On 15 Oct 1784, Jacob Thomas was the fifth child born to Benjamin and Melinda Gurley Thomas. He married Elizabeth, born 20 Dec 1788, the daughter of John and Sarah Oneal Edwards. Before moving to Anson County, John Edwards and Sarah Oneal married on 27 Nov 1785 in Johnston County. Benjamin Oneal, who was Sarah's brother, also moved to Anson County. Probated Jan 1814 in Anson County, the Last Will and Testament of John Edwards mentioned daughter Elizabeth Thomas.
Dated 20 Apr 1823, Benjamin Oneal registered a gift deed (Z-210, Anson). Written in language as if a Last Will in Testament, Benjamin left all of his worldly property and 1000 acres of land to Benjamin Oneil, Jr. The deed was proven in court Jan 1836.
The last will and testament of Benjamin Oneal was written on 25 Aug 1840. His "beloved nethue" Gray Oneal received the 300 acre homestead in Anson County. Also, his "beloved nethue" Jacob Thomas, Sen. received two slaves. Actually, Jacob's wife was the niece of Benjamin Oneal. Others mentioned were sisters Millery Collins and Sarah Edwards. Appointing Jacob Thomas as executor, the witnesses were Moses West and James Edwards. When the Will was offered for probate in Oct 1840, the subscribing witnesses "testified that they do not believe that Benjamin Oneal at the time of publishing said paper writing was of sound mind and memory". Though disallowed into probate, this writing survived and is recorded at the North Carolina State Archives. It provides a valuable glimpse into the family and kinship of Jacob Thomas.
As follows, Jacob Thomas purchased land and lived along Pine Log Branch in upper Anson County. He and Elizabeth Edwards Thomas raised five children on this sizable plantation.
Deed (V-323, Anson) 27 Sep 1809. Benjamin Oneal to Jacob Thomas, 130 acres situated on the eastside of Big Pine Log Branch at the mouth of Jesse's Branch. Wit: Samuel Kennedy.
Deed (V-236, Anson) 1 Aug 1812. James Allen to Jacob Thomas, 25 acres situated at Pine Log Branch and near Richardson's Creek. Wit: Richard Austin, John Edwards.
Grant, Anson # 2347. Ent 8 May 1812, Sur 9 Sep 1813, Iss 12 Dec 1815. To Jacob Thomas, 200 acres on Pine log Creek. Chain bearers were Roland Wilkerson and John Edwards.
Deed, (T-121, Anson), 23 Nov 1816. William and John Gurley, both of Montgomery Co. NC sold to Jacob Thomas, 175 acres. Witnesses were Benjamin Thomas and Willis Gurley. A later conveyance from Jacob Thomas to his son Benjamin uses metes and bounds that are similar to this transaction. Within the deed, the land is described as a 250-acre tract that was originally granted to William Gurley on 9 Mar 1799.
Deed(V-145, Anson), 15 Jan 1823. Berry Austin to Jacob Thomas, 125 acres situated on Pine Log Creek. Wit: James Austin, James Austin, Jr.
Grant, Anson #6659 Ent. -----Sur. 5 Apr 1826 Iss. 23 Jan 1827. To Jacob Thomas, 50 acres of land adjoining that of Parker and his own land. Chain bearers were Jno. Edwards and Tod Tolson.
Deed (Z-226 , Anson, NC ) 20 Oct 1834. Robertson Pistole to Jacob Thomas, 100 acres on Lightwood Knot Branch adjoining Arnett, Travis, and Baker lands. The land was originally surveyed 17 Dec 1800 for David Yarborough. The deed was witnessed by V. Tye and Benjamin Thomas.
Deed ( -330, Anson), 16 Sep 1842. Sarah and Mathew Edwards to Jacob Thomas. 262 ¾ acres situated on both sides of pinelog branch and adjoining the lands of John Brewer and James Dumas. Witnesses were sons Mathew G. Thomas and John Thomas.
Traveling north on highway 742, Jones Pond Road turns off to the left just before the blue water tower. Following this road, the old Jacob Thomas house stood on the left-hand side where the road makes a strong right-hand turn. One hundred or so yards further down the road, on the left-hand side, the headstone for Jacob and Elizabeth lies on the ground beside a wire fence. Directly across the road, a path leads a short way to a cemetery where the descendant's of Kit Thomas and other area slaves are buried. In the name of progress, many of these stones were carelessly damaged or destroyed. Correcting a wrong, at the front of "The Thomas Cemetery", a large monument has been erected that is inscribed with the names of black people that called this land home. Further down the road, in a pasture on the right hand side, one of Jacob's sons built his house. Though the house is now gone, a badly damaged cemetery is the resting place of John Jackson Thomas and other family members.
Jacob Thomas died 14 Oct 1864. His death occurred in an important time in Anson County history. On 12 Apr 1868, the courthouse and 31 other buildings tragically burned, destroying most of the rich history contained in the records within. Several papers in the loose-leaf estate record for Jacob Thomas are dated 1876. In fall term 1868, Jno. Tyson, Adm. requested time to reinstate burned records. He sent riders to serve papers on those who could witness events of the past.
Elizabeth Thomas died intestate on 20 Apr 1877. Records indicate son John and son-in-law Joseph Williams were appointed administrators of the Estate of Elizabeth Thomas. The application for Letters of Administration includes a valuable list of heirs.
The Children of Jacob Thomas
John Thomas
Documents and Other Information Related to Jacob Thomas
Jno. Tyson's Letter of Adm. for the Estate of Elizabeth Thomas, 1877
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