This website consists of individuals and families that are located within the Database of Art Thomas and they may NOT necessarily be related in any way. It is an accumulation of records and individuals researched by Art Thomas and cross several areas of interest.
A special Thank You goes out to ALL who have assisted in the creation of this database. It certainly could not have been created and maintained without your help, love and support.
The purpose for placing the contents of this database on-line is to share the data/information collected from my research with others in my 'families' and the genealogical community who may have a connection to the individuals and families that are found in my genealogy, family and community areas of interest ..... Art Thomas.
The areas of interest include:
1) The Families of Arthur L. Thomas.....direct ancestral & descendant family lines for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Arthur L. Thomas. Note: The Art Thomas Family lines, connections & relationships are color coded.
2) Free Person of Color (FPOC) families and their descendants that settled primarily in the Miami Valley of Ohio, but includes other areas in Ohio,the Midwest and parts of Canada. Time period for these families is from pre-statehood for Ohio, which extends from the 1780's to 1865. Ohio was admitted to the Union as a 'free State' in 1803.
3) UGRR operatives and their families in Ohio that were associated with ancestral family members of Art Thomas that have been documented by Wilbur H. Siebert and others as UGRR conductors/operators. The time period is from 1816 to the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.
4) The families and descendants of the 380+ formerly enslaved persons held by John Randolph of Roanoke Plantation, Charlotte County, VA that settled in the Miami Valley of Ohio following their manumission in 1846. Time period is from 1846 to the present and the number of descendants is ever expanding. Those who were freed by the Will of John Randolph have an identifying number preceding their given name. These numbers equate to their freedom registration number filed in Charlotte County, VA at the time of their manumission in Apr-May of 1846.
5) Persons from other groupings include relatives of direct, collateral and extended family members, neighboring families, families of childhood friends, associates and possible 'new' family members, etc. through common surnames, locations and events found in the ancestral and descendant timelines for the families of Arthur L. Thomas.
My Ancestors Surnames, Primary Locations and Time Periods are:
PATERNAL FAMILIES
DICKENS--NC,IN (1830- )
LAWRENCE--NC,IN,OH (1830- )
SELLERS - PA,VA,NC,IN,OH (1700- )
THOMAS--VA,NC,IN,OH (1835- )
Research on my paternal lines begin to 'blur' prior to the 1870's due to that 'peculiar institution' known as Chattel Slavery. My paternal lines, before the end of slavery is centered around Edgecombe County, NC. However, recent discoveries through Family Reunions, Internet research, phone calls and just plain 'luck' collateral family connections and DNA testing since 2005 are being made. Slave Schedules, Estate Papers and Wills of former slave owners are also proving to be invaluable in 'scaling the walls of slavery'.
'Collateral families' to my paternal surnames that have been discovered are BAREFOOT, CHERRY, DICKENS, DUE, FOREPAUGH, HERRING, MILES and SELLERS. Most originating from the Edgecombe County, NC area.
My paternal family history becomes more easily documentable following Emancipation and the end of the Civil War, beginning with the 1870 and later Federal Census records for Edgecombe County, NC.
Research on the migration and development of these family and collateral lines from NC into Putnam County, IN (Greencastle) from the late 1880's and early 1890's and their subsequent family expansion(s) is an ongoing project.
MATERNAL FAMILIES
ADAMS--VA,KY,OH (1768- )
ALLEN--NC,VA,OH (1788- )
BRIDGES--KY,OH (1817- )
BROOKS--KY,OH (1825- )
EDWARDS--PA,OH (1790- )
LAFORCE--VA,KY,CANADA (1735- )
LEE--VA,OH (1830- )
McKEE--CANADA,OH (1780- )
RENO--CANADA,OH (1780- )
SCOTT--NC,OH (1810- )
STEWART--NC,OH (1810- )
WALDEN--NC,OH (1810- )
My maternal lines also carry the "weight" of chattel slavery, but that burden was over for most of these ancestral lines by the late 1700's and early 1800's. Although no longer enslaved they suffered mightily and overcame many of the slights endured by Free Persons of Color during the era of the Ohio Black Codes.
DESCENDANT LINES
These are the families of my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their spouses. We've tried to include the grandparents, their siblings & other ancestors of our grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Hopefully this will be of benefit to them as they research ALL of THEIR Family lines. The latest addition ..... a 12th great-grandchild, Christian Elijah Thomas, born 16 March 2015. Christian's 'tree' spans 14 generations.
Descendant Surnames, Primary Locations and Time Periods are, but not limited to:
EMBRY--AL, OH (1850- )
JARRETT--GA, OH (1850- )
MORGAN--SC, GA, OH (1850- )
MOSS--VA, OH (1795- )
PEAL--NC, IN, OH (1840- )
PETERSON--BAHAMAS, GA, OH (1850- )
POTLOW---NC, OH MI (1870- )
SANFORD--Ky. OH (1835- )
STEPHENS--GA, OH (1864- )
THOMAS--KY, NC ,IN, OH (1810- )
Information on living persons is NOT accessible for public viewing, except their name, which will only demonstrate their familial connections when known.
Photo Albums:
1) Art Thomas Ancestors & Collateral Family Album - Seq by Name; ... Last, Given
2) Art Thomas Extended Family Album - Seq by Name; ... Last, Given
3) Art Thomas Family History Documents Album - Seq by Year; ... Oldest - Most Recent
4) Art Thomas Family Military Records Album - Seq by Year; ... Oldest - Most Recent
5) Art Thomas Miscellaneous Album (Family Events, Groups, etc. & Non-Family Events, Groups, etc.)
Seq by Year; ... Oldest - Most Recent
6) Art Thomas Family Vital Records Album - Birth, Marriage, Death & Obits (1780- ) Seq by Year; ... Oldest - Most Recent
7) Art Thomas Family Census Records Album - (1820-1950) Seq by Name within Census Year.
Family Stories: (found under the PEOPLE button are):
1. A 1920 account of the Adams Family History
2. A Dickens Tale - Art Thomas' N. Carolina Ancestry
3. Adams & Reno - California Migration
4. Adams Family & St. Paul A.M.E. Church History
5. Art's Family in Newspapers Prior to 1920
6. Court Cases - Families of Art Thomas
7. Direct Ancestors of Art Thomas born prior to 1808
8. DNA & Me
9. From The Spoils Of War
10. Grandma Reno's Story: Art Thomas' 4th Great-Grandmother
11. LaForce Documents & Research
12. Martha Allen's 100th Birthday Party
13. Military History - Art Thomas Family Who Served
14. My Adams & Reno Ancestors - Early Ohio AA Settlers
15. TimeLine - Ancestors & Descendants of Art Thomas
16. UGRR - Art Thomas' Adams Family Involvement