Thomas Pettus, Virginia Burgess

Colonel Thomas Pettus, Virginia Burgess

DAR Ancestor #: A089934
Service: VIRGINIA
Rank(s): CIVIL SERVICE, PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Birth: 12-25-1712 VIRGINIA
Death: 3-18-1780 LUNENBURG COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Service Source: BELL, OLD FREE STATE: A CONTRIBUTION TO HIST LUNENBURG COUNTY & SOUTH VA, VOL 1, PP 326, 331; VOL 2, P 70
Service Description: 1) MEMBER OF HOUSE OF DELEGATES, 1777-1778;
2) JUSTICE OF COUNTY COURT, 1774-1776, 1778-1779

Child of THOMAS PETTUS and AMEY PETTUS is:

i. MARY PETTUS BROWN, b. November 06, 1746, HANOVER CO VA; d. WFT Est. 1777-184066; m. THOMAS BROWN, WFT Est. 1774-179067.

http://www.southern-style.com/Pettus.htm

Col. Thomas Pettus (1712-1780), second of the name in this line and the son of John Pettus and Anne Overton, was born on Dec. 25, 1714 in St. Paul's Parish in New Kent County, Virginia, but grew up in "New Forest", an estate built by his grandfather William Overton.

He married Amey Ann Walker (1717/18-1778) on Nov. 10, 1735 , probably in Hanover County, and brought her and their family about 1751 to Lunenburg County along the southern border of Virginia. He served in various public offices and was a member from 1769-1775 of the Lunenburg County House of Burgesses during the American Revolution. Because he signed a protest against British taxation, and the British embargo against import, he is considered a patriot, and his name is honored on a monument in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Amey Ann (Walker) Pettus, Find A Grave Memorial

Despite his epithet of colonel, he never physically served in a militia, as far as we know, and the title of colonel is an honorary one that is largely the product of later generations. He died on March 18, 1780 in Lunenberg, and left a will (Will Book 3, p. 33-35 in Lunenburg County, Virginia) that was probated on April 13, 1789 in the county court. This will names his children, who follow. (Pettus, 2011 - v. I, p. 362-374, no. 139)

PETTUS CHILDREN

John Pettus (1736-1799) was born Sept. 24, 1736, probably in New Kent County, Virginia. He supposedly married Susannah Winston on Nov. 17, 1757, but little is known about her, and they had several children. He died on April 24, 1799 in Charlotte County, Virginia.

Overton Pettus (1739-1749) was born Oct. 13, 1739, probably in New Kent County, Virginia; and died before he had reached his 10th birthday on May 20, 1749, probably in Amelia County, Virginia.

Thomas Pettus (1741/12 - c.1797) was born March 10, 1741/42, probably in New Kent County, Virginia. He married Mary Henderson, with whom he had several children. He served in the Mecklenburg County Militia during the American Revolution; and died about 1797 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

Mary Susan Walker (Pettus) Brown (1746-1812) was born November 6, 1746, probably in New Kent County, Virginia. She married Colonel Thomas Branch Brown of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, with whom she had several children.

Mary Susan (Pettus) Brown - Find A Grave Memorial

Annie (Pettus) Shelburn (1749-1831) was born Jan. 31, 1749, probably in Amelia County, Virginia. Her name in some account appears as Virginia. She married Rev. James Shelburn of Lunenburg County, Virginia with whom she had several children. She died on March 9, 1831 in Lunenburg County.

Annie (Pettus) Shelburn Find A Grave Memorial

Samuel Overton Pettus (1751-1819) was born March 1, 1751, probably in Amelia County, Virginia. He and his first wife Jane Feeman (1755-1783) appear to have had at least four children, including the two sons listed below. Samuel is said to have served as a lieutenant in an artillary unit during the American Revolution, but his unit has not been identified. He died Feb. 12, 1819 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It is not known if he and his second wife Hannah Minor (c.1755-1829) had any children. (Pettus, 2011 - v. I, p. 476-482 & Muncy Family Tree)

Samuel Overton Pettus Find A Grave Memorial

Genealogy of the Pettus Family of Huntsville, Alabama - http://www.mikesclark.com/genealogy/pettus/pettus.html

FamilySearch https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L2ZG-WX5/mary-ann-brown-1780-...

Thomas Pettus Find A Grave Memorial

It is believed that Thomas Pettus was the son of John Dabney Pettus and his wife Anne Overton. He descended from Col. Thomas Pettus of the council, who lived at "Littletown," James City County in 1660.

1735 Nov 10 - Thomas married Amey Ann Walker in Lunenburg County, Virginia.
1759-1779 Member of the Vestry of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia.
1765-1768 - Member of the House of Burgesses
1769 May 18 - Thomas was an active member of the secret committee that met at the Raleigh Tavern and formed plans for self-government for the Colony.
1769-1771 - Member of the House of Burgesses
1770-1779 - Served as Justice of the County Court in Lunenburg Co., VA
1772- 1774 - Member of the House of Burgesses
1775-1776 - Member of the House of Burgesses
1778 - Wife, Amey died
1779 Jan 14 - Will written. All seven of his children were mentioned in his will. A sister, Lucy Humprhis, was also mentioned.

Thomas Pettus's name is on a monument erected in 1904 on the grounds of the Old Capitol in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Inscription: "Members of the House of Burgesses who at the Raleigh Tavern, May 18, 1769, and May 27, 1774, and August 1774, entered into associations against the importation or purchase of British manufactures."

SOME OF THOMAS PETTUS' DESCENDANTS

• WILLIAM ALBERT PETTUS (grandson), moved to Texas and played a roll in Texas gaining its independence.
• SAMUEL OVERTON PETTUS II (great-grandson), died in the Goliad Massacre in Texas in 1836, fighting for Texas' Independence.
• JOHN JONES PETTUS (great-grandson), Mississippi State Representative, Mississippi State Senator, Mississippi Governor - during his term, he took Mississippi out of the Union during the War between the States.
• EDMUND WINSTON PETTUS (great-grandson), General in the Confederate States Army, Senator from Alabama (brother to John Jones Pettus)
• WILLIAM PETTUS HOBBY (3rd great grandson) became Governor of Texas.

Thomas Pettus Find A Grave Memorial