Thomas Vernon (1718 - 1784)

Born 31 May 1718 in Newport, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Died 1 May 1784 at age 65 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States

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Biography

Birth Thomas, son of Samuel Vernon, Esq. of Newport was born 31 May 1718, Newport, Rhode Island.^[1] Thomas' mother was his father's first wife Elizabeth Fleet Vernon. (ref__)

Marriages
Thomas married 1st on 9 Sep 1741, Jane Brown, daughter of John Brown, merchant of Newport. She died 28 Apr 1765. ^[2]

Thomas Vernon married 2nd 20 May 1766, Mary (Bardin) Mears. Mary died Aug. 1787. ^[3]

United Colonies and Revolutionary War
In response to declared British loyalists:

"Thursday, 20 Jun 1776. Pursuant to the order of the [Rhode Island] General Assembly, at 4 o'clock p.m., Whereas, Messieurs Richard Bease, John Nicoll, Nicholas Lechmere, Thomas Vernon and Walter Chaloner having been examined before this Assembly, and refused to subscribe the Test (test of loyalty to the Colonies) ordered by this Assembly to be tendered to suspected persons; and it appearing that while they continue in the principles by them avowed before this Assembly, they are justly to be deemed unfriendly to the United Colonies; it is therefore Voted and Resolved, That the Sheriff of the County of Newport forth-with remove the said Richard Beale, John Nicoll, Nicholas Lechmere and Thomas Vernon to the town of Glocester in this Colony, where they shall be permitted to go at large within the limits of the town, they giving their parole of honor to continue there until further orders from this Assembly." [Acts & Resolves, R.I. Gen. Assem., Jun 1776, pg.112]

Occupations Thomas was a postmaster of Newport under the British Government from 1745-1775. He was register of the Court of Admiralty for twenty years; he was secretary of the Redwood Library eighteen years and was senior warden of Trinity Church.

Death and Burial Thomas Vernon, Esq., passed away Newport, May 1, 1784, Newport, R.I., United States.^[4] As written on his gravestone marking his burial at the 'Common Burial Ground' carved by mason John Bull:^[5]

"An American Loyalist, for nearly 30 years prior to the Revolution. Postmaster at Newport, Register of the Court of Vice Admiralty and Senior Warden of Trinity Church."

Sources

1. ↑ Ryder, Sidney Smith (1833-1917), "Rhode Island Historical Tracts", No.13.; pub. 1877. Republished in larger detail and content as: "The Diary of Thomas Vernon, a Loyalist" banished from Newport by the R.I. General Assembly 1776" pub. 1881, Providence, R.I. Complete E-text available in the public domain. Accessed 21 Jan 2020. https://archive.org/details/rhodeislandhisto131ride/page/n18?q=early+potowomut%2C+rhode+island
2. ↑ Rider, Sidney Smith pg. 2, Historical Tract.
3. ↑ Rider, Sidney Smith pg. 2, Historical Tract.
4. ↑ Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899; Arnold, James Newell. R.I. Vital Extracts, 1636–1850. "Revolutionary & Newspapers: M&Ds, Revolutionary Rolls". Vol. 12/21; image pg. 67,' Newport Mercury: Deaths'. pub. by Narragansett Historical Publishing Company, 1891–1912. Digitized images from NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts.
5. ↑ R.I. Historical Cemetery Commission Index, 1647-2008; http://rihistoriccemeteries.org/newgravedetails.aspx?ID=142239

• Wikipedia: William Vernon, Thomas mentioned as his brother.
• Stone, Edwin Martin Our French Allies (Providence Press Co., Providence, 1884) Page 230.
• https://books.google.com/books?id=Zj3k4yxycwwC