Benjamin Thomas (1787-1857) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Benjamin Thomas

Born 24 Sep 1787 in Willingboro Township, Burlington, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Son of Thomas Thomas and Mary Ann (Grimes) Thomas

Brother of Samuel Thomas, Ephraim Thomas, Joel Thomas, Margaret (Thomas) Morton, Timothy Thomas, Mary Polly (Thomas) Williams, Sarah Thomas, Latitia Ann Thomas and Thomas Thomas Jr.

Husband of Hannah (Alexander) Thomas — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Descendants

Father of Elijah Alexander Thomas, Rosa Ann Thomas, Sarah Charlotte Thomas, Thomas Hudson Thomas, James Samson Thomas, Harriet Bennett Thomas and Wesley Ford Thomas

Died 25 Jun 1857 at age 69 in Pennsylvania, United States

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Profile last modified 24 Apr 2022 | Created 18 Jul 2016

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If there is anything you can contribute to Benjamin's biography, you are more than welcome to message me or leave a comment. I am mostly relying on information from Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales, but I am thankful for any other sources that have to do with Benjamin and his family.

Biography

24 Sep 1787 Benjamin Thomas is born to Thomas and Mary Ann Grimes Thomas in Willingboro Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA.^[1]

about 1790 Benjamin and his family move from New Jersey to Pennsylvania when he was just a little boy. His nephew (his brother Samuel's son) Thomas Thomas recorded his memories in an Article for the 'Centennial History of Plattsmouth City and Cass County, Nebraska' published July 4th, 1876: ...he (my grandfather Thomas Thomas) subsequently concluded to move west of the Alleghany Mountains. In that day no wagon roads over the mountains existed, and all conveyance was made by packing. One horse was loaded with bed and clothing and the wife (my grandmother) with the infant in her arms. Another horse with cam equipage and food, and a creel or basket on each side. In one basket set my Uncle Benjamin, and in the other my father, Samuel, the elder of the two. My grandfather, with his rifle, led the train, on old Indian trails, up the valley and over the mountains. Bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats, deer, etc., were seen, from which the old rifle furnished ample supplies of meat. Days and weeks passed into months before they reached the valleys of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers, between which they settled, about thirty-five miles from Pittsburgh...^[2]

Benjamin's father started operating a ferry there, just above West Newton on the Youghiogheny River and became a large land owner too.^[3]

Note: The names in brackets in the censuses 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840 are only guesses! To make it easier to compare later records.

1810 Benjamin's father Thomas Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[4] His sons Samuel and Ephraim are listed living in the neighborhood. Either Benjamin or Joel also must have moved out, because there is only one male listed in their age.

under 10 years of age (1810 - 1800) 1 male (Thomas Jr.)
of 10 years but under 16 years (1800 - 1794) 1 male (Timothy) 1 female (Mary)
of 16 years but under 26 years (1794 - 1784) 1 male (Benjamin or Joel) 1 female (Margaret)
of 26 years but under 45 years (1784 - 1765)
45 years and upward (1765 and before) 1 male (Thomas Sr.) 1 female (Mary Ann)

24 Sep 1811 Benjamin marries Hannah Alexander.^[5]

1812-1814 Benjamin is a teamster in the War of 1812, working for Capt. Wadsworth Company.^[6]

1820 Only one Benjamin Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[7] His father Thomas and his brothers Joel and Timothy are listed living in the neighborhood, but there are quite some contradictions to make me wonder if this is really the right Benjamin Thomas. One daughter is missing, Hannah and Benjamin are listed to young, one teen-male I can't indentify and also two males over 45 I also can't explain.

under 10 years of age (1820 - 1810) 1 male (Elijah) 1 female (Rosa Ann or Mary B.)
of 10 years but under 16 years (1810 - 1804) 1 male ?
of 16 years but under 18 years (for males 1804 - 1802)
of 16 years but under 26 years (for males 1802 - 1794) 1 male (Benjamin?)
of 16 years but under 26 years (for females 1804 - 1794) 1 female (Hannah?)
of 26 years but under 45 years (1794 - 1776)
45 years and upward (1776 and before) 2 males ?

1830 Still only one Benjamin Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[8] I'm assuming this is our Benjamin's family. The youngest son Thomas Hudson is not listed and Mary B. and Hannah Elizabeth seem to be listed to young, but the other persons listed fit my research.

under 5 (1830 - 1825) 2 females (Harriett and Hannah Elizabeth?)
of 5 and under 10 (1825 - 1820) 2 males (James and Joseph) 1 female (Mary B.?)
of 10 and under 15 (1820 - 1815) 1 female (Rosa Ann)
of 15 and under 20 (1815 - 1810) 1 male (Elijah)
of 20 and under 30 (1810 - 1800)
of 30 and under 40 (1800 - 1790) 1 female (Hannah)
of 40 and under 50 (1790 - 1780) 1 male (Benjamin)
of 50 and under 60 (1780 - 1770)
of 60 and under 70 (1770 - 1760)
of 70 and under 80 (1760 - 1750)
of 80 and under 90 (1750 - 1740)
of 90 and under 100 (1740 - 1730)
100 and up (1730 and before)

1840 Again only one Benjamin Thomas listed in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.^[9] His oldest son Elijah is listed in the neighborhood. Thomas H. and Harriett are listed to young, but the rest makes sense. There is one free colored male also listed with them.

under 5 years (1840 - 1835) 1 male (Van William)
5 to 10 years (1835 - 1830) 2 males (Wesley and Thomas Hudson?) 1 female (Harriett?)
10 to 15 years (1830 - 1825) 1 female (Hannah Elizabeth)
15 to 20 years (1825 - 1820) 2 males (James and Joseph)
20 to 30 years (1820 - 1810)
30 to 40 years (1810 - 1800) 1 male ?
40 to 50 years (1800 - 1790) 1 female (Hannah)
50 to 60 years (1790 - 1780) 1 male (Benjamin)
60 to 70 years (1780 - 1770)
70 to 80 years (1770 - 1760)
80 to 90 years (1760 - 1750)
90 to 100 years (1750 - 1740)
100 years and upward (1740 and before)

1850 Benjamin is still listed in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania.^[10] He lives on a farm with his wife Hannah, two of his sons and a young woman with an occupation I can't read.

Benjamin Thomas (62 years, male, farmer)
Hannah Thomas (59 years, female)
Thomas H. Thomas (26 years, male)
Van William Thomas (13 years, male, attends school)
Vilard Anne (24 years, female, can't read occupation, attends school)

3 Feb 1857 In his will Benjamin lists nine children: Elijah, Rosannah Davidson, Joseph, James, Hannah Gamble, Hudson, Harriett Beeler, Wesley and Van William. (Mary B. died in 1837, she is not mentioned on his will.^[11]

25 Jun 1857 Benjamin died probably in Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. He is burried at the Fells Church Cemetery in Fellsburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.^[12]

Sources

↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 27, 1-1-2
↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 43, 1-1-1-4
↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 21, 1-1
↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB4-K1B?cc=1803765&wc=QZZZ-M5W%3A1588180803%2C1588181814%2C1588183612 : 1 December 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > South Huntingdon > image 6 of 8; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 27, 1-1-2
↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 27, 1-1-2
↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-T91?cc=1803955&wc=3L7F-46J%3A1586985402%2C1586986048%2C1586986047 : 16 July 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > Rostraver > image 4 of 8; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB9-S6V?cc=1803958&wc=35YC-WQY%3A1588474703%2C1588478701%2C1588477627 : 14 August 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > Rostraver > image 1 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YY5-87V?cc=1786457&wc=31SV-B81%3A1588669737%2C1588669995%2C1588671102 : 24 August 2015), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > Rostraver Township > image 5 of 24; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DC6S-2H1?cc=1401638&wc=95R9-BZC%3A1031314301%2C1033252401%2C1034928501 : 9 April 2016), Pennsylvania > Westmoreland > Rostraver > image 1 of 50; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ Thomas, Rolland Shields, David Thomas and his descendants: a native of Wales (Santa Ana, California, USA: Tri Level), 1977. WorldCat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3186403 page 29, 1-1-2
↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146668728

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Benjamin Thomas (1787 - 1857)

Biography

Sources