Yes, They moved to Miami Co., OH and then to surrounding Co.s; Montgomery and Darke. Your Thomas' seem to have followed the Mennonites from VA to OH. Pretty much the same time and approx. the same counties, although they spread across OH following Zane's Trace (sort of the same route as I-70 today). That is a basic explanation of a complicated move. A few of my husband's Thomas family members from the Rocky Mount area were Brethren. Jan Thomas Vrgfdonna@aol.com wrote: > Jan, do you know what county they went to in Oh.? My THOMAS family went to > Fairfield & Perry Counties in about 1811 from Rockingham Co., Va., which is > not really very far from Bedford Co., especially when you consider county > changes. I don't know of a John related to mine, but there may have been one. > My line: > Rees THOMAS 1690 Wales > Evan THOMAS 1743 Va. > Aaron THOMAS 1772 Va. > David THOMAS ca 1807 Rockingham Co., Va. > Martha THOMAS 1836 Perry Co., Oh. > Thanks, > Velma > > > In a message dated 3/30/2008 11:16:56 AM Central Daylight Time, > textique@aol.com writes: > > I can trace my husband's Thomas family to John and Polley (Mary) Thomas > of Bedford Co., VA. Their son - who family legend says was adopted > (unproven) - Thomas Tate Thomas was born there in 1851-2 (different > records and gravestone). He married Mary Elizabeth Divers in Franklin > Co. at her parents' home and his descendants lived there in Rocky Mount > and surrounds until approx. 1913 and moved to OH. No records, to date, > have uncovered anything about John and Polley who are listed as his > parents on his marriage certificate. > > Jan Thomas > > > > > **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL > Home. > (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Jan, I descend from Velma's line through another son of Aaron Thomas. I doubt they were Mennonites. Aaron's grandfather Rees Thomas was a Baptist after arriving in Virginia from Pennsylvania in the 1740s and Aaron's grandson B.F. Thomas was a Methodist preacher in Fairfield Co., Ohio. Another grandson of Aaron Thomas (Zera C. Thomas - my gg grandfather) moved to Noble Co., IN in the 1860s. My DNA results have best matched people with the surname of Walters; though at 35 markers we are a distance of 2. I have tested 67 markers and like Rory I am feeling a little lonely with no matches named Thomas. Ancestry.com shows thousands of Thomas families in England and Wales in 1891, so I am sure there are some of my line over there somewhere. I have wondered why so many people moved from Rockingham Co., VA to Perry Co., OH in the early 1800s (other than 1816 - the year without a summer; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Without_a_Summer) and then why some later moved to Indiana. Do you have any recommended sources for me to understand the context of these migrations generally? Thanks. Tom Thomas > Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:53:39 -0600> From: textique@aol.com> To: thomas@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story> > Yes, They moved to Miami Co., OH and then to surrounding Co.s; > Montgomery and Darke. Your Thomas' seem to have followed the Mennonites > from VA to OH. Pretty much the same time and approx. the same counties, > although they spread across OH following Zane's Trace (sort of the same > route as I-70 today). That is a basic explanation of a complicated > move. A few of my husband's Thomas family members from the Rocky Mount > area were Brethren.> > Jan Thomas> > Vrgfdonna@aol.com wrote:> > Jan, do you know what county they went to in Oh.? My THOMAS family went to > > Fairfield & Perry Counties in about 1811 from Rockingham Co., Va., which is > > not really very far from Bedford Co., especially when you consider county > > changes. I don't know of a John related to mine, but there may have been one.> > My line:> > Rees THOMAS 1690 Wales> > Evan THOMAS 1743 Va.> > Aaron THOMAS 1772 Va.> > David THOMAS ca 1807 Rockingham Co., Va.> > Martha THOMAS 1836 Perry Co., Oh.> > Thanks,> > Velma> > > > > > In a message dated 3/30/2008 11:16:56 AM Central Daylight Time, > > textique@aol.com writes:> >> > I can trace my husband's Thomas family to John and Polley (Mary) Thomas > > of Bedford Co., VA. Their son - who family legend says was adopted > > (unproven) - Thomas Tate Thomas was born there in 1851-2 (different > > records and gravestone). He married Mary Elizabeth Divers in Franklin > > Co. at her parents' home and his descendants lived there in Rocky Mount > > and surrounds until approx. 1913 and moved to OH. No records, to date, > > have uncovered anything about John and Polley who are listed as his > > parents on his marriage certificate.> >> > Jan Thomas> > > >> >> >> > **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL > > Home. > > (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)> > > > -------------------------------> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message> > > > > -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ How well do you know your celebrity gossip? http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate?ocid=T002MSN03N0707A

I just read your Thomas info. below, and have an idea why people made the moves you mentioned. You asked for a "general" idea, and that is all that I am offering. I haven't opened your suggested Wikipedia, "Year W/O a Summer" yet; however, Lewis and Clark's Expedition really opened up the Westward Movement. I think that was about 1804, not too long before the VA to OH to IN migrations that you mentioned. Many pioneers just wanted to see if "the grass was greener on the other side," and get some of that new land for themselves. Now that they had some idea what to expect, for many different reasons, they followed that dream to move West. Once someone that they knew had gone to OH, it was easier for them to follow,...and the same thing for moving on to IN. Remember, too, that there was safety in numbers, so they often moved with several neighbors in their group. Hey! Not too many years later, my ancestors came to the REAL West on the OR Trail! So, here I am, in Florence, OR, on the central OR coastline! Don't forget the belief in Eminent Domain. I suppose that also fed into their thinking. Sincerely, Bonnie Schmoll (My Great-Grandmother was a Thomas, who lived in Fairfield, Freestone Co., TX.) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Thomas" <tsquizzled@msn.com> To: <thomas@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:12 PM Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story Jan, I descend from Velma's line through another son of Aaron Thomas. I doubt they were Mennonites. Aaron's grandfather Rees Thomas was a Baptist after arriving in Virginia from Pennsylvania in the 1740s and Aaron's grandson B.F. Thomas was a Methodist preacher in Fairfield Co., Ohio. Another grandson of Aaron Thomas (Zera C. Thomas - my gg grandfather) moved to Noble Co., IN in the 1860s. My DNA results have best matched people with the surname of Walters; though at 35 markers we are a distance of 2. I have tested 67 markers and like Rory I am feeling a little lonely with no matches named Thomas. Ancestry.com shows thousands of Thomas families in England and Wales in 1891, so I am sure there are some of my line over there somewhere. I have wondered why so many people moved from Rockingham Co., VA to Perry Co., OH in the early 1800s (other than 1816 - the year without a summer; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Without_a_Summer) and then why some later moved to Indiana. Do you have any recommended sources for me to understand the context of these migrations generally? Thanks. Tom Thomas > Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:53:39 -0600> From: textique@aol.com> To: > thomas@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story> > Yes, They moved > to Miami Co., OH and then to surrounding Co.s; > Montgomery and Darke. > Your Thomas' seem to have followed the Mennonites > from VA to OH. Pretty > much the same time and approx. the same counties, > although they spread > across OH following Zane's Trace (sort of the same > route as I-70 today). > That is a basic explanation of a complicated > move. A few of my husband's > Thomas family members from the Rocky Mount > area were Brethren.> > Jan > Thomas> > Vrgfdonna@aol.com wrote:> > Jan, do you know what county they > went to in Oh.? My THOMAS family went to > > Fairfield & Perry Counties in > about 1811 from Rockingham Co., Va., which is > > not really very far from > Bedford Co., especially when you consider county > > changes. I don't know > of a John related to mine, but there may have been one.> > My line:> > > Rees THOMAS 1690 Wales> > Evan THOMAS 1743 Va.> > Aaron THOMAS 1772 Va.> > > David THOMAS ca 1807 Rockingham Co., Va.> > Martha THOMAS 1836 Perry Co., > Oh.> > Thanks,> > Velma> > > > > > In a message dated 3/30/2008 11:16:56 > AM Central Daylight Time, > > textique@aol.com writes:> >> > I can trace > my husband's Thomas family to John and Polley (Mary) Thomas > > of Bedford > Co., VA. Their son - who family legend says was adopted > > (unproven) - > Thomas Tate Thomas was born there in 1851-2 (different > > records and > gravestone). He married Mary Elizabeth Divers in Franklin > > Co. at her > parents' home and his descendants lived there in Rocky Mount > > and > surrounds until approx. 1913 and moved to OH. No records, to date, > > > have uncovered anything about John and Polley who are listed as his > > > parents on his marriage certificate.> >> > Jan Thomas> > > >> >> >> > > **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL > > > Home. > > > (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)> > > > > -------------------------------> > To unsubscribe from the list, > please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message> > > > > -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the > list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message _________________________________________________________________ How well do you know your celebrity gossip? http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate?ocid=T002MSN03N0707A

Tom; Sorry this has taken so long to answer. I'm leaving on a research trip of Friday - so early in the morning that my husband will just have to point me to the plane and shove. There are several reasons for the Swiss Mennonite/Brethren migration north; the most important of which, as I understand it now, was the slavery issue. I'm currently researching a group of quilts made by one Brethren woman in OH between 1901 and 1907 and it is sort of how I got into the subject. I accidentally happened on a talk given by Gale Honeyman of the Brethren Heritage Center in OH the last time I was there for research. He had traced this path from southern VA northward into the middle of OH which included subsequent migrations of family, that may or may not have been of either faith, but were following earlier transplants. Other Anabaptists such as the Amish had already started into the northeastern Holmes Co region of OH so they met up with others of like religious beliefs. Land was fertile and cheap in OH at the time and these groups merged in the same areas as those who migrated straight across PA and along Zane's Trace that essentially bisected OH. I've traced many of the family members of my quiltmaker extraordinare to counties on either side of Zanes's Trace right into IN and beyond - pretty much on a straight path west. I'd love to give you source reading material but that is actually what part of this trip will be for. I'm heading to the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, OH to learn just that. My quilt maker's religion played a major part in her life and I'm sure affected why she made such unusual pieces. I am writing a paper and then hopefully a book about her so I need to understand more about life as a Brethren. To do that, I've got a lot of reading and interviewing to do. I'm sure a query to the Center will get a nice long list of source material. Jan Harry and Bonnie wrote: > I just read your Thomas info. below, and have an idea why people made the > moves you mentioned. You asked for a "general" idea, and that is all that I > am offering. I haven't opened your suggested Wikipedia, "Year W/O a Summer" > yet; however, Lewis and Clark's Expedition really opened up the Westward > Movement. I think that was about 1804, not too long before the VA to OH to > IN migrations that you mentioned. Many pioneers just wanted to see if "the > grass was greener on the other side," and get some of that new land for > themselves. Now that they had some idea what to expect, for many different > reasons, they followed that dream to move West. Once someone that they knew > had gone to OH, it was easier for them to follow,...and the same thing for > moving on to IN. Remember, too, that there was safety in numbers, so they > often moved with several neighbors in their group. > > Hey! Not too many years later, my ancestors came to the REAL West on the OR > Trail! So, here I am, in Florence, OR, on the central OR coastline! > > Don't forget the belief in Eminent Domain. I suppose that also fed into > their thinking. > > Sincerely, > > Bonnie Schmoll (My Great-Grandmother was a Thomas, who lived in Fairfield, > Freestone Co., TX.) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom Thomas" <tsquizzled@msn.com> > To: <thomas@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:12 PM > Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story > > > Jan, > I descend from Velma's line through another son of Aaron Thomas. I doubt > they were Mennonites. Aaron's grandfather Rees Thomas was a Baptist after > arriving in Virginia from Pennsylvania in the 1740s and Aaron's grandson > B.F. Thomas was a Methodist preacher in Fairfield Co., Ohio. > > Another grandson of Aaron Thomas (Zera C. Thomas - my gg grandfather) moved > to Noble Co., IN in the 1860s. > > My DNA results have best matched people with the surname of Walters; though > at 35 markers we are a distance of 2. I have tested 67 markers and like Rory > I am feeling a little lonely with no matches named Thomas. Ancestry.com > shows thousands of Thomas families in England and Wales in 1891, so I am > sure there are some of my line over there somewhere. > > I have wondered why so many people moved from Rockingham Co., VA to Perry > Co., OH in the early 1800s (other than 1816 - the year without a summer; see > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Without_a_Summer) and then why some later > moved to Indiana. Do you have any recommended sources for me to understand > the context of these migrations generally? > > Thanks. > Tom Thomas > > > > >> Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:53:39 -0600> From: textique@aol.com> To: >> thomas@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story> > Yes, They moved >> to Miami Co., OH and then to surrounding Co.s; > Montgomery and Darke. >> Your Thomas' seem to have followed the Mennonites > from VA to OH. Pretty >> much the same time and approx. the same counties, > although they spread >> across OH following Zane's Trace (sort of the same > route as I-70 today). >> That is a basic explanation of a complicated > move. A few of my husband's >> Thomas family members from the Rocky Mount > area were Brethren.> > Jan >> Thomas> > Vrgfdonna@aol.com wrote:> > Jan, do you know what county they >> went to in Oh.? My THOMAS family went to > > Fairfield & Perry Counties in >> about 1811 from Rockingham Co., Va., which is > > not really very far from >> Bedford Co., especially when you consider county > > changes. I don't know >> of a John related to mine, but there may have been one.> > My line:> > >> Rees THOMAS 1690 Wales> > Evan THOMAS 1743 Va.> > Aaron THOMAS 1772 Va.> > >> David THOMAS ca 1807 Rockingham Co., Va.> > Martha THOMAS 1836 Perry Co., >> Oh.> > Thanks,> > Velma> > > > > > In a message dated 3/30/2008 11:16:56 >> AM Central Daylight Time, > > textique@aol.com writes:> >> > I can trace >> my husband's Thomas family to John and Polley (Mary) Thomas > > of Bedford >> Co., VA. Their son - who family legend says was adopted > > (unproven) - >> Thomas Tate Thomas was born there in 1851-2 (different > > records and >> gravestone). He married Mary Elizabeth Divers in Franklin > > Co. at her >> parents' home and his descendants lived there in Rocky Mount > > and >> surrounds until approx. 1913 and moved to OH. No records, to date, > > >> have uncovered anything about John and Polley who are listed as his > > >> parents on his marriage certificate.> >> > Jan Thomas> > > >> >> >> > >> **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL >> > > Home. > > >> (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)> >> > > > -------------------------------> > To unsubscribe from the list, >> please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >> message> > > > > -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the >> list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >> message >> > _________________________________________________________________ > How well do you know your celebrity gossip? > http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate?ocid=T002MSN03N0707A > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Jan, I am very interested in your research. If this is not a Thomas line, we'll take the discussion privately. I have Thomas Quakers who made much the same migration that you are describing in the below. I have unfortunately not traced my Thomas line back to Virginia nor to PA.....I have guesses that this Thomas line that I first find in SC moved their from Hopewell MM In Northern VA and earlier than that were in PA. But I am still floundering for proofs. I am going to the Newberry County Homecoming in May to work on this puzzle. But I would like to discuss the below with you some more .....I do know that you have LOTS to do between now and Friday.....but if you can give me a quick reply either via the Thomas list....or if it is not about a Thomas line, to my private e-mail: mosesm@earthlink.net. My interest is many-fold.....I am also a handwork enthusiast....I live fairly near the area in Ohio where you are going (if I weren't on the road myself, I would drive up to meet you for lunch)....I have begun to read the Mennonite records in Winston-Salem, NC....well....I have quickly read a few parts.....I am including some Mennonite information in my VERY BRIEF presentation on the Great Wagon Road at the Newberry homecoming....well....just let me say that I am extremely interested in your research! Marsha not in WV temporarily Jan Thomas wrote: >Tom; >Sorry this has taken so long to answer. I'm leaving on a research trip >of Friday - so early in the morning that my husband will just have to >point me to the plane and shove. There are several reasons for the >Swiss Mennonite/Brethren migration north; the most important of which, >as I understand it now, was the slavery issue. I'm currently >researching a group of quilts made by one Brethren woman in OH between >1901 and 1907 and it is sort of how I got into the subject. I >accidentally happened on a talk given by Gale Honeyman of the Brethren >Heritage Center in OH the last time I was there for research. He had >traced this path from southern VA northward into the middle of OH which >included subsequent migrations of family, that may or may not have been >of either faith, but were following earlier transplants. Other >Anabaptists such as the Amish had already started into the northeastern >Holmes Co region of OH so they met up with others of like religious >beliefs. Land was fertile and cheap in OH at the time and these groups >merged in the same areas as those who migrated straight across PA and >along Zane's Trace that essentially bisected OH. I've traced many of >the family members of my quiltmaker extraordinare to counties on either >side of Zanes's Trace right into IN and beyond - pretty much on a >straight path west. I'd love to give you source reading material but >that is actually what part of this trip will be for. I'm heading to the >Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, OH to learn just that. > >My quilt maker's religion played a major part in her life and I'm sure >affected why she made such unusual pieces. I am writing a paper and >then hopefully a book about her so I need to understand more about life >as a Brethren. To do that, I've got a lot of reading and interviewing >to do. I'm sure a query to the Center will get a nice long list of >source material. > >Jan > > > > > >

Marsha; I'll be happy to discuss this with you but I'm just beginning to understand this phenomenon. I actually have a house in southwestern OH right in the middle of that area of Quaker migration and researched their history for years. If you can't drive up around Cincy before the 26th (I'll actually be in Cincy for research at the downtown library and to visit the astounding Shelbourne Quilt Exhibit at the Art Museum. I'm more than happy to help however I can but unless we do it while I'm there, I won't be available until after the first of May. I have so much swirling around my head trying to make plans to meet half the state at different times for several research projects that I would ask you to contact me again around the first of May. I hope to be sane by that time. Sincerely, Jan Thomas Colorado Springs marsha moses wrote: > Jan, I am very interested in your research. If this is not a Thomas > line, we'll take the discussion privately. > > I have Thomas Quakers who made much the same migration that you are > describing in the below. I have unfortunately not traced my Thomas line > back to Virginia nor to PA.....I have guesses that this Thomas line that > I first find in SC moved their from Hopewell MM In Northern VA and > earlier than that were in PA. But I am still floundering for proofs. I > am going to the Newberry County Homecoming in May to work on this puzzle. > > But I would like to discuss the below with you some more .....I do know > that you have LOTS to do between now and Friday.....but if you can give > me a quick reply either via the Thomas list....or if it is not about a > Thomas line, to my private e-mail: mosesm@earthlink.net. > > My interest is many-fold.....I am also a handwork enthusiast....I live > fairly near the area in Ohio where you are going (if I weren't on the > road myself, I would drive up to meet you for lunch)....I have begun to > read the Mennonite records in Winston-Salem, NC....well....I have > quickly read a few parts.....I am including some Mennonite information > in my VERY BRIEF presentation on the Great Wagon Road at the Newberry > homecoming....well....just let me say that I am extremely interested in > your research! Marsha not in WV temporarily > > > > Jan Thomas wrote: > > >> Tom; >> Sorry this has taken so long to answer. I'm leaving on a research trip >> of Friday - so early in the morning that my husband will just have to >> point me to the plane and shove. There are several reasons for the >> Swiss Mennonite/Brethren migration north; the most important of which, >> as I understand it now, was the slavery issue. I'm currently >> researching a group of quilts made by one Brethren woman in OH between >> 1901 and 1907 and it is sort of how I got into the subject. I >> accidentally happened on a talk given by Gale Honeyman of the Brethren >> Heritage Center in OH the last time I was there for research. He had >> traced this path from southern VA northward into the middle of OH which >> included subsequent migrations of family, that may or may not have been >> of either faith, but were following earlier transplants. Other >> Anabaptists such as the Amish had already started into the northeastern >> Holmes Co region of OH so they met up with others of like religious >> beliefs. Land was fertile and cheap in OH at the time and these groups >> merged in the same areas as those who migrated straight across PA and >> along Zane's Trace that essentially bisected OH. I've traced many of >> the family members of my quiltmaker extraordinare to counties on either >> side of Zanes's Trace right into IN and beyond - pretty much on a >> straight path west. I'd love to give you source reading material but >> that is actually what part of this trip will be for. I'm heading to the >> Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, OH to learn just that. >> >> My quilt maker's religion played a major part in her life and I'm sure >> affected why she made such unusual pieces. I am writing a paper and >> then hopefully a book about her so I need to understand more about life >> as a Brethren. To do that, I've got a lot of reading and interviewing >> to do. I'm sure a query to the Center will get a nice long list of >> source material. >> >> Jan >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I just read your Thomas info. below, and have an idea why people made the moves you mentioned. You asked for a "general" idea, and that is all that I am offering. I haven't opened your suggested Wikipedia, "Year W/O a Summer" yet; however, Lewis and Clark's Expedition really opened up the Westward Movement. I think that was about 1804, not too long before the VA to OH to IN migrations that you mentioned. Many pioneers just wanted to see if "the grass was greener on the other side," and get some of that new land for themselves. Now that they had some idea what to expect, for many different reasons, they followed that dream to move West. Once someone that they knew had gone to OH, it was easier for them to follow,...and the same thing for moving on to IN. Remember, too, that there was safety in numbers, so they often moved with several neighbors in their group. Hey! Not too many years later, my ancestors came to the REAL West on the OR Trail! So, here I am, in Florence, OR, on the central OR coastline! Don't forget the belief in Eminent Domain. I suppose that also fed into their thinking. Sincerely, Bonnie Schmoll (My Great-Grandmother was a Thomas, who lived in Fairfield, Freestone Co., TX.) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Thomas" <tsquizzled@msn.com> To: <thomas@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:12 PM Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story Jan, I descend from Velma's line through another son of Aaron Thomas. I doubt they were Mennonites. Aaron's grandfather Rees Thomas was a Baptist after arriving in Virginia from Pennsylvania in the 1740s and Aaron's grandson B.F. Thomas was a Methodist preacher in Fairfield Co., Ohio. Another grandson of Aaron Thomas (Zera C. Thomas - my gg grandfather) moved to Noble Co., IN in the 1860s. My DNA results have best matched people with the surname of Walters; though at 35 markers we are a distance of 2. I have tested 67 markers and like Rory I am feeling a little lonely with no matches named Thomas. Ancestry.com shows thousands of Thomas families in England and Wales in 1891, so I am sure there are some of my line over there somewhere. I have wondered why so many people moved from Rockingham Co., VA to Perry Co., OH in the early 1800s (other than 1816 - the year without a summer; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Without_a_Summer) and then why some later moved to Indiana. Do you have any recommended sources for me to understand the context of these migrations generally? Thanks. Tom Thomas > Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:53:39 -0600> From: textique@aol.com> To: > thomas@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [THOMAS] A DNA story> > Yes, They moved > to Miami Co., OH and then to surrounding Co.s; > Montgomery and Darke. > Your Thomas' seem to have followed the Mennonites > from VA to OH. Pretty > much the same time and approx. the same counties, > although they spread > across OH following Zane's Trace (sort of the same > route as I-70 today). > That is a basic explanation of a complicated > move. A few of my husband's > Thomas family members from the Rocky Mount > area were Brethren.> > Jan > Thomas> > Vrgfdonna@aol.com wrote:> > Jan, do you know what county they > went to in Oh.? My THOMAS family went to > > Fairfield & Perry Counties in > about 1811 from Rockingham Co., Va., which is > > not really very far from > Bedford Co., especially when you consider county > > changes. I don't know > of a John related to mine, but there may have been one.> > My line:> > > Rees THOMAS 1690 Wales> > Evan THOMAS 1743 Va.> > Aaron THOMAS 1772 Va.> > > David THOMAS ca 1807 Rockingham Co., Va.> > Martha THOMAS 1836 Perry Co., > Oh.> > Thanks,> > Velma> > > > > > In a message dated 3/30/2008 11:16:56 > AM Central Daylight Time, > > textique@aol.com writes:> >> > I can trace > my husband's Thomas family to John and Polley (Mary) Thomas > > of Bedford > Co., VA. Their son - who family legend says was adopted > > (unproven) - > Thomas Tate Thomas was born there in 1851-2 (different > > records and > gravestone). He married Mary Elizabeth Divers in Franklin > > Co. at her > parents' home and his descendants lived there in Rocky Mount > > and > surrounds until approx. 1913 and moved to OH. No records, to date, > > > have uncovered anything about John and Polley who are listed as his > > > parents on his marriage certificate.> >> > Jan Thomas> > > >> >> >> > > **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL > > > Home. > > > (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)> > > > > -------------------------------> > To unsubscribe from the list, > please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message> > > > > -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the > list, please send an email to THOMAS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message _________________________________________________________________ How well do you know your celebrity gossip? http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate?ocid=T002MSN03N0707A