Thomas Norris, III

• Son of Thomas Norris and Elizabeth McComas
• Thomas Norris enlisted, 1776, as private in Capt. John Hoskins Stone's
• Military Service: Oct 18 1778 USA
• Daughters of American Revolution Ancestor #: A084441
• Service: MARYLAND Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE
• Birth: (ANTE) 1743 BALTIMORE CO MARYLAND
• Death: (POST) 1783 HARFORD CO-PROB MARYLAND
• Service Source: MD GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN,VOL 25 NO 3 P 312,328,329
• Service Description: 1) SIGNED OATH OF ALLEGIANCE,HARFORD CO
• The History of Robertson County

Listed In his father Thomas Norris’s Will

• Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Norris a parcel of land lying on His Lordships Reserve called Turkey Range being Fifty four Acres of Land more or less the aforesaid parcel of land unto him the said Thomas Norris his heirs and assigns for ever.

Married

• Married: Hannah Norris (born Norrington) on May 4 1762 in St. John's Parish (Baltimore City), Baltimore County, Maryland
• Married: Jeane (Jenny) Barrett; in 1782

Children with Jenny Barrett

Thomas, about 41 years of age, his wife Jenny, about 37 years of age and their children,

• Thomas Norris
• James Norris
• John Norris
• Edmund Norris
• Jenny Norris
• Nancy Norris
• Mary (Polly) Norris
• William Norris
• Nicholas Norris

RECORD:

1. Thomas Miller Myers, The Norris Family of Maryland ((1916) William Clemens, Publisher New York, New York), pg. 76-7, New England Historic Genealogical Society, CS/71/N858/1916. This work is not documented.

2. Harry Alexander Davis, The Norris Family of Maryland & Virginia; Genealogy of Thomas Norris 1361 - 1930 (4 vol. 1941 Washington D.C. Transcript), pg. 349-1, Library of Congress, Photoduplication Service, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20540-4570, CS71.N858; Microfilm 88/5447 MicRR 99ft. "The Norris Family" is an amazing work in Genealogy, 1500 pages in four volumes. Only three copies were produced, and one is located in the Rare Books Section of the Library of Congress. Another is to be in the Kansas DAR Library at dodge city, Ks.

"He was devised land called "Turkey Range" by his father. Mary dau. of Mary Norrington who dtd her will 29 Dec. 1791 and it was probated 17 Apr. 1792, she names her chilren as follows...Daughters...Hannah Norris, Sarah Norris (wife of Alexander, brother of Thomas)...This will was witnessed by Elijah Norris, William Sinclair & Aaron Norris. Thomas Norris enlisted as a member of the Harford co. Militia in 1776 in same company as his brother John. They both signed the Oath of Allegiance in 1778 & appear on Return of Mordacai Amess. (MSS rec. Harford co., Mil. Hist. Soc.). The name of this Thomas does not appear in deed records of Harford co. nor in Baltimore county. He & his wife were both living in 1790 & listed in Census, both living 29 Dec, 1791 but do not appear in census of 1800 or 1810. There is no will nor administration concerning either of them so far discovered in either Baltimore or Harford counties. We have no record of death of either of them. The list of children is taken from the family Bible of the youngest son Isaac, who went to Oh. This Bible is still extent and in possession of the descendanats now living in Zanesville, Ohio."

3. Gertrude Cleghorn Josserand (Mrs. Guy D.), Kentucky Descendants of Thomas Norris of Maryland 1630 - 1953 and Allied Families ((1916) Edwards Brothers Inc. Ann Arbor, Mich.), : pg. 86 & 87 , New England Historic Genealogical Society, CS/71/N858/1953.

said to have 15 children, 3 unknown."

Will and History of Thomas Norris:

The beautiful State of Tennessee is abundant with heavily wooded hills, lakes, and rivers. The town of Springfield, in the County of Robertson is 30 miles north of the State capitol, Nashville. Springfield, the county seat for Robertson, is a thriving town today but in 1784-1787, when Thomas Norris purchased a Military Land Grant, it was all wilderness. The military land grant read as follows: By virtue of a Military warrant from the secretary of State No 1463 located this 22 day of October 1785 I have surveyed for Thomas Norris assignee of William ONeal Assi. of Samuel Davis Three hundred and fifty seven acres of Land lying on the East Boundry of James Browns Survey beginning at a black oak, white oak and three dogwoods on said Browns line running east two hundred and forty poles to a Black oak and white oak then North two hundred and thirty eight poles to a black oak and tree. Then west two hundred and forty poles to stake then South two hundred and thirty eight poles to thc beginning. Survey 15th Sep 1786. (James Ninon) Witnesses (Signed) Robert Nihon Ds? (John Jones ) [JL3] The Land grant was officially issued, 15 Sept 1787, though it was signed over to Thomas Norris by William O Neal, 29 Dec. 1784. The Norris family in 1787 consisted of Thomas, about 41 years of age, his wife Jenny, about 37 years of age and their children, Thomas, James, John, Edmund, Jenny, Nancy, Mary (Polly), William and Nicholas. They were born approximately between 1771 and 1787. [JL8] Nicholas being bom in 1787 in Tennessee. With these nine children ranging from a baby to 16 years of age, Thomas and Jenny built their home in the beautiful wilds of Brown's Fork, Tennessee. It was a difficult task then to bring 357 acres into productivity and to provide shelter, food and the necessities of life. Mary, or Polly as she was known, was between 15 and 19 years of age when she married William Lowry. In Robertson County, Tennessee, John Lowry Sr. was born, 10 August 1799, the son of William and Polly Norris Lowry. [JL 1,4,5,35] According to tradition there were two brothers, James and Ira. In 1802, Polly's father, Thomas Norris, made the following last Will and Testament: (Original spelling and punctuation preserved.) I Thomas Norris of Robertson County and State of Tennessee being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God allowing it is for all men once to die do ordain this my last Will and Testament and principally and first of all I commend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my Body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner and secondly I recommend that all my just debts be paid out of my Estate -- Thirdly. My dear beloved son Thomas Norris is to lake one hundred acres of land out of my tract that I live on Beginning on the South east line and running North for compliment and Fourthly I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Jenny Norris, William Norris my Son and Nicholas Norris my son my dwelling and Spring and all the clear ground adjacent to said house and spring, all my horses and marcs all my cows and calves and steers, and all my hogs and sows, all my furniture in said house, all my tools of Husbandry and when my two sons William and Nicholas comes of age they are to have an equal part with my wife during her life, Also, I give to my dearly beloved son James Norris eighty six acres of land out of my tract beginning on the Soulh line and running North for compliment, and then after they come of age, the remainder of my tract is lo be equally divided for land and water between my two sons William and Nicholas; and also I give lo my son John Norris and also my son Edmund Norris two hundred and twenty three acres of land lying on Duck River to be equally divided between them two for wood and water -- and also, I give unto Jenny Parker my daughter one cow and calf and one sow of size — and also I give unto Nancy Norris my daughter one cow and also I give unto Mary Lowry my daughter one cow seven years after my decease and die said James Norris is to have all the property that he has now in hand to himself without any further dispute- and I appoint my wife Jenny Norris and Thos. Norris my son to be my exectrix of this my last Will and Testament, and after my decease I wish my wife to let Elizabeth Chambers free after her decease if she should not be free by law. Where unto I have set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred and two. (Signed) Thomas Norris Test.. Daniel Hogan - William Norris August Ten 1804, this will was proven in open Court by the oath of William Norris and ordered tobe recorded. [JL81

Since very little information has been found on the Lowry and Norris families, though much research has been done, a debt of gratitude is given to Sarah L. Reynolds, a granddaughter of John Lowry Sr. who recorded the following history as it was given to her. It must be remembered though that this was a history given from memory many years after the stories were told to John Lowry Jr. and those stories were told to him many years after the actual event took place:

* Thomas Norris, LAND GRANT NO. 626 TENNESSEE, Page 1

* Thomas Norris LAND GRANT NO. 626 TENNESSEE, Page 2

• COUNTY, DAVIDSON. NAME, NORRIS, THOMAS ASSIGNEE OF SAMUEL DAVIS, ACRES, 357. GRANT NO. S98. ISSUE!) V ? Sept 1787, V/ARRANT NO. D163 Book no . 63 Fkge No. 213 . LOCATION: U K . BOUNDARY OF JAMES BROWNS SURVEY. OBTAINED FROM NORTH CAROLINA STATE ARCHIVES IN RALTEGH, N.C. FRCM THE ORIGINAL. THE PAPER WAS VERY OLD AND BRITTLE WITH EDGES FIAKING OFF.

* Thomas Norris Land Grant No. 265 in Robertson County, Tennessee for 54 Acres of Land

Sources

• Triumphant banners - Higgins, Lowry, Tuttle, Gardner pages 186-187-https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE59941
• Chetham Miscellanies, Volume 9 (1851)-..., in the and To Thomas Norris Esq. M.P. THE NORRIS PAPERS. 1695. my to came hope 1695. My for Flanders moment first 8, my The King in this will find I hope are gott London, June Brother Dick and his...— https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-57645-72/chetham-miscell...
• Founders and Patriots of America Index, By National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America - https://books.google.com/books?id=7dGPyld17G4C&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&d...
• Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops - https://www.geni.com/photo/view/3939491974770029149?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000101291312182&position=0