Evan and Richard Thomas, Hilltown, PA

                                             RICHARD THOMAS

1. Richard Thomas, born Bet. 1710 - 1716 in Wales; died 1776 in Hilltown, Pennsylvania. He was the son of 2. Evan Thomas and 3. Mary. He married (1) Elizabeth Walton 1736 in Abington Meeting, PA. She was born Abt. 1718 in Pennsylvania (Byberry), and died 1785 in Hilltown, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Joshua Walton and Cassandra Albertson

Noted historian Edward Mathews is the primary source for information regarding Evan and his son, Richard. Mathews' information likely came from oral history as no primary materials have been found to document Evan and Richard's relationship. It seems that Evan could have been a brother to Lewis Thomas. Lewis' children followed the Welsh naming pattern to use Lewis as a surname. Evan appears to have been a Baptist but there is no record of Richard's having been baptized or having been a church member. Richard was a Quaker at the time of his marriage. This has led some researchers to conclude that Richard was descended from Quakers. However, an extensive search of Quaker materials revealed no information about Richard prior to his marriage to Elizabeth. There are no Abington records of his transfering to that meeting or of his having been born in Montgomery County. Mathews felt he was a native of Wales--since there is no record of his having been born in Pennsylvania this appears likely. All his children were eventually dismissed from the Gwynedd MM-William for marrying out and other misconduct. Martha for conceiving a child out of wedlock. All the others for marrying out. It does not appear that the Quaker belief was a very strong influence on Richard or his children

Richard received a patent for land along the Saucon Creek in Northampton County, PA in 1739.  However, he abandoned it to move to Hilltown.

From the " Wandering through Historic Hilltown" a collection of old historical articles written by Edward Mathews:  "It was in 1740 that Henry Paxon sold to Richard Thomas, as much as 320 acres situated along the county line. This extended for perhaps a mile ana a half along the townships' boundaries and northeast half a mile over the rugged regime of hill and dale. This was part of the 650 acres Jeremiah Langhorne hand sold to Henry Paxon. This was sold to Richard Thomas for 690 pounds--indicating no improvements. This piece extended along the county line for 440 perches, climbing the long slope above Reiff's Corner and over the rolling country beyond.

" This Thomas family waxed thriving and prosperous, were considered somewhat aristocratic and were slave holders. In the tax list of 1774 we have the names Richard Thomas and his son, Evan Thomas. the death of Richard Thomas took place about 1784. His son, Levi Thomas inherited 162 acres, or one-half of the tract bought in 1740."

Richard and his family moved from Lower Dublin, which today is part of Philadelphia, about 1745. Mathews believed he was about 70 at the time of his death and was not certain where he lived on his plantation which included in 1880 the lands of Appenzeller, Fluck, Zearfoos, Brandt and Nyce. Appenzeller was an employee of Richard Thomas, living as a tenant farmer on his land. Richard's son, Levi, lived on the Appenzeller farm, and perhaps his parents lived with him. His son Evan lived on the former Reiff property.

Speaking of the Fluck farm, Mathews said a newer house succeeded an old dwelling, probably of logs, which stood near the road and beyond the driveway to the barn that had been built by the Thomas family. "Like all property bordering the county line and the Sellersville turnpike for a mile northwest of Reiff's corner, this belonged to the ancient Thomas family."

Deed: 1740,

This indenture made the Twenty First day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty. Between Richard Thomas of Lower Dublin Township in the County of Philadelphia, Mason, and Elizabeth his wife of the first part and Jorg Henrich Hirzell of Richill in the County of Bucks, yeoman. WHEREAS by Indenture bearing date the thirteenth day of October last past, Henry Paxson of Middleton in the said county of Bucks, tanner, * * * did grant and con-vey unto the said Richard Thomas * * * a certain tract of land situate near a place called Perheassing in the said county of Bucks (which since the laying out of townships in those parts is found to be within the limits of Hilltown Township * * * NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that the said Richard Thomas and Elizabeth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of Ninety pounds * * * HAVE granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed unto the said Jorg Henrich Hirzell a certain piece of land, part of the aforesaid bounded by lands of said Richard Thomas, Evan Griffith and Henry Hartly, containing one hundred acres * * * IN WITNESS whereof the said parties to these presents have interchangeably set their hands and seals hereunto. Dated the Day and Year first above written.,,RICHARD Thomas Elizabeth Thomas.

From Gwynedd Monthly Meeting records:   26-11-1741 Richard Thomas and wife produced certificate from Abington Monthly meeting for self and wife.

3rd Gwynedd. 30, 1761. Richard Thomas has purchased a slave, and he being in this meeting, Friends had a good opportunity to lay the inconsistency of the practice before him.

The inhabitants along the route of the new road as laid out by the road jury, became dissatisfied, and at the March term of Court, in 1744-1745, joined in a petition for relief, and asked for a change of location of route. The petition reads:-- "Whereas, the Honorable Court of Quarter Sessions held for the County in September last, Did Grant and Order, to Lay out a Road from the line Dividing ye Counties of Phila. & Bucks, (beginning at a Corner of Richard Thomas's Land), to ye Road Leading from George Myer's Mill to ye Great Road (Allentown) Leading to Philada, which was accordingly Laid out, which Road is very Detrimental to many of ye Inhabitants, Chiefly to Joost (Yost) Cope, John Shelenberger & Jacob Leydy, whose Plantations it breaks very incommodiously too, ye Ground also being very mirie & bad, your Petitioners therefore pray that ye said Road, (which is not Confirm at yet), May be Dropt."

August 29, 1745

The Pennsylvania Gazette

To be sold by publick Vendue, on the 5th of September next, A Fulling Mill and House, with all the Tools belonging to the Mill, in exceeding good Order, some Houshold Goods, and 200 Bushels of Charcoal; also 8 Acres of good Land, 4 of which Meadow, well water'd, and fenced in with a good Hedge, and a good young Orchard, Out houses, &c. The Mill is situate about 12 Miles from Philadelphia, near Pennypeck Creek, within Half a Mile of Busseltown. Any Person inclining to purchase, may apply to Richard Thomas, living on the Premises, where the Vendue will be kept. Twelve Months Credit will be given for one Half of the Money, provided the other Half is paid in three Months after the Sale. The Vendue will begin at Ten o'Clock, RICHARD THOMAS.

From the Pa Gazzette 1746: Came to the plantation of Richard Thomas, of Hilton township, Bucks county, the latter end of April last, a roan filley, something more than a year old, branded on the near buttock KN. The owner, describing her other marks, and paying charges, may have her again.

September 4, 1746, The Pennsylvania Gazette:  ON Monday the 22d of this Instant September, will be exposed to sale by Vendue, the Fulling Mill in Lower Dublin, Philadelphia County, which formerly belong'd to Richard Thomas, the same is in exceeding good repair, together with all the Implements and Utensils necessary for Fulling, Dying, Tentering, Sheering, Pressing, &c. with a good Dwelling House, a Working Shop, and Out houses, and Eight Acres of good Land, the greatest Part Meadow, all within Fence and well situated for Business. Then and there will be sold an English Waggon and Gears, good working and riding Horse, sheep [?], Plow and Plow irons, &c. The Conditions of sale will then be made known SAMUEL THOMAS.

1. From Northampton County records:  Mortgage for 194pds, 19s, 3 p, 9 May 1765. Mortgager, John Custard, Heidelberg twp and his wf Ann. Mortgagee, Thomas Thomas, Hilltown twp. Bucks Co. Property, 135 acres near Lizard Creek by land late George Custard deceased, vacant land, and land of John Rhoads (which was one of four tracts which John Jennings, late sheriff, by writ, sold to Richard Thomas, 19 Sept 1763; Then to Richard Thomas, Hilltowns, Bucks Co and his wife Elisabeth, sold to John Custard, 8 April 1765.
   

   WILL OF RICHARD THOMAS

   From Philadelphia County Court House

   Died 1776

   Be it Remembered that I Richard Thomas of Hilltown in the County of Bucks and Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman being Sick of body, but of Sound Mind, Memory, and Understanding, think it necessary to dispose of those Worldly Goods that God in Mercy hath given me to Enjoy by this my Last will and Testament in Manor hereafter Expressed, That is to Say first of all I will that all my Just Debts and funeral Expenses be well truly and faithfully paid and discharged.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Elisabeth one feather Bed and all the apurtenanies thereunto belonging of her choice of my beds, one Iron Pot and one Small brass kettle, one Cow of her Choice, and my will in that my Said wife Shall have the priveledge of my two back rooms down Stears and in the kitchen what may be thought Necessary for her to do her work in, and also roome in the Seller for her use all the said priviledges to Continue during her widdow hood and no longer, And my Son Levi Shall during his Mother's widdowhood find and Provide for his said Mother Eight bushels of wheat a year and four of rye Also one good fat Hog and one quarter of beef a year one barrel of Syder a year and water Syder what she may have occation of and apples for her use, fifteen punds of flax and ten of wool a year, And Shall keep her a Cow winter and Sumer and find her a Horse to ride on where She has occation to goe and Shall Cut and hall to the door as much fire wood as may be Necessary for her use, during her widdowhood, and my Said son shall pay unto his said Mother yerly and Every during her natural life the Sume of Six pounds of Pennsylvania Currency.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my Son William Thomas the full and Just Sume of fifty pounds of Pennsylvania Currency.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my son Josia the full and Just sume of forty pounds of like money as aforre said.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Joshua the full and Just sume of forthy pounds and like money affore said.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Hannah Coocker the full and Just Sume of forty pounds of like money as affore said to be paid in Eight Equall Payments the first to be made in one year after my decease and the remainder in yearly payments untill the whole is pade.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Martha the full and Just Sume of fifty Pounds of like money as affore said, and also my little Negroe Girl Called Rose Untill She attains to the age of thirty years, and my will is that then, if She lives to the age of thirty years, She Shall from thence forward be a free Negroe as although She had never been a slave.

   Item I give and bequeath unto my Negroe Felis her freedom when she Attains to the age of thirty years and that She shall from thence forward to a free woman.

   Item I give and Devise and bequeath unto my Son Evan Thomas Sixty four Acres and thirty four perches of Land where on he lives Sittuated in Hilltown afforesaid. According to the Draught of the said Land, with all the buildings, and appurtenances thereon Erected to hold to him his heirs and Assigns for Ever he paying in consideration thereof to his brother Levi one year after my decease to Enable him to pay my Just debts and the Leagicies before Mentioned.

   Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Son Levi Thomas the remainder of my Land and Plantation I live on Sittuate in Hilltown affore Containing by Estimation one Hundred and Sixty acres be it more or be it less, with all the buildings and apurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to hold to him his heirs and assigns for Ever, he allowing and paying in Lue thereof to his Mother yearly and Every year the Sum of Money and Privaligies Mentioned in this my will to her.

   Item I do hereby Constitute Depute and appoint my Son Evan and Levi Thomas both of Hilltown affore Said to be Joynt and Co Executors of this my Last will and Testament, Giveing them full power and absolute authority to Sell and dispose of all my Lands and Tenaments that are in North Hampton County they being over the blue mountain with all the buildings and Improvements and appurtenances thereunto Belonging or in any wise Appertaining, Giving them full Power and Abslolute Authority to make and Execute a Good and Effectual Coveance in Law on the Same Unto Such Person or persons that may or Shall Purcase the Same and unto his or their Heirs and assigns for Ever

   as I my Self might or could do were I living, Also I will and direct that Sale be made of all my Personal Estate Goods and Chattles, save what is before bequeathed, and the Monies arising from the Sale of my said Lands and from my Personal Estate after paying my said debts and funeral Expenses and the Leagicies hereby bequeathed, if any there be remaining, I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elisabeth, and to my said Children William, Josia, Joshua, Evan, Levi, Hannah, and Martha to be Equally divided between them Share and Share alike. I do hereby Nominate and appoint my friends Thomas Thomas and Henry Rees to be Trustees of this my Last Will and

   Testament to see it accomplished. Finally I do revoke, anul and make Void all former and other Wills by me heretofore made or declared to be made Either by word of Mouth or in writing Ratifieing and Confirming this only written on both Sides of this Sheet of Paper to be my last.

   In witness where of I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Nineteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy two 1772.

   Signed Rhrd Thomas

   Witnesses: Thos. Thomas, Henry Reese, John Cope

   Proved May 8, 1776

    

   Notes for Elizabeth Walton:

   Will Abstracts Book 4, Bucks Co. 1778-1786: 4.348

   Elizabeth Thomas, Widow. October 4,1784 Proved 1-10-1785

   "Relict of Richard Thomas Son: Levi, exr. Daugther: Martha and her son Jonathan

   Witnesses: Benjamin Griifith, Jonathan Walton, Cadwd. Morris

   Their marriage is confirmed by: Record of June 1736 marriage per: Family History Library: Linages of Hereditary Society Members, 1600's - 1900's Sons and Daughter of Pilgrims, VolII, Linage of Members, page 189

    Photocopy of Elizabeth's will is included in accompanying images.

                                         EVAN THOMAS

   2. Evan Thomas, born in Wales; died  1755-1764. in Pennsylvania (Hilltown or New Britain). He married 3. Mary.

   3. Mary, born in Wales; died 1721 in Pennsylvania.

   Notes for Evan Thomas:

   "The Thomas Family of Hilltown, Bucks County, Penn" by Edward Matthews 1884 Chapter 1

   " Lewis Thomas and Evan Thomas, both Welshman, were among the earlier settlers of Hilltown, holding lands in the western portion, near Rieff's corner, and eastward of the village Telford. Evan's son Richard, succeeded him and they remained up to the time of the Revolution. They were not Baptists as were the other family of which this history relates. They were large landholders, were esteemed wealthy and aristocratic, and held a number of slaves. On the upper Bethlehem turnpike, half a mile above the divergence of the highway from the county line, near the blacksmith shop of Leonard Smith (Lee Fluck Farm), was the family grave yard, where besides some whites a considerable number of their slaves were buried. This burial place has now been ploughed over, and there is little to indicate that it was once the place of interment of a prominent and wealthy family of the colonial days. When the Revolutionary war broke out the sons of Richard Thomas, William and Evan became Tories and entered the British army. The former was a captain, and the latter accepted a commission and raised a troop of horsemen. He made several incursions into Bucks county, and was at the Battle of Crooked Billet (Hatboro), May 15, 1778. Their lands were confiscated by their treason, and at the close of the war they accepted lands in Nova Scotia from the British government. Evan Thomas afterwards returning to Hilltown and removing his family thither."

   While Mathews says the family was not Baptist, this very likely applied to Richard and not his father. The only Evan who owned land in early Hilltown immigrated Abt 1720. In 1720 the Montgomery (PA) Baptist Church received Evan and Mary Thomas from the Pembrokeshire, Wales Baptist Church..

   Montgomery Baptist Church records:

   Evan and Mary Thomas arrived from Pembrokeshire, Wales 1720

   Mary, wife of Evan Thomas died 12//22/1721

   Elizabeth, wife of Evan Thomas received Jan. 1724

   Died, 10/28/1724 Elizabeth wife of Evan Thomas

   1726 Evan Thomas "cut off" for several truths and oft repeated drunkenness

   1755 Evan Thomas dismissed to New Britain Chruch. 

   He was received in New Britain with his daughter, Diana, and son, Joseph.

    

   He first appeared in Hilltown land records in 1724. In 1733 he and his apparently third wife, Sarah, sold property in Hilltown to John Lewis--the record described him as Evan Thomas, yeoman, Hilltown. He had purchased this property from Edward Farmer in 1730.

   The following record applies to his son Evan, Jr. who bought property on his father's line in 1734 and mortgaged it in 1749. Evan, Jr. also bought property in Hilltown in '36 and New Britain in '34.

   File #400 - Evan Thomas, Hilltown

   Dec 8, 1766 - Widow Margaret. Sons John and Benjamin over 14 petition for guardians. Thomas Jones, Jr. appointed for John, Joseph Lunn for Benjamin.

   Source: Book 1, Orphans Court Records, Bucks Co., Pa.

   I believe this record, in addition to a land record in 1744 in which Evan and Margaret sell property in Hilltown, has led earlier researcher to erroneously conclude that Evan, the father, left a widow, Margaret. However, this is Margaret Mathews who married Evan, Jr. son of Evan who arrived in 1720.

   Diana Thomas who married John Mathews was his daughter. Joseph was another son.  Va Baptist Register XXXIX: Joseph Thomas b.1718 Wales, came to Hilltown in 1721 with parents. Joseph baptized by Benjamin Griffith in 1730 in Montgomery Church, Montgomery Co. Pa. Ordained at New Britain in 1766, preached 1750-60.. Montgomery Baptist Church records show Evan, Jr. & Joseph Thomas, sons of Evan Thomas, baptised 1730.

   Sources

   1) Genealogical Material copied by Mrs. Philip Meridith Allen, Blue Bell, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, over a period of years, also by Miss Elma C. Bishop, Berwick, Pennsylvania, Wilcox-Roads-Rhoads

   2) The Thomas Family of Hilltown, Bucks, Penna by Edward Matthews. "Wandering through Historic Hilltown" Edward Matthews. Matthews researched early land records of the Hilltown area while writing of another Thomas family in the area.

   3) Byberry Waltons, 3rd edition, Norman Walton Swayne

   4) Bucks County Deed Book

   5) History of Montgpmery Baptist Church, Edward Mathews

   6)Va Baptist Register XXXIX:

   Children of Evan Thomas and Mary are: 

    i. Richard Thomas, born Bet. 1710 - 1716 in Wales; died 1776 in Hilltown, Pennsylvania; married Elizabeth Walton 1736 in Abington Meeting, PA.

   ii. Diana married John Mathews

   iii Evan married margaret Mathews. Died 1766

   iv.  Joseph.  Ordained Baptist minister 1766 New Britain, PA 

   Evan's arrival in Hilltown in 1721 is confirmed by biographical information for his son, Joseph from Va Baptist Register XXXIX: "Joseph Thomas b.1718 Wales, came to Hilltown in 1721 with parents. Joseph baptized by Benjamin Griffith in 1730 in Montgomery Church, Montgomery Co. Pa. Ordained at New Britain in 1766, preached 1750-60". Montgomery Baptist Church records show Evan, Jr. & Joseph Thomas, sons of Evan Thomas, baptised 1730. Thorough analysis of early Hilltown land records reveal that there was only one Evan Thomas in Hilltown owning land near Reiff's corner in the 1720's. Son, Evan Jr. appears in records in 1734.

    

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