>After reading your post, I decided that I woul dmake my first post to >this list. I am attempting to research the THOMAS family of southwestern >Pa. The 1850 census indicated that most of the family was born in VA. >They were listed as mulatto. I have found many people with the THOMAS >surname in MD and WVA, especially in the Baltimore area. Some of the >surnames associated with this family are NORMAN,MOON, WEATHERS, WITCHER, >BUCKINGHAM, LANCASTER, and DODD. > >There are also stories in this family of being native american. Some of >the old census of Fauquier and surrounding counties list the THOMAS as >FPC. I am wondering if anyone on this list can help me determine where >the family orginated if there truly is some native ameican blood >involved. THOMAS is a common mulatto surname in MD and VA. There are several different, apparently unrelated lines, so be careful about assuming connections. These families trace back to black-white unions. I've never seen any indication of Indian ancestry among them. Look at Paul Heinegg's website for more: www.freeafricanamericans.com