Michael Thomas (1721 - 1799)

Born 13 Dec 1721 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Eve Susanna Margaret Hart — married before 17 Jan 1769 in Culpeper, Virginia

Descendants

Died 5 Oct 1799 at age 77 in Kentucky, USA

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Biography

His parents were German immigrants, Anna Maria (Blankenbuhler) and Johannes Thoma(s). ^{[1] [2]}

Spotsylvania County, Virginia was established in 1721 from parts of Essex County and King William County and King&Queen County.

He was born on 13 Dec 1721 ^[3] in the Robinson River area of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

In 1734 part of Spotsylvania County, went into the formation of Orange County, Virginia.

Most young men of the time had to wait some years before they married in order to gather enough money to buy land and settle down. But Michael was able to marry young because he already had land given to him by his mother and stepfather.

Young men of that time usually did not stray far in their quest for a mate and it theorized that he first married a girl from a neighbouring farm, Anna Catharina Clara Wayland, daughter of Maria Barbara (Seppace) and Thomas Weiland=Wayland. More research is needed to proove she was his first wife.

In 1749 part of Orange County went into the formation of in Culpeper County, Virginia.

He and his nephew, Adam Smith, are on record as serving in the Militia from Culpepper County, Virginia during the French and Indian War (1754-1763).

In 1764 he resided in Culpeper County, Virginia. ^[4]

By 1769 Michael Thomas had married secondly in Culpeper, Virginia to Eve Susanna Margaret Hart (1751-c1829).

Records show that Michael served in the Virginia Militia, briefly under Captain Paul Froman, and also with Stockley's Rangers in the far western frontier area of Virginia (now southwest Pennsylvania). He was "paid off at Fort Pitt" (now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). ^[5]

In 1773 he was recorded as a resident of Springhill Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Soon afterward, when Bedford County was broken up, he was a resident of Washington County, Pennsylvania.

In 1776 he served as a "Captain of Virginia Militia" during the American Revolutionary War ... :"Michael Thomas gave valiant service as a soldier in the War of the Revolution and he was a man of influence and prominence in public affairs in the community in which he maintained his home". ^[6]

In 1779 he and his son Michael Thomas, Jr., signed a petition to form a new state called "Westsylvania".

On 31 Dec 1782 he was listed as the owner of 3 slaves in Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA.

In 1786 he was recorded as a resident of Somerset Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA.

About 1787 his son Abraham moved to Fisher's Station in Fayette County, Kentucky, USA.

By 1790 he had moved from Pennsylvania and also settled in Fayette County, Kentucky, USA. ^[7]

In December 1792 part of Culpeper County went into the formation of Madison County, Virginia, USA.

It is well documented that Michael Thomas had 15 children by his first wife and 10 children by his second wife.

He died on 05 Oct 1799 in Fayette County, Kentucky, USA.

He left a last Will which was probated in Fayette County, Kentucky, USA. ^[8]

Research Notes

Mary Margaret Thomas (1838-1918 daughter of George Thomas who was the son of Daniel Thomas who was the son of Michael Thomas) stated in a printed excerpt on the Thomas family ^[9] that Michael Thomas first wife was named Elizabeth, but stops short of a last name. This is the earliest stated identity of Michael's first wife, found to date.

Not to be confused with Michael Thomas, Sr., of Albemarle County, Virginia, who married Elizabeth Staiton and was son of Alice (Spivey) and Joseph Thomas.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records 1560-1900 by Yates Publishing on ancestry.com citing source#653; code: BBH; parents m: 18 Nov 1711 Neuenburg, Kraichtal, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
2. ↑ Rootsweb family tree
3. ↑ Family Data Collection - Individual Records compiled by Edmund West on ancestry.com; b: 1721 Culepper, VA
4. ↑ Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index 1607-1890 on ancestry.com citing 1764 Culpeper County, Virginia Rent Rolls
5. ↑ Militia payrolls req. #C8464
6. ↑ "History of Lewis County" (Kentucky) by Rev. O. G. Ragan; Text:
7. ↑ 1790 Fayette County, Kentucky tax list for Michael Thomas @21+ with 2 slaves and one horse
8. ↑ Fayette County, Kentucky Wills v6 p93-94
9. ↑ "Sketches of Rush County, Indiana" published in 1915 by the Jacksonian Publishing Company Rushville of Indiana

• http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Michael_Thomas_%2841%29

• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=16568948&pid=4212 Ancestry Family Tree submitted by ancestry.com member

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Thomas-6650 was created on 26 Aug 2012 by Vera Lewis through the import of earnst eabaugh.ged

• WikiTree profile Thomas-10344 was created on 28 Sep 2013 by Joy Ross