Generation No. 1

1.  JOHN1 OWEN  He married ?.  She died in mid-Atlantic Ocean, on a ship from Wales1,2.

Notes for JOHN OWEN:
Per Vera Fletcher, I believe, John Owen and his wife (and family?) came from Wales on the same ship as the Thomas family. He was granted 400 acres along Booth Creek, adjacent to Rev. John Thomas' grant (Harrison Co., VA/WV, I
think.)

Possibly died June, 1780--scalped by Indians, Harrison Co., VA/WV.  Possible other children are John, the younger, Owen and James.

Per Harrison Co., WV Historical Society:
 p. 49 John Owens, 400 a. on Booth's Creek, including settlement made in 1774.  The land records of Harrison Co. go back to 1784, and the Courthouse should have copies of deeds regarding some of these lands, but we only search our own files and small library.  (Note:  I show on this letter from them, "John Thomas deceased, settled 1773; Ezekiel, settled 1771, John Owens settled 1774."  My source?)

"History of Harrison Co. (VA)," by Dorothy Davis:
     Owen's Fork, p. 23, Henry Enochs, Jr., 400 acres on Owen's Fork of Ten Mile Creek, to include his settlement made in 1775 (49).
 Booth's Creek, pp. 32, 49, 200.  In 1778 as James Booth and Nathaniel Cochran worked in a field on Booth's Creek, shots fired by Indians killed Booth and caused Cochran, who was slightly injured, to flee to safety.
Within a few days in the same area, William Gruncy was fired on and killed, and JAMES OWENS, a youth of 16, while traveling from Simpson's Creek to Booth Creek, stopped to mend a saddle girth that had given away, and both he
and the horse were killed from ambush.
     Ft. Powers, located about 1 mile north of the town of Bridgeport, on Simpson's Creek, in Harrison Co. (Cook)--now in Simpson District.  In 1778 JAMES OWENS left the fort on horseback; when he had gone a short distance, his saddle girth gave way and he dismounted to mend it.  While thus engaged,
he and his horse were both killed by Indians in ambuscade.  (See diary and notes and writings by William Powers and Alexander Scott Withers) (Lewis)
(See Chronicles of Border Warfare by Withers)
     Edward's Fort on Booth's Creek.
     Harrison Co., VA (W. VA.) formed 1784.
     Congress passed a law in 1818 granting pensions to soldiers of the Revolution who could prove they had served in the Continental Army.

(NOTE:  The next two paragraphs are from "History of Champaign Co. (Ohio), 1881")

Those who settled in the county prior to 1805 Included John OWEN.  (Page 214)

On June 24, 1815, an election was held in Goshen Township to elect three Justices of the Peace.  This was probably the first election had in the new township.  At that election, 31 votes were cast, of which John Brittin received 21 votes, John OWEN 30 votes, William Bay 31 votes, and those three were declared elected Justices.  The Judges at this election were James OWEN, ...  October 10, 1815, an election was held for Senator and Representative.  ...John OWEN and William Peppers, Clerks.  October 8, 1816, at an election for Governor...John OWEN  and Theo. Spain, Clerks.
Marriages.  The following are among the earliest marriages of the settlers of the township...John OWEN to Jane Minturn, September 27, 1808, by John THOMAS...Daniel Rutan to Mary Riddle, February 15, 1810, by John THOMAS,
Justice of the Peace [et al].  (Page 593)

Per Bureau of Land Management, www.glorecords.blm.gov, a John K. Owen received land in Darke Co., OH, issue date 8/9/1831(too late for ours?). Also several John Owen's received land in Illinois, the earliest issue date being 1/7/1818, Brown Co.  The other issue dates were from 1839 to 1860 (another one in Brown Co. 10/1/1839--none in Bureau Co., Lee Co. or other familiar counties).  There was one in Ogle County (Land Office Dixon, IL),
issue date 3/1/1848, John Owen, Doc. #21652, SWNW 4-25N-11E, 40.56 acres.

1790 census Chester Co., PA, Honeybrook Twp.:  (free white males 16 yrs & over; free white males under 16; free white females)
 Ezekiel  1 3 3
 Samuel  1 1 3
 John Owens 2 - 1
(next pg.) Philip Thomas 1 1 1
 James Baggs 2 2 3 (indexed as Boggs; I think it's Baggs)

In "1830 Illinois State Census Index," by Jackson, Samuelsen & Rosenkilde, there was no John Owen (or other spellings).

1830 Illinois Census, Peoria County:
 JOHN C. OWEN, Charles Owen, EZEKIEL THOMAS, Francis Thomas, Mary Thomas, microfilm page 300, except Mary page 299.
Also, Jo Daviess Co., EZEKIEL THOMAS, JOHN THOMAS, HENRY THOMAS, pages 314, 316 & 314.  (Galena is in Jo Daviess County now)

The Black Hawk War - 1831-1832, Vol. I, Illinois Volunteers:
Fifth Regiment, Whiteside's Brigade, Volunteers, enrolled at Peoria,:,  Co. of Capt. Abner Eads -  mustered 4/23/1832, discharged 6/28/1832.
 HENRY THOMAS, May 1, June 28, 1832
 JOHN C. OWEN, May 3, June 28, 1832
Note:  JOHN C. OWEN could have been a son of our John Owen, Sarah's father? I'm assuming it's not her father.  Anyway, his name is seen with our relatives several times.  There is a widower, John C. Owen, who died 1904,
per Bureau Co., IL County Clerk.

There was no Owen or Owens shown in Lee Co., IL "the old settlers record, information from 1830s to 1850 (the record compiled in Aug. 1880)" as sent to me by joanach@wayfarer1.com 5/30/02.

More About ?:
Burial: at sea3
Cause of Death: Childbirth

Children of JOHN OWEN and ? are:
 i. SARAH2 OWEN3,4, b. 1762, midAtlantic Ocean, on a ship from Wales5,6; d. 1841, Bureau Co., IL7,8; m. REV. JOHN THOMAS9,10, November 29, 1789, Harrison Co., (West) Virginia11; b. 1752, Wales12,13; d. December 13, 1843, Cap Grove Cemetery (near/in Dixon, IL?)14.

Notes for SARAH OWEN:
Per Vera Fletcher, John Owen and his wife, parents of Sarah, were on the same ship as John Thomas, age 10, and his parents.  Sarah was born at sea, on a ship from Wales to the U.S.  Her mother died and was buried at sea.
Family reports John and Sarah are buried Dixon, Illinois (unmarked graves).

Per "Portrait...," after John's death, his widow moved to Bureau Co., IL and died there.

There was no Owen or Owens shown in Lee Co., IL "the old settlers record, information from 1830s to 1850 (the record compiled in Aug. 1880)" as sent to me by joanach@wayfarer1.com 5/30/02.

More About SARAH OWEN:
Burial: Princeton Cemetery, Bureau Co., IL15

Notes for REV. JOHN THOMAS:
Per Vera Fletcher, Ezekiel and Mary Thomas came on the same ship as the Owen Family.  John Thomas came from Wales with his parents when he was age 10. Lived Harrison Co., Va. (1800 or earlier) and Urbana, Ohio.  Later lived
Peoria & Galena, Illinois.  The family reports they (John and Sarah?) are buried Dixon, Illinois (unmarked graves).  A brother of Arthur Thomas.  John was granted (400?) acres along Booth Creek, adjacent to John Owen's grant
(Harrison Co. VA/WV?).

John was granted 400? acres along Booth Creek next to 400-acre grant of John Owen (Sarah's father).

"History of Harrison Co. (VA)" by Dorothy Davis:
     John Thomas, p. 22, James Neal, assignee to John Thomas, 400 acres on the Left Hand Fork of Ten Mile Creek, at the mouth of Turkey Run, to include his settlement made in 1771 (35).  (This may be our John Thomas.)
     Family, Church and Community Cemeteries in Harrison Co., W.Va.--A Partial List:
Name of Cemetery:  Thomas
Site:  Booth's Creek
Oldest Legible Inscription; date of death:  Marsisa Freeman, 8/18/1820
Family Names Occuring Frequently:  Freeman, Russell, Smith, Thomas.  Thomas--name in Thompson Cemetery, Reynoldsville, oldest date 1818.

"West Virginians in the Revolution":  (any relation?)
 Joseph Thomas m. Rebecca Thomas ca 1786, Buckingham Co., VA
 Capt. John Thomas, a brother [of the above?]
 John Thomas, a cousin [of Joseph?]

DAR Patriot Index, pp. 673-4:
 Thomas, John... (Note:  Many Thomases listed)

Index of Rev. War Pension Applications/Applicants:
 Thomas, John, VA, S31416, widow Sarah, res. in 1833 Owen Co., KY [any connection to our line?]

Residences:  Harrison Co., VA (later WV)
 Urbana, Ohio--20 yrs. filled pulpit of King's Creek Baptist Church and served as church secretary
 Peoria, IL
 Galena, IL
Per Vera, no record until the Peoria, IL residence and Galena, IL (I had asked if Rev. John Thomas went to Russelburg, KY (mid 1820's) and Edwardsville, IL (1827) also.)
Note:  The note about Russelburg, KY, was taken from an old record book in the Bureau County Court House, she told me.

(NOTE:  The following six paragraphs are from "History of Champaign Co. (Ohio), 1881") THOMAS, John "settled [before 1805] about three miles south of Urbana...and had a distillery up the creek between where the Newell and
Donavan houses now stand."  (Page 214)  (NOTE:  Would the distillery have been used to purify/distill water?  Or alcohol?)

"Following we append the names of some of the Baptist ministers:  John THOMAS..."  (Page 415)

"Rev. William Haller, in an interesting communication to the "History of Logan and Champaign Counties," furnishes a brief description of the personal appearance of the most remarkable of these men [ministers], together with
their peculiarities.  We extract the description verbatim:  'I take the Baptist brethren first.  John THOMAS was a small, light [in weight?] man, dark hair and complexion, deliberate, cautious, not venturesome, and possessed of great strength and endurance for one of his size.'"  (Page 416)

"The Baptist Church-located one-half mile south of Westville, on the Valley Pike, is recorded as one of the oldest in the township.  In 1806, some of the members of the King's Creek Church, in Salem Township..."  "The Mad
River Baptist Association was formed in 1812...In 1819, a log building was erected on the site of the present building.  A few years later the society concluded to put up a brick edifice, which was occupied for a number of
years.  The present building was afterward erected."  (Page 418)  "Since its organization the following ministers have proclaimed the glad tidings of eternal life:  John THOMAS...E. D. THOMAS..."  (Page 419)

"The earliest township election, of which we have any record, was held at the house of Isaac Gray on the 8th day of October, 1811...Number and Names of Electors.  23.  John Thomas..."  "That the above is the poll-book of the
first election held in the township cannot be stated with accuracy, but it serves to show who were the voters and householders at that early day." (Page 533)  (Wayne Twp.)

Goshen Twp.  Marriages.  The following are among the earliest marriages of the settlers of the township...John OWEN to Jane Minturn, September 27, 1808, by John THOMAS...Daniel Rutan to Mary Riddle, February 15, 1810, by John THOMAS, Justice of the Peace [et al].  (Page 593)

There are four pages of John Thomas's in the Bureau of Land Management, www.glorecords.blm.gov, records for Illinois.

"1830 Illinois State Census Index," by Jackson, Samuelsen & Rosenkilde: Thomas, Henry, JoDaviess Co., IL, (no page #), Galena, 1830 (no ST to indicate, I suppose, that this was a state census enumeration.  I assume
some enumerations were from the 1830 Fed. census.) Thomas, John--same info as for Henry.

Per "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee Co., IL," "John [Thomas?], Abraham, Jr., Daniel [Obrist I assume] and families moved to the Palmyra Twp. of Lee Co. in 1836."

1850 Census, Lee Co., Palmyra Twp., IL, 8/19/1850, 80/82 (pp. 11-12 Ancestry.com):  (next to John Baggs, 27, b. OH)
 Noah Thomas  37 OH farmer $800 (I think this is John's son)
  Elizabeth A. 37 MA
  Eupha  13 IL (female)
  Martha E.  11 IL
  Seth F.    9 IL
  Van J.    4 IL
 Reed, Virgil    4 IL
(50/51 is Abram & Rebecca Obrist with their children.)

1850 Bureau Co., IL, Town of Bureau?, 12/3/1850, 423/463 (Ancestry.com p. 63/217):
 Austin C. Thomas 23 IL $1500 farmer married within the year
 Amelia  17 Germany married within the year
 Electa    8 IL attended school (This may be Henry's son.)

Per "Portrait and Biographical Album of Peoria Co., IL," John Thomas moved to Champaign Co., Ohio, when Francis was a child; came to Illinois 1825, Peoria Co.,  Galena lead mines, Lee Co.; died about 80 yrs. age; widow moved
to Bureau Co., IL and died there.  (Possible res.:  Chillicothe Twp. or Hallock Twp., Peoria Co.  Peoria was Ft. Clark then.)  Also, "That section [meaning Champaign Co., Ohio] was wild and unbroken, inhabited chiefly by Indians, and the family were surrounded by dangers and met with many privations.  After having improved a farm and residing thereon some years, John Thomas, in the year 1825, came to Illinois, obtaining a claim on new land in Peoria County.  A few years later he removed to Galena where for some years he was interested in lead mines.  He finally sold out and settled
in Lee County, where he died when about four-score years of age.  His widow remained there for some years after his death, but finally removed to Bureau County, where she died full of years."

Per "Big Bureau and Bright Prairies," page 189, Henry Thomas' uncle had been a scout during the Revolution, and had been rewarded by a land grant of 400 acres in what  was later known as West Virginia.  (Note:  Rev. John Thomas
is Henry's only uncle that I now have record of.)

Per "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee Co., IL," page 515, "John Thomas was a very early pioneer in northern Illinois.  John, son of Ezekial [sic] and Mary Thomas, was born within the Country of Wales in 1752.  In the 1780's,
John worked as a scout in the western Virginia Territory.  It is in this time period, just after the Revolutionary War, that John got ideas of settling down.  He met [sic] Sarah Owens [sic] in Harrison County, VA, now known as West Virginia, and married her after a brief courtship. Interestingly, Sarah was born in mid Atlantic on her way to America in
1762.  Her mother died giving her life and her father, unable to care for her, adopted her to Ezekial and Mary Thomas."  Also, "John served as a Baptist preacher in Ohio.  He later served as Champaigne [sic] County Clerk.  In the 1820's the desire to travel west provoked the move to Galena, Illinois and the move to Dixon, Illinois in 1837."

The same source as the preceding but this article submitted by Donna A. Thomas Wright, "John Thomas, with Noah, went to Dixon in 1835.  They both served in the Blackhawk Indian War.  Family stories say John was an Indian scout and Baptist minister."

More About REV. JOHN THOMAS:
Burial: Dixon, Illinois? (unmarked graves)16

Marriage Notes for SARAH OWEN and JOHN THOMAS:
I don't know where I got the July 29, 1789 marriage date & location for John and Sarah.

Harrison Co., Clarksburg, WV Courthouse 11/02:
"General Index to Marriages #1 Females A-Z 1784-1912 Harrison Co., WV" [VA or WV?]:
1789 Sarah (also "Sally") Owin [sic] to John Thomas, book 1, page 12, bond p. 72.
"Marriage Bonds Book 1, 1784-1803, Harrison Co., VA" [sic]:
Page 72, John Thomas and John Owin, both of Harrison Co., VA, bound 50 pounds, 11/6/1789, signatures look like John E.? Thomas and John Owen. (See Microsoft Word files "Owen Family" and "Thomas Family" for more info.)

 ii. ELIZABETH OWEN17, m. EBENEZER CHANEY18.

Notes for ELIZABETH OWEN:
I can only assume that this is the correct family to put Elizabeth with.

Notes for EBENEZER CHANEY:
I can only assume that this is the correct family to put Ebenezer with.
 

Endnotes

1.  Vera Fletcher, a Henry Thomas descendant.
2.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., p. 515, ("information from Kevin Obrist").
3.  Vera Fletcher, a Henry Thomas descendant.
4.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., (as copied by Lenore Sroka)--the article gave the names of
Rebecca Thomas' parents--it gave her mother's maiden name as Owens.
5.  Vera Fletcher, a Henry Thomas descendant, (location only).
6.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill
& Co., pub., p. 515, (location and year)--information from Kevin Obrist."
7.  "Portrait and Biographical Album of Peoria Co., IL," 1890, (location "Bureau Co., IL").
8.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., p. 515, ("1841 at son Ezekiel's home near Princeton").
9.  Vera Fletcher, a Henry Thomas descendant.
10.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., (as copied by Lenore Sroka)--the article gave the names of Rebecca Thomas' parents.
11.  Harrison Co., West Virginia Marriage Records, (book 1, page 12).
12.  Vera Fletcher, a Henry Thomas descendant, (country only--per Vera, John came from Wales with his parents at age 10; I assume he was born there).
13.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., p. 515, (birth year and country of birth).
14.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., p. 515, ("information from Kevin Obrist")--cemetery "is not visible anymore."
15.  "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County, Illinois," 1881, H. H. Hill & Co., pub., p. 515, ("information from Kevin Obrist").
16.  Vera Fletcher, a Henry Thomas descendant, "family reports."
17.  Harrison Co., West Virginia Marriage Records, (Bond book 1, page 156--Elizabeth, dau. of John Owens [sic]).
18.  Harrison Co., West Virginia Marriage Records, (Bond book 1, page 156--Ebenezer, son of Thomas Cheney).