Other than that of Jonathan Thomas from North Carolina, there are three distinct Thomas families who migrated to Cherokee County Alabama during the time period of 1835-1850. All three settled in the northeast section of the county around the community of Jamestown. In Alabama, homesteaders acquired Federal Land Grants which were geographically identified by Township, Range, and Section. All three of these Thomas families lived within one to two sections from each other. A section is one square mile.
Since most of the early records were lost when the Cherokee Court house burned, there is precious little that is documentable about the early history of Cherokee County. Rather than complicating the story line of Jonathan Thomas from North Carolina, I have chosen to use this page for in depth discussion of these different Thomas lines. Any ideas or mental contributions to this defining process are welcome and will be duly noted. If you have any corrections or additions, please let me know.
Balaam Thomas is the son of John William Thomas. In the 1770's, John received land grants on Watson's Creek, a branch of Richardson's Creek in Anson County, North Carolina. The John W. Thomas family was large and lived less than two miles from where our ancestrial Benjamin Thomas family lived. Though few records link the two families, the chilren of Benjamin's sons Ananias and Ezekiel interacted with some of the same people as John W. Thomas's children. Among those were the families of Coburn, Pressley and Richardson.
During the 1830's, land deeds indicated that John W. Thomas's children were beginning to leave Anson County. Members begin showing up in the 1840 census of Campbell County, Georgia. They eventually spread across the central counties of Alabama.
On 4 Apr 1831, Balaam Thomas sold 112 acres (5-408, Union NC) on Mill Creek in Anson County to John Presley. The land adjoined the proprietory lands, Joel Thomas's field, and William Price land. Balaam Thomas conveyed all of this tract of land with the exception of five acres including the "John Thomas house." He specified that John and Elizabeth Thomas have right to the five acres as long as they shall live. Though the transaction took place in 1831 Anson County, the deed was not recorded until 25 Sep 1859, after the formation of Union County.
In 1840, Balaam Thomas was listed in both Anson County NC and Chatooga County GA. In the Anson County record, he is living beside friend John Richardson. The record reads as follows:
1840 ANSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINAIn the 1850 Cherokee County AL Census, Balaam is listed as 70 years old, a cooper, and born in VIRGINIA. His wife is 69-year old Clarissa who is born in NC. The 1860 Cherokee County census lists the aging Balaam Thomas and Clarissa as living in the household of John Richardson. In 1860, Balaam is listed as born in NC.
Balaam Thomas
John Richardson
1840 CHATOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA
Balaam Thomas1m50/60, 1f50/60
John Richardson is likely the brother of Bryant Richardson who also moved to Cherokee County AL. Bryant's son William Henry Richardson married Mary Ann Thomas, daughter of Jonathan Thomas of Anson County NC. The Richardson family also intermarried with the Sharp family. The names Morton, Joel, Balaam and Moses run in Balaam's greater family. These given names are not to be found in the Benjamin Thomas family tree. Is there any family ties between the Balaam Thomas family and that of Jonathan Thomas, both from NC?
The 1850 Cherokee County Census lists families of a James T. and Jonathan Thomas as being born in South Carolina. The record of John Thomas is included here, but will be discussed later. The record is as follows:
|
095-095, 008 Jonathan Thomas 53 SC Tempy 56 SC Elizabeth 28 SC Laura 25 SC Amanda 18 GA John 15 TN Thomas R. 11 AL |
332-332, 048 James T. Thomas 52 SC Sarah 50 SC Rody J. 19 TN Martha M. 16 TN Barnaby W. 14 AL William L. 13 AL James A. 9 AL John A. Thomas 17 TN Louiza H. 17 GA |
572-572, 043 John Thomas 42 TN Elizabeth 43 TN William 14 TN Alriea [Alfred] 9 AL Margaret 7 AL Sarah 6 AL Bradford 2 AL |
The children's entries as found in this census indicates that both Jonathan and James T. Thomas moved from South Carolina to Tennessee ca. 1830-1835. They further show that both families moved to Alabama in the late 1830's. The James and Jonathan Thomas listed in the 1840 Cherokee census may very well be the same as listed in 1850. Both being from South Carolina with similar census records, could Jonathan and James T. Thomas be brothers? Also, the children of Jonathan Thomas of North Carolina appear to be born in the late 1830's Alabama. Where was he listed in 1840?
There is no record of Jonathan Thomas of South Carolina in the 1860 census of Cherokee County AL. There are also no available court or land records for this Jonathan. Appearing that this family left the county to a location unknown, the possible widowed wife of Jonathan's son remained for a while in Cherokee Co, AL. Roena "Sharp" appears in the 1850 Cherokee Co. census as 16 years old and living at the home of her father, Emery M. Sharp. Dated 31 Dec 1854, and in neighboring Chatooga Co. GA, Roena Sharp married John Thomas. He may have been the son of Jonathan Thomas of SC who was listed as 15 years old in 1850. In 1860, Roena Thomas was listed as living with her parents. Her name was followed by that of her children, namely: Geo. W. 5 AL, Martha C. 2 AL, and Crawford 1 AL. Since her husband is not listed here or in further census reports, it is likely that he died prior to the 1860 census. The 1870 census for Roena Thomas lists two other children born after 1860.
On the other hand, and beginning in 1845, James T. Thomas received the following five land grants in Cherokee County,Alabama:
Keep in mind that Jonathan Thomas of North Carolina lived at the end of county road 60 just northwest of Jamestown. Also, James R. and Emery, being sons of this Jonathan Thomas, married daughters of John Davis. The 1850 Cherokee County census lists all of the above as living at "Davis X-roads." In the above land grants, the first issued to James T. Thomas was actually intended for John Davis. The land was assigned to Thomas B. Davis and James T. Thomas, "in his own right." Futhermore, all of James T. Thomas's land grants were less than a mile from that issued to Jonathan Thomas. The James T. Thomas land was situated on the southwest side of county road 60 just east of Jamestown. Culstigh Creek which runs southeast through the five tracts. The Old Smith cemetery is virtually across county road 60 from James T. Thomas's land.
James T. Thomas remained in Cherokee County through the 1860 census. He died prior to 1870 as his wife Sarah is listed as head of household in the 1870 census. Children living with Sarah at that time are William L. 32, James A. 30, Rhoda Gray 38, and William 10.
Dated 10 Jan 1885, Lucy Thomas, widow of James A. Thomas, petitioned the county for the homestead belonging to her deceased husband. James A. Thomas is the son of James T. Thomas. The petition states that James A. Thomas died on 6 Apr 1881. He left four tracts of land in Sections 4 and 5, Township 8, and Range 10. This land is situated very near Blanche Crossroads, once known as Davis Crossroads. Lucy Thomas petitioned the court because a William Thomas from nearby Alpine, chatooga GA had applied for administration of the estate. It appears this was William L. Thomas, the borther of James A. Thomas. Note that two of William L. Thomas's children are buried at Moseley Cemetery near the graves of family members descending from Jonathan Thomas of North Carolina. Their grave is marked with one stone that reads: "Children of M. M. and W. L. Thomas. The children are: Gracie Jewell Thomas b. 20 Feb 1899 d. 25 May 1900 and James Thomas b. 10 Apr 1901 d. 20 Apr 1901.
Grant #6194, Cherokee AL, sig. 1 May 1845. For "James T. Thomas in his own right and Thomas B. Davis asignee of John Davis." Being 162 10/100 acres, the NW1/4 of Sec 35 Twshp 7 Range 10 E.
Grant #7673, Cherokee AL, sig. 1 Jul 1845. For James T. Thomas. Being 40 52/100 acres, the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Sec 35 Twshp 7 Range 10 E.
Grant #9531, Cherokee AL, sig. 10 Aug 1849. For James T. Thomas. Being 40 acres, the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Sec. 35 Twshp 7 Range 10 E.
Grant #9570, Cherokee AL, sig. 10 Aug 1849. For James T. Thomas. Being 40 49/100 acres, the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Sec. 34 Twshp 7 Range 10 E.
Grant # 10743, Cherokee AL, sig. 1 Mar 1850. For James T. Thomas. Being 40 37/100 acres, the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Sec.. 36 Twshp 7 Range 10 E.
As listed above, John first appeared in the 1850 Cherokee County census. He was enumerated next to Jesse Coburn, Andrew Sharp, John Richardson; all being from Anson County NC except for Lewis Metcalf who was from TN. This in itself opens a possibility, as the father of Balaam Thomas above had land dealings with the Metcalf family back in Anson County NC. We know that Jonathan Thomas from NC was born and lived in NC before moving to Alabama around 1840. Since this John was born in TN ca. 1808 and has no children born in NC, it is hard to believe that he is related to Jonathan Thomas by blood. However, there is no proof that says he is not. On the other hand, Jonathan and James T. Thomas are both from SC and are roughly ten years older than John. These too could very well be brothers. Like John Thomas of TN, they also had children born in TN. Could John be the younger of Jonathan and James T. Thomas of SC?
Before totally discounting a possible relation between John Thomas of TN and Jonathan Thomas of Anson NC, there exist one possibility that makes sense. The father of Jonathan Thomas of NC was Ezekiel Thomas. Ezekiel had an older brother David Thomas who moved to Chester County SC in 1808. David bought land in SC from Capt. James McGriff. Though Ezekiel Thomas never owned land in SC, he did witness a land transaction where Gideon Green Austin [son of Micheal] was selling his land in order to move to TN. Micheal Austin had lived in Anson County NC where he sold land to Benjamin Thomas, father of the above Ezekiel Thomas. To go one step further, Benjamin Thomas's first record is as chain bearer for Gideon Green. He then bought the same land in 1784. Looking back to Chester County SC, Gideon Austin moved to Lincoln or Franklin County TN in the 1820's. David Thomas's older sons moved to Blount County AL in the 1830's. Living near David were at least two generations of Jonathan Thomas from 1790-1820. This Jonathan also had land on the same creek as that where David Thomas lived. Though family history outlines the children of Jonathan, could there be at least one or two that escaped record? Could James, John and Jonathan Thomas be born in Chester Co.SC?
At first glance you may think it is possible and yet wonder where the proof is? At this point there is none. But to complicate the picture even more, Thomas McGriff, son of Capt. James McGriff lived a few miles further up the Broomtown Valley from where Jonathan Thomas lived. This community was named Chesterfield. There were other people in the area from Chester County.
Dated 1 Jan 1859, a John Thomas signed for land grant # 17941 being the NE1/4 of the SW1/4 of Sec. 34 Twsp 7 Range 10E. This land was located on the northside of county road 60 and just east of its intersection with county road 90. Being about halfway between Jamestown and the community of New Moon, the land was situated across the road from the lands of James T. Thomas. This land was also not far from that belonging to Jonathan Thomas of NC. Was this John Thomas of TN? OR could this be one of the other John Thomas's, being the son of one of the two Jonathan's or James T. Thomas? Since the court house burned in 1882, the answer to this question will remain a mystery.
Jonathan Thomas of NC died prior to NC. In 1859, his wife's dower agreement names all of the chldren of Jonathan and also his daughters' husbands. The recod had been lost to the fire but was reentered anew in 1884. Of importance, the agreemenet named Ezekiel and John Thomas as Admistrators. The agreement was signed by both and then attested by John Thomas.
There is no eveidence of John Thomas in the 1860 census. Also, all of the Jonathan Thomas family of SC are missing except for Roena, who was living with her father, Emery Sharp. Jonathan Thomas of NC had just died and his wife Mary was living with her younger children. In 1860, where were John of TN and Jonathan of SC?
Had they moved, or was the area hit with one of the epidemics such as typhoid which ruled the day.
In 1860, John and Elizabeth's son Alfred was living at the home of Francis Coburn. His brother Wm. D. Thomas was married and living with wife Mary J. and son James M. Thomas. Other members of the family have not been found in 1860. Both Alfred and William D. served in the Civil War. James R., son of Jonathan Thomas from NC served in the same unit. A letter written to Eliza Daniels from her mother in law mentions the war death of James R. Thomas. In 1860, Wm Thomas Daniel and wife Eliza are listed living beside Malinda, widow of Lewis Medcalf. James Living next to Malinda was James M. Cunningham who would be most helpful to all the women of the neighborhood during the war.
In 1870, Jasper N., a son of the above Lewis and Malinda Medcalf is living in Bellefonte Jackson Co., AL. S. B. Thomas is listed as laborer and living with Jasper Medcalf. S. B. is Brad Thomas, baby son John and Elizabeth Thomas. Where was he in the 1860 census?
Before jumping over Lookout Mountain into the records of Jackson County AL, let's take a look at one more record in Cherokee County. As written in the 10 Oct 1859 dower agreement, Ezekiel and John Thomas were listed as Administrators. Dated 5 Nov 1859, all four tracts of land held in the estate of Jonathan Thomas deceased were sold at public auction(A-459, Cherokee AL) to James Pinkston. The transaction was not registered at the courthouse until 13 Jun 1863. At that time, and as listed in the deed, the transaction was made by "Elizabeth and John Thomas as the Administrators of of the estate of Jonathan Thomas late of said county deceased". Who was Elizabeth? Jonathan did not have a daughter named Elizabeth. He did not have a daughter-in-law of that name either. Son Ezekiel Thomas had been named Co-Administrator as per the Dower Agreement. Why is Ezekiel not listed as Co-Administrator in this sale of his father's land? In entering the record anew following the courthouse fire, could the court clerk have mistaken Elizabeth for Ezekiel? The civil war was in full swing in 1863. Jonathan's son's John and Ezekiel were at war during this time. John would die the next year. Could this have actually been the John and Elizabeth Thomas from TN?
Samuel Bradford Thomas was the baby son of this John and Elizabeth Thomas. He moved to Jackson County with friend Jasper Medcalf. S. B. Thomas married Rebecca Poe, the daughter of John and Mary Ann Tipton Poe. Not living long after the marriage, they had a son, Brad Cale Thomas who was raised by his grandfather Poe. Living nearby was Mary Jane, the widow of Jesse Lee Thomas. Mary Elizabeth Thomas, the daughter of Mary Jane and Jesse Lee married George W. Gant. Buried near Geo. W. and Mary E. Gant at the Gant cemetery is S. B. Thomas and wife. Descendants of both families claim that S. B. and Mary Jane Thomas were related. It appears it is likely, but the connection has not yet been made.
To further complicate this story, Mary Jane had a daugher Sarah who married Cyrus D. Smart. In 1880, three year old A. W. Smart was living with his "grandmother" Mary Jane Thomas. He was the son of Sarah and C. D. Smart. Descendants of Mary E. Gant say that Mary Thomas had sons John L. and William L. Thomas who moved to Arkansas in the 1890's. The family tradition goes on to say they carried with them a son of deceased C. D. Smart. This story is confirmed in information recently shared by family members in Arkansas. In 1900, John L. and William L. Thomas are living in Saline Co., Arkansas. Living nearby is 23 year old Arthur W. Smart and his grandmother, Mary Thomas.
Living in the same Arkansas county as Mary and her children, are Alfred and William D. Thomas. Remember, these are the two older sons of John and Elizabeth Thomas.
The children of John and Elizabeth Thomas are:
A. William D. Thomas As shown above, in the 1850 Cherokee Co. AL census, William is listed as 14 years old and born in Alabama. In that census, William's next door neighbor is listed as 47 year old Jesse Coburn from NC with son Francis, aged 18. William married prior to 1860 as in the census of that year, he is listed: Wm. D. Thomas 22, Mary J. Thomas 18, and son James M. age 1. The parents of William D. Thomas have not been located in 1860. William D. and brother Alfred L. Thomas enlisted in Co. G, 19th Reg. AL, on 14 Aug 1861 at Cedar Bluff. Cedar Bluff was then the county seat of Cherokee County AL. Also enlisting on the same day were James R. and Andrew Thomas. James R. is the son of Jonathan Thomas of NC.
William D. Thomas has not been located in the 1870 census. However, in 1880, as follows, he is in Saline Co., Arkansas. His record reads:
William D Thomas was born 10 Apr 1836 and died on 15 Dec 1910. He married Mary Jane Ca. 1859. She was born Nov 1842 and died 31 Oct 1919. William D. and Mary Jane Thomas are Layed to rest at Old Union Cemetery in Saline County AR. Their children are:
a. James M. Thomas born 1859, he is listed with his parents through the 1880 census.
B. Alfred L. Thomas With his parents in the 1850 Cherokee County Census, Alfred Thomas was listed as born ca. 1841 in Alabama. In 1860, Alfred was listed at the household of friend Francis Coburn. The record reads as follows:
Enlisting in Co. G., 19th Reg. AL, on the same day as his brother William D. Thomas, Alfred also dissapears from later record in Cherokee Co. AL. Alfred next appears in the 1900 census of Saline County, Arkansas. Living near William D. in Union Township, Alfred is listed as follows:
C. Sarah Thomas Born ca. 1844, Sarah is listed as the child of John and Elizabeth in the 1850 Cherokee Co. census. Neither she or her parents are to be found in 1860. However, And living in Broomtown, Cherokee CO., AL, the widower Matilda Metcalf and her children are living next to the family of Wm. T. Daniel. As per the 1850 census, Matilda's husband was Lewis Metcalf, born in Tennessee. The 1860 census record is as follows:
Jasper and Sarah Thomas Metcalf lived out their lives in Jacksonn County, AL. Buried beside friend and brother-in-law Samuel Brad Thomas, Jasper Metcalf is buried at Gant Cemetery. His grave marker reads: Jasper N. Metcalf b. 4 Jun 1840 d. 27 Jul 1894, Co. A. Yancy's Sharpshooters C.S.A.
D. Samuel Bradford Thomas
As shown aove, in 1870, Brad Thomas appears in 1870 as living with his sister Sarah and her husband Jasper N. Metcalf. Ca. 1878, Samuel Brad married Minerva Charlotte Poe, daughter of John and Mary Ann Tipton Poe. Minerva gave birth to son Cale Brad Thomas born 29 Jan 1894 died 25 Jul 1951, was buried at Gant Cemetery. He married Bertha Phillips. Both Samuel Brad and wife Minerva died of fever in the 1890's. Samuel Brad is layed to rest at Gant Cemetery in Bellefonte, Jackson Co. AL. He was born 19 Oct 1847 and died 4 Mar 1897. About a mile south of Gant Cemetery, Samuel's wife is buried at McAnelly cemetery which is located on a hill near the main bridge over the Tennessee River. Buried with her parents, Minerva Thomas was born 28 Feb 1861 and died 17 Dec 1897.
I wonder, if Samuel would have survived, would he and wife have removed with others to Arkasas where his brothers resided? Or, was it the fever that took Samuel Brad that encouraged others to move west? Also, note that Jesse Lee Thomas died in the civil war. His wife also moved to Jackson County AL where she married widower Henry McAnelly in the early 1870's. He died prior to 1880 and Melissa settled across the river at Hillian's store. I believe Samuel H. McAnelly, who is buried at McAnelly Cemetery is the son of Henry McAnelly by a first wife. Is the McAnelly cemetery situated on the lands of Henry McAnelly?
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William D. Thomas 43 AL AL AL
Mary Jane 38 AL NC TN
James M. 20 AL
Frances E. 18 AL
Elizabeth A. 8 TX
Samantha J. 5 AR
Joseph W. 3 AR
Nathan B. 1 AR
Ezekiel G. 12 AR
This record shows that William D. moved west ca. 1872. He moved through Texas before residing in Union Township, Arkansas. He also named a child Ezekiel. Jonathan Thomas of NC had a son Ezekiel. Also, William D. Thomas had a daughter named Frances. The male name Francis runs in the Coburn family back to early 1700's NC. Looking through the 1880 census of Saline Co. AR, there are other Thomas there at that time. However, it appears Wiliam D. may be the first of many from Cherokee County AL to live in that part of Arkansas.
b. Frances E. Thomas born Apr 1863 died 1945 bur. Old Unnion Cem, married 3 Jan 1888 in Saline County to Elijah M. Chenault, son of George and Elizabeth James Chenault.
c. Elizabeth Ann Thomas born 10 Jan 1871 in Texas died 10 Jan 1952 in Saline County AR Elizabeth married 14 Sep 1890,John Frank Wilson b. 12 Oct 1866 d. 9 Apr 1948, son of John and Lavina Mitchell Wilson. They are buried at Old Union Cemetery.
d. Ezekiel Gilbert Thomas born ca. 1868, Ezekiel is listed in the 1880 census as being born in AR. However, he is listed out of order at the end of the listing of children. Did the enumerator make a mistake or had William D. Thomas moved to Arkansas in 1868? Also, note that the father of Jonathan Thomas of NC was named Ezekiel. This Jonathan also had a son named Ezekiel who was a neighbor of William D. Thomas. What is the connection!!!
e. Samantha I. Thomas born ca. 1875, she was either the first or second child born in Arkansas. Samantha only appears in the 1880 census of Saline County.
f. Joseph W. Thomas born ca. 1877, he too only appears in 1880.
g. Nathan B. Thomas born ca. 1879, he also appears only in the 1880 census of Saline County Arkansas.
Francis Coburn 29
Elizabeth A. 29
Missouri J. 7
Margaret M. 3
Wm. T. 3
Sarah E. 1
Alfred Thomas 20
Alfred Thomas Aug 1839 AL SCT TN
Ann Nov 1851 AL TN NC
Sara J. Sep 1885 -- -- --
James M. Jun 1886 -- -- --
Jesse G. Aug 1888 -- -- --
Notice Alfred lists his father as being born in Scotland? And also, note there is no birth location for the children.
Malinda Metcalf 51
Jasper 20
Geo. W. 16
Francis 10
Lewis E. 10
Malinda's son served in the civil war. Returning home, he married Sarah Thomas before relocating to Bellefonte, Jackson County, AL prior to 1870. In the 1870 census, Jasper N. Metcalf is listed as follows:
Jasper N. Metcalf 27 TN
Sarah 24 AL
Vicky 3 AL
Joseph F. 8/12 AL
Brad Thomas (laborer) 22 AL
Note that Brad is the baby brother of Sarah Thomas Metcalf. Also, living nearby was widower Mary Jane Thomas, whose husband Jesse Lee had died in the civil war. Jesse Lee was the son of Jonathan Thomas from North Carolina.
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