Individual Notes
Note for: Dickson Thomas, 1805 - 10 APR 1857
Index
Individual Note: From GeorgeThomas:
Dixon Thomas, the eldest son of William Thomas was born in 1805 in Screven County, Georgia1. The first recorded information found on Dixon Thomas, Sr. was in Bulloch County, Georgia in March 1831. He was working as a chain carrier (surveyor) along with Ryal B. (Bud) Thomas, a cousin.
On May 2nd, 18312, he married Susannah Bennett at the Bulloch County Courthouse. The Justice of the Peace was Covington Crib.
In July 1833 the Bulloch County Inferior Court selected Dixon Thomas for jury duty.
Between July 1833 and August 1836 Dixon Thomas and his family moved from Bulloch County to Franklinville, Lowndes County, Georgia. It is likely that Harvey and Ryal B. moved to Lowndes County, Georgia about the same time.
While living in Franklinville, Georgia, Dixon Thomas enlisted twice and was drafted once during the Creek Indian War (Florida War). He enlisted on August 06, 1836 in 1st Company, and was discharged on September 06, 1836. On September 19, 1836 he was drafted into 2nd Company and discharged on October 20, 1836. His final enlistment began on August 15, 1838 in 3rd Company at Camp Douglas, Georgia and ended on October 15, 1838. During this enlistment he served on the Georgia and Florida line around the Okefenokee Swamp. All enlistments were in Captain Levi J. Knight's Infantry Company (Mounted Vols.) of the 81st Georgia Militia. Total days served for all three enlistments were 120 days.
Along with Dixon and Harvey were Ryal B., Isham B., Elias Thomas (all cousins) and David Raulerson (a future brother-n-law) all served in the Indian Wars between 1836-1840.
In November 1836, the State of Georgia accused Dixon Thomas and William M. Thomas of riot, dropping the charge after the escape of the indicted. The next term, Dixon and William M. Thomas were back in court on count of riot. William M. Thomas was also charged with two additional charges of selling goods to slaves. William M. Thomas won acquittal for the riot and was guilty of the misdemeanors. The fate of Dixon Thomas is unknown. Endless research has not provided any information on William M.®s relationship, if any, to Dixon Thomas.
In September 1838 Dixon Thomas purchased 490 acres of land for $250.00 in District 11 (Lot number 180) Lowndes County, Georgia. He sold this property to Joshua Hightower on January 14, 1845 for $250.00. In November 1845 he purchased two parcels of land in District 11, Lowndes County, for $150.00. Lot Number 89 contained 490 acres and Lot Number 50 (half of a lot) contained 245 acres. In March 1848 he purchased the other half of Lot Number 50 (245 acres) for $33.00. Lot 50 included all and every part and parcel of town lots originally lay out and runs off in the town of Franklinville, Georgia. He sold Lot numbers 50 & 89 to Thomas A. Jones in July 1851 for $600.00.
In 1852 Dixon Thomas and family moved to Charlton County, Georgia. It is not known how many of their eleven, still living, children (one died in childhood) moved with them
On March 05, 1855 Dixon Thomas received 80 acres of land (Warrant number 47,191), in Lowndes County, Georgia for his Indian War service. On April 05, 1855 he cancelled warrant number 47,191 and requested William Smith to prosecute his claim and receive his (new?) Warrant when issued. A witness on this application was Dixon®s daughter Malentha who cannot be found after 1855.
In 1855 Dixon Thomas received 80 acres in Charlton County, Georgia. The 1855 Bounty Land Warrant number was 19383. The date this Warrant was approved and the lot and district numbers are unknown (probably Trader Hill).
After Dixon®s death in 1857 Susannah (Bennett) Thomas was left to raise six of their eleven children. Their ages ranged from 5 to 18. The two eldest sons living at home (Dixon, Jr. and Eli) enlisted in Company B First Florida Cavalry (CSA) on October 15, 1861. They fought in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Carolinas campaigns over the next 3 years. Both survived the War. Eli died in 1876 and Dixon, Jr. in 1908.
In the 1860 U. S. Census, five of Dixon and Susannah Thomas eleven children are not living at home and cannot be found in Lowndes or Charlton County, Georgia.
In the 1870 U. S. Census, Maria daughter of Susannah Thomas, one of the missing children, is now living at home. Maria cannot be found after 1870.
John, Susannah Thomas youngest son, married Sarah Tabitha Rowe in about 1872. They had 5 children; the youngest son was John Allen Thomas.
In the 1880 U. S. Census, Susannah Thomas was living with John and Sarah Tabitha Thomas.
By 1890 John the husband of Sarah Tabitha Thomas was either dead or divorced3. Sarah Thomas married James Clark on December 28, 1890. Sarah died on January 28, 1928 and is buried next to James Clark in Emmaus Cemetery, St. George, Charlton Co., Georgia.
Susannah Thomas applied for a Widow's pension (Indian Wars) on November 01, 1894. A pension was granted on March 01, 1895, retroactive to July 27, 1892. The pension was for $8.00 per month.
When Susannah Thomas died about 19024, she was living with Emily (Thomas) & Riley T. Thomas (daughter & son-in-law) in Charlton Co., Georgia. She is buried in Emmaus Cemetery, St. George, Georgia (no headstone).
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1 Susannah (Bennett) Thomas®s Indian War pension application, dated November 1894, stated that Dixon Thomas was born in Screven County, Georgia. He was 6® 0, blue eyes, light hair, light complexion and a farmer.
2 In the same application Susannah Thomas stated they were married in 1824. This is incorrect. Their Bulloch County, Georgia marriage license is dated May 02, 1831. When making these statements she stated, I am feeble and my memory is so poor.
3 The U.S. Census records for 1890 do not exist.
4 Cannot find Susannah, Riley T. or Emily Thomas in Georgia or Florida in the 1900 U.S. Census. Dallas Thomas, a nephew of Riley T. Thomas, provided the death year and place of burial for Susannah Thomas.