[M] #1540 John Thomas◊ ( Anna Maria Mechling◊ • John Theobald "Dewalt" Mechling◊ • Diebold "Theobald" Mechling◊ • Diebold Mechling◊ • Martin Mechling◊ )
John was born 17 Sep 1799 in Pennsylvania. He was baptised 20 Oct 1799 in First Reformed Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He died 18 Dec 1877. He was buried in St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania.
John is probably still living at home in 1820. There is a John Thomas on the census for Hempfield Twp., Pennsylvania. However, there are males older than 20-21 in the household and this is probably a relative. The household of John's father, Barnet, shows two males 16-26...probably John and his brother, George.
The 1830 Census of Hempfield Twp. shows individuals appropriate for John, Catherine, Jemima, Nathaniel, Barnet and Cyrus. There are also a male, age 30-40, and a female, age 10-15, living with them.
The 1840 Census of Hempfield Twp. shows individuals appropriate for the entire family.
On the 1850 Census of Hempfield Twp. John is a farmer. A Susan Lincebigler, age 70, lives with them. See the discussion under John's wife, Catherine.
On the 1860 Census, only John, Catherine, Jacob and Abraham are still home. A servant, Susan Blank, is living with them. The farm is worth $6,600 and his personal possessions are worth $800.
On the 1870 Census, it's just John and Catherine, plus Susanna Barnhart living with them as a house keeper. The farm is worth $6,000.
It appears that John was originally buried in the Old German Cemetery in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. When the city ordinance banned further use of this cemetery, it fell into severe disrepair and families moved their relatives to other cemeteries. John appears to have been moved to St. Clair Cemetery. The burial records from the Old German Cemetery give his dates as 1799 to 8 Dec 1881. The grave marker in St. Clair lists the dates as 17 Sep 1799 to 18 Dec 1877 and lists his age, so I've elected to use that.
John married #1652 Catherine Weaver◊. She is the daughter of ≪See Description≫. She is an ancestor in the Weaver•Linsenbigler Line.
Relationship notes |
They married 16 Feb 1826 in First Lutheran Church, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. |
Other names for Catherine: Catherine Linsenbigler◊, Catherine Thomas◊.
Catherine was born 1801/1803 in Pennsylvania. She died 27 Feb 1886.
There is some disagreement about Catherine's parentage.
[Gresham] states she is Catherine Weaver (7 Aug 1801-27 Feb 1886), the daughter of Nicholas & Susanna (Gongaware) Weaver.
Other researchers list her as Catherine Linsberger (20 Jul 1803-27 Feb 1886), the daughter of Daniel & Susanna (Whitehead) Linsenbigler. The source of this information is not listed, and it's possible that it's only an inference from the fact that Susanna had a daughter named Catherine, and Susanna lived with John and Catherine Thomas.
Supporting [Gresham] is an old family photograph (above) marked "Catherine Weaver Thomas" on the back. [Jordan] lends support to [Gresham]. In writing about Harry Franklin Thomas it notes that he was "the grandson of John Thomas and Catherine (Weaver) Thomas," and then goes on to tie the line back to Barnet Thomas and forward to the Thomas children.
Supporting the Linsenbigler theory is that a Susan Lincebigler lived with the John & Catherine in 1850. She was 70 years old, which is a reasonable age for Catherine's mother to have been if Catherine was born in in the early 1800s.
There are internal inconsistences within the [Gresham] account. The information about John & Catherine (Weaver) Thomas under Major Cyrus Thomas, their son, states that they had six sons and two daughters. However, the information about them under D. B. Weaver, Catherine's brother, says they had five sons and three daughters. ([Jordan] lists them by name as six and two.) D. B.'s entry also states that he went to live with his oldest sister at age eight, after his mother's death. However, is shows him as born in 1808, meaning he moved Abt. 1816, but it also states that his mother died Abt. 1821.
Other Linsenbigler researchers note that Susan did have a daughter, Catherine. However, they refrain from stating Catherine married John Thomas, even while noting that Susan lived with John & Catherine's family, and died in that household.
Children of this relationship:
| #615 | F | i | Jemima Thomas◊ | (5 Nov 1826–17 Nov 1898) |
| #16008 | M | ii | Nathaniel Thomas | (1827–1847) |
| #16009 | M | iii | Barnet Thomas | (9 Feb 1830–) |
| #16010 | M | iv | Cyrus Thomas | (9 Feb 1830–27 Jun 1898) |
| #16011 | F | v | Sybilla Thomas | (May 1832–) |
| #16012 | M | vi | John Thomas | (26 Apr 1834–25 Apr 1908) |
| #16013 | M | vii | Jacob N. Thomas | (1836–20 Jan 1876) |
| #16014 | M | viii | Abraham Weaver Thomas | (19 Jun 1839–13 Aug 1924) |
1810 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Roll: 51; Page: 854; Image: 0193677; Family History Library Film: 00189.
1820 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Page: 116; NARA Roll: M33_112; Image: 126.
1830 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Page: 75; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 164; Family History Film: 0020638.
1840 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Roll: 498; Page: 378; Image: 764; Family History Library Film: 0020559.
1850 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009, Roll: M432_837; Page: 214A; Image: 99.
1860 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009., Roll: M653_1195; Page: 403; Image: 522; Family History Library Film: 805195.
1870 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009., Roll: M593_1465; Page: 301B; Image: 597; Family History Library Film: 552964.
Catherine Thomas, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #34008540.
John M. Gresham, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, (Philadelphia: Dunlap & Clarke, 1890), p. 175. Ref. as [Gresham].
John M. Gresham, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, (Philadelphia: Dunlap & Clarke, 1890), p. 705-706. Ref. as [Gresham].
John Thomas, Sr, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #34008521.
John Thomas, Sr, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #96463923.
John W. Jordan, Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1915), vol. II, p. 81. Ref. as [Jordan].
Line Generation: 6
Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Grandfather