SIXTH GENERATION

54. Enoch Thomas was born on 26 Apr 1798 in CHESTER, , VT. He has reference number 54. Biography:

Enoch Thomas, about 1838, with his wife Sally Abbott, his six children, Frederick 11 years, Joseph 10 years, Benjamin 8 years, Betsy 6 years, Lucy 7 years, and Mehibable 3 years, and his parents moved from Chester, Vermont in the Spring of the year. They were headed for Wisconsin, to which place an older brother had moved and, according to reports, had prospered. With Enoch was another brother and his family. This brother, along with the parents, succeeded in reaching Wisconsin. Enoch had an episode which changed his course. His wife and small children were becoming travel worn. The boys had each ridden a horse all the long journey. The oxen team which drew the covered wagon in which the wife and girls rode were dirven mainly by a man on foot. In this case the man was Enoch Thomas. The youngest girl was ill. They were in search of a doctor and a good night's lodging.

As they journeyed they noted a farm ahead, located on what was later to be known to them as Steamburg road. They stopped to make some inquiries and learned that Sorrell Hill was just ahead. This is now known as Penn Line, just on the border of the Ohio state line in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. They found that a flourishing inn was located there, a doctor and all else that they might need.

Before they continued, however, they also learned the hospitality and good will of a good neighbor. For this was the farm of Benjamin Parkhurst Wheeler, who later became known to members of the Thomas family as "Grampa Wheeler". Mr. Wheeler directed them on to the inn, but not until he had offered the comforts of his home to the "wimmin folk and younguns."

This arrangement left the men free to go "prospecting." that night at the inn, or some night soon after, Enoch Thomas found himself a little less prosperous in his money bag, but full of prosperous hopes for his family and himself on a 100 acre farm located on the road three miles south of Penn Line. Here he settled and reared his family. Much labor had to be done; land cleared, log house built and cultivation begun. This farm is located in the territory which Floyd Lee owned and is now owned by his son and daughter. Some of it is , no doubt, a part of Pymatuning Lake.

Enoch Thomas was reputed to have money and so was often asked to sign notes as an accommodation to his neighbors. One anecdote which remains, bears out the traditional good humor and wit of some of this Thomas generation. A man by the name of Major Holcomb, a shoemaker by trade, had asked this favor of Enoch Thomas on a note of $500.00. Later Enoch had to redeem the note and pay the $500.00. Some years thereafter Enoch asked Major Holcomb to make him a pair of shoes and offered the redeemed note as payment. The shoes were often exhibited as the most expensive pair of shoes he had ever worn.

As time goes on Enoch Thomas found himself sixty years of age, his property divided between his sons Joseph and Benjamin and his daughters each in a home of her own. The family arranged for Enoch and his wife Sally Abbott to spend their days equally between the homes of their sons. Time hung heavy; he felt cramped and unnecessary. The adventurer's spirit was unconquerable. He heard tales of the "Gold Rush of the '49ers" and wanted to clear out. He did so one day with thirty five dollars in his pocket. It is unknown how far he got or where he ended his days. Benjamin, his son, followed him as far as Colorado and tried to locate him. It was impossible to do so in those times of Indian massacres and adventurers.

Author unknown family member.

Sally Abbott Thomas died 24 Aug 1860, in the home of her elder son Joseph, and is buried at Padanaram Cem., Ashtabula, Ohio, per Greta Lee Miner.
. He was married to Sally ABBOTT on 23 Mar 1826.

55. Sally ABBOTT was born on 6 May 1796 in CHESTER, , VT. She died on 24 Aug 1860. She has reference number 55. Children were:

i. Fredrick G Thomas was born on 14 Jun 1827. Unmarried, joined the U. S. Armed forces, contracted typhoid fever and died at the age of 25 years, in Marysville prison. He died on 24 Jul 1852 in Marysville.
ii. Joseph Abbott Thomas was born on 22 Nov 1828. He died on 20 Jun 1895. Buried at Padanaram. Joseph Abbott Thomas was renowned for his good nature, his humor and wit. He taught dancing as a young man. He took his sisters Lucy, Betsy and Hetty with him. His brother Benjamin evidently profited by the dancing lessons for he took many a fancy dance step even in his advancing years. Joseph A Thomas was very conscientious. He became extremely angry if anyone even hinted at any dishonest dealing concerning himself. Joseph a Thomas is said to have had a gracious manner that denominated every situation, especially in his later years.

Written by unknown family member.
iii. Benjamin Whittamore Thomas was born on 3 Feb 1830 in Vt.. Benjamin Thomas had little schooling . Altho he took the New York Times and could talk politics with the "best of em". He probably never had any formal schooling after he reached Penn Line at the age of 8 years. He could play the snae drum, the fife and dance very well. He had a high sense of honor, as did all of his brothers and sisters. He was extremely affectionate to his family and his grandchildren. One of his expressions was, "I tell you blood counts."

Benjain Thomas commanded respect by all, even when the evils of liquor all but conquered him. He was powerful, physically and boasted of turning a handspring at the age of sixty. He died on 27 Oct 1909. Buried at Padanaram.
27 iv. Lucy King Thomas.
v. Betsy Abbott Thomas was born on 16 Oct 1832. She died on 4 Jan 1918.
vi. Mehitable Dow Thomas was born on 18 May 1835 in Vt.. She died on 4 Sep 1923.
vii. Franklin B Thomas was born on 17 Jan 1827.
viii. Samuel Baker Thomas was born on 16 Apr 1832. He died on 14 May 1908.

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