Thomas Family

I have just recently learned more about my Thomas family and thought I would post some information on them. I have found the passenger list when my great-great-great-great-grandparents, David and Ann (Williams) Thomas, came to America from Wales. They arrived on December 4, 1863 on the Hibernian. David and Ann came with four children: Benjamin 22 yrs, Caroline 18, David 16, and William 11. One of their older children, Ann, came over in August 1848 with her first son, John, to join her husband, Joseph Richards.

Descendants of David W. Thomas

Generation No. 1

1. DAVID W.¹ THOMAS was born Abt. 1807, and died Bet. 1916 - 1920. He married ANN WILLIAMS. She was born Abt. 1807.

Children of DAVID THOMAS and ANN WILLIAMS are:

i. EDWARD² THOMAS.

ii. JOHN THOMAS.

iii. MARIA THOMAS.

iv. RACHEL THOMAS.

2. v. ANN THOMAS, b. 30 Sep 1826, Wales; d. 14 Dec 1916, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee.

vi. BENJAMIN THOMAS, b. Mar 1844; d. 1923. Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

vii. CAROLINE THOMAS, b. Abt. 1845.

3. viii. DAVID P. THOMAS, b. Abt. 1847.

ix. WILLIAM THOMAS, b. Abt. 1852.

Generation No. 2

2. ANN² THOMAS (DAVID W.¹) was born 30 Sep 1826 in Wales, and died 14 Dec 1916 in Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee. She married JOSEPH RICHARDS 03 Oct 1847, son of JOHN RICHARDS and ANN EVANS. He was born 11 Aug 1826 in Wales, and died 31 Dec 1888 in Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee.

More About JOSEPH RICHARDS and ANN THOMAS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

Children of ANN THOMAS and JOSEPH RICHARDS are:

i. JOHN³ RICHARDS, b. 22 Aug 1848; d. 06 Sep 1849.

ii. DAVID WILLIAM RICHARDS, b. 05 Aug 1851; d. 11 Aug 1852.

iii. JOHN WILLIAM RICHARDS, b. 06 Dec 1852.

iv. ANN MARIA RICHARDS, b. 16 Jul 1854, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 16 Mar 1941, Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia. Burial: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. THOMAS REES PRICE, 15 Sep 1874, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; b. 26 Aug 1851, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 04 Mar 1906, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. Burial: 18 Mar 1941, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

v. WILLIAM D. RICHARDS, b. 15 Jan 1856; d. 1931; m. MARGARET WILLIAMS, Abt. 1879; b. Jul 1860; d. 1939. More About WILLIAM D. RICHARDS and MARGARET WILLIAMS: Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

vi. JOHN ROBERT RICHARDS, b. 15 Oct 1857, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 1934 Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee; m. HANNAH DAVIES, 16 Aug 1879, Portland, Maine; b. 15 Nov 1857, Aberystruth, Wales; d. 04 Jun 1946. Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

vii. DAVID C. RICHARDS, b. 20 Aug 1859; m. ETHEL BROWN, 17 Dec 1902, Anderson County, Tennessee; b. 1878; d. 1961.

viii. JOSEPH RICHARDS, b. 30 May 1861; d. 30 May 1861.

ix. MARY RICHARDS, b. 30 May 1861; d. 30 May 1861.

x. MARY RICHARDS, b. 01 Mar 1863; d. 11 Jan 1935, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee; m. ASA KELLEY SHELTON, 05 Jun 1888, Anderson County, Tennessee; b. 15 Jan 1857; d. 07 Apr 1941, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee.

xi. MARTHA RICHARDS, b. 03 Feb 1865.

xii. JOSEPH J. RICHARDS, b. 06 Apr 1866, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; m. NETTIE SIENKNECHT; b. 17 Feb 1871, Robertsville, Anderson County, Tennessee; d. Bef. Mar 1951, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

xiii. SADIE THOMAS RICHARDS, b. 29 Sep 1869, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine; d. 23 Feb 1951; Adopted child; m. EVAN D. PHILLIPS, 22 Oct 1889, Anderson County, Tennessee; b. 31 Jan 1868, Hirwain, Wales; d. 10 Jun 1957. More About SADIE THOMAS RICHARDS and EVAN D. PHILLIPS: Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

3. DAVID P.² THOMAS (DAVID W.¹) was born Abt. 1847. He married ANN Abt. 1867. She was born Abt. 1850 in Wales.

Children of DAVID THOMAS and ANN are:

i. ANN³ THOMAS, b. Abt. 1871, Maine.

ii. SADIE THOMAS, b. Oct 1874, Maine.

iii. BENJAMIN F. THOMAS, b. Sep 1877, Maine.

iv. MARY E. THOMAS, b. Dec 1884, Maine.

v. EDWARD L. THOMAS, b. Mar 1887, Maine.

vi. DAVID THOMAS, b. Dec 1889, Maine.

vii. MOLLIE F. THOMAS, b. Nov 1892, Maine.

Murder In A Small Town

The William Richards family has a story that has not only haunted the family, but also the community in which they lived.

The three daughters, Ann, Mary and Margaret, lived in the family home after their parents had passed away. On February 5, 1940, Mary was at the local high school where she was a teacher while her sisters were at home. Mary had sent a note home to her sisters, but the two boys sent to give them the note returned with the undelivered note. They said that no one came to the door and they heard strange noises from inside. Later two other boys were sent and they returned with a similar response.

After school Mary rushed home worried because she learned about the two failed deliveries of her note as well as her sisters failure to arrive at a missionary meeting during the day. What she found horrified her and the whole community. Her sisters and a sixteen year old young man named Leonard “Powder” Brown, who worked for the family, had been murdered.

Originally the authorities believed it was a double murder-suicide, since Powder had a gun in his hand (the gun belonged to a local man, but it was one that was kept out in the open that anyone could have taken). Amazingly enough the gun was said to have been passed around as well as people walked through the scene of the murders, the home of the Richards sisters. The family held the belief that it was another person that committed the crime and later a Coroner's Jury came to the conclusion that the crime was committed by "parties unknown."

To this day the murders are still in the minds of those connected with Oliver Springs.

Quote From Stone

This is on the family plot marker for my Richards family in the Oliver Springs Cemetery:

Hold Thou, Thy cross before my closing eyes:
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

William D. Richards family

William Richards was born in Pennsylvania and moved with his family to locations such as Harrisburg, Danville & Columbia, PA; Cape Elizabeth, ME; and Knoxville & Oliver Springs, TN. While in Maine, William married Margaret Williams. The family settled in Oliver Springs, Tennessee in the early 1880's. William (with his father and brothers) had a hotel with mineral springs. Living in Oliver Springs for the rest of their lives William and Margaret raised their children. Tragedy struck them with the early death of two children. After both William and Margaret had passed away was when the most tragic event struck their family. That, though, will be for my next post. (The picture is of Margaret Williams Richards in the middle, then L to R: Ann, Mary, Margaret and Joseph)

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM D.³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 15 Jan 1856, and died 1931. He married MARGARET WILLIAMS Abt. 1879. She was born Jul 1860, and died 1939. WILLIAM D. RICHARDS and MARGARET WILLIAMS: Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

Children of WILLIAM RICHARDS and MARGARET WILLIAMS are:

i. BESSIE⁴ RICHARDS, b. 1884; d. 07 Feb 1900. Burial: 08 Feb 1900, Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

ii. ANN RICHARDS, b. 26 Jul 1890; d. 1940, Oliver Springs, Tennessee. Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

iii. JOSEPH RICHARDS, b. 26 Jul 1890; d. Sep 1967. Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

iv. MARGARET RICHARDS, b. Jun 1892; d. 1940, Oliver Springs, Tennessee. Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

v. MARY RICHARDS, b. 10 Oct 1901; d. 12 Apr 1994, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

White House

This picture says "The White House mess" on the back. I assume that this was from my great-grandfather, Benjamin F. Orr. Ben worked in Washington at the Treasury (not sure in what position) during the fifties. I have no idea who the people are in the picture.

Kate & Rose

This picture just said Kate and Rose on the back. I am not sure if they are family or friends, but hopefully someone recognizes them and will let me know who they are.

Unknown Part 5

This is a picture that I have no
clue as to who the people are.
The picture was a loose picture
among many that my father has.

Two Little Girls

This is a picture of Georgia Orr and Mary Richards. Georgia is the daughter of William Emmet Orr and Anna Louise Crowell. Georgia was raised by my great-grandparents (Benjamin Orr and Mary Price) after the death of her mother in 1907. Mary Richards is the daughter of William D. Richards and Margaret Williams.

The New Year

As the new year has begun I wonder at what I will learn this year about my ancestors and family. How many new members will be added or taken away this year. Will I finally be able to track down some of the elusive ancestors? Why did they hide from me all this time?

I am excited about starting my research in this new year. I hope that I may be able to go in the next few weeks. Maybe I will find something big and have a big break in the family finding case to tell about.