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Chapter X: James Thomas, II and his family in Kentucky

James Thomas II, the third and youngest son of James Thomas I, and Sarah (Barnes) Thomas, was born in Bertie County, North Carolina in 1762. (Some sources say 1760.) On September 6, 1790, he married Miss Mary Standley. Whitmell Whiteacre, a neighbor and friend of James, was their security.

Mary Standley’s father was Edmund Standley; her mother was probably Margaret Perry, daughter of Samuel and Prudence Perry, of Bertie County.1 Family records indicate only that Mary was the daughter of Edmund Standley who “married a Miss Perry,” thus leaving the rest to speculation.

The newly married couple settled on the family plantation on the Cashie River, two thirds of the title to which James had inherited when he became 21 years of age. The remaining third he would inherit upon the death of his mother, Sarah (Barnes) Thomas.

Bertie County records list several land transactions by James Thomas II. On January 12, 1800, he paid Henry Barnes $30 for 15 acres of land on the north side of Cashie Swamp. Witnesses were his brother Ezekiel Thomas and Ralph Outlaw.2 Then, in 1804, he purchased additional property from Blake Baker in Bertie County.3

One wonders why James Thomas was buying more land in North Carolina in 1804 when two years later he would be heading for Kentucky. Despite this, in the spring of 1806, James Thomas II and his family were ready to head for Kentucky. He was then 45 years old. Many families had already gone, leaving their property in the hands of friends and relatives, or, if possible, they sold it before they left. I have found nothing in Bertie County records of a land sale near the time James left for Kentucky, so it may be assumed that he left his property—approximately 425 acres—in the hands of his brother Ezekiel, the only member of the family to remain in the Cashie River area, and the only one of James and Sarah Thomas’ children to die there.

Some accounts say that James and Mary Thomas and their family arrived on Donaldson Creek in July 1806. Other accounts say it wasn’t until November of that year. The journey was nearly 650 miles, and assuming that they averaged 15 miles per day, a generous average for a yoke of oxen, the trip would have involved at least 40 days. Probably more time was consumed if they took the Holston River route, and they spent additional time visiting James’ sister Sarah, in Smith County, Tennessee. Thus, if they left North Carolina in the Spring, the most logical time, April probably, the July arrival would be the most likely.

Upon arriving at his property, James Thomas enlisted the help of what few neighbors there were, and built a log cabin at a point where today intersect the Donaldson and Cadiz Roads in Christian County, now Trigg. Stanley Thomas, the youngest child of James and Mary was born November 16, 1806, after their arrival and was their only child to have been born in Kentucky.

Life in the wilderness was not easy for the pioneer woman, particularly for Mary Thomas who had given birth to seven children, the last of whom has been born when she was 44 years old. In helping to eke out a living on their newly cleared property on Donaldson Creek, likely she worked almost as hard, and certainly as regular, as did her husband.

Mary Thomas died April 12, 1825; she was 63 years old. Three of her children — Cullen, Temperance and Perry — had married before she died, and one, Temperance, preceeded her in death.

On July 25, 1826, James Thomas II married his second wife, Dilla (Mitchell) Farmer.4 There were no children. According to family tradition, this marriage was not well received by his family, and two years later, James II deeded all his property to each of his six surviving children. This was done by making an individual deed to each child (except Mary), and all were dated November 17, 1828. Inasmuch as he had disposed of all his property in this manner, no will was ever filed for James Thomas, II. The original of the deed to James Jr., is still in existence.5 It reads:

“This indenture made this 17th day of November 1828, between James Thomas, Sr., of the County of Trigg and State of Kentucky of the one part and James Thomas Jr., of county and state aforesaid of the other part, witnesseth: that the said James Thomas Sr., for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he has and bears unto his son James Thomas, Jr., and also for divers other good causes and considerations, me the said James Thomas, Sr., hereunto moving hath given granted and confirmed and do by these presents give grant and confirm two negros one a boy named Cesar and the other, a girl named Mariah, also one sixth of the value of the following articles—one light brown horse, one crib of corn, one stock of cattle one stock of hogs, one stock of sheep the numbers not exactly ascertained, to have and to hold the said negroes and the above mentioned property hereby conveyed with the appurtenances unto the said James Jr., his heirs and assigns forever and the said James Thomas Sr., for himself his heirs executors and administrators, the aforesaid negroes and the above named property until the said James Thomas Jr., his heirs or assigns against the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever. Doth and will forever warrant and defend by these presents in witness whereof the said James Thomas, Sr., has hereunto annext his hand this 17th day of November 1828. Witness: Cullen Futrell; Thompson (his mark) Johnson.’ Given under my hand this 11th day of July 1829. Will Cannon, Clk, TCC.”

Cullen was deeded all the land “on the south side of Donaldson Creek and bounded as followeth to wit: beginning at a sycamore on the south side of said creek and running south 90 poles by Lindsay’s line to a white oak and Spanish oak about 20 poles south of Lindsay’s corner, thence west 90 poles to a black oak, thence north 92 poles to a sycamore on the south bank of Donaldson Creek, thence up the run of said creek to the beginning containing 50 acres, be the same more or less together with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging to in any-wise appertaining. Also a certain negro boy named George, also 1/3 of the value of a negro woman named Hasty and her child named Bedy and their increase.” Cullen also was deeded one sixth part of the value of the horse, livestock and corn as outlined in the deed to James Jr.

The so-called “home place” was deeded to Stanley and included “all that tract or parcel of land where I now live lying and situated in the county of Trigg on the north side of Donaldson Creek and bounded as followeth to wit: beginning on the north side of said creek at a post oak on a hillside marked JH running south of Lindsay’s line 90 poles to two sycamores on the bank of the creek thence down the run of said creek 180 poles to a sugar tree and hickory thence north 100 poles to a stake thence to the beginning containing 150 acres. . .Also two negroes, one a boy named Daniel, and the other a girl named Hanner, one clock, one chest, one table, one rifle gun, one cupboard. . .All my plantation and farming tools, also all my household and kitchen furniture. Stanley also shared in one-sixth of the livestock and corn, previously mentioned.

Perry came in for a share of the land “on the south side of Donaldson Creek and bounded as followeth to wit: beginning at a sycamore on the south bank of Donaldson Creek and running south 90 poles by Cullen Thomas land, to a black oak, thence west 90 poles to a hickory on the south bank of said creek, thence up the run of Donaldson Creek to the beginning containing 50 acres.. .Also a certain negro boy named David, also 1/3 of the value of a negro woman named Hasty and her child named Bedy and their increase.”

Perry also was deeded one-sixth of the value of the livestock and corn as were the others.

Starkie seemed to have come out better on land than did any of his brothers. He was deeded property ” . . .on the headwaters of Bird’s Creek of Little River and bounded as followeth to wit: Beginning at a post oak at or near the line of a 2500 acre survey made by the Shelby Academy thence south 15 degrees east 200 poles to two black oaks and a post oak, thence south 75 degrees east 320 poles to a black oak and a post oak, thence north 15 degrees west 200 poles to a stake thence north 75 degrees west 320 poles to the beginning containint 400 acres.. .Also two negroes, the one named Jacob and the other named Linsey…”

Starkie also shared in the value of the livestock and corn.

All the deeds were witnessed by Cullen Futrell and Thompson Johnson.

I found no record of a deed pertaining to anything that James Thomas Sr., may have left his daughter, Mary (Thomas) Bridges. It is assumed that she was the sixth person, with her five brothers, to receive “. . .one sixth of the value of the light brown horse, crib of corn, stock of cattle, hogs and sheep.” Likely too, she received the remaining third of the value of the Negro woman named Hasty and her child, Bedy. The other two thirds went, according to the deed, a third each, to her brothers Cullen and Perry.

Apparently Dilla (Mitchell, Farmer) Thomas survived her husband as she is on record in Trigg County as having bought land from John Craig on Donaldson Creek in 1838, and was listed on the roll of Donaldson Creek Chruch in 1842. Little else is known about James’ second wife.

James Thomas II, Revolutionary veteran and one of Western Kentucky’s hardiest pioneers, died September 9, 1832, and was buried beside his first wife, Mary (Standley) Thomas, in the family burying ground just west of the home of his oldest son, Cullen.6 According to the inscription on his gravestone he was 70 years old.

THE CHILDREN OF JAMES THOMAS II AND MARY (STANDLEY) THOMAS

CULLEN THOMAS

Born August 21, 1791 in Bertie County, North Carolina, he was 15 years old when the family migrated to Kentucky.

On January 31, 1812, six years after the family arrived at their new home, Cullen obtained a marriage license from the county clerk at Hopkinsville, making the long trip to the county seat on horseback in the dead of winter to secure it. Apparently he had made his plans in plenty of time as it wasn’t until February 27, 1812 that he married Miss Elizabeth Futrell, who lived on an adjoining farm. She was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Bittle) Futrell, and had migrated to Donaldson Creek from Northampton County, North Carolina.

Cullen and Elizabeth settled on property on the south side of Donaldson Creek about a half mile from the original James Thomas grant, and during his lifetime acquired about 1,000 acres of land.

They had five children, three boys and two girls:

CULLEN THOMAS CULLEN’S original cabin and stone chimney, built about 1812, stands today as part of this home on the south side of Donaldson Creek. Log portion has been boarded over for many years. The house is still in the family.
  1. Alfred, (b. May 8, 1813; d. Jan. 9, 1833); never married.
  2. Mary, (b. 1822; d. 1825).
  3. Peyton (b. Apr. 6, 1820; d. Aug. 28, 1890), married Sarah L. Ethridge, Dec. 2, 1841; 10 children.
  4. James (b. Jan. 6, 1826; d. June 8, 1861), never married. Served during War with Mexico; elected major in the Kentucky Militia, later appointed colonel in the Trigg County Militia.
  5. Emeline, (b. Oct. 30, 1828; d. Nov. 12, 1852), married Thomas Vinson, Aug. 5, 1845; three children.

Elizabeth, first wife of Cullen, died March 8, 1844. His second wife was Drucilla Carter, who was born Aug. 11, 1810. They had two sons, both of whom died at an early age. William C., their first-born died at the age of four, and the second child, John Cullen, lived only one year.

Cullen Thomas was active in public affairs and was the oldest justice of the peace in Trigg County when he died. He had served as such beginning in 1835. Matthew McKinney, who published a newspaper at Cadiz, Kentucky, in the 1880’s, had this to say about Cullen Thomas:

“He was a gentleman of considerable weight of character, very popular in his neighborhood, and as hospitable as a villiage landlord.”

He died June 8, 1862. After his death, his widow, Drucilla, married William Kennedy who was born September 15, 1792, and who died December 12, 1891. Drucilla (Carter) (Thomas) Kennedy died May 23, 1894. Cullen and his two wives are buried in his family burying ground just west of his original home place on the south side of Donaldson Creek.

TEMPERANCE THOMAS

Born in Bertie County, North Carolina, Feb. 7, 1794, she was 13 years old when the family moved to Kentucky in 1806. She was married November 9, 1813.7 to Ezekiel Thomas Jr., son of Ezekiel Thomas Sr., brother of Temperance’s father, James II. They had one daughter, Clerry, born March 4, 1814. Temperance Thomas died October 22, 1817 on Donaldson Creek and was buried in the Futrell burying ground, the site of which has since been obliterated by cultivation over the graves. Her daughter Clerry apparently moved to Tennessee with her father in 1822. There is no record of her later life. (See Chapter 9).

PERRY THOMAS

Born in Bertie County, North Carolina, May 25, 1797. He was nine years old when the family came to Kentucky. He attended the first school to be organized in the community and grew to manhood on Donaldson Creek.

Perry Thomas married Elizabeth Josephine Bridges. She was born October 29, 1804, daughter of Drury Bridges8 and Charity (Cohoon — also spelled Cohoone, Cahoon, and today, Calhoun) Bridges. In one of Perry’s family bibles is this notation: “This is to certify that Perry Thomas and Elizabeth Bridges of the County of Trigg and the State of Kentucky, were by me united together in holy matrimony on the 16th day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty one, by A. Boyd, in the presence of Drury Bridges, James Thomas, fathers, and many spectators.”

Perry Thomas purchased land about a half a mile west of the original James Thomas land grant and settled there. He is said to have been totally dissimilar from his brothers, in size, disposition and culture, and physically, was built much smaller than any other member of the family. In his day he was the best mathmatician in the county. He was a successful planter but his disposition, which was described as “being like a caged bird,” led him into other activities as well. He held various public offices in the county including that of tax assessor, a position in which he served for 21 years. He was also the census enumerator for the years 1870 and 1880, the latter being when he was 83 years old. He also served as clerk of the Donaldson Creek Baptist Church, and was one of the original members of Linton Lodge, No. 575, A.F. & A.M., when it was organized in 1874.

THE PERRY THOMAS home was built in 1844 and destroyed by fire in 1975. Perry bequeathed it to his three youngest children and his will specified certain rooms that each should have. The property was in the family for 150 years. PERRY THOMAS

He was a prolific writer and penned many sketches, poems, religious notes and bible references in a long, artistic flowing script, using a goose quill pen and homemade ink. He kept notes on a wide variety of subjects including births and deaths in the community, and an account of the genealogy of the family, that he wrote when he was 88 years old, has been used as the basis for research by every family genealogist since — including this writer. Many of his notes and papers are still in existence. Perry Thomas died July 14, 1886,9 and his wife died February 1, 1891. Both are buried in the family burying ground near the homestead he built on the Donaldson Road in 1844. They had 14 children, 10 boys and four girls:

  1. Albert, (b. Apr. 8, 1822; d. Nov. 26, 1894), married Mary Jane Futrell, 1866, no children. Albert served two years as assistant surgeon in the Union Army during the Civil War.
  2. Alpha, (b. Nov. 21, 1823; d. Feb. 20, 1917), Married Alfred B. Coleman, Feb. 16, 1844, seven children.
  3. Allison W., (b. Sept. 14, 1825; d. Apr. 24, 1921), married Catherine E. Carloss, May 31, 1848, nine children.
  4. William S., (b. Oct. 15, 1827; d. May 14, 1900), married Sallie Jacqueline Thomas, no children.
  5. Rufus K., (b. Oct. 25, 1829; d. June 20, 1891), married Avie Dunn, eight children.
  6. Benjamin Franklin, (b. May 7, 1832; d. Aug. 11, 1883), married Ruth Noe, Nov. 15, 1850, nine children.
  7. James Henry, (b. Feb. 2, 1834; d. Aug. 20, 1838).
  8. Perry Jr., (b. Nov. 14, 1836; d. Oct. 13, 1903), married Aurora Wimberly, Feb. 23, 1859, no children.
  9. Eliza Jane, (b. Jan. 14, 1839; d. March 28, 1926), married William R. Futrell, Feb. 18, 1861, eight children.
  10. Chilton Allen, (b. Jan. 5, 1841; d. Apr. 6, 1924), married (1) Martha Ann Duncan, Dec. 9, 1867, eight children. (2) Amanda E. Chewning, June 29, 1896, two children.
  11. Starkie Dupey, (b. Feb. 19, 1843; d. Feb. 6, 1939), married (1) Sarah F. Pugh, Nov. 23, 1865, five children. (2) Mrs. Elizabeth (Pugh) Ingram, (sister of first wife), no children.
  12. Josephine, (b. Jan. 7, 1846; d. Apr. 26, 1933), never married.
  13. Etna, (b. Feb. 8, 1848, d. Dec. 19, 1929), married William J. Turner, Jan. 20, 1890, no children.
  14. Winfield Scott, (b. April 12, 1850; d. Mar. 4, 1931), married Cassandra James Futrell, Jan. 4, 1874, three children.

STARKIE THOMAS

Born June 29, 1799 in Bertie County, North Carolina. He was married in Kentucky Sept. 15, 1825 to Mary Bridges, sister of Elizabeth the wife of his brother Perry. Starkie bought land about three miles north of the original James Thomas grant and settled there, eventually acquiring over 2,000 acres. Many of his descendants own portions of that property today. According to Matthew McKinney’s sketches about the Thomas family, “. . .(Starkie) was more taciturn than any of his brothers; possessed of fine business qualifications; was constable for a number of years, was as moral as a Mohammedan devotee, and a gentleman under all conditions and circumstances.”He was a farmer, and made money on his farm; he was rarely idle but always found time to assist a neighbor in distress, and did many acts of kindness to persons who were unaware from whence or from whom the favor came.”

Starkie and Mary (Bridges) Thomas had 11 children, eight boys and three girls:

  1. William B., (b. Dec. 20, 1825; d. July 9, 1901), married (1) Nancy Jane Rogers, Oct. 15, 1847, eight children. (2) Sarah Elizabeth Light, Mch. 8, 1877, no children.

ON SITE of Starkie’s home is this house built by Starkie A., a son, about 1896. Part of the original home however, stood until 1931. It is now owned and occupied by descendants of both James Thomas and Drury Bridges.
  1. Stanley, (b. Feb. 8, 1828; d. Feb. 8, 1914), married Emily Ann Light, Feb. 21, 1849, eleven children.
  2. Adeline, (b. July 28, 1830; d. June 28, 1838).
  3. James J., (b. Mch. 19, 1833; d. Jan. 28, 1903), married Mary Cunningham, July 14, 1856, nine children. James enlisted in the Confederate Army July 6, 1861, and served under the command of Capt. A. C. Thomas.
  4. Alfred M., (b. Apr. 29, 1835; d. July 26, 1906), married Eliza Anne Martin, March 27, 1863, four children.
  5. Peachie A., (b. March 5, 1837; d. Aug. 17, 1838.)
  6. Francis M., (Fant) (b. Aug. 5, 1839; d. Nov. 20, 1927), married Mary Forrest Rogers, Dec. 21, 1879, 11 children.
  7. Bluford M., (b. Feb. 28, 1841; d. June 3, 1923), married Peachie Ann Martin, four children. Bluford served during the Civil War, enlisting July 6, 1861.
  8. Perry C., (b. Feb. 19, 1843; d. July 17, 1906), married Mary Carter, three children.
  9. Starkie A., (b. Nov. 20, 1844; d. Sept. 24, 1907), married Inez Miller, Feb. 23, 1881, five children.
  10. Mary Jane, (b. Nov. 23, 1847; d. Feb. 20, 1934), married William Thomas Armstrong, Oct. 5, 1869, three children.

Starkie Thomas died Sept. 14, 1881; Mary, his wife, was born July 25, 1807, in Kentucky, and died Oct. 7, 1890, outliving her husband by nine years. They are buried in the family cemetery near their home place in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County.

MARY THOMAS

Born Bertie County, North Carolina, July 1, 1802. She was married to William Bridges, July 6, 1820. William was the only surviving son of Drury Bridges and Charity (Cohoon) Bridges, and brother of the wives of Starkie and Perry Thomas, brothers of Mary. (These three inter-marriages of the Thomas and Bridges families began a relationship that continues today.)

Mary (Thomas) and William Bridges had 12 children. (See Chapter 13 for additional details on this family.)

JAMES THOMAS III

Born Nov. 3, 1803, Bertie County, North Carolina. He was two years old when the family moved to Kentucky. He grew up on Donaldson Creek, and on Aug. 14, 1829, married Miss Margaret Ethridge, daughter of David T., and Penina (Skinner) Ethridge of Davidson County, Tennessee. She was born in 1810.

James Thomas III acquired his first property on February 24, 1824 when he bought 100 acres of land on Donaldson Creek from Basil Holland. Purchase price was $100. His brothers Perry and Starkie were witnesses to the transaction. The land was located west of that of his father and has been occupied by some of his descendants since that time. After James III’s marriage, he settled according to McKinney’s account, “. . . .within but a bugle call of all the rest of the family.” Mr. McKinney described James Thomas III, as “. . .the most rugged in appearance of all the Thomas brothers. He was as stern and immovable as a Federal judge; irrascable but remarkably quiet, but when arroused for a cause, perhaps the most dangerous of them all. He was also a planter, a justice of the peace under two constitutional governments, and inherited all of the solid worth and sterling characteristics of the family.

“He was more retiring than any other of the brothers and consequently the lesser known. He was a kind neighbor and much beloved by his friends.” He was also a Mason and a leading member of the Donaldson Creek Baptist Church.

James Thomas III died February 20, 1864 and his wife Margaret died April 6, 1886, both in Trigg County. They are buried in the Peyton Thomas family burying ground on land of the original James Thomas grant near the intersection of the Donaldson and Cadiz roads.10

James and Margaret Thomas had six children:

THE JAMES THOMAS, JR., home stood just east of the present Donaldson Creek Baptist Church. Built in 1847, MARGARET (Ethridge) it was torn down in 1951. The property was sold in the 1970’s and is no longer in the family. THOMAS
  1. Edwin C., (b. April 14, 1830; d. July 20, 1864, married Amanda Brandon, March 29, 1849, three children.
  2. Carroll, (b. Dec. 31, 1831; d. Feb. 12, 1922), married: (1) Margaret Jane Reid, Feb. 10, 1859, eight children. (2) Francis (Wills) Vinson, Jan. 1, 1891, two children.
  3. Unnamed infant, died at birth.
  4. James Clark, (b. Jan. 17, 1835; d. 1886), married (1) Elizabeth Lawrence, Dec. 1, 1858, seven children. (2) Mollie Meeks, 1879, four children.
  5. Pollie, (b. Mch. 16, 1837, died in childhood.)
  6. Amanda Jane (b. Dec. 21, 1838; d. Feb. 9, 1861), married Bayliss Print Vinson, Jan. 5, 1859, one child.

The author of this work is descended from James III through his son Carroll, and grandson Robert Henry Thomas.

STANLEY THOMAS

Born in Christian County, Kentucky, now Trigg County, Nov. 6, 1806. He was the youngest child of James and Mary (Standley)Thomas and the only one to have been born in Kentucky.

On February 6, 1844, he married Sarah (Thompson) Rothrock, daughter of Moses Thompson, with J. G. Bidder officiating. She was born November 15, 1815.11 Matthew McKinney, in a rather lengthy sketch, had this to say about Stanley:

“The youngest, the most notable, and best remembered member of the family, without being a prodigy in any sense of the word, was indeed one of the most remarkable men the county has ever produced. He was acting sheriff of Trigg County under the old regime for six years and four years by election. He represented the county in the legislature as a Whig when the county was intensely Democratic, beating Col. Daniel Landes, his brother-in-law, and the Democratic nominee, when no other man in the county could have. . .

“As representative, and for the long continuous term he discharged the duties of sheriff, he closed out his official career with a character as bright as a sunbeam, and a reputation untarnished and untarnishable. He was a very happy man, perfectly satisfied with his surroundings; of pleasing manners and a sunny disposition. He saw more things to enjoy and more resources to contribute to the pleasure of his friends than any other man of whom we have any remembrance. We could mention many instances of his inimitable jokes and merry making. . .”

Stanley12 and Sarah (Thompson) (Rothrock) Thomas had three children:

  1. Robert B., (b. May 4, 1845; d. May 12, 1913).
  2. Henry Clay (b. Feb. 27, 1848; d. Dec. 29, 1881), married Mattie Narvie, Nov. 17, 1871, two children.
  3. Sarah Adelie, (b. July 7, 1850; d.——), married Thomas O. Moore, Jan. 3, 1867, nine children.

Stanley died April 11, 1858, and Sarah died April 11, 1853, both at Cadiz, Ky., where they are buried in East End Cemetery.

FAMILIES ALLIED WITH THAT OF JAMES THOMAS SR.

Standley-Stanley13

The Standley family was already living in Bertie County, North Carolina when the Thomas family moved there in 1729. Edmund Standley, father of Mary, who married James Thomas II, was the father of nine children, all of whom were born in Bertie County. They were:

  1. William, married Penelope Keen, May 25, 1790.
  2. Edmund Jr., no further record.
  3. Perry, married Sarah Whiteacre, Sept. 20, 1790.
  4. Jonathan, married Mary Watford, March 17, 1797.
  5. Jerusha, married John Barnes, son of John Barnes, Jr., about 1795.
  6. Mary, married James Thomas II, Sept. 6, 1790.
  7. Sarah (Sally) married James Barradell, Feb. 26, 1793.
  8. Margaret, married Jonas Mitchell, Aug. 19, 1794.
  9. Arabella (Abrilly) married Dunning Bruce.

Edmund Standley’s sons—William, Edmund Jr., Perry and Jonathan—continued to live in North Carolina. Of the five daughters, four moved to Kentucky with their husbands and families, with Mary, Sarah and Margaret going to Christian County, and Arabella to Hopkins County. Sarah and Margaret’s husbands — James Barradell and Jonas Mitchell—enlisted to fight in the War of 1812. I have been unable to find the service record of James Barradell, but Jonas Mitchell enlisted as a private on August 20, 1813. He was carried on the roll of Captain Henry R. Lewis’ Company, Kentucky Mounted Volunteer Militia, under the overall command of Col. William Williams. The group assembled at Newport, Kentucky, August 31, 1813, and subsequently saw action with Gen. Isaac Shelby, first governor of Kentucky, in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. He also served under the command of Gen. William Henry Harrison in the battle against the British led by Gen. Henry A. Proctor and Indian Chief Tecumseh October 5, 1813 near Thamesville a few miles east of present Chatham, Ontario, Canada, at which time Chief Tecumseh was killed. The book “Kentucky Soldiers of the War of 1812,” by Minnie S. Wilder, 1931, (reprinted Baltimore, Md., 1969) gives date “To What Time engaged or Enlisted” for Jonas Mitchell as November 20, 1813. According to Perry Thomas’ sketch, “The husbands of Sally and Margaret were soldiers in the war of 1812 and died in Canada.”

Jerusha (Standley) Barnes continued to live in North Carolina until the death of her husband. Sometime after 1823, she and her family moved to Obion County, Tenn., where she eventually died.

Edmund Standley was the son of Jonathan Standley who made his will in Bertie County, N. C., March 5, 1773, and which was probated April 3, 1773. His mother’s name was Ann. Jonathan Standley, who had settled in Bertie as early as 1719, descends from Thomas Standley whose headright was used in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia in 1665.

Futrell and Vinson14

Cullen Thomas was the first of James Thomas II’s family to marry into the Futrell family. Cullen’s first wife, Elizabeth Futrell, was the ninth of 11 children of Thomas and Sarah (Bittle) Futrell, both of whom were born about 1745, probably in Bertie County, North Carolina. They later moved to Northampton County, and from there migrated to the Donaldson Creek valley about 1804.

Children of Thomas and Sarah (Bittle) Futrell, in order of their birth (based on the 1850 census of Trigg County) were:

  1. Barsheba (Bathsheba), born 1762, married Sanders Coalson (Colson), born 1760, died 1853.
  2. Shadrach, born 1770, married Charlotte Johnson, Dec. 27, 1792.
  3. Martha, born 1773, married Isaac Sumner about 1793.
  4. Charity, born 1777, married Nathan Futrell, 1798.
  5. John, born 1784, name of wife not known. He is listed in the 1850 census of Trigg County with two children, Charlotte and Thomas.
  6. Faithy, born 1784 (may have been twin of John), married Levi Lancaster, Oct. 3, 1799.
  7. Amey, born 1785, married Collum Skinner, June 17, 1804.
  8. Rebecca, born 1787, married David Cohoon, Oct. 5, 1804.
  9. Elizabeth, born 1791, married Cullen Thomas, Feb. 24, 1812.
  10. Thomas, born 1794, married Martha Futrell, March 28, 1816.
  11. Clarissa, born 1797, married Solomon Barnes April 17, 1817.

The James Thomas line later married into the Vinson family through a descendant of Shadrach Futrell, third child and first son of Thomas Futrell, and his wife, Charlotte (Johnson) Futrell. They had at least nine children including a daughter, Permela, who was born March 27, 1795, in Northampton County, North Carolina. She was married twice. Her first husband was a Barnes; her second husband was Henry Vinson, whom she married January 11, 1816, in Kentucky, with Dudley Williams performing the ceremony.

Henry Vinson was born June 9, 1794 in Northampton County, North Carolina. He later moved to Tennessee and served in the War of 1812, enlisting in 1814 at Nashville, in the 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Militia, Captain James Gray commanding. He saw action under General Andrew Jackson, January 8, 1815, during the Battle of New Orleans. He was discharged May 18, 1815.

For his service during that war, Henry Vinson obtained 80 acres of land in Stewart County, Tenn., under the Bounty Act of 1850, by warrant number 77097, filed February 17, 1851. Additional land was obtained under a similar Act passed in 1855.

Henry and Permela (Futrell) Vinson had four sons and four daughters. They were:

  1. Mary Ann, married Dellum Futrell.
  2. Martha, married (1) Matthew H. Reid; (2) Silas Futrell.
  3. Susie, married Jack Hodges.
  4. Harriett, married William Henry Jones.
  5. Edmond James, married Jacqueline Wimberley.
  6. Thomas Allison, married Mary E. Wimberley, sister of Jacqueline.
  7. James C., married Sarah Ann Hicks.
  8. Baylous Print, married (1) Amanda Jane Thomas; (2) Mary Jane Bass.

Martha, the second child of Permela (Futrell) and Henry Vinson, and her first husband, Matthew H. Reid, had three children: Margaret Jane, James Henry and William Carroll. Margaret Jane married James Carroll Thomas, son of James Thomas III, on February 10, 1859. They had eight children.

Edmond James Vinson, oldest son of Permela (Futrell) and Henry Vinson, married Jacqueline Wimberley. Their daughter, Mary Jonathan Vinson, married A. D. “Bud” Thomas, son of Peyton Thomas, grandson of Cullen Thomas, and great grandson of James Thomas II.

Nancy Ann Vinson, another daughter of Edmond J., and Jacqueline (Wimberley) Vinson, married Alfred Thomas, oldest son of Peyton Thomas, son of Cullen Thomas; and the oldest daughter, Frances Etna Vinson, married Peyton Sholar, son of Jemima Bridges, daughter of Drury Bridges, and her husband Allen Sholar. Allen was the son of Laodicea (Thomas) and Benjamin Sholar, and a grandson of James Thomas I.

Baylous Print Vinson, youngest child of Permela (Futrell) and Henry Vinson, was married twice. His first wife was Amanda Jane Thomas, daughter of James Thomas II and Margaret (Ethridge) Thomas, and a sister of James Carroll Thomas. They had one son Jim H. Vinson. Baylous Print Vinson’s second wife was Mary Jane Bass.

Ethridge

David T. Ethridge and Penina (Skinner) Ethridge, were the parents of Sarah L. (Sallie) and Margaret (Peggy) Ethridge, both of whom married into the Thomas family of Trigg County, and whose descendants are numbered in both the Thomas and Bridges families.

David T. Ethridge was the son of Amos Ethridge, who died in Currituck County North Carolina, in 1785, leaving his estate to sons John and David.15 Numerous members of the Ethridge family were living in Currituck County at that time. David T. Ethridge was listed in the 1790 census of North Carolina as a resident of Edenton District, Camden County, without a family.

Just when he married Penina Skinner is not known. Likely he met Penina in Chowan County as a number of Skinner families lived in the area of Edenton, the county seat, in the 1790’s. The couple may have married in North Carolina and later moved to Tennessee. In any event, they were probably married about 1806.

The 1820 census of Davidson County, Tenn., listed David T. Ethridge as the head of a family with two males under 10, one between 10 and 16, and one between 26 and 45. Females in the family included two under 10, two between 10 and 16, and one between 26 and 45. From these figures it is deductable that the family at that time included three sons and four daughters.

David T. Ethridge died in January 1823 in Davidson County, Tenn., without leaving a will. Inventory of his property was made January 29, 1823, by Dennis Dozier and Penina Ethridge, widow of the deceased, as administrators. A sale was held on March 10, 11, 1823, and recorded with the court on March 12, 1823.16 The inventory was a long one, an indication that the Ethridge family was quite well off. Among the property were seven slaves, horses, cattle, hogs, geese and turkeys. At the sale, Penina, the widow, bought many of the items including 20 of the hogs, two mares, five cows assorted household goods, beds and bedding.

On June 24, 1823,17 support was laid off for Penina Ethridge and recorded with the court as follows:

“We the undersigned have acted agreeable to the within order and have allotted for the support of the widow and family, two thousand weight of pork and 300 bushels of corn and wheat laid there and is on hand, and two bushels of salt and 80 weight of ginned cotton and four sides of leather also cask and 80 weight of sugar and 10 pounds of coffee.

“Given under our hands this 10th day of March 1823, E. Gower, Braxton Lee and Elisha Gower, two commoners by order of court set apart to Penina Ethridge, widow of David T. Ethridge, one year’s support for herself and family.”

On October 3, 1823, Penina Ethridge bought 100 acres of land in Stewart County, Tenn., from Benjamin McNatt for $450.18 This land was part of a military grant of 640 acres originally surveyed for Evans Shelby. It was located on the north side of Shelby Creek, a stream that runs into the Cumberland River, now Lake Barkley, near Tobaccoport, Tenn. Probably the land was located near what is called Shelby Spring, and lies about a mile or so south of the Tennessee-Kentucky state line.

Penina Ethridge moved with her family to this new property and settled, a move that enabled her to be near a family relative, Nathan Skinner and his family.

On February 7, 1825, Penina Ethridge, along with Nathan Skinner, John Fletcher (son-in-law of Nathan Skinner) and J. B. Nevill, posted a bond of $6,000 with the county court for the benefit of guardianship of Penina’s dependent children. They were named as follows: Elizabeth Skinner, Pega Ethridge, John Ethridge, Patsy Ethridge, Polly Ethridge and Sally Ethridge. Nathan Skinner was appointed guardian of the children and was to make “true returns of the settlement” of the property, the children being referred to as “heirs of David T. Ethridge, deceased.” This likely was necessary due to Penina’s plans to remarry. There is no record of her second marriage in Stewart County.19

Nathan Skinner made periodic reports to the county court on the financial affairs of the children through the year 1839. This consisted mainly of hiring out several Negro slaves, property of the Ethridge children, collection of money for their hire, and expenses of education of the children. Although no mention was made of William or of David T. Ethridge, Jr., in setting up the original guardianship, they were mentioned in several entries found in the county record books.

From the above data it may be deducted that the children of David and Penina Ethridge, in approximate order from oldest to youngest, were:

  1. Elizabeth, married a Skinner.
  2. David T. Jr., married Nancy J. Mitchell, June 23, 1841, in Trigg County, Ky.
  3. Pega (Peggy or Margaret), married James Thomas, Jr., August 14, 1829 in Trigg County.
  4. John, born 1813, wife’s name was Mary. They had eight children according to 1850 census of Stewart County.
  5. Patsy, no further record.
  6. Polly, died 1838, William Ethridge was administrator of estate.
  7. Sarah L. (Sally) the youngest, married Peyton Thomas, Dec. 2, 1841.

William, the only one unaccounted for, likely was one of the older children, perhaps the oldest.

The 1820 census of Davidson County lists seven children. Sarah’s gravestone gives her birth year as 1823 making it after the death of her father. The family bible lists it as 1822, the year before her father died.

Penina (Skinner) Ethridge married her second husband probably in 1827, judging from the date set for guardianship of her children. At least, it would not be later than 1829. Her second husband’s last name was Duncan, most likely John Duncan, who owned property in the vicinity of where Penina bought her farm on Shelby Creek. He later was one of the witnesses of several deeds involving Nathan Skinner.

Penina had at least two children by her second husband. They were Harriet and George.

Harriet was born in 1830 and married Joseph P. Wills, who, according to the family bible, was born in 1825. They were married December 22, 1848. (Joseph’s first wife, Barbara, whom he had married in 1843, had died a few years after their marriage.)

Harriet and Joseph had eight children:

  1. Phillip P., born Feb. 25, 1850, died August 27, 1855.
  2. Ann, born October 15, 1851, died October 19, 1851.
  3. George W., born Jan. 3, 1853, died August 25, 1940. His wife’s last name was Peebler. He is buried at Benton, Ill.
  4. Sarah, born June 18, 1855 in Mississippi, died June 29, 1909 in Kentucky. She married William J. Bridges, descendant of Drury Bridges, Dec. 24, 1872. Both died in Trigg County.
  5. Frances (Frankie), born June 20, 1857, died Jan. 30, 1946. She was married twice (1) Ezekiel Vinson, who died Aug. 2, 1886; (2) Carroll Thomas, son of James Thomas, Jr. She was his second wife.
  6. Richard, born August 12, 1860, died August 22, 1860.
  7. Joseph P., born Nov. 15, 1861, died April 27, 1876.
  8. Margaret (Mary Allis) born April 15, 1865, died Aug. 25, 1934. She married Lemuel Williams.

Joseph P., and Harriet (Duncan) Wills and their oldest child, Phillip, were listed in the 1850 census of Trigg County. Some time after that date and prior to 1855, they moved to Mississippi. The 1860 census of that state lists Joseph P. Wills and family as living on a plantation near Vicksburg where he was a slave keeper. Joseph P. Wills died in Mississippi December 19, 1865 and the family returned to Kentucky. By 1876, Harriet (Duncan) Wills had moved from Kentucky to Benton, Illinois, with the two surviving sons, George and Joseph. There she married her second husband, a man named Cox. After his death, she married John B. Hogan, also of Illinois. According to her gravestone, she died January 19, 1899, age 68 years and three months. She is buried at Spring Gardens, near Benton, Illinois.20

George Duncan, Harriet’s brother, is said to have moved to Mississippi also. Beyond that he has not been traced.

No date has been found as to when Penina (Skinner ) (Ethridge) Duncan died or where she was buried, although it is pretty certain that she lived the last years of her life and died in the area of Shelby Creek near Tobaccoport, Tenn.

THE PERRY THOMAS SKETCH

When Perry Thomas was 88 years old he wrote from memory a sketch about the family history. This has been used as a beginning by most researchers of the Thomas line since that time. The version printed here is from a typewritten copy by G. A. Bridges, who copied it directly from the original back in the 1920’s. It was then owned by Perry’s youngest son, Winfield Scott Thomas.

It reads:

” A short biographical sketch of the paternal and maternal ancestry of Perry Thomas, Sr., written by his own hand in September 15, 1885, going back as far as his memory and information enables him as obtained from his father many years ago.

“First. . .Paternal. . .James Thomas, his grandfather, was a native of England, emigrated to America and located in North Carolina, Bertie County, some time between 1725 and 1740. He married a Miss Sarah Barnes, daughter of Henry Barnes, sister of old Henry Barnes and Mary Dunning, by whom he had three sons and 4 daughters. Eldest son, Luke, Ezekiel and James (my father.) Luke died in the western part of North Carolina, leaving a son named William and a daughter named Sally. Ezekiel married a Miss Holland by whom he had 3 sons and one daughter to wit: Luke, Ezekiel and Eli who died when a boy. The other two died in Tennessee. Sally married a Mister Henry and died in North Carolina. James (my father) married Mollie Stanley, a daughter of Edmond Stanley, by whom he had 5 sons and 2 daughters, to wit: Cullen, Perry, Starkey, James, Stanley, Temperance and Polly. They all married, lived and died in Kentucky. The names of the sisters of my father are as follows: Sally who first married a Mr. Edwards, then James Foreman, then an old Mr. Greer. She died in Tennessee. Uredicy married Benjamin Sholar. She had two sons and one daughter, to wit: Allen, Benjamin and Sally. She died in Kentucky. Sely married Charles Dement. She lived and died in Tennessee. Lydia married James Lawrence. She had 2 sons and 5 daughters. She died in Kentucky.

“MATERNAL. Edmond Stanley, my grand father, married a Miss Perry, by whom he had 4 sons and 5 daughters, to wit: William, Edmond, Perry, Jonathan, Jerusha, Mollie, Sally Margaret and Abrilly. Jerusha married John Barnes. Mollie married James Thomas, Sally married James Baradell. Margaret married James Mitchell and Abrilly married Dunning Bruse. The husbands of Sally and Margaret were soldiers in the War of 1812 and died in Canada. William, Edmond, Perry and Jonathan all lived and died in North Carolina. Mollie, Sallie and Abrilly all lived and died in Kentucky. Jerusha’s husband, to wit: John Barnes, died in North Carolina. Abrilly Bruce’s husband died in Hopkins County, Kentucky, where she lived several years and died there. Jerusha, and Margaret Mitchell died in Obion County, Tenn. Old Mary Dunning and old Henry Barnes were my father’s aunt and uncle. John Barnes, Solomon Barnes (of Gallatin) and Cader Barnes were my father’s cousins.”

In examining the sketch by Uncle Perry, we must accept it for what it is, a valuable family document. But we must keep in mind too, likely due to his advanced years, Uncle Perry was not completely accurate in his reminesences about his family tree.

For example, it is now apparent that James Thomas, I, his grandfather, although born in Virginia, was technically a native of England, because he was born under the English flag. He went to North Carolina about 1728 when his father, Joseph Thomas, bought land in Chowan County and moved there from Nansemond County, Virginia.

James Thomas, I, married Sarah Barnes, but according to the will probated in 1773 in Bertie County, she was the daughter of John Barnes, Sr., instead of Henry Barnes. (See footnote 5, Chapter 8). Actually, Henry was Sarah’s brother and Mary (Barnes) Dunning, wife of Shadrach Dunning, was a daughter of Henry, and was Sarah’s niece. This same error is repeated in the next to the last sentence of the sketch.

As for the spelling of Laodicea, Uncle Perry calls her Uredicy (spelled Uredica in some places) See footnote 2 in Chapter 11, for comment on this spelling.

Jerusha’s husband, John Barnes, brother of Mary (Barnes) Dunning, was the son of John Barnes, Jr., who made his will in Bertie County Dec. 9, 1783. Mentioned are his wife Elizabeth, sons John, Solomon, Kader; daughter Edee Carter (wife of William); Milly Barnes; Sarah Jones; Elizabeth Sholar (wife of Benjamin); Mary Dunning (wife of Shadrach); and grandson, Right Barnes. A son, Solomon, and Benjamin Sholar, were executors, and the will was witnessed by Henry Barnes, John Sholar and James Sholar. The will was probated February 8, 1784.

Elizabeth (Barnes) Sholar, daughter of John Jr., died prior to 1791 and Benjamin Sholar married Laodicea Thomas.

Uncle Perry, however, gets his Barnes kin straightened out in the last sentence.

  1. Hathaway, Vol. 2, No. 3, page 350.↩︎

  2. Bertie County Deed Book S, page 335.↩︎

  3. Ibid, Book T, page 216↩︎

  4. Trigg County Marriage Bonds.↩︎

  5. Trigg County Deed Book C, page 386. Original in collection of Olen Ray Thomas, Mayfield, Ky. Deeds made to Stanley, Cullen, Starkie and Perry, are also recorded in Book C, pages 387-392.

    ↩︎

  6. This graveyard is located one-fourth mile south of Donaldson Creek in a grove of trees behind the original homesite of Cullen Thomas.↩︎

  7. Christian County Marriage records. According to G. A. Bridges in his history, it was 1812.↩︎

  8. Drury Bridges is a descendant of Joseph Bridger of Isle of Wight County, Va. (See Chapter 13 et seq for history of that family.)↩︎

  9. According to a diary kept by Ora (Bridges) Thomas, mother of the author, when she was 17 years old, Perry Thomas was quite sick, with an ailment not identified, for over two months before he died. First entry in her diary, dated Monday, May 10, 1886, read: “Uncle Perry sick, went to see him after dinner.” On May 13, she stated merely, “Uncle Perry is worse,” and she wrote the same entry again on May 23. There was no further comment however until July 1886 when she wrote this entry in her diary: “Perry Thomas died July 14, 1886 and was buried July 15, 1886. He died on Wednesday and was buried on Thursday.”

    ↩︎

  10. A new grave marker, replacing the weathered and broken original, purchased and erected by the descendants of James and Margaret Thomas, was unveiled during a special ceremony, Sunday, Aug. 16. 1970.↩︎

  11. Sarah B. Thompson’s first husband was Noah W. Rothrock, whom she married Feb. 26, 1833. They had two children, John J., and Emily J.↩︎

  12. After arriving in Kentucky the family dropped the D.↩︎

  13. Standley data from Hathaway, and Bertie County records.↩︎

  14. Futrell data from Christian and Trigg County records and Gilbert N. Bridges family history, 1968. Vinson data from Mrs. Herbert Sumner, and Rena Dill Solomon, and Stewart County, Tenn., records.↩︎

  15. Abstracts, North Carolina Wills, 1760-1800, by Fred A. Olds.↩︎

  16. Davidson County, Tenn., Will Book 8, pages 178, 212, 411.↩︎

  17. Davidson County, Tenn., records, Vol. 8, 1821-1826 (Part 1).↩︎

  18. Stewart County, Tenn., Deed Book 7, page 158.↩︎

  19. Many early records of Stewart County were lost or destroyed during the Civil War battle of Fort Donelson, when they were hastily removed from the court house and buried.↩︎

  20. Data on the Wills family is from the records of Olen Ray Thomas.↩︎