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Ancestors of James Tilton Richardson

Generation No. 5

      24. Benjamin Thomas, born July 18, 1756 in Union Co., NC²⁰; died January 01, 1833 in Anson Co., NC²⁰. He married 25. Melinda Gurley Abt. 1774 in Anson Co., NC.

      25. Melinda Gurley, born 1758 in Anson Co., NC; died 1833 in Union Co., NC.

Notes for Benjamin Thomas:
As follows, the earliest records that positively relate to our Benjamin Thomas of Anson County appear in the Secretary of State Land Grants at North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.

Grant #4281, Anson, NC, to Salathiel Clifton. Ent 19 May 1778, Sur 15 Jun 1779, Iss 24 Oct 1782. For 100 acres situated south of Richardson's Creek. Chainers were Benjamin Thomas and Gideon Green.

Grant #4324, Anson, NC, to Gideon Green. Ent 15 Jun 1779, Sur 15 Jun 1779, Iss Oct 1783. For 150 acres south of Rocky River and situated on both sides of Richardson's Creek. One of the lines of this survey follows the courses of Walnut Branch. Chainers were Salathiel Clifton and Benjamin Thomas.

Grant #4629, Anson, NC to Gideon Green. Ent 15 Jun 1779, Sur 15 Jun 1779, Iss 14 Oct 1783. For 50 acres lying on the south side of Richardson's Creek. Chainers were Salathiel Clifton and Benjamin Thomas.

These were Gideon Green's first land entries in Anson County. Dated 26 Oct 1785 and proved 1786, Gideon sold his 150-acre grant #4324 to Banjamin Thomas (214, Anson, NC). Witnesses were William Gurley and Charles Harrington. This is the first known and provable record for our Benjamin in Anson County. Gideon sold his 50-acre grant to Jacob Gurley on 12 Sep 1787. Witnesses were Robin Williams and James Gurley.

Gideon likely married Elizabeth Anderson before moving to Anson County. Very little is known of Gideon Green prior to the above land grant in which Benjamin Thomas is listed as chain bearer. After selling the land to Benjamin in 1785, Gideon bought land in Montgomery County, NC (now Stanly) from Jonathan Morgan. Gideon died Ca. 1799. His wife Mary left a will in Anson Co. and died in 1813. Her Last Will and Testament mentions children John, Etham, Jacob, Gideon, Leonard, Nathan, and Jesse. She also mentioned daughters Polly Morgan and Elizabeth Megebe. Of interest, son Jesse married Polly Tucker and moved to Perry Co., AL. He had a son named Ananias Green. Our Benjamin Thomas had a son named Ananias.

Less than a mile down stream from present day Pleasant Hill Church Road, Charity Ford once crossed the cooling waters of Richardson's Creek. The 1913 Union county surveyors map records the small road that once crossed at Charity Ford. From indications in land records involving Benjamin's son Ezekiel, it is known that Walnut Tree Creek once flowed into Richardson's Creek near Charity Ford. Benjamin Thomas' first purchase from Gideon Green adjoined the banks of Walnut Tree Branch. Older folk in the community know of and have testified to the existence of the Old Thomas Cemetery which was situated on the north side of Charity Ford. Dying on 1 Jan. 1833, it is here that Benjamin Thomas was layed to rest. Other Thomas' were buried at the cemetery also. In the push to regain usable farm land, this cemetery was thoroughly destroyed.

OTHER LAND RECORDS
Adjoining the original 150 acres purchased from Gideon Green, Benjamin Thomas bought other land along Richardson's Creek. Notice that his sons became involved as chain bearers in the land surveys.


Children of Benjamin Thomas and Melinda Gurley are:

	i.	David Thomas, born Abt. 1775 in Anson Co., NC²⁰; married (1) Mary; married (2) Mary Pressley Abt. 1798²⁰.
12	ii.	Ezekiel Thomas, born January 15, 1777 in Anson Co., NC; died October 1839 in Anson Co., NC; married (1) Unknown Abt. 1797; married (2) Charity Hanes Abt. 1832.
	iii.	Ananias Thomas, born October 04, 1779 in Anson Co., NC²⁰; died February 16, 1861 in Union Co., NC²⁰; married Sarah Ross.

Notes for Ananias Thomas:

		iv.		Jacob Thomas, born October 15, 1784 in Anson Co., NC²⁰; died 1868 in Anson Co., NC²⁰; married Elizabeth Edwards.
		v.		Benjamin Thomas, born Abt. 1788 in Anson Co., NC²⁰; died January 1836 in Anson Co., NC²⁰; married (1) Rebecca Tolson; married (2) Elizabeth Brown Trawick.

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