Part II - Thomas-Snead
The Thomas Family
Ancestor William Thomas
Generation 5. In �The Thomas Family of Talbot County Maryland,� we read that the Thomas family is one of great antiquity in Wales. Among the early immigrants to America was Christopher Thomas born 1609 in the County, of Kent, England.
On 15 May 1635, when he was 26 years of age, he embarked at Graves End, England, for the New World on the Plaine Joan. He arrived in Virginia in June of 1635. After remaining in Virginia a short time he moved to the Province of Maryland. Showing the estimation in which he was held by his friends and neighbors, he was elected in 1637 one of the Burgesses in the Lower House of the Assembly for the Isle of Kent.
There is no account of his residence in Maryland from 1640 to 1664, when he demanded land for transporting himself, his family (2nd wife Elizabeth Higgins and her daughters) and three servants to the province and had surveyed 18 April 1665 �Barbadoes Hall� 350 acres Queen Annes County He died 25 March 1670 leaving by his first wife an only son. Elizabeth�s will conveyed to her stepson Tristram, the 350 acres of Christopher�s �Barbadoes Hall.�
Tristram Thomas, Sr., son of Christopher Thomas was born in Kent, England in 1633, and married Anne Coursey. Her brothers and sister emigrated to Maryland during the period of 1655 to 1661. Tristram and family followed in 1666 settling on Wye River, Talbot County, Maryland. He was a commissioner to improve trade in Talbot County He died there in 1686.
Children:
Tristram Thomas, Jr., son of Tristram Thomas Sr. and Anne Coursey, was born in Kent, England in 1665, and was a year old when his family emigrated to Maryland. He married Judith Clayland, who was born 26 December 1674.
She was the daughter of Rev. James Clayland and Elizabeth Hemsley, daughter of William and Judith Hemsley. Tristram and Judith�s declaration of intentions of marriage was read in the Third Haven Monthly Meeting near Easton, Maryland in 1703.
James Michener�s novel �Chesapeake� is a descriptive account of the region. Tristram Jr died in Talbot County, 11 or 17 February 1745. He willed to his son, Tristram, 233 acres, he being a minor to serve his mother until 21.
Children:
Stephen Thomas, son of Tristram Thomas Jr. and Anne Coursey, was born in 1705 in Talbot County, Maryland. A cooper by trade, he married Mary Clothier a Quakeress, daughter of Robert Clothier and Jane Kemp. Mary died in 1767 and Stephen sold his holdings.
Quote from a family genealogy:
Since their son John had already journeyed about 1764 to the New Garden Monthly Meeting area of Guilford County, North Carolina, it seems logical for Stephen and his other children to travel by wagon train from Chesapeake Bay. However, Stephen neglected to obtain a certificate from Third Haven Monthly Meeting, when he moved. The clan was reunited with John and his bride.
They moved into South Carolina where the River crossed over, and took much land on both sides of the border.
Stephen died about 1774. John administered the estate (Anson County); it sold for 51 pounds, 11 shillings, 4 pence. It is thought that much of his property was given to the family prior to his death. John bought his father�s sundry cooper and carpenter tools. There was a family of 14 children.
John M Thomas, Sr., son of Stephen Thomas and Mary Clothier, was born in 1743, in Queen Annes County, Maryland. He neglected to register as a Quaker when he became of age. He served in the Revolutionary War; the records are in North Carolina, though he refused to fight.
He was married about 1767 to Molly Clark, who was born 19 of 11mo 1748. The Quakers at New Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina, records them as having been married out of unity, which meant it was a civil ceremony.
In 1782, John and six of his children (Isaac, John, Betty, Elijah, Stephen Francis and Benjamin) were received into membership of the New Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina. The 1790 Census of Guilford County, records the family.
Apparently they moved there after the death of his father. John and Molly went to Wayne County, Indiana, to visit their families about 1812/4, and while they were there, he became sick and died in 1814.
He is buried in the Friends Cemetery near Fountain City, Indiana, as is his wife Molly who died in 1840 at the age of 92.
Children:
John M. Thomas, Jr., son of John M Thomas, Sr. and Molly Clark, was born 28 3mo 1769 in Randolph County, North Carolina.
He was married in Richmond County, North Carolina, to Lydia Snead, daughter of Henley Snead and Mary Burford. They moved to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1811, and to Grant County, Indiana, in 1830.
They are both buried in Mississinewa graveyard (Marian County, Indiana).
Generation 3. Major Samuel Snead (Colonial Militia) married Temperence Burford
Gen.2. Israel Snead (Revolutionary War Veteran); married Johanna Henley
Gen.1. Henley Snead married Mary (Molly) Burford
Children:
Children:
Elijah Thomas, son of John M Thomas, Sr. and Molly Clark, was born 19 January 1777, in Marlboro, South Carolina.
A millwright, he was married 11 May 1798 in Anson, Peedse County, North Carolina, probably out of unity, to Susannah Snead. (See above) She was born 8 February 1779, in Anson County, North Carolina, the daughter of Heney Snead and Mary Burford.
The minutes of the Deep River Monthly Meeting in Guilford County, North Carolina states on 5 November 1798, Elijah Thomas continues his marriage out of unity. They migrated to Wayne County, Indiana, with his brother John, in the fall of 1811. On 19 February 1814, the family got a certificate of transfer from the Deep River Monthly Meeting to White Water Monthly Meeting, in Wayne County, Indiana.
A history of Wayne County, states, �The first religious society in the New Garden Township was the New Garden Meeting organized in 1813. Among the earliest members were Isaac Thomas, John, Elijah, Stephen, Francis, and Benjamin Thomas.� Elijah and some of his family may have moved to Cass County, Michigan.
Susannah died 25 November 1847, in Grant County, Indiana. Elijah died 7 April 1866, in Cass County, Michigan.
The oldest 8 children were born in Guilford County, North Carolina, from 1799 to 1814.�
Children:
Bibliography:
The Strattan-Thomas Heritage By Anna May Hamilton, Russiaville Indiana
Many of the pioneers of that section of the County are buried in this cemetery, but there is only one stone to bear evidence of the fact. The inscription reads �Alvah, son of Elijah and Rachel Herrold, died 25 May 1844, age two years, 8m 25d.�
Others who are known to have been interred in this cemetery are: Anna Brewer, wife of Aaron Brewer, Martha Creek (daughters of Solomon Thomas), James Montgomery, Isaiah Edgerton, Thomas Edgerton, William Edgerton, and Harmon Lytle.
This plot is covered with a tangle of shrubs, vines and briers. Several large native trees and some pines keep mute vigil over the pioneer dead. The church house which was erected north of this cemetery has long since been gone.
Referring to Grant County, Marriage Records-1832 to 1864-we find that Martha Thomas married Isaac Creek, 30 June 1842. In 1849 he married Martha Moore. Our conclusion is that the first wife died sometime between June 1842 and 27 December 1849.
On 1 February 1849, license was granted to Aaron Brewer to marry Anna Thomas.
James Montgomery was given license to marry Hannah Thomas 26 November 1833.
Harmon Lytle was given license to marry Nancy Wilson 26 August 1843.
Whitson�s history says that the second husband of Hannah Thomas Montgomery was Jehu Moore, but the marriage records show that on 12 November 1846, John Moore was granted a license to marry Hannah Montgomery.
The old Atlas of 1877 shows this graveyard to be in the north-east corner of Section4, Fairmount Township. (In 1990, this cemetery was very overgrown, with no road into it, and furrows deep in water)
Contributed by Mrs. (Pat) T. J. Murray, Pampa, TEXAS