Thomas Pugh Sr. (1705 - 1797)

Born 1705 in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Pugh — married 9 Jul 1729 in Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1797 at about age 92 in Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA

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Biography

Thomas was a Friend (Quaker)

Thomas Pugh Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A106135.

Thomas Pugh, Quaker a Regulator.

Note: not to be confused with Thomas Pugh-426 husband of Jane Ann Rogers

Brief Bio

Thomas Pugh Sr., was born in the year 1705, in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest child of Joan (Price) Pugh and James M. Pugh, Sr., both of whom immigrated from Wales to America.

Thomas Pugh married in 1729 in Chester County, Pennsylvania to an Elizabeth (unknown maiden name). Because she was not of the fatih, Thomas was disowned by the Quakers. ^[1]

For many years it was incorrectly assumed that Thomas Pugh was disowned for his marriage to Elizabeth because they were cousins. In truth Thomas Pugh was disowned because his wife Elizabeth was not a Quaker.

20 Nov 1730 Wrightstown Quaker Bucks Pennsylvania, Quaker Friends are preparing to deal with Thomas Pugh regarding his relationship with with his future wife Elizabeth who was not a Quaker.

"Friends acquainted with Thomas Pugh son of James Pugh deceased keeps company in order for marriage with a young woman not of our society, Thomas Evans and David Davis are appointed to deal with him and endeavor to inform his understanding that such his proceeding is contrary to the ancient advise of Friends and the discipline established among us."^[2]

In 1755 Thomas Pugh is accepted back into the Quaker faith, 1755 he and his family moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, with certificate of removal from the Quakers

In May 1768 Thomas Pugh and others sign the Regulator Advertisement No.9

On 18 September 1770 Thomas Pugh pays for the purchase od John Fruit transferred 640 acres to his cousin William Husband andThomas Pugh's grandfather Thomas Pugh paid for the land.

1771, Thomas Pugh is disowned a second time by his Quaker faith for joining a company of armed men.

He died on 30 Nov 1797 in Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA. ^[3]

Thomas Pugh and his wife Elizabeth were buried next to each other in the cemetery on the adjoining borders of the land that the Pughs and Campbells owned.

Buried in the same row was is Thomas and Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth (Pugh) Fruit (E. F. 1783), and her son John Fruit, Jr. (d: 25 Dec 1798); and her husband John Fruit, Sr. (d: 12 May 1824 aged 86yrs).

In the next row are the graves of Thomas and Elizabeth's son James Pugh (J. P. 1810) and his wife Jane (d: 19 Aug 1830 @76yrs).

There are unmarked headstones and also unmarked graves which could possibly be relations of Thomas Pugh, but there is no proof, most of the other graves are members of the Campbell family who owned the land that adjoined the Pugh's land.

Children

1. Elizabeth Pugh, d: 1783; m: John Fruit ^[4]
2. Mary Pugh, d: 15 Jan 1765; m: Herman Husband ^{[5] [6]}
3. John Pugh, m: Elinor Fruit
4. James Pugh, d: 1810; m: Jane Patterson-Ward
5. Peninah Pugh, m: William Walker
6. Thomas Pugh, Jr., d: 1846; m: Barbara Amick
7. Jesse Pugh, d: before March 1798; m: Elizabeth Stewart
8. Enoch Pugh, d: 1771; ^[7] m: Esther Worthington.

Note: John Fruit and Elinor Fruit were siblings.

Siblings

1. Margaret Pugh, d: (unmarried)
2. David Pugh, d: (young)
3. James Pugh, m: Jemima Powel
4. Joan Pugh, m: William Williams
5. Hugh Pugh, m: Mary Jones
6. John Pugh, m: Mary Jenkins
7. Sibilla Pugh, m: John Edwards

note: He and his other living siblings were named in the last Will of their father, James Pugh, ^[8]

Quaker Records

9 Jul 1729 Wrightstown Quaker Bucks Pennsylvania “The Friends appointed to deal with Thomas Pugh gives account that accordingly they spoke with him and that their advice and administration did not seem to take place and this meeting being informed that the Thomas Pugh is married contrary to methods prescribed in Friends discipline. Set upon the request of his brother-in-law William Williams and Isaac Malin this meeting defers testifying against him for another month.

1729 Friends acquainted with Thomas Pugh, son of James Pugh (deceased), keeps company in order for marriage with a young woman not of our society, Thomas Evans and David Davis are appointed to deal with him and endeavor to inform his understanding that such his proceeding is contrary to the ancient advise of Friends and the discipline established among us.

18 May 1730 Wrightstown Bucks Pennsylvania 1730 Our last monthly meeting having upon the request of William Williams and Isaac Malin deferred testifying against Thomas Pugh for proceeding in marriage with one of another persuasion contrary to the approved way settled among friends, he having been precautioned to the contrary by persons appointed by our monthly meeting and the said Friends not being present nor having sent their reports here and he having not condemned his said proceedings, therefore we do declare the said Thomas Pugh to be no member of our religious society until he doth condemn his said transgressions to the satisfaction of this meeting. Adam Baker is appointed to acquaint with him and give him a copy of this meeting if he desires it.

20 Jul 1730 Wrightstown Bucks Pennsylvania "The friend Appointed to aquaint [acquaint] Thomas Pugh with the Testimony of this Meeting against him Reports that he hath accordingly done and gave him a Coppy [copy] thereof

Will

"WILL OF THOMAS PUGH
Randolph Co., NC Will Book 2, pg. 34, 10 Aug. 1794

In the name of God Amen. I, Thomas Pugh, of Randolph County and State of North Carolina being weak in body but of sound memory Blessed be God, do this tenth day of August and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say.

First I give and devise to my son, James Pugh, two hundred and twenty one acres of land more or less as it may be where I now dwell to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Also, I give to my said son James Pugh all my goods and chattles of whatsoever kind they may be and that James Pugh with his paying of three pounds current money of the State of North Carolina to his brother here named Thomas Pugh and the like sum of three pounds current money to his sister Penniah Walker.

Item - I give and devise to my son John Pugh one hundred and eighty acres of land where he now dwelleth with the pertenances to him and his heirs forever with his paying his brother THOMAS PUGH three pounds current money of North Carolina and I make and ordain him my son James Pugh my sole executor of this my last will and testament in trust for the intent and purposes in this my will contained in witness whereof I the said THOMAS PUGH have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this day and year above written.

(signature) Thomas Pugh (seal)

Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said Thomas Pugh as and his last Will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the signing and sealing thereof.

Witnesses: Thomas Hamilston & Blanch (B) Hamilston & Charles Hamilston

The execution of the above will, etc. was duly proved in open court and let it be recorded.

Test. J. HARPER, CCC. ^[9]

Burial

Burial Thomas Pugh and his wife Elizabeth Pugh are buried next to each other in the Old Campbell, Pugh, Fruit Cemetery. Thomas and Elizabeth are buried in the same row as their daughter Elizabeth Fruit (E. F. 1783), and her son John Fruit Jr. (died 25 Dec 1798) and her husband John Fruit Sr. (died 12 May 1824 aged 86). In the next row are the graves of Thomas' son James Pugh (J.P. 1810) and his wife Jane Pugh (died 19 August 1830 aged 76). There are unmarked headstones and also unmarked graves which could possibly be relations of Thomas Pugh but there is no proof, most of the other graves are members of the Campbell family who owned the land that adjoined the Pugh's land.

Timeline

Thomas Pugh was born about 1705 in Pennsylvania.

In 1729 Thomas Pugh married Elizabeth.

In 1744 his brother-in-law, William Williams of Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, passed away and probate was in April 1744. Letters of administration were granted on 25 Apr 1744 to Joan Pugh Williams. Bond was paid by administrators Joan (Pugh) Williams and brother Thomas Pugn.

In 1755 Thomas Pugh was accepted back into the Quaker Society for his acknowledgement and condemning his breach of discipline regarding his marriage out of union.

In 1755 a certificate of removal was granted and drawn up for Thomas Pugh to relocate to North Carolina. Quaker Friend were appointed to draw a certificate for Thomas which was approved and signed directly to friends in Carolina. Thomas had been going back and forth between Pennsylvania and North Carolina for a few years before his actual move. ^[10]

On 07 July 1756 Thomas Pugh was received by the Quaker Society in Alamance County, North Carolina.

On 16 June 1762 his daughter Mary Pugh married in the Quaker faith to Herman Husband. In attendance were Thomas Pugh and his sons, Enoch and John Pugh, and his daughter Elizabeth (Pugh) Fruit and her husband John Fruit. A few years later Herman was considered the leader of the Regulators.

In 1765 his daughter Mary (Pugh) Husband passed away.

In May 1768 the regulator advertisement #9 went into circulation and was signed by Thomas Pugh and his sons James, John, Enoch, and Jesse Pugh and sons-in-law John Fruit and William Walker. ^[11]

On 18 September 1770 Thomas Pugh pays for the land in an Indenture for his grandsom William Husband the land was sold to William and Thomas by John Fruit Wiliam's cousin.

On 07 September 1771 he was disowned a second time by the Quaker Society for joining a company of armed men.

On 19 June 1771 his son, Enoch Pugh, died at the Battle of Alamance.

In 1783 his daughter Elizabeth (Pugh) Fruit passed away.

On 10 August 1794 Thomas Pugh made his last Will which named his living children, Peninah (Pugh) Walker, John Pugh, Thomas Pugh and James Pugh mentioned ...

Son John Pugh inherited 108 acres and was to pay his brother Thomas Pugh three pounds current money.

Son James Pugh inherited 221 acres and all his goods and cattle, and was to pay three pounds each to his brother Thomas Pugh and sister Peninah (Pugh) Walker and he was named as executor.

Son Jesse Pugh was not named and it is probable that he had passed away. A land deed dated March 1798 did state that Jesse Pugh was deceased.

On 02 November 1794 his wife Elizabeth passed away.

On 30 November 1797 Thomas Pugh passed away and was buried next to his wife in the Pugh family plot on his land in the old Pugh, Campbell, Fruit Cemetery near Liberty North Carolina.

In February 1798 the last Will of Thomas Pugh was proven in Randolph County, North Carolina, by son James as executor.

Research Notes

His actual birth date is unknown. Many family trees have his birthday as 10 March 1703, however, there is no source or documentation for this, in fact Thomas Pugh is the only one of his siblings who's birth record was not listed in the Quaker records. Because of this, some have assumed that his mother Joan possibly died about the time of his birth - however this is only speculation.

Verification for Thomas Pugh's year of birth 1705 ...

Back in the 1930s one of the first recorded cemetery readings was done for the Campbell/Pugh Cemetery and at that time Thomas Pugh's headstone was not as eroded as it is today, so the words could still be read and it was described as ...

"'Thomas Pugh, who departed this life Nov. 30, 1797, Aged 92'

was carved on a pinkish rectangular fieldstone, with a circular crown."

(1797-92 = 1705) making his year of birth 1705.

Sources

1. ↑ Quaker records
2. ↑ 20 Nov 1730 Meeting: "U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935"
   Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2189 #99398345 (accessed 12 January 2024)
   Thomas Pugh marriage to undefined on 20 Nov 1730 in Bucks, Pennsylvania.
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #67387944 for Thomas Pugh, b: 1705 Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA; d: 30 Nov 1797 Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA; buried: Campbell and Pugh Cemetery, Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA; inscription: "Thomas Pugh, who departed this life Nov. 30, 1797, Aged 92 years"; with gravestone photo
4. ↑ Land deed proves Mary (Pugh) Husband & Elizabeth (Pugh) Fruit are sisters
5. ↑ Quaker marriage record
6. ↑ Land deed proves Mary (Pugh) Husband & Elizabeth (Pugh) Fruit are sisters.
7. ↑ Estate papers with bond & proved by father, Thomas Pugh
8. ↑ Chester County. Pennsylvania Wills for father, James Pugh, dated; 07 Oct 1723; proved: 25 Aug 1724.
9. ↑ Randolph County, North Carolina Will Book#2 p34; for Will of Thomas Pugh, dated: 10 Aug 1794; proved: Feb 1798; which mentioned living children. James, John, Peninah, Thomas
10. ↑ Pennsylvania Quaker records
11. ↑ Regulator Advertisement #9 in 1768

• U.S. Quaker meeting records 1681-1935

• U.S Tax records for Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Wills and Probate records 1683-1993

• DAR Ancestor #A106135

• Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine v128

• 1779 Randolph County, North Carolina Tax List

• Guilford County, North Carolina Deed Book#1

• 1790 USA Census of Randolph County, North Carolina for son, James Pugh, on farm with parents

• North Carolina Wills and Probate records 1665-1998

• Randolph County genealogical newsletter v13 #4 by Randolph County Geological Society

• http://www.cemeterycensus.org/nc/rand/cem146.htm

• https://tangledwood.com/getperson.php?personID=I6367&tree=tree1

Acknowledgements

Genealogist images were contributed,

By Kirby Drake