Thomas Saunders (abt. 1727 - 1812)

Thomas was the son of James Sanders (b. 1727, d. May 1776 in Orange Co NC). Although Thomas in not named in the will of his father James (his sisters Keziah Saunders Donoho and Elizabeth Saunders Atkinson are also omitted), he and the omitted sisters are proven to be James' children by the will of James' son Colonel James Saunders (d. 1825 in Caswell Co NC), who identifies them in his will. He (James Jr.) died unmarried and left bequests to his nieces and nephews, mentioning their parent.

6 Jul 1825: ABSTRACT OF WILL OF COL JAMES SANDERS Jr, Caswell Co NC. Nephew JAMES SANDERS, son of THOMAS SANDERS, decd (land on Dan River including Mansion house, 820 acres, at mouth of Little Creek). Nephew ROMULUS MITCHELL SANDERS (land on Dan River called lower tract of 875 acres). Faithful old slaves to live on the land. Nephew ALANSON TRIGG, son of WILLIAM TRIGG decd; niece MARTHA TRIGG, wife of ABSOLEM TRIGG; BETSEY P ATKINSON, wife of THOMAS ATKINSON and her children; brother RICHARD SANDERS and his daughter ANN P SAMUEL; JAMES SANDERS, son of RICHARD SANDERS; HARRIOT SANDERS, daughter of JAMES SANDERS (son of THOMAS) and wife of DOCTOR NATHANIEL SANDERS; Children of LETITIA ALLEN mentioned. Nephew FRANCIS SANDERS, son of THOMAS. Niece SALLY MOSELEY and her son LUCIEN BROWN and her daughter by her former husband BEDFORD BROWN; LOCKETT SANDERS some negroes for her life; Niece ELIZABETH JONES and her son THOMAS JONES and daughter POLLY; Nephew WILLIAM TRIGG of Alabama; KEZZIAH JEFFREYS, wife of THOMAS JEFFREYS (land on Little Creek adj to ARCHIMEDES DONOHO, said land to go to her children, but if no children, land to MILLY WATLINGTON); Nephew JOSEPH SANDERS, son of RICHARD; Nephew JAMES SANDERS, son of THOMAS; Nephew SANDERS DONOHO. Wit: B Yancey, William Harris, David M Sanders. Romulus M Sanders qualified.

Thomas Sanders also had a daughter Ann "Nancy" Saunders, who married Matthew Clay of Pittsylvania County VA on June 25, 1803. Matthew and Nancy had a daughter Amanda Ann Saunders Clay. Thomas identified Amanda in his will of 26 Jan 1812: "To my beloved wife MARY SANDERS all my property both real and personal and at her death to be divided among the following, to my granddaughter AMANDA CLAY negro girl named Sophia to be delivered when she arrives to lawful age or marries, to my daughter MARTHA TRIGG four negroes, namely, Lucy, Jenny, Caroline, and Mary also my riding horse, to my four daughters ELIZABETH JONES, SALLEY WATSON, POLLY MOSLEY, and JUDITH MOSLEY and my son EDWARD SANDERS, five pounds of Virginia money each. To my son JAMES SANDERS my negro man named Will. To my son FRANCES SANDERS all the residue of my whole both real and personal except two negroes named George and Rose which I do set free. I appoint my sons James Sanders and Francis Sanders my executors. This 26 Jan 1812. Wit: Nathaniel Sanders and Meridith Wilkerson."