John Thom (bef. 1742 - 1824)

Born before 1742 in Scotland

Husband of Elener (Keer) Thom — married 1770 in Guilford Co., Nc

Descendants

Died 20 Jun 1824 after age 82 in Guilford Co., NC

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Biography

Marriage 1 Elener Kerr b: Oct 1751 in Guilford Co., Nc. Married: 1770 in Guilford Co., Nc

--- John Thom & wife Elenor Kerr children:

• 1. Mary b: 30 Apr 1771
• 2. Catherine born 1772
• 3. William born 1774
• 4. David K. born 1776
• 5. James born b: 4 Sep 1778
• 6. John Harper born 1780
• 7. Daniel born 1782--Died 1791
• 8. Samuel born 1784 mar Elenor Gorrell - (1784 - 1825)*
• 9. Ellen Nellie born 1786
• 10. Ebenezer born 1788
• 11. Daniel born b: 20 Aug 1791 died 1863
• 12. Jean born 1793
• 13. Joseph born 1793 died 1796

From: Stockard, S. W. (1902). The History of Guilford County, North Carolina

JOHN THOM FAMILY This family migrated from Scotland to Ireland and thence to America. In 1750, John Thom entered a plot of land South & East of Guilford, and built his home there. He married Miss Catherine Kerr, of another Scotch-Irish family living near by. They had 13 children, eleven of whom lived to old age. Nine of these reared large families, from whom are descended many of the first families of Greensboro and Guilford County. At their old homestead, Daniel Thom brought up his large family of children. The place is still owned by the youngest son of Daniel Thom-"Rev. William Francis Thom," Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Gulf, N.C. It is interesting and somewhat singular that the family of "John Thom," and the families of his sons gave each, with one exception, a son to the Presbyterian ministry. For sixty years this family have had a representative in the service of the church.

Many of the male members of the family moved West, so that the name is almost extinct in the County. Still, the descendants are numerous. Rev. James Earnest Thacker, of Norfolk, Virginia, is a G.Grandson of pioneer John Thom.

John Thom was a strict Presbyterian, thoroughly teaching his children in this doctrine. Many a winter's evening around a glowing fireplace, with dignity and solemnity, he required his children to recite the Shorter Catechism.

John's oldest child was born in 1771, his youngest in 1796. During the Revolutionary War he was away from home, fighting for the freedom of America. He was in the Regular Army, and was consequently not with the militia at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. His family cared for those wounded soldiers, however.

John Thom was a "Ruling Elder," in Alamance Church prior to the Revolution. Among the other Charter Members here were:: Wileys, Finlys, McBrides, McGeachys, Stuarts, Donnells, McIvers, Humphreys. In Church and State they have a record of integrity and heroic patriotism.

--- JOHN THOM: WILL 9 JUNE 1821 Guilford Co, NC File # 0542 In the Name of God Amen I JOHN THOM of the Co, of Guilford & State of North Carolina. Being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory Calling to mind the mortality of the body, and that it is appointed for all men once to die. Do make and ordain this my last will & testament, renouncing disannulling, and making void all former ones. And 1st I recommend my Soul to Almight6y God who gave it, and my body to the dust to be decently buried in a Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same And as for such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to befall me with, After my just debts are paid I do Dispose of in the following manner Vig. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter NELLY one Negro woman named Sal, one young Mare named poll, 2 cows and calves her choice of the stock, also my Dresser and the furniture, I also will that while she remain single she have a choice of the rooms in the East End of my house with free access to and use of the Dresser room, and fire places of both the Dwelling house and kitchen, also that she have free privilege to use my smoke-house spring and springhouse, also ½ of the garden, and 1 acre of ground under good fence suitable for flax cotton and other trunk such as she may chose to sow or plant to be part in order to her hand by her brother DANIEL, and changed to a Different part of the plantation as occasion may require, and that he the said DANIEL furnish and provide her annually with 20 bushels of corn and 12 bushels of wheat off the plantation whereon I now live, with rough food sufficient for her mare and cows. Whilst she remain single, I also allow her the things which have been provided for her viz her Saddle, bridle, chest and 2 good feather beds and furniture one of which is to be the bed I myself have used to sleep on. Also my loom with all its appertaininces with a suitable place for it to stand in, In the next place I will and bequeath unto my son EBENERZER my desk and folding table, Next I will and bequeath unto my son DANIEL the whole of the plantation and my son DANIEL the whole of the plantation and tract of land which I now live on, except the above provision for my Daughter NELLY of 1 acre and half the garden During her celibacy. I also leave my clock, lockets and 2 cows to my son DANIEL. I also will bequeath my wagon hind gears wagon cover and log chain and feeding through equally between my 2 youngest sons EBENEZER & DANIEL. I next leave 1 heifer to each of My Little Grandaughters viz. JANE & CATERY MCCLEAN. I next will and bequeath $2.00 to each of my 2 married Sons at my deceased. In the next place I will and bequeath unto my Daughter ‘MARY'S HEIRS,' $6.00 to be equally divided amongst them. Next I will and bequeath to my Daughter Catherine's heirs $8.00 to be equally divided amongst them. I next will and bequeath unto my Daughter JANE $5.00 and the balance of my personal property to be left to the discretionary management of my Executer to be applied by them to the purpose of defraying debts if any there be and to the purpose of paying of the Legatee after which there be a remainder let it be divided as my Executer thinks proper. I also do hereby constitute and appoint my 2 sons WILLIAM & DAVID THOM, of this my last will and testament. And it is my desire that there be no public sale or any report to court of my Estate. This I preannounce to be my last Will & Testament in witness where of I have unto transcribed my name this 9th Day of June AD 1821. Signed JOHN THOM Attest: JOHN WILEY jurat John Cooper

NOTE: Transcript from Find a Grave user Howard - Sherry (#47072620)

ID: I68775 Name: John Thom Surname: Thom Given Name: John Sex: M Birth: 1746 in Scotland Death: 20 May 1824 in Guilford Co., Nc Burial: Alamance Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Greensboro, Guilford Co., Nc _UID: 9A54704C140BEB489A192BD11D1970ADFE89

Burial: Alamance Presbyterian Church Cemetery Greensboro Guilford County North Carolina, USA

Find A Grave Memorial# 102656101

Sources

• http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=cfentress&id=I68775
• Stockard, S. W. (1902). The History of Guilford County, North Carolina. Republished by the Guilford County Genealogical Society. 1983.
• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19469-68699-76?cc=1867501 : accessed 9 March 2016), Guilford > Wills, 1813-1838, Vol. B > image 111 of 529; county courthouses, North Carolina.