Searching for any possible connection between William THOMAS of NC [was likely a Rev War Soldier - so birth probably about 1750 +/-] to: Jacob THOMAS [1752-1824] of Sullivan Co TN [was NC in when he arrived there about 1775]. Jacob THOMAS acquired land from a William THOMAS who held title by North Carolina Land Grant 249 on 10 Nov 1784 of 440 acres in Sullivan County: Book 1, p 208, Deed Records, State of North Carolina. On 19 Nov 1794 this William THOMAS, then living in Mercer Co KY, sold his NC granted land to Jacob THOMAS. Also have a John THOMAS of NC who was among the earliest to begin the Watauga Settlement in present east Tennessee about 1769. Family lore is very romantic. Jacob is said closely associated and possibly kin to an Isaac THOMAS who regularly visited with Jacob when he was plying his trade with the Cherokee. This Isaac THOMAS was a friend and confidant of Nancy Ward. In 1780, Isaac was settled deep in Indian Territory, on land granted by North Carolina, at present Sevierville area and enjoyed protection from being routed or worse. Earlier stories have Isaac involved at the massacre when Ft Loudoun fell and have the Little Carpenter sparing him at the request of Nancy Ward. There are several versions of Isaac's involvement and some say the story about Isaac THOMAS and Nancy Ward revolves around later activity at Fort Watauga. Historians account an Isaac THOMAS in both scenarios. Where would this Isaac THOMAS have been living if he was close enough to Nancy Ward to have endeared himself to her? Could that have been possible before or at 1760? Could John THOMAS of NC be kin, ancestor or sibling or cousin to William THOMAS who received the NC land grant? Could John who was an early settler at the Watauga Settlement be of same family as Isaac or Jacob? Family lore has Jacob's family, led by Durst THOMAS [variants] being Swiss/German [could be Moravian] and having arrived at Philadelphia area in 1736. There is strongly suggestive but not proven possibility. It continues with these folks, although possibly of Swiss/German, and of the Palatinate, joining the Ephrata Brethren. Of course they could have been Moravian, but that is not mentioned in family lore. Jacob and his family were involved with the Presbyterian Church at Paperviille, a few miles east of present Bristol, TN. The earliest Bible found in Jacob's family is a Lutheran New Testament printed in PA in 1803. In it son Isaac [1791-1882] [5th generation] recorded much family information. If lore is correct, they did not stay a long period at Ephrata (at least the descendants didn't). By 1775 Jacob [4th gen of Durst the emigrant] is in present east Tennessee. Jacob[4] THOMAS is said descended of Durst[1], Martin[2], Jacob[3]. The children of this Jacob THOMAS as well accounted excepting for two sons, William and George [abt. 1798-1869]. My GGG grandfather could be the unaccounted George. Where I lose the trail -- Jacob of eastern TN is said to have come through Cumberland Co PA and on across southwest Virginia to eastern Tennessee. I have found nothing to substantiate where Jacob came from. If his family went across the Blue Ridge in 1740s with Alexander Mack and the Eckerlin brothers, then they would have withdrawn in 1756-1763 during the French and Indian Wars. Could they have gone to the Carolinas during that period, stayed there for nearly fifteen years or more and then gone on into present eastern TN? I am afraid I am giving so much lore that facts are being obscured so should probably have presented less here. Will be pleased to share information about descendants of Jacob who were born after about 1775 through abt 1800. This NC possibility is not yet incorporated into the possible scenario for my THOMAS family but more background and more specific information is available from my "Objective" page. The URL is shown below. Alonzo Charlie THOMAS <A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~edwards/MyMigran.html">Objective</A> http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~edwards/MyMigran.html