Mary Ann (Grimes) Thomas (1764 - 1837)

Born 10 Jun 1764 in Burlington, New Jersey

Wife of Thomas Thomas — married 20 Feb 1783 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1837 at age 72 in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Yvonne Anderson [send private message]

If there is anything you can contribute to Mary's biography, you are more than welcome to message me or leave a comment. I am mostly relying on information from Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales, but I am thankful for any other sources that have to do with Mary and her family.

Biography

Mary Ann Grimes, of Irish decent but of American birth, was born on 10 Jun 1764 in Burlington County, New Jersey, daughter of Ephraim and Mary Grimes.

She married Thomas Thomas in Burlington County, New Jersey on 20 Feb 1783.^[1]

After living a few years in New Jersey, Mary and her husband decided to move west of the Alleghany Mountains. Mary's grandson Thomas Thomas recorded his memories in an Article for the 'Centennial History of Plattsmouth City and Cass County, Nebraska' published July 4th, 1876: ...In that day no wagon roads over the mountains existed, and all conveyance was made by packing. One horse was loaded with bed and clothing, another horse with camp equipage and food, and a creel or basket on each side. In one basket set Benjamin, and in the other Samuel, the elder of the two. Thomas, with his rifle, led the train on old Indian tails, up the valley and over the mountains. Bears, wolves, wild cats, deer, ect. were often seen, from which the old rifle furnished ample supplies of meat. Days and weeks passed into months before they reached the valley of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers, between which they settled, about thirty-five miles from Pittsburgh. This valley was in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania at a place called Bud's Ferry, just above West Newton."^[2]

Mary's husband started operating a ferry just above West Newton on the Youghiogheny River and he became a large land owner too.^[3]

Mary died 13 Apr 1837 in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA and is burried in the cemetery of Fells Church, in Fellsburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. ^[4]

Census Listings

Note: The names listed below are only guesses! To make it easier to compare later records.

1810 Thomas Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[5] His sons Samuel and Ephraim are listed living in the neighborhood. Either Bejamin or Joel also must have moved out, because there is only one male listed in their age.

• under 10 years of age (1810 - 1800) 1male (Thomas Jr.)
• of 10 years but under 16 years (1800 - 1794) 1male (Timothy) 1 female (Mary)
• of 16 years but under 26 years (1794 - 1784) 1male (Benjamin or Joel) 1 female (Margaret)
• of 26 years but under 45 years (1784 - 1765)
• 45 years and upward (1765 and before) 1 male (Thomas Sr.) 1 female (Mary Ann)

1820 Thomas Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[6] His sons Benjamin, Joel and Timothy are listed living in the neighborhood.

• under 10 years of age (1820 - 1810)
• of 10 years but under 16 years (1810 - 1804) 1male (Thomas Jr.)
• of 16 years but under 18 years (for males 1804 - 1802)
• of 16 years but under 26 years (for males 1802 - 1794)
• of 16 years but under 26 years (for females 1804 - 1794) 1 female (?)
• of 26 years but under 45 years (1794 - 1776)
• 45 years and upward (1776 and before) 1 male (Thomas Sr.) 1 female (Mary Ann)

1830 Thomas Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[7] Thomas, Mary and their youngest son are easily identified. I can't be really sure about the other three people yet. Thomas Jr. wasn't married in 1830, so it can't be his wife and children...

• under 5 (1830 - 1825)
• of 5 and under 10 (1825 - 1820) 1 female
• of 10 and under 15 (1820 - 1815) 1 male
• of 15 and under 20 (1815 - 1810)
• of 20 and under 30 (1810 - 1800) 1male (Thomas Jr.) 1 female (?)
• of 30 and under 40 (1800 - 1790)
• of 40 and under 50 (1790 - 1780)
• of 50 and under 60 (1780 - 1770)
• of 60 and under 70 (1770 - 1760) 1 male (Thomas Sr.) 1 female (Mary Ann)
• of 70 and under 80 (1760 - 1750)
• of 80 and under 90 (1750 - 1740)
• of 90 and under 100 (1740 - 1730)
• 100 and up (1730 and before)

Sources

1. ↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 7, 1-1
2. ↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 43, 1-1-1-4
3. ↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 21, 1-1
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146668828/mary-thomas
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB4-K1B?cc=1803765&wc=QZZZ-M5W%3A1588180803%2C1588181814%2C1588183612 : 1 December 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > South Huntingdon > image 6 of 8; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-T91?cc=1803955&wc=3L7F-46J%3A1586985402%2C1586986048%2C1586986047 : 16 July 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > Rostraver > image 4 of 8; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB9-SCP?cc=1803958&wc=35YC-WQY%3A1588474703%2C1588478701%2C1588477627 : 14 August 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > Rostraver > image 21 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).