Greene Co. Courthouse - Henry Thomas No 412, Will Book 1, page 230 - Letters of Administration granted to Margaret Thomas and Jacob Honnel 14th Sept 1822. Bond given with Josleph Wiscar-ver and John Honnel, as security, same day.
1860 Census shows Margaret as a housekeeper.
1840 Census, Center Twp, Greene Co., PA image 19 shows Eli, above neighbors were George Fry, Elizabeth Huffman. Below were George Huffman, Peter Fry, James Fry, John Huffman.
1860 PA, Greene Co., Center Twp, Rogersville Post Office show Eli Thomas age 67, farmer, real estate value of 1200, personal estate value of 500, born PA, Sarah age 65, Joshua age 24, farm laborer, Kath-M age 21, house domestic. Notes - house numbers were 1008, 991.
1850 PA, Greene Co., Center twp, census shows Eli Thomas age 57, farmer, value of real estate was 1200, 1 person over 20 who cannot read or write, Sarah age 55, James age 20, Sarah Ann age 18, Joshua age 14, Catherine age 12. Neighbor above was Samuel Boler, Isaac Thomas age 50, below - Isaac Thomas age 30, Jess Thomas, George Huffman.
Eli's sister Cassandra married his wife's brother James Knight.
Record from Ruth Wyatt shows Eli's death date as 1873 in Greene Co. Pa
Will Book #3 pgs. 139-140
In the name of God, Amen, where as I Ellis Thomas of Frederick County in the colony of Virginia: being very sick of body but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be to God for it calling mind the uncertainty of this human life, and the certainty of death do think proper to put my worldly affairs in order. First and principle to commit my soul to God who gave it to me, my body to be buried at the direction of my executors in a Christian like and decent manner. As to my worldly I do order that first all my just debts and funeral charges be paid ____?__; I do order and appoint my well beloved wife Elizabeth Thomas to live and ____ on my plantation and have full benefit of it until my son Evin comes to age if she remains a widow she paying the Legacieshere (?) after mentioned. ____ I leave to my son John one ewe and lamb. I likewise appoint my well beloved wife and son John Thomas my ___ and soul/said(?) executors to act as if I were personally present. Then I leave and begave to my son William the tract of land that formerly John Stuart settled containing two hundred acres for which I order my executors to make a title to him. Then I begave to my son Ellis Thomas all my wearing apparel and five pounds in money. Then I order that my daughter Elizabeth be paid ten pounds as she may ___ in need of it and that she be in the care of her brother John. Then I begave to my son Isaac Thomas five pounds when he comes to age and that he be bound ___. Then I begave to my daughter Rachel Thomas when she comes to age one cow and calf and a ewe and lamb and five pounds in money. Then I leave and begave to my son Even Thomas the tract of whereon I now live together with all the improvements thereon when he comes to age, if my Evan should dye the ……
___ that my wife is now with prove to be a boy I begave the said plantation to the said child that is now unborn and if this said child proves a girl it shall fall to Isaac Thomas. Then I to my daughter Mary Thomas the sum of five pounds a cow and a calf and a lamb when she comes to age. P.S. If the child my wife is with proves to be a boy and him and Evin both lives until they come to age, Evan shall give one hundred acres of said land to him or the value of it. ……I do hereby acknowledge this to be my last will and testament evoking and ___ disannuling all others. Here before made by me published pronounced and declared before us this 4th day of August in the year of Our Lord 1760.
Joseph Fansette
David Jones Elis Thomas (Ls)
Henry ClousarPS Enterlined before signing and sealing
Will Book #3 pg. 141At a court held for Frederick County October 4th 1763
This last will and testament of Ellis Thomas deceased was produced in court by Elizabeth Thomas and John Thomas the executrix and executor therein named who made oath there to and the same being proved by the oaths of David Jones and Henry Clouser two of the witnesses thereto is ordered to be recorded. Where upon on the motion of the executrix and executor who entered into bond with John White and Joshua Baker their securities in the penalty of five hundred pounds conditioned for the due and faithful administration of the said estate and performance of this will and certification is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in over form
By the Court
__________7/18/02 E-mail to Teresa Kisko - From another source I have my Ellis b. 1710. Ruth Wyatt RAWyatt@cableone.net third great grandfather was Isaac Thomas.
Kercheval’s History of the Valley pg. 97-98-99-100-101
In the year 1764, a party of eighteen Delawares crossed the mountains. Furman’s Fort was about one mile above the Hanging Rock, on the south Branch. William Furman and Nimrod Ashby had gone out from the fort to watch a deer lick in the Jersey Mountain.* The Indains discovered and killed them both and passed on into the county of Frederick, where they divided into two parties. One party of eight moved on to the Cedar Creek settlement; the other of ten attacked the people in the neighborhood of the present residence of Maj. John White. On this place Dr. White, the ancestor of the White family, had settled, and on his land a stockade was erected. The people in the neighborhood had taken the alarm, and were on their way to the fort, when they were assaulted by these ten Indians. They killed David Jones and his wife, two old people. Some of Mrs. Thomas’ family were killed, and she and one daughter taken off. An old man by the name of Lloyd, and his wife, and several of his children, were killed. Esther Lloyd, their daughter, about thirteen years old, received three tomahawk wounds in the head, was scalped, and left lying, supposed to be dead. Henry Clouser and two of his sons were killed, and his wife and four of his daughters taken. The youngest daughter was about two years old; and as she impeded the mother’s traveling, when they reached the North Mountain, the poor little innocent babe was taken by it hells, its head dashed against a tree, and the brains beaten out, and left lying on the ground. Mrs. Thomas was taken to the Wappatomaka; but the river being pretty full, and deep fording, they encamped near Furman’s Fort for the night. The next morning a party of white men fired off their guns at the fort, which alarmed the Indians, and they hurried across the river, assisting all their female prisoners except Mrs. Thomas, who being quite stout and strong, was left to shift for herself. The current, however, proved too strong for her, and she floated down the river - but lodged against a rock, upon which she crawled, and saved herself from drowning. Before her capture, she had concealed a half loaf of bread in her bosom, which, during her struggles in the water, washed out, and, on her reaching the rock, floated to her again. In this instance, the text of Scripture, “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days,” might have some application. It was not “many days,” but there appears to have been something providential in it, for it saved her from extreme suffering. The next morning Mrs. Thomas made her way to Williams’ Fort, about two miles below the Hanging Rock, on the South Branch.**
. The author has received from Maj. John White, of Frederick, another account of the foregoing outrages, which he will give in Maj. White’s own words:
“In July, 1763, information was received by the late Maj. Robert White (who had a small fort around his house as an asylum for the people in the neighborhood), that the Indians had been seen on that or the preceding day on Capon. He immediately went to the
several families living near the base of the North Mountain, as far as Owen Thomas’,*** five or six miles from the fort, told them of the report, and advised them to go into the fort until the danger should be over. It being harvest time, Owen Thomas was unwilling to*So called from its being settled by immigrants from New Jersey.
**Mr. Gerrit Blue stated to the author that he was then a small boy, but well recollects seeing Mrs. Thomas when she got into the fort
*** This is most certainly Ellis Thomas.
leave home, and mounted a horse to go to his neighbor, Jacob Klackley’s, who had several sons grown, to propose to arm themselves and work together in their respective grain fields; but on his way to Mr. Kackley’s he was shot dead and scalped, the Indians having concealed themselves behind two logs that lay one across the other near the road.
“In June, 1764, similar information of Indians being seen was received at the fort. Maj. White, as on the former occasion, went in the afternoon to warn the people of their danger; when the widow Thomas, Mr. Jones and Mr. Clouser, set off with their families for the fort; but night coming on when they reached Mr. Lloyd’s (about two miles from the fort), they concluded to stay there all
night. In the morning, as soon as day appeared, they resumed their journey; but before they were out of sight of the house, the Indians attacked them, and killed, wounded, or took prisoners twenty-two or twenty-three persons. Evan Thomas, a son of the man killed the preceding summer, a boy of seven years old, ran back into the house, and hid himself behind some puncheons that he placed across a corner of the room, and remained concealed, notwithstanding the Indians brought the prisoners into the house, among whom were his mother and sister, both tied, and kept them there till they fried bacon and ate their breakfast; they then set fire to the house in two places, and went away. Evan said he continued in the house as long as he could, on account of the fire; that he saw through a chink in the wall the direction the Indians went; and not knowing which way to go, he concluded to take the contrary course from the one taken by them. He rambled about all that day and the most of the next before he found any person, the houses which he passed having been abandoned by their owners going to the fort. The Indians encamped the first night at a spring on the Romney road, between the North River and Little Capon; and on the next day they stopped on the bank of the South Branch, near where Romney now stands, to eat their dinner. While thus engaged, a party who were stationed in a fort a mile or two lower down the river, and who had just returned from a scout, discharged their guns in order to clean the, which alarmed the Indians, and they hurried across the river, assisting all their female prisoners except Mrs. Thomas, who being a large, fat woman, it was supposed would perish, as the water was rapid and deep. She floated down the stream, however, until almost exhausted, when she had the good fortune to get on a rock, and save herself from drowning. She had put a piece of bread in her bosom the morning she was taken, and lost it in the water; but it happened to float so near her while on the rock that she caught it and ate it; which, as she said, so revived and strengthened her that she plunged into the water again, and providentially got out on the east side of the river. She reached Williams’ Fort, two miles below the Hanging Rock, on the same day. It was often remarked by Mrs. Thomas’ acquaintances, that after her return she would minutely relate the circumstances attending the murder of her husband and children and her own sufferings, without shedding a tear. Either five or seven of the persons wounded by the Indians, were taken to the fort of Maj. Robert White’s and attended by Dr. McDonald, though but one recovered, Hester Lloyd, who had two scalps taken from her.”
Mrs. Thomas’ daughter, and Mrs. Clouser and her three small daughters, were taken to the Indian towns, and after an absence of about six months, were released from captivity, and all returned home safely.
There is something remarkable in the history of the three Miss Clousers, who were all prisoners at the same time. The eldest was about ten years old, the next oldest about seven, and the youngest between five and six. They all returned home from their captivity, grew up, were married, raised families of children, and are now widows, living in the same neighborhood, not more than five or six miles apart. Two of them, Mrs. Shultz and Mrs. Snapp, reside about one and a half miles from the residence of the author, and the third, Mrs. Fry, is not exceeding six miles.
Miss Lloyd, who was “tomahawked and scalped.” Was soon discovered not to be dead. The late Dr. McDonald was sent for, who trepanned her in the several fractures in her head. She recovered and lived many years after. There are several respectable individuals now living who knew this woman.*
The other party of eight Indians committed several murders on Cedar Creek. It is probable this party killed a Mr. Lyle, a Mr. Butler, and some others. Mr. Ellis Thomas, the husband of the woman whose story has just been given, was killed the harvest preceding. This party of eight Indians took off two female prisoners, were pursued by a party of white men, overtaken in the South Branch Mountain, and fired upon, when one of the Indians was killed. The other fled, leaving their guns, prisoners and plunder.** The prisoners and property were brought home. Two of the fugitives overtook the party in the Alleghany Mountain who had Mrs. Clouser, her daughters, and other prisoners, in custody. The fugitives appeared in desperate ill-humor, and would not suffer their prisoners to be injured.***
The same year, 1764, a party of eight Indians, with a white man by the name of Abraham Mitchell, killed George Miller, his wife and two children, within about two miles of Strasburg. They also the same day killed John Dellinger, on the land now the residence of Capt. Anthony Spengler, adjoining the town, and took Rachel Dellinger, with her infant child, prisoners. It was a male child, very stout, and heavy of its age. In crossing Sandy Ridge, west of Capon River, this child had its brains beaten out against a tree. A party of white men pursued them, overtook them in the South Branch Mountain, fired upon them, and killed one, when the others fled, leaving everything behind. Rachel Dellinger was brought home, and stated that the unprincipled scoundrel Mitchell had been punished for a petty act of theft, while the people were at Bowman’s Fort. Miller and Dellinger inflicted the punishement.*****General Smith, Maj. R.D. Glass, Miss Susan Glass, Mrs. Shultz, and Mrs. Snapp, severally stated to the author that they frequently saw this woman after she recovered from her wounds. Mrs. Shultz states that it was on the first day of June the outrage was committed.
**Moses Russell, Esq.
***Mrs. Shultz and Mrs. Snapp
****The late Mrs. Brinker related the particulars of these occurences to the author. Major Isaac Hite recollects when Miller and Dellinger were killed.At the massacre of the people near White’s Fort, one of Mrs. Thomas’ daughters, when the people were preparing to go to the fort, was requested by Mrs. Clouser to take a bottle of milk in her hand and carry it to the fort. When the Indians assailed them, this young woman concealed herself behind a tree, and finally escaped. As soon as she could run off without being discovered, she started and ran eight or nine miles with the bottle of milk in her hand. She was met by two of the Fawcetts, near their residence, informed them of what had happened, and they forthwith removed their families to Stephen’s Fort.*
A little son of Mrs. Thomas concealed himself under a pile of flax, which the Indians set on fire. As the fire progressed, the little fellow kept in a direction to avoid it, while the smoke concealed him from the sight of the enemy, and he got safe to the fort.
*Stephen’s Fort was the spot where Zane’s iron works were afterwards erected on Cedar Creek. Mr. Elisha Fawcett, a near neighbor of the author, a highly respectable and intelligent man, stated to the author that he had frequently heard his father and uncle speak of this occurrence.
Greene County Court House Will Book 3, Pg 325 No 1948
WILL OF JOHN THOMAS
The last will & testament of John Thomas of the township of Franklin township in the county of Greene. I john Thomas considering the uncertainty of this mortal life & being of sound mind & disposing memory do make & publish this my las will & testament in manner & form following that is to say first I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Olive Thomas. My will is that all my honest debts together with my funeral Expenses be fully paid out of my personal property & if that aint sufficient to pay the debts my executors is authorised to sell thirty or forty acres of land of on the lower end of my frms adjoining lands of Elener Kuhn & Wm. Patterson to compleat the payment of debts. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Olive Thomas the use of all the balance of my Real Estate & two mares & her choise of 2 out of the lot of cows, five shoats=es & her choise of the two breading sows, one Plow, one follow harrow, one corn Plow, one sled, one Wagon, and a sufficient quantity of the grain on the farme to suport my wife & children & her stalk for one year from my decease and all my house & kitchen furnetur or as much as she thinks she neads all the afforesaid mentioned property my said wife to have the use of so long as she remains my widow & at her desease or marage if the youngest is twenty one years of age & if the youngest child is not twenty one years of age of the marage or decease of my said wife my will is that all my Real & Personal property be sold & if the youngest child is twenty one years of age a the marage or decease to the highest & best bider the money to be equaly divided. Share & Share alike amongst my several sons & daughters only my son Arther & my son John are to have seventy five dollars more than an equal share with my other sons & daughters. The names of my Sons & daughters are as follows Henry Thomas, Casaner Thomas, Arther Thomas, Margaret Thomas, Elener Thomas, Elisabeth Thomas, Mary Jane Thomas, John Thomas. I hereby appoint Corbly Orndoff Guardian for all my miner sons & daughters. I hereby appoint my loving wife Oliv Thomas & Joseph Patterson Sole Executor of this my Last Will & testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 8th day of August 1861
John Thomas (seal)Signed, Sealed published & declared by the above named John Thomas to be his last Will & testament in the presents of us who at his request & In his presents have subscribed our names as wi witnesses thereto
Keener Strosnider
E. ChalfanTeresa Kisko has copy of Will
1850, PA, Greene Co., Center Twp Census shows John Thomas, age 36, farmer, estate value of 850, Olive age 28, Henry age 13, Ca?? age 9 female, Richard S. age 5, Arthur M. age 3, Margaret age 1, and a Maria Cummins age 16. Notes - Neighbors were above James Call no 27, 27, and below were Jesse Wells 29,29.
1860, PA Greene Co., Franklin Twp, Post Office Waynesburg, image 182 shows John Thomas age 45, farmer, real estate value of 1600, personal estate value of 1000, born PA, Alley age 46, housekeeeper, Casey age 18, seamstress, Arthur age 12, Margaret age 11, Ellenor age 8, Elizabeth age 6, and Henry Thomas age 23, farmer. Notes - house numbers were 1314, 1348. Neighbors above were Pheneas Orndoff age 33, below Henry Bradford.
Greene County Court House Will Book 3, Pg 325 No 1948
WILL OF JOHN THOMAS
The last will & testament of John Thomas of the township of Franklin township in the county of Greene. I john Thomas considering the uncertainty of this mortal life & being of sound mind & disposing memory do make & publish this my las will & testament in manner & form following that is to say first I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Olive Thomas. My will is that all my honest debts together with my funeral Expenses be fully paid out of my personal property & if that aint sufficient to pay the debts my executors is authorised to sell thirty or forty acres of land of on the lower end of my frms adjoining lands of Elener Kuhn & Wm. Patterson to compleat the payment of debts. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Olive Thomas the use of all the balance of my Real Estate & two mares & her choise of 2 out of the lot of cows, five shoats=es & her choise of the two breading sows, one Plow, one follow harrow, one corn Plow, one sled, one Wagon, and a sufficient quantity of the grain on the farme to suport my wife & children & her stalk for one year from my decease and all my house & kitchen furnetur or as much as she thinks she neads all the afforesaid mentioned property my said wife to have the use of so long as she remains my widow & at her desease or marage if the youngest is twenty one years of age & if the youngest child is not twenty one years of age of the marage or decease of my said wife my will is that all my Real & Personal property be sold & if the youngest child is twenty one years of age a the marage or decease to the highest & best bider the money to be equaly divided. Share & Share alike amongst my several sons & daughters only my son Arther & my son John are to have seventy five dollars more than an equal share with my other sons & daughters. The names of my Sons & daughters are as follows Henry Thomas, Casaner Thomas, Arther Thomas, Margaret Thomas, Elener Thomas, Elisabeth Thomas, Mary Jane Thomas, John Thomas. I hereby appoint Corbly Orndoff Guardian for all my miner sons & daughters. I hereby appoint my loving wife Oliv Thomas & Joseph Patterson Sole Executor of this my Last Will & testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 8th day of August 1861
John Thomas (seal)Signed, Sealed published & declared by the above named John Thomas to be his last Will & testament in the presents of us who at his request & In his presents have subscribed our names as wi witnesses thereto
Keener Strosnider
E. ChalfanTeresa Kisko has copy of Will
1850, PA, Greene Co., Center Twp Census shows John Thomas, age 36, farmer, estate value of 850, Olive age 28, Henry age 13, Ca?? age 9 female, Richard S. age 5, Arthur M. age 3, Margaret age 1, and a Maria Cummins age 16. Notes - Neighbors were above James Call no 27, 27, and below were Jesse Wells 29,29.
1860, PA Greene Co., Franklin Twp, Post Office Waynesburg, image 182 shows John Thomas age 45, farmer, real estate value of 1600, personal estate value of 1000, born PA, Alley age 46, housekeeeper, Casey age 18, seamstress, Arthur age 12, Margaret age 11, Ellenor age 8, Elizabeth age 6, and Henry Thomas age 23, farmer. Notes - house numbers were 1314, 1348. Neighbors above were Pheneas Orndoff age 33, below Henry Bradford.
Teresa Kisko has copy.
Greene County Court House Will Book 6, No 3728, page 254. Estate of Olive Thomas.
And now September the eighth A. D. 1888 Letters of Administration upon the Estate of Olive Thomas late of Franklin Township Greene County Pennsyvania deceased Granted to Otho W. Ornduff and bond taken in the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars with Inghram Cummin and James Patterson as suretees. As to the date of the death see affidavit made by Samuel Snider who being duly sworn according to law did dipose and say that the above named Olive Thomas died on the 18th day of August A.D. 1888 at about 4 o'clock A.M. of said day See afidavit of death filed with bond. See also renunciation filed with Bond
And now Oct 1st 1888 Inventory and Sale list filed.
Greene County Death Register, Pg 165, Ln 38 states George was 80 when he died of kidney trouble, illness duration was 3 months, occup - farmer, place of birth - Franklin Twp.
1850, PA, Greene Co., Franklin twp shows George Thomas age 34, carpenter, Delila age 32, Margaret age 7, Hanna age 5, Ann Eliza age 7 months, Arther Mooney age 23, farmer, Jacob Hunnel age 17 laborer.
1860, PA, Greene Co., Franklin Twp, Post Office Waynesburg, image 180 shows George Thomas age 40, Farmer, real estate value of 1300, personal estate value of 500, Delila age 39, housekeeper, Margaret age 17, Hannah age 15, seamstress, Arthur age 2. Note - dwelling numbers are 1301, 1335. Neighbor below is James Stewart.
