CARROLL COUNTY TENNESSEE B I O G R A P H I E S RICHARD THOMAS Richard Thomas and wife Rebecca Singleton: A part Saponi-Melungeon family. Richard was in part a Saponi-Melungeon from Mecklenburg County VA. And the area is till this day referred to as Saponi Town, VA by a great many Saponi-Melungeons. Richard was the son of Bennett Thomas (part Saponi-Melungeon) and wife Nancy UNKNOWN. Richard’s parentage was proven in the will of Bennett Thomas in 1865 when Nancy UNKNOWN-Thomas passed away. According to the will Richard had eleven full siblings: Taylor, Charles, Edward, Bennett, JR., David, Kadijah, Tabitha, Emeline, Lucy, Rebecca and Amanda. There is no mention in the will to suggest any half siblings. And the will states that wife Nancy UNKNOWN-Thomas was loaned the estate real and personal so long as she remained a widow. And she did not remarry after Bennett died. These twelve Thomas children were the grandchildren of David Wynn Thomas and wife Rebecca Brooks (part Saponi-Melungeon).The will of David Wynn Thomas of 1842 names Bennett Thomas as his son and mentions other children some of who have Saponi-Melungeon surnames as first names. Rebecca Brooks-Thomas was the daughter of Robert Brooks and wife Brambley Bennett (part Saponi-Melungeon). Brambley’s father was James Bennett and her mother is unknown at this time. The parentage of David Wynn Thomas is in dispute at this time so I will not go any further on that issue. Richard trekked from Saponi Town, VA to what was once Farmville, Carroll County, TN in the area that later on became Maple Creek Lake. It is family lore that Richard left Saponi Town, VA with others he knew which may have included the family of his soon to be wife, Rebecca Singleton. Richard married Rebecca Singleton in Carroll County TN whom was also part Saponi-Melungeon and also from Saponi Town, VA. No proof but I suspect Richard and Rebecca had probably known each other their entire lives --minus their age difference of eight or nine years. Rebecca Singleton-Thomas was the daughter of Robert Singleton and wife Nancy Hardaway Wall. Rebecca was the granddaughter of Thomas Meredith Wall and wife Elizabeth Hardaway Short. The Singleton family, the Hardaway family, the Wall family, the Short family and the Thomas family were all Saponi-Melungeon families from Saponi Town, VA. They are listed in several places as the “mixed race people”. During the early 1700’s while Ft. Christanna (Saponi Town), VA was occupied with Saponi, Melungeons, some Cherokee and maybe even a few remnant peoples the Episcopal Church, USA donated Bibles and Books of Common Prayer for the school. At this point, this family, became acquainted with this denomination and they pretty much held fast to it until they removed to Carroll County TN. Even till this day there is no Episcopal Church, USA in Carroll County TN so these families became mostly Baptist and a few Methodist (once a part of the Angelic Community but not anymore). Contributed by Cathey Ellis-Edwards I descend from Richard and Rebecca from their son William Bennett Thomas. Email: hindsightmagazine@zoho.com Address: 848 N. Rainbow BVLD., #4025 Las Vegas, NV 89107 Richard Thomas was b. under another last name, probably Thomason in Mecklenburg Co., VA about 1820. He had a brother, a sister and half-sister. About 1840 he left home to come to W TN, and took his young half-sister with him. Her parents, Richard's step parents, accused him of kidnapping and sent the law after them. When he got to the river that forms the border of VA, he left the girl to be carried home by the law, and crossed the river to join a wagon train. He changed his name to Thomas to' avoid being arrested; his descendants have kept that name to this day. On that wagon train he met his future wife. She was Rebeccah Singleton. Her father Robert Singleton had d. in Mecklenburg Co., and now her mother, haunted it is said by his ghost, was moving West; her Mother who was part Indian, had her brothers Thomas and Dow Wall with her on the wagon train as well as her brother-in-law George Hatch. Dow Wall left the wagon train (whistling it is said), after an argument and settled in Middle TN. It took them 16 weeks to get from VA to W TN. So slow was the traveling that going through the mountains, they could look back in the evening and see where they had camped the evening before. At one- point Rebeccah climbed up the mountain and the sun to be shining while it was snowing down below. Richard and Rebeccah m. when they got to Carroll Co., and settled down; sent for his brother-in-law (Rebeccah's uncle) John Wall telling him that here you could drive a wagon into the middle of a field and fill it with corn without moving it. And so you could, John found - if you stopped it in a gully. Richard Thomas and Rebeccah had nine children - one died as a boy. Of the eight who survived, all married and all but one, Anne Smothers, left children. Richard did not fight in the Civil War; so determined was he not to that he sat on the wood pile with an ax in his hand saying that if the Press gang came to get him he would chop his left hand off. Richard d. in 1879; his wife survived him 12 years living with her daughter, Anne. Submitted by A. K. Jones. Richard Thomas, b. in VA, 1820. On or about his 18th birthday, he left his home to go west. He joined, and became a member of a wagon train headed to TN. He met his future wife, Rebecca Singleton, also a member of the wagon train. They were married after reaching Carroll Co. They settled on a parcel of land, southeast Carroll Co. (what is presently Natchez Trace State Park, one (1) mile North Mt. Comfort Church. Children: William Bennett, Charles Henry, Richard, Jr., Mary Ann, John Columbus, Isariah, Tabetha, James (Jim) David. John Columbus Thomas, son of Richard and Rebecca, b. 1850 m. Emily Norden. They built their home on a parcel of land purchased by his father Richard. He was noted for his honesty and compassion for others. He d. 1924. Children: John Norman, Add, Columbus, Maude, Charlie and Neal. Neal Thomas, son of John Columbus Thomas, b. 1884 m. Mary Aslee King, 3-12-1912. They built their home on the land purchased by his grandfather on or about 1840. He was known as being truthful and great compassion for his fellowman. He supported his family by fanning, cutting and selling timber. d. 1968. Burial Site, Mt. Comfort Cemetary. Children: Otto Clifton Earl - m. Hazel Smothers, 12-9-1941. He served in CCC camp for three years. Enlisted in Army 12-28-1939 and served for six years. V. President & President of Huntingdon Lions Club. Employed by State of TN for 36 years. President, International Association Personnel Employment Security. Children: Billy Earl - m. Jan Smith - One daughter Mitzie. Lois (died at infancy), Malcolm (d. at infancy), Laura Alton - m, Connie Atkins. Children: Mary Frances, d. age two, Betty Ann, m. Rayford Young - one daughter Tina. Gilbert V. m. Virginia Parish Veteran WW II, served South Pacific, America! Division. Children: Patricia, Laura Ann, and Neal. Robert J. m. Frances Fuller, WW II Veteran. Served Medical Corps in England. He was Radio Operator for Carroll Co. Sheriffs department at time of death in 1969. Burial Site: Carroll Co. Memorial Garden. Children: David, Retha, Anita and Terry. Mary Maxine - m. Travis Webb. Her occupation was nurse. She was known for her friendly, out-going personality. Always doing something for others. Children: Kenneth, Wanda. m. Jeralding Perritt. One child: Connie Brent, m. Lyndell Kent. Excerpt from Carroll County TN Vol. 1 1987