In regards to the Thomas line, I've hit a wall (along with many others) with James "Speck" Thomas. He is my paternal great great great grandfather, and we know he was born about 1827 in Virginia. The earliest census record I've found him in is in 1850 when he's living in Owsley County, Kentucky with his new wife, Gelina Hundley. They are living next door to her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Hundley.
Other researchers and myself have been stuck on his parentage or even where he came from in Virginia. There's been some speculation I understand of Tazewell County, Virginia where it seems that many Thomas families resided, but I have been unable to confirm this yet.
At any rate, by 1850 he was definitely living in Kentucky and continued to stay in Kentucky for the rest of his life as far as I can tell.
More about JAMES SPECK THOMAS and GELINA HUNDLEY:
Census 1: 1850, Owsley Co., KY – living next to Samuel and Elizabeth Hundley
Census 2: 1860, Owsley Co., KY – living near Samuel and Elizabeth Honley
Census 3: 1870, Owsley Co. Traveler’s Rest, KY
Census 4: 1880, Laurel Co., Raccoon, KY
Census 5: 1900, Laurel Co., Cross Roads, KY – listed as living with son, David Thomas
Census 6: 1910 Raccoon, Laurel Co., KY
Occupation: Farmer
About 3 or 4 years after the death of Gelina, James married Sophia Allen. The 1910 census shows them as living in Raccoon, Laurel County, Kentucky with Arminda or Armilda Thomas who is listed as the niece. As far as I know, no other Thomas researcher has investigated this further. Curious to the nature of Arminda being listed as niece, I investiaged Sophia and Arminda. I found them both living in the home of Adironam D. Allen of Perry County, KY with a WILLIAM THOMAS who was listed as his son-in-law. Sophia was listed as the wife of William Thomas. Is William Thomas perhaps the younger brother or cousin of James? I have not been able to find anything concrete on William yet other than he was born around 1840.
At any rate, I plan on taking a road trip through Kentucky and Virginia at the end of August. I'll be visiting the old Thomas cemetery on the border of Jackson and Laurel Counties where both James "Speck" Thomas and Gelina Hundley along with other Thomases are buried. I'll also be stopping by Union Ridge cemetery where many other Thomases are interred near Spurlington. McKee is also on my list as is Speck, KY and probably a few other places.
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