THE THOMAS FAMILY. (By Mrs. Mary Dunnica Micou.] Without doubt the Thomas family of Orange county, and also that of Culpeper county, are descended from the earliest emigrant of that name, who came to Essex county, or rather the one who patented land from Elizabeth county, to Essex, from W37 to 1665, in all, about 3,400 acres. He is mentioned first as William Ap. Thomas, and most of his grants are given to him for bringing to this country, William Thomas and als, presumably his sons, as William Thomas, aged 22, and Robert Thomas, aged 20, came to Virginia, in June 1635, and John, aged 19, in July 1635. The way in which land patents are taken out by these young men indicate that they were sons of William Ap. Thomas, all being granted to them in the same neighborhood. Robert m. a Miss Massie, and settled in Essex, having a son, Edward, m. Catherine Williamson, (dau. of Henry Williamson). He established the Essex county family, and lived at Thomas Neck, on the Rappahannock River; was Justice of Peace in 1695, and High Sheriff in 1696; died in 1699. William Thomas, aged 22, in 1635, took out land in Northumberland county, and is called "William of Yeocomooo." He was Justice of Northumberland county in 1656, and Burgess of Surry county in 1652; he had land patents in every county from Surry to Essex county. He probably brought his wife from England, as he is granted land in Lancaster county, for transporting William Thomas and wife from England. Her name was Rebecca, and she survived him, as she takes but letters of administration in 1635. His son, John, was then 17 years of age, showing that he was born in 1648. He died in 1710, leaving wife, Elizabeth, ch Richyard, William, Peter, John, Elizabeth, Jane, Richard, who is mentioned as son and heir of John Thomas, is undoubtedly the Richard Thomas who m, Isabella Pendleton, dau. of Philip Pendleton, the emigrant. Richard and Isabella Thomas both took out land in King and Queen and Spotsylvania counties in 1728. Richard Thomas died in 1748, and his widow, Isabella, went to live in Brysdale Parish, Caroline county. Their children are uncertain as to number and name. There is a Rowland Thomas and a Joseph Thomas mentioned with her in deeds of land, but the relationship is not defined. It is certain, though, that her daughter, Mary, m. Col. Thomas Barbour, and another, Catherine, m. Ambrose Barbour. Her son, Richard, m. in 1753 Mildred Taylor, of Orange county; their children were: Richard, George, James, Sarah, and Mildred, m. John Piper. James Thomas m. in 1781 Elizabeth, dau. of Henry Pendleton.
