Person:Philemon Thomas (2)

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Philemon Thomas (February 9, 1763 – November 18, 1847) was a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served two terms as a Democrat (1831–1835).

Philemon was born in Orange County, Virginia. He served in the American forces during Revolutionary War and later moved to Kentucky. He was a member of Kentucky's Constitutional Convention and served in the state House and state Senate. In 1806 he moved to Louisiana. He commanded troops who on 1810 September 23 captured the Spanish fort in at Baton Rouge, commencing the West Florida Rebellion of 1810. A few days later the West Florida Assembly, meeting at Saint Francisville, commissioned General Philemon Thomas to march the West Florida Army across the newly proclaimed Republic.

According to Southeastern Louisiana University history professor Sam Hyde,

Residents of the western Florida Parishes proved largely supportive of the revolt, . . . while the majority of the population in the eastern region of the Florida Parishes opposed the insurrection. Thomas’ army violently suppressed opponents of the revolt, leaving a bitter legacy in the Tangipahoa and Tchefuncte River regions.

Philemon Thomas served in the War of 1812 and later served two terms in Congress. He ran for Governor twice, in 1824 and in 1828. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is interred there in the Baton Rouge National Cemetery.

1.   Query by Frank Bordelon, in LGHS Mail List.

   Frank Bordelon to LA-LGHS posted Jan 28, 2010 2:14 PM
   
   General Philemon Thomas was born in 9 Feb 1763 in Orange Count, Virginia.
   He served in the Revolutionary war as a young man. In 1784 be moved to
   Kentucky where he served in the 28th Regiment of the state militia, becoming
   a Colonel in 1798. He was elected to the Kentucky legislature and helped
   write the constitution.
   
   He moved to Baton Rouge and bought 1000 arpents of land on 2 June 1805.
   After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Spanish continued to claim
   ownership of West Florida, a region which stretched roughly from the east
   bank of the Mississippi River to the west bank of the Perdido River. In
   1810 he led the forces to overthrow the Spanish in the West Florida
   Revolution. Governor Claiborne ordered Thomas to form the second division
   militia in 1814 and on 8 Jan 1815, he participated in the Battle of New
   Orleans.
   
   He married a cousin, Mary Craig, in 1765 and had two daughters, Frances and
   Elizabeth. Subsequently he married another cousin, Fanny Hawkins and had
   two more daughters.
   
   I want to know the names and birth dates of his second two daughters as well
   as the names of the four husbands.
   ----
   Reply: judy mahaffey to la-lghs, Posted Jan 28, 2010 7:46 PM
   PHILEMON / (PHILEMEN THOMAS) 1763 VA died 1847 LA
   and
   Mary CRAIG bn 1765 VA died 1803 KY married 1790
   daugh / Elizabeth Thomas born Mason, KY born 1796
   died E Baton Rouge 30 Aug. 1841 married to Benjamin P. THOMAS bn. 1790
   KY d. E. BR 1835
   Ben & Elizabeth had Mary P Thomas bn 1817 d. 1896 LA married 1836 m.
   Pleasant H. Harbour in Livington Par., LA.
   Mary P Thomas and Pleasant Harbour named a daughter Frances Ann Harbour
   No record on 2nd wife Fanny Hawkins, hope someone else can help you on
   that.
   Also Philemen Thomas received a Soldiers Pension, (dob listed as 1740
   by quartermaster).
   Possible if Fanny lived pass 1850 she will be listed with daughters in
   1850 census.

2.   Philemon Thomas , in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.