He was a son of William D. Draper who operated a grist mill in Henry County, VA. and Lucy Meredith.
William was born in 1785 in Person County, N.C.
Lucy was born in 1788 in VA. Their marriage bond in Henry County, VA. on 30 Sept. 1805.
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Some of Thomas Jefferson Draper and Nancy Davis' children were:
1. Mary Jane, b. 7 SEP 1829
2. William Meredith b. 7 JUL 1832 in Henry County, VA.
3. Peter Davis b. 24 NOV 1834
4. Thomas Jefferson, Jr. b. 4 SEP 1837 in Henry Co. VA
5. Jesse Hurd b. 14 SEP 1839 in Henry Co. VA.
6. John Harrison b. 2 JUN 1842 in Henry Co. VA.
7. James Madison b. 16 JUL 1846
8. Lucy Anne b. 26 OCT 1851 in Henry County, VA.
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Thomas' marriage bond in Henry County, VA. on 18 Dec. 1827 and married in Jan. 1828.
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From the notes of Kerman Thomasson, presenter at the Draper Reunion 24 April 1993:
Tom Jeff, Sr. lived in a log house that was still standing in 1993. It stood near the knoll on which is located the Draper burying ground where Grandpa and Grandma Draper are buried.
Tom Jeff Sr. was so named because Thomas Jefferson was president when he was born.
The Drapers lived on Reed Creek, where William farmed and operated a grist mill, remains of which are still visible. He married a neighbor, Nancy Dent Davis.
Tom was a farmer. He often is referred to in written records as "Captain Tom Draper" but there is nothing to evidence that title. I have seen a record (Henry County Minute Book 3 page 155) where Tom Jeff qualified as overseer of the poor of Henry County, VA.
Tom died 6 Dec 1885 according to his hand-carved tombstone.
I believe this date is in error. It should be 1884. Nancy Dent Davis Draper died in 1889 and it is apparent the two gravestones were made by the same hand.
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1858 Deed Index Henry County, VA. grantors:
Thomas J. Draper to Stephen Nunn deed book 15 p. 370.
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The 1860 Henry County, VA. Census shows William, age 74, and Lucy, age 72.
Three houses down from them are Thomas and Nancy Draper, age 51, with their family. (This is Thomas Jefferson Draper, Sr.)
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