Thomas Sullivan Jr. (1775 - 1855)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

• Y-Chromosome DNA Confirmed: Sullivan-1734's direct paternal relationship to Sullivan-3430 is confirmed because: This yDNA test of Sullivan-3121 and this yDNA test of Sullivan-3546 are a close match. 109/111 markers The most recent common ancestor in the yDNA line of Sullivan-3121 and the yDNA line of Sullivan-3546 is Sullivan-3430.

Thomas Sullivan Jr. was born in St. Andrew's Parish,^[1] Georgia^[2]15 Jan 1775, died 10 Jun 1855 and is buried in Alex Sullivan Cemetery, Smith County, Mississippi.^[3]

By 03 Mar 1803 Thomas and his father have settled along the Tombigbee River in the Washington County, Mississippi Territory,^[4] where on 28 Mar 1804 he presented his claim as follows:

Thomas Sullivant, Junior's case No. 112 on the docket of this Board, and No.149 on the books of the Register.

Claim- A right of pre-emption of one hundred and ninety acres, under the third section of the act.

The claimant presented his claim, together with a surveyor's plot of the land claimed, in the following words and figures, to wit:

To the Commissioners appointed, in the pursuance of the act of Congress passed the 3rd day of March 1802, for receiving and adjusting claims to lands south of Tennessee and east of Pearl River.

Please take to notice, that the following tract of land, situate on Three River lake in the county of Washington, beginning on a hickory; thence north thirty-eight degrees east, thirty-seven chains, to a stake; thence south sixty-four degrees east, seventy-six chains to a stake; thence south four degrees east, forty-six chains to a hickory corner; thence up the Three River lake as is plotted to the beginning; and hath such forms and marks, both natural and artificial, as are fully represented in the plot annexed; containing one hundred ninety acres; is claimed by Thomas Sullivant Junior, in and by virtue of a pre=emption; and is now exhibited to the Register of the Land Office established east of Pearl River, to be recorded as directed by said act. To all which he begs leave to refer, as also to a copy of this plot herewith filed.

Thomas Sullivant, his mark for Thomas Sullivant Jr..

Surveyed 09 Mar 1804 by Nathaniel Christmas. Chain bearers, John Wheat, James Bilbo. Entered in record of claims, volume 1 page 478 by Edward Lloyd Wailes for Joseph Chambers, Register.

Thomas Sullivant, Senior and Ephraim Barker were produced as witnesses, and being duly sworn and interrogated by the Board, they deposed, that they were not in any way interested in this claim; that the land in question being low land, and subject to annual inundation, could not be built upon, but Thomas Sullivant, Jr the claimant, cultivated on the same from the year 1802, by himself or representative, until the then present time and that said Thomas Sullivant was on the 3d of March 1803, the head of a family. The Board ordered that the case be postponed for consideration.

Thomas Sullivant, Junior's case: commenced on page 658. Nathaniel Christmas surveyor, was presented as a witness, and being duly sworn deposed that he made the surveys and plots returned to the Board by the following claimants, to wit: Thomas Sullivan Junior, preemption, one hundred and ninety acres...

Thomas Sullivant Junior's case: commenced in page 658. On due consideration, the Board is of the opinion that this claimant is entitled to a right of pre-emption to one hundred and ninety acres of land, to be located as follows:

Beginning on he west margin of the Tombigbee River, on the upper side of the mouth of Three River lake, at a hickory, being the lower corner of a Spanish Warrant; confirmed to the heirs of Owen Sullivant, deceased; thence with the waters of the upper branch of said lake, to the northeast corner of said Sullivant's land; thence north sixty-four degrees west, seventy-six chains, in the line of said Sullivant's land, to a corner stake; thence in said line, south, thirty-eight degrees west, thirty-seven chains, to the bank of the here River lake; hence down the margin of said lake to the place of beginning. And the Board doth order that a certificate be granted accordingly.^[5]

This tract of land was surveyed for Thomas Sullivan Jr on 09 Mar 1804 by Nathaniel Christmas.^[6]

On 14 Sep 1805 Commissioner's Certificate #43, dated 07 Aug 1805 was recorded in Volume 1 p159 granting Thomas Sullivan Jr 190 acres on the West margin of the Tombigbee River on Three Rivers Lake.^[5]

The original land plat shows Thomas Jr's land along the Tombigbee River in Section 32, Township 4 Range 1 East and his father in Section 26.^[7]

He appears on the 1805 tax list of Washington County, Mississippi Territory^[8] and he served 1 month in 1807 in Fitzpatrick's Regiment, 2d Mississippi Territory Militia.^[9]

On 01 Jan 1808 the following was recorded in the records of the Land Office at St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory:

No 19. It is hereby certified that Thomas Sullivan Junior of Washington County, Mississippi Territory did on the 7th day of August 1805 obtain a certificate from the board of commissioners marked D No.43 for a right of preemption to one hundred and ninety acres of land on the West side of the Tombigbee River at two dollars per acre, amounting in the whole for said lot or tract of land to three hundred and eight dollars of which there has been paid an amount agreeable to law to the receiver of public monies the sum of ninety five dollars being one fourth part of the purchase money for said tract of land.

Now therefore be it known that if the remaining balance being two hundred and eight five dollars shall be paid to the said receiver of public money at St. Stephens or the Treasurer of the United States at or before the date and period following; that is to say ninety five dollars on or before the first day of January 1810, ninety five dollars on or before the first day of January 1811, and ninety five dollars on or before the first day of January 1812; then Thomas Sullivan or his assignee or other legal representation shall be entitled to receive a patent for the tract of land above described.^[10]

There is a notice in the 22 Feb 1817 issue of the local St. Stephens, Mississippi Territorial (now Alabama) newspaper The Halcyon and Tombecbe, that states:

The following tracts of land will, agreeably to law, be offered for sale, at public venue, during the session of the Superior Court, for March ensuing, in Washington County, and will commence on Thursday the third day of the Court, and will continue from day to day till every tract has been offered for swale for the arrearages for principal and interest due to the United States, February 12, 1817.

...Thomas Sullivan...^[11][12]

From the above notice publication in 1817 we learn that Thomas had land which he never completed making the payments in full on, that he was purchasing from the government. Had he completed payments we would have found this land listed in his name in the BLM land records like we do for his 1825 land purchase in Simpson County, Mississippi. Thomas' name also appears in the 31 Mar 1820 issue of The Halcyon and Tombecbe in a list of unclaimed letters in the post office at St. Stephens.^[13] His brother Owen's name appears in a similar list in the paper on 01 Oct 1819,^[14] as does his brother Mark on 30 Jun 1821.^[15]

Thomas appears on the 1820 Alabama State Census with the following household members:

males over 21=2 ; males under 21=5

females over 21=2; females under 21=3^[16]

So, it appears Thomas had left Alabama, moving further west into Mississippi about 1820/21.

Thomas is living along Bowie Creek in Simpson County, Mississippi as early as 1823 as he appears on the 1824 tax list there alongside his brother Mark Sullivan and brother-in-law, Isaac Tedder.^[17] The record of the birth of his son Thomas Jefferson Sullivan there in 1823 to Mary Workman (listed under Mrs. Workman) is recorded in a listing of Simpson County, "Births and Deaths between May 1823 and 04 May 1824" on Microfilm # 547 at the Mississippi State Archives in Jackson, Mississippi as is the birth of daughter Addie Caroline in 1824 to wife Maude Arnold under Thomas' name himself.^[18] He doesn't appear on 1825 and the list for 1826 is missing, and while his sons Stephen, Owen and James appear off and on between 1827 and 1830, Thomas is not found on those lists. He is however, found being issued a land patent on 01 Oct 1825 for 80 acres consisting of the E1/2 of the SE1/4 of Section 28 on Bowie Creek in Township 10N Range 18W in Simpson County.^[19] Thomas then shows back up on the 1831 tax list and he is on the census living in Simpson County, Mississippi in 1830 census with the following household members-

males)-5:1 ; 5-10:2 ; 10-15:3 ; 30-40: 1 50-60: 1

females)-5:1 ; 5-10:1 ; 10-15:2 ; 20-30:1 ; 30-40: 1^[20][21]

As taxes are assessed for the previous year ,it is to be expected he would be on the tax list for 1831 where we now see he is listed as owning 80 acres of land and with no poll tax, due to his age, and was assessed taxes in the amount of 20 cents.^[22] He continues to be listed on this 80 acres which is situate on Bowie in 1832,^[23] and 1833.^[24] In 1834 he has followed his son Stephen in the acquisition of farm labor and his tax includes not only the 80 acres, but also 1 slave^[25][26] which is also the case in 1835, the last year he appears in the records there.^[27][28]

In 1836 Pappy Tom relocated his family to what we now know as the Sullivan's Hollow area of Smith County, Mississippi where in the 1837 tax list there he is listed with 1 slave and was charged taxes only for said slave. He was not cited a charge for poll tax as he was age 60+ at the time.^[29] He continues to appear in later tax records, again, always with no poll tax. The 1838 Smith County, MS tax list has him entered for no white poll, 1 slave with a 62 cent tax total on said slave.^[30] Same for 1839,^[31] and by 1840 he is listed with no white poll, 3 slaves, and $1.87 tax total.^[32] On the 1840 census of Smith County we find Thomas listed with the following household members-

males)-5:1 ; 5-10:2 ; 10-15:1 ; 15-10:2 ; 20-30:1 ; 50-60:1

females)-5:1 ; 10-15:1 15-20:1 ; 40-50:1

3 slaves^[33]

On the 1841 Smith County, Mississippi Tax List Thomas is listed with 80 acres valued at $400, 25 beef cattle and 1 slave valued at $400.^[34]

On 23 Aug 1842, William Walton, assignee of Thomas Sullivan Jr, received certificate #29 from the land office for 168 acres located on the Tombigbee River in section 32, Township 4, Range 1 East of Washington County, Alabama.^[35]

The 1843 Smith County, tax list shows Thomas with two slaves.^[36] In 1844 he is being taxed on 3 slaves and $116 loaned on interest.^[37] Sons Fredrick and James also appear on this list.^[37] In 1845 he is assessed taxes for 'money at interest' = $92, clocks valued at $35, 10 cattle over 20 head (30 cattle total), and 1 slave aged 5-60 and 1 slave under age 5.^[38] Sons Joseph and Fredrick appear on this tax list also.^[38] In 1846 sons Fredrick, Joseph, Thomas J., and Henderson are on the list with Thomas listed as taxed for 1 clock valued at $35, 1 pistol, 10 taxable cattle (likely over some allowed non taxed number which is not stated on this year's records) and 1 slave as personal property,^[39] and 80 acres described as the NW ¼ of NW1/4 of S19 T10 R15W and the NE ¼ of NW1/4 of S19 T10 R15W in Smith County valued at a total of $200.^[40] 1847 has Thomas again with clocks valued at $15, 1 pistol, 10 cattle and 1 slave.^[41] He continues to appear on the tax lists for 1849,^[42] 1850^[43][44]

Timeline of Pappy Tom's life:

---

1855: died Sullivan’s Hollow, Smith County, Mississippi

1850: Smith County, Mississippi (census & tax list)

1849: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1847: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1846: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1845: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1844: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list – 3 slaves)

1843: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list – 2 slaves)

1842: William Walton assignee of 168a on Tombigbee River, Washington County, Alabama

1841: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list – cattle – 1 slave)

1840: Smith County, Mississippi (census & tax list)

1839: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1838: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1837: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1836: Smith County, Mississippi (tax list)

1834: Simpson County, Mississippi (tax list – 1st slave)

1833: Simpson County, Mississippi (tax list)

1832: Simpson County, Mississippi (tax list)

1831: Simpson County, Mississippi (tax list)

1830: Simpson County, Mississippi (tax list – Bowie Creek)

1824: Simpson County, Mississippi (births register)

1823: Simpson County, Mississippi (tax list)

1820: The Halcyon and Tombecbe

1820: Baldwin County, Alabama (state census)

1817: The Halcyon and Tombecbe

1813: Baldwin County, Mississippi Territory (tax list)

1810: Baldwin County, Mississippi Territory (census)

1807: Fitzpatrick’s Regiment, 2d Mississippi Territorial Militia (1 month)

1807: Petition to the President and Congress by inhabitants of Washington County, Mississippi Territory

1806: Appears on Fort St Stephens vicinity Tombigbee River petition

1805: Sullivan’s Island, Washington County, Mississippi Territory (tax list)

1804: Age 29, Mississippi Territory pre-emption lists Thomas Sullivan Sr on Johnston’s Creek and Jr on Three River Lake (Tombigbee River).

1803: Thomas Sullivan Sr., appears on Mississippi Territory tax list probable brother Owen has been there since 1795 (Spanish Land Grant).

1802: His father, Thomas Sullivan Sr, sells land in Columbia Co., GA & moves to Mississippi Territory

1799: Age 24, Georgia Passport for his father, as a guide through Indian Territory to Tombigbee River settlements.

1793: Age 18, with parents residing in Columbia County, Georgia

1775: born in St. Andrew’s Parish, Georgia

---

This page is a work in progress. We are adding more documents and information as time permits-- a LOT has been collected in the 35+ years I've been researching and it will take me a bit to get it all up.

Sources

1. ↑ Bryant, Pat. English Crown Grants in St. Andrew Parish in Georgia 1755-1775. State Printing Office, Atlanta, Georgia. 1972. p56, 116, 129.
2. ↑ US Federal Census - 21 Sep 1850 Smith County, MS - "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LN-96T : accessed 3 April 2016), Thomas Sullivan, Smith county, Smith, Mississippi, United States; citing family 314, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ Tombstone.
4. ↑ Preemption dated 07 Aug 1805. Washington County, Mississippi Territory. Washington County, Alabama Deed Book G p173, 174.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Lowrie, Walter. Early Settlers of Mississippi as Taken from Land Claims in the Mississippi Territory. Originally published 1834, Washington, DC. Reprinted with new materials 1986, Southern Historical Press Inc., Greenville, South Carolina. p581, 588, 658, 694, 724.
6. ↑ NARA. Record of Claims Volume 1, p478-9. 1804 Land Survey Record. Washington County, Mississippi Territory.
7. ↑ Original Land Plat, Washington County, Mississippi Territory.
8. ↑ 1805 Tax List, Washington County, Mississippi Territory.
9. ↑ Mississippi Territory Militia Military Records. Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS.
10. ↑ 01 Jan 1808 St. Stephens Land Office, Mississippi Territory Records. #19. Thomas Sullivan Jr..
11. ↑ The Halcyon and Tombecbe. St. Stephens, Alabama. 22 Feb 1817.
12. ↑ Matte, Jacqueline, Doris Brown and Barbara Waddell. Old St. Stephens Historical Records Survey. 1997 (1999, Revised edition - 2017 Bicentennial Edition). St. Stephens Historic Commission, St. Stephens, Alabama. p44-45, 140, 142, 150.
13. ↑ The Halcyon and Tombecbe. St. Stephens, Alabama. 31 Mar 1820.
14. ↑ The Halcyon and Tombecbe. St. Stephens, Alabama. 01 Oct 1819.
15. ↑ The Halcyon and Tombecbe. St. Stephens, Alabama. 30 Jun 1821.
16. ↑ 1820 Alabama State Census, Baldwin County.
17. ↑ 1824 Simpson Co., MS Tax List-

    1. 9-Thomas Sullivan, 1 white poll, .75 tax
    2. 10-Mark Sullivan, 1 white poll, .75 tax
    3. 11-Isaac Tedder, 1 white poll, .75 tax

18. ↑ Strickland, Jean & Patricia N. Edwards. Simpson County, Mississippi Census and Tax Rolls 1823-1850. 1999. p55.
19. ↑ Boyd, Gregory A. J.D. Family Maps of Simpson County, Mississippi Deluxe Edition. 2007. p224,226. Repository - Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Call # 976.2585 E7b.
20. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPN-99J : 18 August 2015), Thomas Sullivan, Simpson, Mississippi, United States; citing 179, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 71; FHL microfilm 14,839.
21. ↑ Strickland, Jean & Patricia N. Edwards. Simpson County, Mississippi Census and Tax Rolls 1823-1850. 1999. p74.
22. ↑ Simpson Co., MS Tax List-

    Thomas Sullivan, 80 acres of class 4 quality 3 land valued at $80; no poll, .20

    Stephen Sullivan, 1 slave & 1 white poll, $1.00

    James Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37

23. ↑ 1832 Simpson Co., MS Tax List-

    Owen Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37 1/2

    Thomas Sullivan, 80 acres class 4 quality 3, $80, situate in/on Bowie, no poll, .20

    Stephen Sullivan, 1 white poll, 1 slave, $1.00

    James Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37 1/2

24. ↑ 1833 Simpson Co., MS Tax List-

    Owen Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37

    Thomas Sullivan, 80 acres class 4 quality 2, $160, situate in/on Bowie, no poll, .40

    Stephen Sullivan, 1 white poll, 2 slaves, .62 ½

    James Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37 1/2

25. ↑ 1834 Simpson Co., MS Tax List-

    Owen Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37

    Thomas Sullivan, 80 acres class 4 quality 2, $160, situate in/on Bowie, no poll, 1 slave $1.02

    Stephen Sullivan, 1 white poll, 2 slaves, $1.62 ½

    James Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37 1/2

26. ↑ Strickland, Jean & Patricia N. Edwards. Simpson County, Mississippi Census and Tax Rolls 1823-1850. 1999. p7.
27. ↑ 1835 Simpson Co., MS Tax List-

    Owen Sullivan, 1 white poll, .37 ½

    Stephen Sullivan, 1 white poll, 2 slaves, .52 ½

    Thomas Sullivan, 80 acres class 4 quality 2 in Bowie, 1 slave, no poll. .?02 ½

28. ↑ Strickland, Jean & Patricia N. Edwards. Simpson County, Mississippi Census and Tax Rolls 1823-1850. 1999. 15.
29. ↑ 1837 Smith County, MS Tax List-

    James Sullivant, 1 white poll; Thomas Sullivent Sr, no poll, 1 slave; Stephen Sullivant, 1 white poll and 2 slaves; Thomas Sullivant Jr, 1 white poll.

30. ↑ 1838 Smith County, MS Tax List-

    Sullivent, James, 1 white poll; Sullivent, Stephen, 1 white poll, 2 slaves; Sullivent, Thomas Jr, 1 white poll; Sullivent, Thomas Sr, 1 slave.

31. ↑ 1839 Smith County, MS Tax List-

    Sullivant, Thomas Sr, 1 slave, no poll; Sullivant, T., 1 poll; Sullivant, J., 1 poll. And on next page of list is Stephen Sullivant, 1 white poll and 2 slaves and James Sullivant 1 white poll.

32. ↑ 1840 Smith County, MS Tax List.
33. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRL-2M8 : 24 August 2015), Thomas Silivant, Smith, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 232, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 217; FHL microfilm 14,841.
34. ↑ 1841 Smith County, MS Tax List-

    James Sullivant, 80 acres valued at $100, 1 clock valued at $10, 10 beef cattle, 1 white poll; Mrs. Mary Sullivant, 30 beef cattle, 4 slaves valued at $1600; Thomas Sullivant Sr, 80 acres valued at $400, 25 beef cattle, 1 slave valued at $400; Thomas Sullivant Jr, 1 white poll.

35. ↑ US Federal Land Certificate #29.
36. ↑ 1843 Smith County, MS Tax List.
37. ↑ ^{37.0 37.1} 1844 Smith County, MS Personal Tax List.
38. ↑ ^{38.0 38.1} 1845 Smith County, MS Tax List.
39. ↑ 1846 Smith County, MS Tax List.
40. ↑ 1846 Smith County, MS Land Tax List.
41. ↑ 1847 Smith County, MS Tax List.
42. ↑ 1849 Smith County, MS Tax List.
43. ↑ 1850 Smith County, MS Personal Tax List.
44. ↑ 1850 Smith County, MS Land Tax List.

• Mississippi Death Certificate of son, Mark A. Sullivan.
• 1805 List of Taxable Property, Washington County, Mississippi Territory.
• "Life" magazine, 15 Sep 1967
• Mississippi Death Certificate of daughter Mary Ann Spell.
• Y DNA testing in the Sullivan Y DNA Project Group: R1b -L21 DF13 DF49 Z2980 Z2976 DF23
• Sullivan's Hollow by Chester Sullivan.
• Smith County Genealogical Society. Smith County, Mississippi Cemeteries. 1999.
• Wild Bill, King of the Hollow by Ann Hammons.
• MS State Census - 10 Jun 1855, Smith County, MS
• MS Territory land records - 1803, 1805
• MS State Census - 1845, Smith County, MS
• MS State Census - 1841, Smith County, MS
• Mississippi Death certificates of his son Cornelius.
• Author: Mississippi Genealogical Society, Title: "Mississippi Cemetery & Bible Records", Volume XVII. p197-199.
• Mississippi Death Certificate of son Alexander.
• Life 15 Sep. 1967
• The Sullivans of Sullivans Hollow by Harry Henderson and Sam Shaw.
• Clarion Leger. Jackson, Mississippi. 09 Nov 1951. Note-Erroneously states Tom Sullivan was born in Ireland while in fact, he was definitely born in Georgia.
• Mississippi Death Certificate of his son Samuel R. Sullivan.
• Franklin, Lisa R. A Genealogy of the Feuding, Fighting, Folks of Sullivan's Hollow, Mississippi. Birmingham, Alabama. 1999