Timothy is one of the elusive Thames men from South Carolina for whom we don’t know parents.
There is only one census on which Timothy appears, the 1820 census for St Helena Parish LA. His age range is 26-44, which places his date of birth 1776-1794. Because he served as a Sergeant in the War of 1812, his birth was probably in the range of 1776-1785, versus being a younger man in his 20’s.
He served in the War of 1812, Sergeant, in Capt. Samuel Gerald’s Company of Dragoons, Thomas Hind’s Battalion, Amite Regiment MS. He served from 2 Oct 1814 to 28 Mar 1815, having joined the regiment at Liberty, MS for 6 months.[1]
Timothy Thames married Sarah Lewis on 20 Feb 1817 at Amite Co MS. The marriage book first states that William Thames is Timothy’s bondsman, but is signed by William Lewis. Keep in mind the marriage book was compiled from the original bonds, so it is difficult to know which is correct until the original bond is examined.[2]
After his marriage, the couple moved to St Helena Parish, LA (across the state line from Amite Co MS).[3]
His brother, Cornelius Thames, died 1821 at St Helena Parish, LA (across the state line from Amite Co MS), and Timothy “brother of the deceased” was made tutor (guardian) of Cornelius’s orphaned children, while Cornelius’s widow Rachel was the administratrix of his estate.
1823 – On 10 February, Timothy purchased 520 acres from Jemima Bell “on the Amite [River] nearly opposite Chamberses ferry adjoining the old plantation of Richard Tickell Junr on the North William Lewis on the South on the East by Vacant lands and on the west by the Amite River” for $100. Witnesses to this deed were Jas. T. West [Timothy’s brother Cornelius’s son-in-law] and James Murray.[4]
Timothy died 4 Oct 1826 at St Helena Parish, LA.[5] Sarah later moved to East Baton Rouge Parish, where she applied for a pension in 1857.[6]
At the time of his death, Timothy still owned land he purchased from Jemima Bell, which had been originally claimed by John Bell. This area became Livingston Parish in 1832. A deed in Livingston Parish shows the following heirs selling this property in 1875:
- S Eugenia Barnett – Sarah Eugenia Thames Barnett – daughter of Timothy
- Augustus B Thames – son of Timothy
- Timothy D Thames – grandson (son of Amos P Thames)
- Charles G Thames – grandson (son of Amos P Thames)
- Emily Hooper by her father Henry Hooper – probably daughter of Sarah Thames (daughter of Amos P Thames)
- Bridget M Fallon (not named within the deed, but she signs it) – widow of Gifford Avenzor Thames (son of Timothy)
- Mary E Thames (not named within the deed, but she signs it) – she might be Mary Eugenia Thames, daughter of Gifford (son of Timothy)
Sources
- ↑ Some Notes on the Thames of Mississippi, 1800-1850, manuscript, page 7, Lewis A Thames Jr, Laurel MS, 1962
- ↑ Amite Co MS Marriage Book 1 p 263[1]
- ↑ Some Notes on the Thames of Mississippi, 1800-1850, manuscript, page 7, Lewis A Thames Jr, Laurel MS, 1962
- ↑ St Helena Parish LA Deed Book B p 123-124
- ↑ Succession Records of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana 1804-1854, p 137
- ↑ Some Notes on the Thames of Mississippi, 1800-1850, manuscript, page 7, Lewis A Thames Jr, Laurel MS, 1962