Esquire B Thames (1786 - bef. 1860)

Born 1786 in Clarendon, South Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1860 before age 74 in Simpson, Mississippi, United States

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This profile is part of the Thames Name Study.

Biography

Esquire “Squire” B. Thames was born about 1786 in South Carolina, USA.

Was he the son of Samuel and Mary Elizabeth Bronson Thames? He is often attached to them in on-line trees, but no birth records or other evidence has been found. If Squire's birth date is correct (it is likely an estimate from census records only), then Samuel and Elizabeth would have been about 16 and 15 respectively at his birth. (Autosomal DNA matches among Squire's descendants do contain both Bronson and Thames matches, although there are likely other ways that could occur given the proximity of these families.)

Squire was living in Claredon County, South Carolina in 1810 with his wife, Nisa Rogers. and their young daughter. They were living right next door to Samuel and Mary Elizabeth Bronson Thames which does lend credibility to the idea of at least some sort of familial relationship.

Sometime between 1810 and 1819, the Thames familiy moved to Covington County, Mississippi (see records below). (Check is this wife nisa? Her age doesn't move categories between 1810 and 1820).

By the time of the 1840 census, Squire and his family had moved from Covington County to Simpson Co, Mississippi. Between the 1840 census and the 1850 census, Squire's wife died (most likely), and Squire remarried to Nancy Ann Bishop. They had at least three children before Squire died in 1855. He is buried in the Thames Family Cemetery in Mendenhall, Simpson County, Mississippi, USA.

Land, Tax, and Census Records

In gathering census, land grant, and tax records for Squire, the only instance found of his name being spelled as "Esquire" - vs. "Squire" - is the 1810 census. All other records spell his name as "Squire." Squire is the correct given name.

Volume 2, part 2, page 701, of Historical and Biographical Memoirs of Mississippi state, within the narrative about Timothy Rogers:

"Timothy Rogers...lifelong resident of Covington county, Miss., having been born there in October, 1828...His father, Meshack Rogers, emigrated from South Carolina in 1822...his death [Meshack's] occurred in 1875...was born in Pendleton district S.C., about the year 1790 and was a son of Shadrach Rogers, a native of North Carolina...[Shadrach] removed to Covington county in 1822...his family consisted of eight children...Nisa, wife of Mr. Thames...Elizabeth, wife of Matthew Thames..."^[1]

On the 1810 census for Clarendon, Sumter Co SC, Esquire is listed in the age range of 16-<26. He is listed with a woman in the same age bracket and a female child under 10 (Emily?).

There are no land transactions for Squire listed in the deed index for Sumter; alternate spellings were also checked. (Clarendon Co SC was not created from Sumter Co until 1855.)

Covington Co MS was formed from Lawrence Co MS in 1819. The county courthouse burned and most records begin in the 1850's, including, unfortunately, land and probate records.

In the 1818 state census returns for Lawrence Co MS, Esquire is not found, nor are any Rogers surnames. The only Thames located on the census for the county was William Timms.

In the 1818 tax roll for Lawrence Co MS, Esquire is not found, nor are any Rogers names. We do find William Tims and James Tims, however (who are believed to be the NC Thames sons of Rev. William Thames and his wife Lucy).

On the 1819 Tax Assessment List for Covington Co, which was charged and paid in 1820, Squire appears on the list immediately below Reddick Rogers. Neither of them have taxable property, and they are only charged for the poll tax.^[2]

On the 1820 census for Covington Co MS, Squire is listed as the following:^[3]

Males <10 - 3 (Timothy, James, and unknown)
Males 26-45 - 1 (Squire)
Females <10 - 2 (Unknown and unknown)
Females 10-15 - 1 (Emily)
Females 16-25 - 1 (Nisa)

On the 1830 census for Covington Co MS, Squire is listed as the following:^[4]

Males <5 - 1 (Charles)
Males 5-<10 - 3 (John, William, and unknown)
Males 10-<15 - 1 (James)
Males 15-<20 - 1 (Timothy)
Males 40-<50 - 1 (Squire)
Females <5 - 2 (unknown)
Females 5-<10 - 1 (unknown)
Females 10-<15 - 1 (unknown)
Females 40-<50 - 1 (Nisa)

By the time of the 1840 census, Squire has moved to Simpson Co MS, and is listed as the following:^[5]

Males 10-<15 - 1 (Charles)
Males 15-<20 - 1 (John or William)
Males 50-<60 - 1 (Squire)
Females 5-<10 - 1 (unknown)
Females 10-<15 - 2 (unknown)
Females 20-<30 - 2 ((unknown)
Females 40-<50 - 1 (Nisa)

Simpson County suffered major record losses in 1840 and 1872, Land and probate records begin in 1872.

On 10 Dec 1840, Squire B Thames of Simpson County MS received a land entry for 39.38 acres for property located at NW1/4 of SW1/4 S2 T1 R5E, Certificate no. 28023.^[6]

On the same date, Squire B Thames of Simpson County MS received a land entry for 39.01 acres for property located at SE1/4 of NE1/4 S3 T1 R5E, Certificate no. 28252^[7]

On the 1850 census, Squire, aged 64, is enumerated with his second wife, Nancy A., aged 26 in Simpson.^[8] Both were listed as being born in South Carolina, although in 1860, Nancy reported being born in Mississipppi. There are no children listed with them.

Needs clarification as death date is 1855: On 1 Mar 1859, Squire B Thames of Simpson County MS received a land entry for 40.78 acres for property located at SW1/4 of SW1/4 S25 T2 R5E, Certificate no. 32557.^[9]

In 1820 and 1830 Squire lived in Covington County, Mississippi.^[10][11] In 1840 Squire Thames lived in Simpson County, Mississippi.^[12] 1850 census indicates Squire was born 1786.^[13]

By 1850^[14], Nisa Rogers Thames has apparently died, and Squire, aged 64, has remarried to Nancy Ann Bishop, aged 26. Near them are the following:

• Jared Snowden, aged 24
• Mary M. Lucas, 40 b. S.C., with Manuel Lay (Mary Miranda Thames)
• Timothy Thames, aged 34 S.C., wife, Martha and children
• John Thames, 26 Miss.. and Mary, 30 and children
• James Rankin, 49 SC, and Harriet, 45 SC
• David Womack, 21 Miss, and Mary, 19 Miss, and children

1855 death record indicates name as Esquire “Squire” Thames; Birth 1786 South Carolina, USA; Death 1855 (aged 68–69) Simpson County, Mississippi, USA. He was buried at Thames Family Cemetery Mendenhall, Simpson County, Mississippi, USA.^[15]

Family

Children Note: This is a working list. Links will be provided when sourcing is complete and corrected.

Mother: Nisa Rogers

• Emily (1807)
• Mary Maranda (1810)
• Timothy (1816)
• James (1819)
• William (1821)
• Eliza E. (1823)
• John (1824)
• Charles (1826)
• Nancy Jane (1835)

Mother: Nancy A.

• Esquire B., Jr. (1850)
• Nancy A.
• Lucy Ann

Parents (not proved and probably not correct - Samuel would have only been 16 years old, Mary only 15)
Samuel Thames Sr - 1771–1837 • Male
Mary Elizabeth Brunson - 1772–1847 • Female

Siblings (13)
Elizabeth Ann Thames - 1785–1878 • Female (not proved and probably not correct - Samuel would have only been 14 years old, Mary only 13.)
Mathew Thames - 1791–1860 • Male
John Thames - 1791–Deceased • Male
Isabel Thames - 1794–Deceased • Female
Hollis Thames - 1796–Deceased • Male
Cornelius Thames - 1797–Deceased • Male
Sarah Thames - 1799–1805 • Female
Mary Margaret Thames - 1802–1892 • Female
James A Thames - 1805–Deceased • Male
William Tyler Thames - 1805–1840 • Male
Esther Henrietta Thames - 1810–1888 • Female
Rebecca Pamela Thames - 1814-1850 • Female
Sarah Elizabeth Thames - 1820–1880 • Female

Sources

1. ↑ Historical and Biographical Memoirs of Mississippi, Vol II Part II, 1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co, reprinted 1999, Firebird Press, Gretna[1]
2. ↑ Covington Co combined assessment list 1819, MS State Archives, Box 3633 Series 1202[2]
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch [3] : Squire Thims, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 21, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 58; FHL microfilm 181,360.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch [4], Squire Thomas, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing 148, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 70; FHL microfilm 14,838.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch[5] Squire Thames, Simpson, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 219, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm.
6. ↑ US Dept of the Interior Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, certificate 23023, MS[6]
7. ↑ US Dept of the Interior Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, certificate 28252, MS[7]
8. ↑ US Federal Census of 1850; Simpson, Mississippi.https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4200052_00084?pId=3543585
9. ↑ US Dept of the Interior Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, certificate 32557, MS[8]
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG6-RX4 : accessed 27 March 2021), Squire Thims, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 21, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 58; FHL microfilm 181,360.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPZ-CPR : 20 February 2021), Squire Thomas, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing 148, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 70; FHL microfilm 14,838.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRL-K7P : 8 December 2020), Squire Thames, Simpson, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 219, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LF-PB2 : 12 April 2016), Squire Thames, Simpson county, Simpson, Mississippi, United States; citing family 75, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
14. ↑ US Federal Census for Simpson County, Mississippi
15. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 March 2021), memorial page for Esquire “Squire” Thames (1786–1855), Find A Grave: Memorial #186454054, citing Thames Family Cemetery, Mendenhall, Simpson County, Mississippi, USA ; Maintained by Robert Thames (contributor 48907921).

See Also:

• Sources contributed by various Thames researchers
• https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/K457-QR1/elizabeth-ann-thames-1785-1878
• Find-a-grave #186454054