucky, including ENOS. ISAAC, JOHN. LAWRENCE, LEWIS, OWEN and WILLIAM, of these names only BENNETT, JOHN and WILLIAM recur in our branch of the family.
3). BENNETT THOMAS appears in the JESSIMINE COUNTY, KENTUCKY Census (see above). This is a pretty good match with all the other information we have about BENNETT’S family.
4). The family tradition was that Thomas’ migrated to Indiana with the Lincoln’s. I seriously doubt that they were intimates, but they might have come along the same route about the same time, as a part of the general influx when Indiana became a State in 1816. Son William was born 1817 {1850 Census}, and Bennett purchased his farm in Washington Township on October 23, 1818, paying $400.00 for 203 acres located at Section 7, Township 2, Range 11. {I like this description better: “From SE corner for 123 rods to a white oak tree, then west to the bank of White River and south along the river”.
Me too, I like your description far better, as Township 2 is Veale Township and not Washington Township. We all know that Thomas Bluff in Washington Township. As for the Lincoln family on the intimates, the Lincoln’s, Thomas’, Veale’s, and Palmers were all good friends. Abraham did stop at the homesteads during his many trips back to Kentucky to visit his mother. There are old photos that show all the named persons at the log cabin Church & School at Maysville where the current Maysville Church now stands. So much so that we Veale’s have a member nicknamed “Little Abe”. (RLV)
Again Emily Terrell’s comments: How might a family in JESSAMINE COUNTY, KENTUCKY (listed above) match later in Indiana data? Very unfortunate, the 1820 Daviess County, Indiana Census is missing. {There were 77 head-of-household THOMAS’ listed in Indiana, including a number of DAVID’S, JAMES’, SOLOMON’S, and possibly NATHAN, and the unknown who might have died young; two females – 10 were MARY THOMAS COLEMAN {MRS. DAVID, and ELIZABETH ANN BACHLOR {MRS. GEORGE}.
My comments:
From what has been found it is my opinion that DAVID THOMAS, b. 1762, d. 1831 did not arrive in Daviess County, Indiana, but his second wife JEANETTE TURNER did with three or four of his children, now as far as BENNETT THOMAS b. 1769 in Maryland, d. 1855 never arrived in Daviess County, Indiana, however we may have a missing generation. There are two known DAVID THOMAS’ who arrived in Daviess County, Indiana. One being a young DAVID from Wales and the second, the son of BENNETT THOMAS & ELIZABETH (RLV)
Due to the factor that there is only a good belief with nothing solid to confirm that #5 in this part to justify placing him in this area of this family (RLV)
THE 1830 DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA CENSUS:
BENNETT THOMAS
1 male 5-10 (b. 1820-1825) (?)
1 male 20-30 (b.1800-1810)
1 male 20-30 (b. 1800-1810) {probably Solomon who did not marry until 1833}
1 male 50-60 (b. 1770-1780) {Bennett}
1 female 15-20 (b. 1810-1815) {probably DELILA}
1 female 50-60 (b. 1770-1880) {ELIZABETH, Bennett’s wife}
EDMUND THOMAS:
1 male 20-30 (b. 1800-1810) {Bennett’s son Edmund}
1 female – 5 (b. 1825-1830) {Probably Lavina R. Thomas who died in May not long after her mother and father died: Burial: Bethel Cemetery}
1 female 20-30 (b. 1800-1810) {Katherine Right Thomas}
JOHN THOMAS:
1 male – 5 (b. 1825-1830) {William Right Thomas}
1 male 30-40 (b. 1790-1800) {Bennett’s son John, married 1823}
1 female – 5 (b. 1825-1830) {Nancy}
1 female 30-40 (b. 1790-1800) {Lavina Right Thomas}
THE 1850 DAVIESS COUNTY, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP CENSUS, page 104
Bennett Thomas, aged 81, born in Maryland, farmer
Elizabeth Thomas, aged 74, born in PA
David Thomas, aged 37, born in Kentucky, farmer
William Thomas, aged 34 born in Indiana, farmer
Jane Thomas, aged 27 born in Indiana, wife of William Thomas above, he is Jane’s 2nd husband
Adeline (Adelaine) Pierce aged 08 born in Indiana, Jane’s daughter
Margaret Anne Pierce aged 05 born in Indiana, Jane’s daughter
Ann E. Pierce aged 03 born in Indiana, Jane’s daughter
NOTE: Herein lays the solution to the above listing as taken from a red pencil note left me by my mother which has been updated as of August 24, 2001.The William Thomas above married Catherine Wallace, she died in 1849. Jane Bratton had married 1st to John W. Pierce, they had three daughters: Adeline, Margaret and Ann E. Pierce. John W. Pierce abandoned Jane and the daughters, they were legally separated by Court Order, as John did remarry. William Thomas, who had young children married Jane Pierce (Bratton) in 1850 and were living in the residence of his father, Bennett at the time of this census.
Discussion on the 1840 Daviess County, Indiana Census:
Emily Terrell writes:
This brings, alas, to DAVID THOMAS. In the 1850 census, a David Thomas, age 37, (b. 1813) In Bennett’s household {with Jane and three little girls} I assume this is the son of Bennett, I believe that Delila is a daughter of Bennett. Both David and Delila are listed in the 1850 census as being born in Kentucky and are both 37 years old. This would imply that they were fraternal twins.
There is no David Thomas household in Daviess County, Indiana in the 1830 census. I found no separate David Thomas household in the 1850 census.
THE 1840 DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA CENSUS:
DAVID THOMAS
1 male -5 (b. 1835-1840) {Fenwick}
1 male 5-10 (b. 1830-1835)
1 male 30-40 (b. 1800-1810) {David}
1 female – 5 (b. 1830-1835)
1 female 5-10 (b. 1830-1835)
1 female 20-30 (b. 1810-1820) {Sarah}
The David Thomas in Bennett’s household in 1850 would have been only 27 in 1840, not 30-40. Which leads me to believe that David Thomas in Bennett’s family never married, and that the Head of Household in 1840 may be someone else entirely separately (My comments: This is quite correct as the David Thomas born in Wales, migrated in 1814, married Sarah Allender, father of Fenwick and an ancestor of Lillian Blanche Thomas, as per my Thomas materials.
ADDED NOTES: Since the original writing on the Descendants of Bennett Thomas, we have established that in fact David & Delila, children of Bennett & Elizabeth Thomas are twins, born March 28, 1814 in Jessamine County, Kentucky, not Daviess County, Indiana, as our Veale record did indicate. (RLV) In using the above 1840 Census for David Thomas, the { } shows that the only listed child of David Thomas and Sarah Allender that has been identified to be Fenwick Buryon Scudder Thomas, born June 05, 1838, he m. Sarah Chapman on December 11, 1861. The date of birth on Fenwick would place him on the 1840 census as the male -5 (b. 1835-1840).
Before we go into the family of Bennett Thomas and Elizabeth, let’s discuss the above probabilities:
1). The David Thomas listed as the son of John Thomas (M. D.) b. 1762, d. 1831 could not be David Thomas listed in the 1840 census, he died in 1831.
2). The David Thomas listed in the 1790 South Carolina Census could only slimly be the David Thomas listed in the 1840 census, as Mary Jo Ward has indicated. The David Thomas of the 1840 census was only 16 years old in 1814 when he arrived in Indiana. Therefore we do in fact have two David Thomas in the early history of Daviess County, Indiana. (RLV)
NOTE: AFTER MY COMLETION OF THE FAMILY OF BENNETT THOMAS. I WILL DO A WORK UP ON THE DAVID THOMAS FROM WALES. (RLV)
GENERATION FIVE*****************************************************
1st member of David Thomas & 1st Wife Elizabeth Harper Family
6. WILLIAM THOMAS I (DAVID 4, JOHN (M. D.) 3, JOHN 2, CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. 1762, d. 1831 he m. 1st CATHERINE CONSORT, she b. 1791, no children and he m. 2nd MARY ANN SHEPPARD
More about WILLIAM THOMAS I:
Burial: Maysville Church Cemetery (3 miles west of Washington, Indiana)
More about CATHERINE CONSORT:
Burial: Bethel Cemetery, Veale Township, Daviess County, Indiana
Children of WILLIAM THOMAS I & 2nd Wife MARY ANN SHEPPARD are:
9. i. WILLIAM THOMAS II, b. 1817, d. 1885
10. ii. LILLIE THOMAS, b. February 28, 1862, d. March 06, 1862
11. iii. WALTER THOMAS, b. December 17, 1864, d. December 25, 1864
12. iv. CHILD THOMAS
13. v. CHILD THOMAS
14. vi. CHILD THOMAS
15. vii. CHILD THOMAS
2nd member of David Thomas & 1st Wife Elizabeth Harper Family
7. GRANDISON THOMAS (DAVID 4, JOHN (M. D.) 3, JOHN 2, CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. 1972, d. 1863 he m. MARY HUGHES, she d. 1863
More about GRANDISON THOMAS & MARY HUGHES:
Burial: Mt. Gilliad Cemetery, Cumback, Indiana
Cause of death: Smallpox (both died the same day)
Notes for GRANDISON THOMAS:
1830 DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA CENSUS
2 males – 5 (b. 1825-1830)
1 male 40 -50 (b. 1780-1790) {GRANDISON}
1 female – 5 (b. 1825-1830)
2 females 10 – 40 (b. 1820-1825)
1 female 10-40 (b. 1790 – 1800) {MARY HUGHES}
Children of GRANDISON THOMAS & MARY HUGHES are:
16. i. FEMALE THOMAS (b. 1820-1825)
17. ii. FEMALE THOMAS (b. 1820-1825)
18. iii. FEMALE THOMAS (b. 1825-1830)
19. iv. ELI THOMAS, b. August 20, 1826
20. v. FEMALE THOMAS
21. vi. MALE THOMAS
More about ELI THOMAS:
According to a sketch from A History of Knox & Daviess Counties, Indiana,
By Chicago Goodspeed Publishing Company (1886)
“Eli Thomas, a prominent citizen of Washington, Indiana, is a native of the
County, born August 26, 1826, and is one of a family with two sons and
four daughters born to Grandison Thomas and Mary Hughes”.
3rd member of David Thomas & 1st Wife Elizabeth Turner Family
8. ORMS or ORMES THOMAS (DAVID 4, JOHN (M. D.) 3, JOHN 2, CHARLES WESLEY 1), b. 1789, b. 1789, d. 1790
More about ORMS or ORMES THOMAS:
1830 CENSUS, DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA
ORMES THOMAS
1 male -5 (b. 1825-1830)
1 male 40-50 (b. 1780-1790) {ORMES}
2 females 5-10 (b. 1820-1825)
2 females 10-15 (b. 1815-1820)
1 female 40-50 (b. 1780-1790) {HIS WIFE}