Person:Thomas Kimsey (1)

THOMAS KIMSEY

Thomas Kimsey is now believed to be the son of Benjamin Kimsey 1 and Margaret Gragg, based on the letters of Edith Kimzey Moffit, Fanny Kimzey Osborne, and Joseph Anderson Kimsey, all great-grandchildren of Benjamin 1. Nor is Thomas mentioned as a child of Benjamin II and Agnes Long in that family's Bible. Margaret Gragg/Gregg is not documented as Benjamin Kimsey 1's wife.

Based on the 1850 Census, Thomas was most likely born in 1770, in what is now Patrick Co, VA. At this time, he has not appeared in any primary (or other) documentation prior to 1803, when he purchased land on Crabtree Creek in Buncombe Co. NC (to become Haywood Co. in 1808).

Andrew McClure and wife Mary Wilson, Thomas's in-laws, and many of their sons also lived in the Crabtree Creek area. While no marriage bond has been found for Thomas and Nancy "Ann" McClure, it is likely that they were married by the time Thomas purchased his land. Proof of marriage is generally held to be the McClure Land Settlement after Andrew's death, where his children agree to sell his land "on both sides of Crab Tree Creek" to Francis McGee. The children and spouses named are: Thomas, John, Andrew, William, James, John--administrator of Joseph McClure, decd, James Bradshaw and Margaret his wife, Peter Mason and Mary, his wife, Thomas Kimsey and Ann, his wife.

According to a secondary source cited by Alga B. Kimsey in The Kimsey Family: A Journey to Tennessee 1750-1893 Thomas and sons William and John purchased land in 1819 in what was to become Macon Co. NC in 1828. There are no records of those purchases, and all three Kimseys appear in the 1820 Haywood Co. census.

However, by 1822, Thomas and family had moved into the Cherokee Purchase lands, as evidenced by his appearance in the minutes of the First Baptist Church in Franklin, Macon Co. NC. At the founding meeting on May 4, 1822, Elder Humphrey Posey is listed as pastor; deacons, Thomas Kimsey and James Bryson; trustees, Luke Barnet, Thomas Kimsey and James Poteet. Nancy Kimsey is listed as a female member of the church.[Note: The minutes are unpublished.]

In 1830, Thomas appears in the Macon Co. NC census, listed as m. 50-60. Sons John, William and James are near by.

In 1840, he is also on the Macon Co. census, p. 150, listed as m.50-60, 1 m. 20-30, and 1 f. 50-60. On the same census are James and John.

Thomas appears on the 1850 Macon Co. NC Agricultural Schedule, p. 24. He is listed as having: Farm, 50 improved, 90 unimproved acres. Farm value $600. Implements, $100, livestock value $400(4 horses, 1 ass/mule, 4 milch cows, 4 other cattle, 16 sheep, 12 swine) Produce: 15 bu. wheat, 600 bu. Indian corn, 200 bu. oats, 30 lbs. wool. 15 bu. sweet potatoes, 50 lbs. butter. Home manufacture, $50. Animals slaughtered, $40.

Thomas and Nancy last appear on the 1850 Macon Co. census, with Thomas listed as age 80, b. in VA, Nancy as 74, b. NC. Son Elisha, 32, is in the household.

Neither Thomas nor Nancy appears on the 1860 census. It is assumed that Nancy died before 1860, and that Thomas died abt. 1860. This is based on a deed, filed in 1860, in which Thomas and Nancy's children sign their inherited land over to youngest brother, Elisha.

It is believed that Thomas and Nancy are buried in the original cemetery used by the First Baptist Church, on Iola St. in Franklin, but no grave markers have been found.

1.   Buncombe Co. NC Deed Book 9
   Vol. 9, p. 28.