Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameThomas WILKINS 
470, Thomas Wilkins
470, Thomas WilkinsBirth1765, Mecklenburg County, Virginia470, Thomas Wilkins
DeathSep 7, 1844, Cleveland County, North Carolina470, Thomas Wilkins
BurialZion Baptist Cemetery, W Zion Church Road, Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina470, Thomas Wilkins
FatherWilliam WILKINS (1728-ca1790)
MotherSarah AVERETT (ca1731-ca1793)
Spouses
BirthMar 7, 1759, Goochland County, Virginia470, Susannah Pace Wilkins,470, Susannah Pace Wilkins
DeathMar 1819, Halifax County, Virginia470, Susannah Pace Wilkins
BurialUnknown470, Susannah Pace Wilkins
Marriage1780, Mecklenburg County, Virginia470, Susannah Pace Wilkins
ChildrenWilliam (1790-1856)
Obituary Online notes for Thomas WILKINS
Thomas Wilkins was born in 1765 in the St. James’s Parish in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, a son of William Wilkins (1728-c1790) and Sarah Averett (c1731-c1793).
Thomas was the grandson of John Wilkins (c1700-c1758) and Mary Kimbrough (1703-c1748), of New Kent, King William, Spotsylvania, Hanover, Brunswick and Lunenburg counties in Virginia.
Thomas married:
1) Susannah Pace in 1780 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
2) Judith Parish on October 4, 1819 in Halifax County, Virginia
Thomas was the father of seven children all by his first wife, Susannah
War of Independence for the United States
Thomas Wilkins was drafted for a three month tour, and entered the service in Mecklenburg County, Virginia the first of February in 1781, as a private in Captain Robert Smith’s Company, which was commanded by Colonel Robert Munford. They marched to join General Nathaniel Greene at a place called High Rock Ford on the Haw River in North Carolina. They continued their march until they joined General Daniel Morgan’s army, and on to fight in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina.
Thomas continued to march with General Greene until his three month tour was up, and was discharged the last of April 1781, on or near the bank of the Deep River in Chatham County, North Carolina, where he proceeded to walk home bare footed.
Migration to Halifax County, Virginia
By 1783 Thomas's parents had relocated to Halifax County, Virginia. Thomas and his family likely came along, though he doesn't appear in the tithes list of Halifax County until 1786. This could have been due to the fact Thomas had just turned 21 years of age.
On July 18, 1787 Thomas purchased 250 acres on the north fork of the Tewahominy Creek (present day Aaron's Creek) in Halifax County, Virginia (ref. DB 14, pg. 122).
Thomas sold 10 acres July 6, 1792. He and Susannah sold 100 acres April 21, 1797 to his brother, John Wilkins. They sold the remaining 140 acres September 22, 1797.
On October 18, 1799 Thomas bought 200 acres on the north fork of Aaron's Creek in Halifax County, Virginia (DB 18, pg. 225).
Thomas and Susannah sold 122 ¾ acres to his brother, John Wilkins on August 26, 1815.
Susannah died in March 1819 in Halifax County, Virginia.
Thomas sold 40 acres to his son, Thomas Jr. September 24, 1819.
On October 4, 1819 Thomas married Judith Parish, daughter of David Pariah, in Halifax County, Virginia.
On February 14, 1829 Thomas sold his son-in-law, Charles M. Royster 82 ½ acres, his remaining Halifax County land, and moved to Rutherford County, North Carolina (present day Cleveland County).
Migration to North Carolina
On May 15, 1829 Thomas Wilkins Sen., already of Rutherford County, North Carolina purchased 113 acres on the First Broad River in Rutherford County, North Carolina, from George Royster (DB 37-38, pg. 149).
(Note: The 113 acres was located on Hwy. 18, 4 miles north of Shelby, North Carolina.)
Thomas was included in the 1830 and 1840 censuses for Rutherford County, North Carolina. In 1840 he was living with son, Thomas Jr.
On January 13, 1843 Thomas made an application in Cleveland County, North Carolina for pension for his service to the United States during the war for independence. He gave reason for not filing at an earlier period, “(I) had removed from the state of Virginia sometime before the passage of the Act of 7 June 1832, and was not in indigent circumstances and felt free not to ask any assistance of the government. But after ten years and much bodily infirmity (I) must claim that relief of which (I) feel (I) am justly entitled.” Thomas’s claim for pension was denied due to his not serving for a term of six months.
Mr. Thomas Wilkins died September 7, 1844 in Cleveland County, North Carolina. In his Will, written September 6, 1844 he wrote, “I Thomas Wilkins Sen. give to my grandson, John T. Wilkins 57 acres being part of a track of land containing 113 acres adjoining Moses Ross, Aaron Ross and others, and I give to my granddaughter, Nancy Wilkins the remainder of said track containing 56 acres, and I give to my granddaughter, Elizabeth S. Wilkins one cow. I appoint my two worthy friends Thomas Wilkins Jr. and John S. Gladden my sole executors.” The Will was proved in November Court 1844 for Cleveland County.
Thomas was buried in the family cemetery on his 113-acre farm. The graves were later moved 3 miles west to Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.
This biography was provided by RememberThem July 2020.
470, Thomas Wilkins
Thomas was the grandson of John Wilkins (c1700-c1758) and Mary Kimbrough (1703-c1748), of New Kent, King William, Spotsylvania, Hanover, Brunswick and Lunenburg counties in Virginia.
Thomas married:
1) Susannah Pace in 1780 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
2) Judith Parish on October 4, 1819 in Halifax County, Virginia
Thomas was the father of seven children all by his first wife, Susannah
War of Independence for the United States
Thomas Wilkins was drafted for a three month tour, and entered the service in Mecklenburg County, Virginia the first of February in 1781, as a private in Captain Robert Smith’s Company, which was commanded by Colonel Robert Munford. They marched to join General Nathaniel Greene at a place called High Rock Ford on the Haw River in North Carolina. They continued their march until they joined General Daniel Morgan’s army, and on to fight in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina.
Thomas continued to march with General Greene until his three month tour was up, and was discharged the last of April 1781, on or near the bank of the Deep River in Chatham County, North Carolina, where he proceeded to walk home bare footed.
Migration to Halifax County, Virginia
By 1783 Thomas's parents had relocated to Halifax County, Virginia. Thomas and his family likely came along, though he doesn't appear in the tithes list of Halifax County until 1786. This could have been due to the fact Thomas had just turned 21 years of age.
On July 18, 1787 Thomas purchased 250 acres on the north fork of the Tewahominy Creek (present day Aaron's Creek) in Halifax County, Virginia (ref. DB 14, pg. 122).
Thomas sold 10 acres July 6, 1792. He and Susannah sold 100 acres April 21, 1797 to his brother, John Wilkins. They sold the remaining 140 acres September 22, 1797.
On October 18, 1799 Thomas bought 200 acres on the north fork of Aaron's Creek in Halifax County, Virginia (DB 18, pg. 225).
Thomas and Susannah sold 122 ¾ acres to his brother, John Wilkins on August 26, 1815.
Susannah died in March 1819 in Halifax County, Virginia.
Thomas sold 40 acres to his son, Thomas Jr. September 24, 1819.
On October 4, 1819 Thomas married Judith Parish, daughter of David Pariah, in Halifax County, Virginia.
On February 14, 1829 Thomas sold his son-in-law, Charles M. Royster 82 ½ acres, his remaining Halifax County land, and moved to Rutherford County, North Carolina (present day Cleveland County).
Migration to North Carolina
On May 15, 1829 Thomas Wilkins Sen., already of Rutherford County, North Carolina purchased 113 acres on the First Broad River in Rutherford County, North Carolina, from George Royster (DB 37-38, pg. 149).
(Note: The 113 acres was located on Hwy. 18, 4 miles north of Shelby, North Carolina.)
Thomas was included in the 1830 and 1840 censuses for Rutherford County, North Carolina. In 1840 he was living with son, Thomas Jr.
On January 13, 1843 Thomas made an application in Cleveland County, North Carolina for pension for his service to the United States during the war for independence. He gave reason for not filing at an earlier period, “(I) had removed from the state of Virginia sometime before the passage of the Act of 7 June 1832, and was not in indigent circumstances and felt free not to ask any assistance of the government. But after ten years and much bodily infirmity (I) must claim that relief of which (I) feel (I) am justly entitled.” Thomas’s claim for pension was denied due to his not serving for a term of six months.
Mr. Thomas Wilkins died September 7, 1844 in Cleveland County, North Carolina. In his Will, written September 6, 1844 he wrote, “I Thomas Wilkins Sen. give to my grandson, John T. Wilkins 57 acres being part of a track of land containing 113 acres adjoining Moses Ross, Aaron Ross and others, and I give to my granddaughter, Nancy Wilkins the remainder of said track containing 56 acres, and I give to my granddaughter, Elizabeth S. Wilkins one cow. I appoint my two worthy friends Thomas Wilkins Jr. and John S. Gladden my sole executors.” The Will was proved in November Court 1844 for Cleveland County.
Thomas was buried in the family cemetery on his 113-acre farm. The graves were later moved 3 miles west to Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.
This biography was provided by RememberThem July 2020.
470, Thomas Wilkins