| Notes |
!Description: Over 6ft tall; ruddy complexion; blue eyes (From D.B. Montgomery book.)
!BIOGRAPHY: Per Family Group Sheet from Wilma Montgomery Hedge (GGGG-grandaughter), Thomas was born and married in Ayrshire, Scotland. Also on this Family Group Sheet, is this biographical information:
"Along with four brothers, he emigrated from Ulster Province, Ireland, to America around 1768 or 1769. At the time of the Revolutionary War, he was living in Strabane Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. After the war, he went with his family through Kentucky into that western part of North Carolina that became Blount County, Tennessee." (Note: this information apparently came from pgs. 334-335 of book by D.B. Montgomery, 1903 (Reprinted 1992) ;THE MONTGOMERYS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.)
!BIBLE RECORD: There is a family bible that reportedly belonged to a William Montgomery who died in Alabama; it was carried by his widow, Sarah (Sallie) Trimble Steele Montgomery, to Grayson County, Texas after his death. In July 1994, the bible was in the possession of Mr. Harold R. Coffman, 721 Chaparral Trail, Cedar Hill, TX 75104. The bible was printed in 1805, and the family pages show the immediate family of William and Sarah (Sallie) Steele Montgomery.
Also found in this bible were two slips of paper with lists of family names for the Montgomerys and Steeles. One slip is titled "Family Record of Montgomery" and appears to have been written by the same person who inscribed the information in the family bible (probably Sallie Steele Montgomery.) It lists the birth dates for several Montgomerys, which apparently are William, his brothers and his parents. The names shown for William's brothers are the same as the heirs of Thomas as mentioned in his will. In addition, the birth date for one brother, Samuel, is the same year as is documented for Samuel on pg.335 of D.B. Montgomery's 1903 book; this branch of the family, which contained a number of prominent and educated persons, is well-documented and this book shows the only published birth date for any of Thomas' sons. In addition, the Steele family records found with the bible show that William's brother, John Patton Montgomery, married Sophia Steele, Sarah's sister; it is believed that these two families probably moved to Alabama together. The 1850 Census shows a John P. and Sophia Montgomery living in Benton Co., Alabama; his listed age of 59 ties closely with the birth date of 1790 on the list found with the bible. For all these reasons, it appears that this William who married Sarah Steele is indeed Thomas' son and therefore these records are the best family date records found to date.
Also listed on the same slip with the brothers are birth and death dates for "My Father", which would be Thomas, and "My Mother", which would be Mary Patton. The bible death date of 18 June 1827 for Thomas is consistent with the probate records filed in March 1828. Although the birth date of 17 July 1752 is 4 years later than the 1748 date that was estimated from the data in the D.B. Montgomery book, this discrepancy is not great considering the sketchy data used to estimate the 1748 date. The same book indicates a death date of 1832 for Mary Patton Montgomery which is also consistent with the date of May 1831 shown in the bible.
!DEATH: Thomas had a will dated 13 April, 1827. Date of death was first estimated as 1830 because the will was not probated until then. This is the date that was published in the book by D.B. Montgomery and was later put on the bronze grave marker by the Daughters of the American Revolution. However, the date of death was later established as"Before 1828" by Letter of Testamentary and Executor's Bond signed by John P(atton?) Montgomery, executor for Thomas Montgomery, deceased, dated 24 March, 1828. An exact date of death, 18 June 1827 is given for "My Father" on the list found with the bible that apparently belonged to William Montgomery, son of Thomas.
!MILITARY: DAR Nat.Nos. 443948, 377158 & 217170. Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series, Vol.2, Page 105 and Series 2, Vol.14, page 768.
Served as a Private in 1782 under Capt. James Scott in 3rd Battalion, Washington County (PA) Militia. Also served as a Private in 1782-85 under Lieutenant-Colonel David Williamson in an expedition against the Moravian Indians on the Muskinghum River. (See Time-Life series book, THE FRONTIERSMEN, for a description of this action. The lifestyle of this era and in this area are also described in the novel, SPIRIT OF THE BORDER, by Zane Grey, although he has apparently altered the facts regarding Williamson's expedition.)
However, according to Harold Coffman, there were two other Thomas Montgomerys from Pennsylvania who were Revolutionary War veterans. He and Charles Lowe believe that "our" Thomas enlisted June 17, 1776 and joined the First Continental Troops, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1776. This Thomas' name appears on the payroll records of Captain Charles Craig's Company in abstracts of pay for "Seven Companies of Foot commanded by Col. Edward Hand."
Additional research is needed to determine if these are different people, and which of these Thomas Montgomerys moved to Blount County, TN.
!BURIAL: On 7/5/1993, the grave of Thomas Montgomery was visited by John C. and LaDell Montgomery in the Baker's Creek Cemetery about 11 miles south of Maryville on Hwy 411. To find the cemetery, turn east on road to Smoky Mountain Raceway (at gasoline station and Buelah's Restaurant.) Go 0.3 miles to intersection with Old Niles Ferry Road. Turn right (south) and go 0.3 miles to church and cemetery. Thomas's grave is approximately 100 yards south and 20 yards east of the SE corner of the church in an area of the cemetery where all the old stones have disappeared. The grave is marked by a bronze metal marker at ground level which is inscribed:
Thomas Montgomery..PA Militia..Revolutionary War.. 1748 1830.
(Note that these dates are probably from the D.B. Montgomery book and are in error.) Pictures taken by J.C. Montgomery show the location of the marker in relation to the church.
!FAMILY: Family tradition found in several sources say that Thomas came to America about 1769 with his four brothers. The research of Charles Lowe and Harold Coffman indicate that these brothers were named John, Robert, William and Humphrey. A John Montgomery who died in 1779 in Pennsylvania named his brothers as these. There were Montgomerys with these names also living along Baker's Creek in Blount County near Thomas.
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1752 - 1827 (74 years)
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