Richard Thomas

http://www.many-roads.com/xoda/Documents/Library/United_States/Penn...

Richard Thomas, Jr., lived with his guardian, at Lewes, in Co. Sussex, (Delaware), until Dr. Wynne died, in 1692. In 1693, he had considerable litigation over his Welsh land, attended to by his attorney, Gov. Thomas Lloyd. The difficulties he experienced, when he became of age, over his Pensylvania grant, are mentioned above. Of his father's 5,000 acres, he sold 1,785 acres to sundry parties. In 1703, he had patents for two tracts, one of 1,065 acres, on a part of which the present city of V/est Chester stands; the other, 600 acres, laid out in Nev/ton tp., he lost through bad surveys. In 1704, he had a third patent for 1,548 acres, but when it was laid out in Whiteland amounted to 1,869 acres. In 1699-1700, Richard Tiiomas, Jr., visited the place of bis birth in the old country. His descendant. Col. Rich-ard Thomas, in his memoirs, records that he heard that Richard found his sister "reduced to indigence," and his mother had married again, and was deceased, and that his step-father had dissipated all their joint property. When Richard returned to Pensylvania, he brought his sister with liim, and married her to Llewellyn Parry. They had a family, and descendants may be found in Chester Co., Pa. After his return, Richard Thomas, Jr., married Grace Atherton, and finally settled in the Chester Valley. In 1704, he is described as of Merion tp., a carpenter, and in 1711, as of Blockley tp. It is of record that Richard Thoinas, Jr., was married, by Friends' ceremony, (thougli there is no evidence that he was a I'"riend, or member of any Meeting here, so the ceremony may have been performed by a Justice of the Peace), to Grace Atherton, at his own house, in Wliiteland tp., on 15. llmo. 1712-3, and that she was the daughter of Henry and Jennet Atherton, late of Liverpool. Richard Thomas, Jr., died at home, in Whiteland, in 1744, and was survived by his wife, who was buried with him in "Mahn's Graveyard," in East Whiteland tp., Chester Co. They had six children, and of these, E.-.nnah, b. 14. llmo. 1716-7, w. James Mendenhall; Mary, ( . 14. 5mo. 1719, m. John Harrison; Grace, b. 9. 7mo. 1722, m. Thomas Stalker ; Elizabeth, m. 28. 4mo. 1750, Jonathan Howell, and removed to No. Car., and Richard Thomas, 3d, only son, heir to the Whiteland homestead, b. 22. 2mo. 1713, d. 22. 9mo. 1754. He m., at the Goshen Meeting, 10. 2mo. 1739, Phebe, daughter of George and Mary (Malin) Ashbridge, of Goshen tp,, 6. 26. 8mo. 1717, d. 14. 6mo. 1784

Richard Thomas was born in 1672 in Flintshire, Wales to parents Richard ap Thomas and Alice Howell. Both he and his father immigrated from Wales to America aboard the passenger ship, The Morning Star. The Morning Star was part of William Penn's Fleet In 1683- Liverpool to Dublin to Philadelphia. Shortly after arriving in Pennsylvania, his father became ill and passed away. In his will, he deeded the Land-rights of 5000 acres he had purchased from William Penn to his son Richard Jr.
Richard married Grace Atherton (who had immigrated from England) in the Whiteland Township of Chester, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America in 1712 and they had six children together (one daughter Hannah died in infancy. They named another daughter Hannah).

Their children are:

1. Richard Thomas III (1713-1754)
2. Hannah Thomas (1715-1715)- died infancy
3. Hannah (Thomas) Mendenhall (1716-1798)
4. Mary (Thomas) Harrison ( 1718-?)
5. Grace (Thomas) Stalker (1722-?)
6. Elizabeth (Thomas) Howell (1725-1799)

Richard passed away in 1744 in Whiteland Crest, Chester, Pennsylvania

He is buried at Thomas Family Burial Ground in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Will of Richard Thomas of Whiteland, Yeoman (names his wife and children):“written:12/12/1743, proved 25 Apr 1744- mentions wife Grace, & daughters Hannah, Mary, Grace, & Elizabeth, & son Richard, & sister Mary in Wales”….

Epitaph Inscription on tombstone of his son, Richard Thomas (1713-1754):“This modest Stone,what few vain marbles can,may truly say,Here lies an honest Man,Richard Thomas,Born April 22, 1713,deceased September 221754,O'er his cold Grave,Five living Children weep,and fast beside it,His lov'd Parents sleep.”…….[indicates Richard and Grace Thomas are buried in same cemetery as their son Richard Thomas]

Notations on immigration of Richard Thomas:“ Both he and his father came from Wales on the passenger ship, The Morning Star, Master. Ricahrds father name was Richard Ap Thomas and is Welsh meaning "son of Thomas", and the AP was dropped before coming to America, thus the family became know as Thomas. Richard Thomas II married Grace Atherton. Grace is d/o HEnry Atherton and Jennet Hellwell, was born Lancashire county, England.”….. excerpted

Biographical Notations on Richard ap Thomas, father of Richard Thomas:“ Richard Ap. Thomas of Whitford Garden Flintshire great Britain Gentleman, embracing the Tenets & practice of the Quakers (so called) Sold his Estates, & purchas'd of Wm. Penn a Grant of 5,000 acres of Land in Pennsylvania, with Life & Liberty. lots apportionment for 100 pounds sterling.

About the year 1683 he embark'd among many other Colonists with his only Son about 10 years Old, & arriv'd at the Port of Philadelphia. Soon after he fell sick made his Will, leaving his Land-rights to his Son (Thomas Wynne Executor) & died.

Richard his Son about the year 1711 Married Grace Atherton & Settled in the Great Valley in Chester County, on a Tract of his land call'd by the Indians settled there Cata-moonshink (Hazelnut grove in English).
He left one son Named Richard, & four Daughters viz. Hannah, Mary, Grace, & Elizabeth. Deceas'd about the year 1744, aged about 72 years.”…. Excerpted from bio on Find-Grave

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 17 2022, 5:45:33 UTC

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Richard Thomas I, son of Richard ap Thomas. I believe Fethey and Cope has it correct that Richard Thomas I was under the guardianship of Dr. Wynne until he became of age. That is what our family line (George, grandson of Richard I and brother to Col. Richard Thomas) were lead to believe. The information in their book may be on the gray side. There was most likely an affidavit, whether the date is correct or if Elizabeth participated is questionable. Col. Richard's recollection as described in the same book claims Thomas Lloyd, Lt. Governor was his guardian. According to Charles H. Browning book, Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania, Thomas Lloyd was Richard's attorney in 1693 when Richard I was attempting to claim his father's land patents for the 5,000 acres purchased from William Penn. Again, I think the author's of the History of Chester County were off slightly. The conflick information appears on pages 740 and 741 to the Fethey and Cope book.

One item which is definitely wrong in their book and also of Richard Thomas I profile. He did die in 1744 however he is buried in the Thomas Graveyard on Church Road in Malvern PA, East Whiteland Township, not in the Mailin Graveyard, which is approximately a mail to the east.

From: Preston Thomas