Union County, South Carolina
September 22, 1790

Joseph Thomas of Union County, planter, to Jonas Little, of Union, planter. For 25 pounds sterling, 121 acres. Part of 392 acres granted to John Palmore.

Signed Joseph Thomas and Keziah (K) Thomas.


Witnesses: Ezekiel Springs, Shadrack Farmer, Edmund Hayes. Proven by Ezekiel Springer October 10, 1796. Recorded January 3, 1797."


Joseph Thomas (c.1760-aft.1860)
By Jason Edwards

Joseph Thomas was born about 1760 probably in Virginia. In 1850 he gives his age as 85 and his birthplace as South Carolina. In 1860, his age is 103 and his birthplace is Virginia. On June 1, 1854, as a resident of Union County, Georgia, he applied for a Revolutionary War Pension based on his service. He states at the time that he is 95 years old. This would give him a birth year of about 1759. He further states that “he volunteered in the Army of the United States in the Year of 1782 from the State of Virginia, and Served a Tour of three months in the Company Commanded by Captain James Gaines.” With his application, he sent in his original discharge from Captain Gaines dater April 27, 1783. He also states that he served a three month tour in the same year from Surry County, North Carolina. He goes on to say that he “volunteered a third time for three months from Union County in the State of South Carolina and served…in the Regiment of Infantry Commanded by Colonel Brandon.” He was ordered by Colonel Brandon to guard prisoners being taken to the Peedee River. He signed his name with a capital J. He was not able to present enough proof to receive a pension.

Joseph Thomas and family seem to have been Separatist Baptists. This group tended to stay close to the frontier where they were better able to practice their religion without fear of persecution.

Sometime in the early 1780s, Joseph Thomas married Keziah. Her maiden name is not known, but her first name is proven by a deed made by Joseph Thomas, planter, of Union County, South Carolina, to Jonas Little for one hundred and twenty one acres in Union County, South Carolina. The deed is signed by Joseph Thomas and Keziah Thomas who signed her name with a capital K. It was about this time that the Joseph Thomas family moved from Union County, South Carolina, to the western frontier of North Carolina. He was enumerated in Burke County, North Carolina, in 1800. He is in Haywood County in 1810 and back in Burke County in 1820. This is the last time that he appears as head of household on the census. His wife, who was born about 1762, was still living in 1820. It is unclear where Joseph and Keziah were after this time. They were very likely living with their children. By 1840, most of his children had moved to Union County, Georgia. Keziah Thomas seems to have died before 1850 as Joseph was living with his son John Thomas in 1850 and 1860. He died sometime after the 1860 census.

Likely children of Joseph Thomas and Keziah:

1. Aaron Thomas was born about 1785, probably in Union County, South Carolina. He married Elizabeth Hunsucker.

2. Zilpha Thomas was born about 1786, probably in Union County, South Carolina. She married Hosea Land.

3. Job Thomas was born about 1787, probably in Union County, South Carolina. He married Esther Thomas.

4. Martha Thomas was born about 1789, probably in Union County, South Carolina. She married William Gouge.

5. Nancy Thomas was born about 1792, probably in Burke County, North Carolina. She married William Kerby.

6. John Thomas was born about 1797, probably in Burke County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth.

Comment about Cindy Wilson: I believe that one of the Yancey County Thomases was married to a Cindy Wilson. Somehow, over time, she got attached to her husband’s presumed grandfather. That's why many people who have her on Ancestry.com, and in fact her Findagrave page, have her as being born in 1760 and dying in 1891 at 131. That's a little old, even for a Thomas! Lucinda "Cindy" Wilson Thomas is an excellent example actually. The real Cindy Wilson was married to John Thomas in the 1820s. Her Findagrave page has her dying in 1860, but she is clearly on the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Yancey County with her husband.


Census information for Joseph Thomas. The analysis of the pre 1850 censuses are my own based on what I have found about the family and not part of the actual census.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1790 – Union County, South Carolina
Joseph Thomas – 123

1 male 1774-1790 (Job Thomas b.c.1787)
1 male 1774-1790 (Aaron Thomas b.c.1784)
1 male before 1774 (Joseph Thomas b.c.1760)
-----
1 female (Martha Thomas b.1789)
1 female (Zilpha Thomas b.c.1786)
1 female (Keziah Thomas b.c.1762)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1800 – Burke County, North Carolina
Joseph Thomas – 11110-12010

1 male 1790-1800 (John Thomas b.c.1797)
1 male 1784-1790 (Job Thomas b.c.1787)
1 male 1774-1784 (Aaron Thomas b.c.1784)
1 male 1755-1774 (Joseph Thomas b.c.1760)
-----
1 female 1790-1800 (Nancy Thomas b.c.1792)
1 female 1784-1790 (Martha Thomas b.1789)
1 female 1784-1790 (Zilpha Thomas b.c.1786)
1 male 1755-1774 (Keziah Thomas b.c.1762)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1810 – Haywood County, North Carolina
Joseph Thomas – 01101-00301

1 male 1794-1800 (John Thomas b.c.1797)
1 male 1784-1794 (Job Thomas b.c.1787)
1 male before 1765 (Joseph Thomas b.c.1760)
-----
1 female 1784-1794 (Nancy Thomas b.c.1792)
1 female 1784-1794 (Martha Thomas b.1789)
1 female 1784-1794 (Zilpha Thomas b.c.1786)
1 female before 1765 (Keziah Thomas b.c.1762)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1820 – Burke County, North Carolina
Joseph Thomas – 000001-00001

1 male before 1775 (Joseph Thomas b.c.1760)
-----
1 female before 1775 (Keziah Thomas b.c.1762)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1850 – Union County, Georgia
Joseph Thomas 85 SC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1860 – Union County, Georgia
Joseph Thomas 103 VA