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1C.B. Wynn, Thomas, Isaac of Sevierville, Tennessee (Buckhorn Press, Gatlinburg, Tenn. 1980), p. 5. "Note: In various papers of descendants of Isaac Thomas, I have found at least six or more different sets of parents for Isaac Thomas; but so far, none have been documented to my satisfaction. Isaac Thomas was one of the first white men to see the fertile French Broad bottoms, but his choice of a homestead was the "Forks of Little Pigeon" or the site of the future Sevierville. The exact date of his settlement here is not known, but it was not long after 1780. He obtained title here in 1808 to almost 1000 acres, including a large part of the present town. His home was opposite the confluence of the two forks of Little Pigeon near the old railroad depot at the north entrance of Sevierville (now Chapman Highway and the river no longer forks where it originally did, having been relocated by TVA for flood control). Thomas operated a mill and a tavern perhaps Sevierville's first, and in his home, in 1794, Sevier County's Court held its first session. His home served also a a fort to protect the settlers against the Indians. A group of women in Chattanooga who were organizing themselves into a new chapter of Daughters of American Revolution, selected as a name for the chapter, "NANCY WARD" thus commemorating the life of the Indian Princess, the Pocohontas of Tennessee, who loved humanity and used all her power to save useless bloodshed. The Nancy Ward Chapter honors and reveres the name of Nancy Ward, and they feel an equal reverence for the brave hearted and sturdy ISAAC THOMAS, who carried the many secret messages sent by Nancy Ward to the pioneers, saving the lives of hundreds of the early settlers. A monument in Memory of Isaac Thomsas erected by the Nancy Ward Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Chattanooga, Tennesse reads, ""In Memory of Isaac Thomas A soldier of the American Revolution, a trader with the Indians and scout to Kings Mountain, who carried the message of warning from Nancy Ward to the Watauga settlers, thus saving the lives of the Tennessee pioneers from massacre by the Indians. The first settler to Sevier county. One half mile west is located his home in which was held the first court of the county. He was the orginal grantee of the land on which is now located Murphy Collegiate Institue."."
2Jay Guy Cisco, Tennessee, Public Men of, Box 5, Folder 10, Nashville Library & Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. "ISAAC THOMAS early engaged in trading with the Indians, and about 1755 located among the Cherokees in the vicinity of Fort Loudon. He was a man of immense strength and courage, and these qualities secured him great respect among the Indians. It is related that he once interfered in a feud between two Cherokee Indian Braves who had drawn their tomahawks to hew each other into pieces. He wrenched the weapons from their hands, when both set upon him at once, and he cooled their heated valor by lifting one after the other into the air and tossing them into the Tellico River. One of these braves, Atta-Culla-Culla, or Little Carpenter, subsequently saved his life at the Fort Loudon massacre. At this time, he had his home at their capital, Echota, where, in a log cabin, he kept the trader's usual stock of powder and lead, guns, traps, and other articles of value to the Indians. He was in high favor with Nancy Ward, the Cherokee prophetess, who was very friendly to the white settlers. She always kept Thomas informed of any hostile design of the Indians, and he, in turn, informed John Sevier and James Robertson of the Watauga settlement. Early in 1776 on the 30th of May she said to him: "Send my white brothers word to be ready for the bolt will fall very soon, and at midnight." He sent off at once a trusty messenger but remained behind until outbreak of hostilities. At midnight on 7 July 1776, Nancy Ward came again to his cabin to urge his immediate departure to the settlements. At the imminent risk of his life he made the journey of over 150 miles in the incredible time of three days to warn the settlers and later was with the little garrison of forty that repelled the attack of Oconostota on the fort at Watauga. It is questionable if Sevier could have resisted the overpowering force of the entire Creek and Cherokee nations that was brought against him if he had not received timely warning through Isaac Thomas. Soon afterward he piloted the expedition that laid waste the Indian country and subsequently, for twenty years, he acted as guide to General Sevier in nearly all of his many campaigns against the Creeks and Cherokees. At the Battle of Kings Mountain, General Sevier advised Isaac Thomas that he wished to enter at a certain point. But Thomas told General Sevier that he was unfamiliar with that area and it was known to be very rugged. Upon General Sevier's insistance, he successfully led the troops to the exact location. Soon after the Revolution, Isaac Thomas relinquished trade with the Indians, and settled upon an extensive farm in Sevier County. He called the settlement that grew up around his station Sevierville, in honor of his general, and the place is now one of the most beautiful localities in the State of Tennessee. Isaac Thomas mastered the Cherokee language and signs in order to trade with them. Also at various times during the Indian Wars he was used as an interpeter for the many sessions of negotiations of peace treaties and the buying of land. Though generally natives of North Carolina and Virginia, and known to be in sympathy with the colonists, they were if prudent of speech and behavior, allowed to remain unmolested in the Indian towns, even when the warriors were shouting the war-song and brandishing the war-club on the eve of an intended attack on the settlements. The reason of this was that traffic with them was of great advantage to the Indian; for, with the trap or rifle that he could get from the trader for a few skins, he could secure more game in a day than his bow and arrow, or rude "deadfall," would procure in a month of toilsome hunting. The traders were, therefore, held in high esteem by the Indians; and the Cherokees encouraged their living and even marrying among them. This, however, was not the case with the trader we have now under notice. He was at this time a bachelor, though he died the father of a large and highly respectable family in Sevier County, Tennessee. He is said to have been a native of Virginia, and at this time about forty years of age. He is described as being over six feet in height, straight, strong-limbed, and wiry, and with a frame so steeled by twenty years of forest-life that he could endure almost any conceivable hardship. His features are said to have been strongly marked, but regular, and to have worn an habitual expression of comic gravity; but on occasions his dark, deep-set eyes had been known to light up with a look of unconquerable pluck and determination. He wore leggins, moccasins, and hunting-shirt of buckskin; and from long exposure his face, neck, and hands had become tanned to the color of that material. His cool intrepidity had been shown on many ocassions. This quality, together with his immense strength, secured him great respect among the Cherokees, who, like all uncivilized people, set a high value on personal courage and sheer physical prowess."
3Cartmell, T. K. (Thomas Kemp), clerk, Shenandoah Valley pioneers and their descendants: (Berryville, Va. Chesapeake Book, c1963), p. 21, Dec 1743, Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, USA, 975.59 H2c. a history of Frederick County, Virginia, from its formation in 1738 to 1908, compiled mainly from original records of old Frederick County, now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick. "From Original Records of old Frederick County: Minutes of Frederick Court, evidence of settlement on Capon River - it was ordered that "Jonathan Cabun, Isaac Thomas, Peter Kuykensall and James Delheryea mark off road from Noah Hampton's Mill into Great Capon near James Caddy's."."
4Sharp, J.A. - letter, 21 Sep 1952, Mason, T. "Letter to Phil (?) by J.A. Sharp of Rt. # 4, Sevierville, Tennessee. EXTRACT: After marriage Isaac Thomas settled on Pigeon River in Sevier County. He now acquired great wealth and became prominent in affairs of State. He bought part of his land from the Indians as shown by papers in hands of descendants, records of land grants and Revolutionary services as Nashville records show. He also bought land from restless settlers who moved West. He owned the first store in Sevierville and a mill nearby."
5Sharp, J.A. - letter, 21 Aug 1953. "Letter to Mrs. Charles L. Adams of Dallas, Texas: Isaac Thomas settled here soon after the Revolution; perhaps as early as 1783. In 1808 he obtained two Tennessee land grants for land near Sevierville; one grant was for 585 acres, this was the "plantation" on which he lived when he made his Will; the other grant was for 354 acres, his "upper plantation." Both tracts joined the twenty-five acre tract, where the Town of Sevierville was laid off in 1795; his home was oposite the confluence of West Fork of Little Pigeon with Little Pigeon River. Sevierville itself was located in the "Forks of Little Pigeon," and for many years the settlement went by this name; this was true even after the town was formed and officially named. We think the "mills" mentioned in the Will were near the home and on the West Fork of Little Pigeon. His home as you may know was the meeting place of the first Sevier County Court in 1794. The above notice in the old Knoxville newspaper shows also that his home was a tavern. It is likely' that it was also a fort, because when he settled here neither he nor any other settler had titles to the land and the Cherokee Indians, who only lived about 30 miles away, claimed the entire county, and our pioneers fought these Indians for twenty years. As to the family of Isaac Thomas, we know he married Elizabeth Timothy or Timotley, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Massengill. She had one daughter by her first husband; this was the "Polly Dauthill" in the Will. She married Rev. Samuel Dauthitt, a well-known minister in the early days of this State. Elizabeth Thomas, the widow, survived her husband, but we do not know the date of her death, or her burial place. Neither do we know the date if Isaac's birth. Perhaps these dates will be in the John Thomas Bible that you mentioned."
6Virginia House of Delegates - Journal of, p. 97, 14 Dec 1776. ""A resolution for paying Isaac Thomas a sun of money as a recompence for services rendered the country in the late Indian War, and a compensation for the losses he had sustained thereby, was presented to the House, read, and ordered to be referred to Mr. Campbell, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Williams, Mr. Wood, Mr. Starke, Mr. Lockhart and Mr. M'Dowell". Ibid., p 102 Mr. Starke, from the committee to whom the case of Isaac Thomas was referred, reported that the committee had, according to order, had the same under consideration, and had agreed upon the following report and resolutions thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again twice read and agreed to. It appears to your committee, from the information of Col. Russell, Major Shelby, and Mr. Madison, and from a certificate of Col. Christain, that the said Isaac Thomas, being a resident in the Cherokee towns did at sundry times, and at the risk of his life, come into the frontier in habitants and give information of the intended incursions of the Indians, by which early notice the inhabitants had time to fort themselves, procure ammunition, and otherwise provide for their security, insomuch that, in the opinion of the informants, the lives of many hundred people had been saved. Resolved,That for the great and essential service rendered this country by the said Isaac Thomas he ought to receive a reward of 100 L. Resolved,That the consideration of the losses sustained by the said Isaac Thomas be deferred till more satisfactory proof can be made to a future session of Assembly relative thereto. Ordered,That Mr. Starke do carry the first of the said resolutions to the Senate for their concurrance." Ibid., p 104, 18 Dec 1776 "A message from the Senate by Mr. Matthews. Mr. Speaker, The Senate have agreed to tho resolution of this House for paying 100 L. to Isaac Thomas; and he delivered the same in at the bar, and then withdrew." Ibid., P 49, 1777 "A petition of Isaac Thomas was presented to the House and read; setting forth, that on the approach of the Cherokee Indians war he fled from that nation, in order to warn the inhabitants on the frontiers of their danger, in consequence of which he lost his cattle and horses to a considerable amount, and that a negro of his was drowned by the Indians, and praying such reparation may be made to him as shall be thought just and reasonable. Ordered, That the petition be referred to the committee of Proposition and Grievances; and that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their Qpinion thereupon, to the House."."
7Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, v 15, p 90, 26 May 1776. "Isaac Thomas for 46 days as a Spy against the Cherokee (a) 5 s 11.10 Ditto, cor 36 Ditto - an interpreter to the 27th instant 10.16."
8Fred Matthews, Tennessee, Sevier County, History of (Copyright: 1950 Revised: 1960.), Seview County Public Library, Family Record Society, 709 Empire Building, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. "Certified copy of the will made in 1854. All records of Sevier County were destroyed by fire in 1856. WILL: I, ISAAC THOMAS, of the County of Sevier and the State of Tennessee, being in a weak and low state of health but of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will and Testament, that is to say. FIRST It is my will that my body be buried by Executors herein after named in a decent and Christian manner. It is also my will and desire that my sons, Isaac and Dennis have two thirds of the plantation that I now live on, including the mills, and that the lawful heirs of my son, Ellis Thomas, have the other third of said land. It is also my will that my sons, John and Henry, have the upper plantation on which my son, John, now lives to be divided agreeable to quantity and quality so as not to take into view the value of my son, John's improvements and giving to him, said improvements and the upper end of said lands and to my son, Henry, the lower end. I also give and bequeath to my step-daughter, Polly Dauthill, a negro girl, called young Sophia, and her increase to her and her heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my daughter, Lucretia Wear, a negro girl, called Peg, and her increase to her and to her heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my daughter, Betsy Porter, a negro girl, called Hanah, and her increase to her and her heirs forever. I also give to my daughter, Elsie Eppler, two negro girls, to wit: Priscilla and Irena and their increase to her and her heirs forever. I also give to my grandchildren the daughters and sons of my son, Ellis Thomas, that is to say, Melinda Thomas, Napoleon Thomas, Isaac Thomas and Ellis Thomas, four negroes, to wit: Milly, Truce, Boldbeg, and Bell, with their increase to them and their heirs forever. It is further my will that my son, Ellis Thomas, have the use of the said last mentioned negroes during his natural life. I also give to my son, Isaac, two negroes, to wit: Ellic and Daphra and her increase to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my son, John, two negroes, to wit: Frank and Charlotte, and her increase to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my son, Henry, two negro boys, Tom and Apriel, to him and to his heirs forever. I also give to my son, Dennis, two negro boys, to wit: Joe and Charles, to him and to his heirs forever. I also give to my grandson, Isaac Ellis, a negro boy called Ellick, one of Tenar's children. I also give to my grandson, Jeremiah M. Ellis, a negro boy called Jim, also a son of Tenar's. It is also my will that all my cash on hand at the time of my death be equally divided at that time between my children and my stepdaughter, Polly Dauthill and my beloved wife, Elizabeth Thomas, share and share alike. It is also my will that my wife, Elizabeth Thomas, have all the residue of my personal property, the use of the plantation where I now live including the mill with the appurtenances thereto belonging during the whole of her natural life, and at her death the whole of the residue of my personal estate be divided as follows, to wit: one-ninth to the heirs of my son, Ellis Thomas and the remainder to be equally divided to my sons, Isaac, John, Henry and Dennis and my daughters, Lucretis, Elsie, Betsy and my step-daughter, Polly Dauthil. It is also my further will that my Executors lay off out of my residuary estate and give to my sons, Henry and Dennis as much and household furniture as has been advanced to each of my other children. It is further my will that my said step-daughter before she be entitle to receive the bequest and herein before made to her relinquish jointly with her husband, Samuel Dauthit, all claim she or her may have against my estate. And LASTLY, I do hereby constitute and appointed my beloved wife, Elizabeth Thomas and my son, Isaac Thomas, as Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 28th day of October 1818. Signed, acknowledged and pub-) His lished in presence of us.....) Isaac X Thomas (Seal) James P. N. Porter Mark Robert Lawson Alex Preston State of Tennessee) Sevier County ) I, J. P. N. Clark, clerk of the County Court of Sevier, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and perfect copy of the last Will and Testament of Isaac Thomas, deceased, as appears of records on file in my office and that said will was duly proven by the subscribing witnesses before the County (officers of said county at the December Session 1818 and ordered to be recorded. Given under my hand and seal of office in Sevierville, this 8th day of July 1854. J. P. N. Clark, Clerk State of Tennessee) Sevier County ) I, Morgan Davis, Chr. of County Court of said County, do hereby certify that J. P. N. Clark, whose name appears to the above certificate is and was at the time of signing the same clerk of the County Court for said County of Sevier and that his signature is genuine. Given under my hand this the l7th day of July 1854. Morgan Davis, (Seal) Chr. of the County Court for Sevier County Mr. Leonard J. Eppler, of Cisco, Texas, in December, 1925 found this copy of Isaac Thomas' Will among papers belonging to his grandfather, Miles, Eppler, who was the youngest son of Else Thomas."
9C.B. Wynn, Thomas, Isaac of Sevierville, Tennessee, Pg 15.
1Registers Office, Tennessee, Sevier County, Will - Book 3 Pg 73 No 24, 4 Mar 1833. "State of Tennessee) Sevier County ) This indenture made and entered into this 19th day of February 1833 Between John W. Porter and John Thomas Administrators de bonus non of the Estate of Eleshabeth Thomas deceased of the one part and John Mullandore of the other Part all of the county and state above named. Witnessth that the said Porter and Thomas hath this day sold to the said Mullendore a negro woman named Tenor aged about Fifty years and a negro girl named Polly aged about six years for the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars to them (the said Porter & Thomas Paid in hand) by him the said Mullendore the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and the said Porter and Thomas hereby warrents and defends the rights of the said negroes Tenor and Polly so far as is vested in us as Administrators and no Further to the said Mullendore his heirs and assigns and warrents said negroes to be sound and healthy and slaves for life given under our hands and seals this day and year above written. Test Issac T R Ellis Jno. W. Porter (Seal) Napoleon B. Thomas John Thomas (Seal) State of Tennessee) Sevier County ) Personally appeared before me McKindree Porter deputy Clerk of the County Court of Sevier County John W. Porter and John Thomas with whom I am personally acquainted and acknowledge that they executed the within Bill of sale for the purpose therein stated. Witness my hand at Office in Sevierville this 4th March 1833. Geo. McCown Clerk By his dpty Mc. Porter State of Tennessee) Sevier County ) I certify that the within Bill of sale with the Clerks certification are duly registered in the Registers Office of Sevier County in Book E page 73 - No 24. Given under my hand this 18th day of March 1833 Alexr. Preston R.S.C. John Thomas was son of Elizabeth and Isaac Thomas. John W. Porter, son-in-law was married to Elizabeth, called Betsy. Isaac T.R. Ellis and Napoleon B. Thomas were grandsons."
2Tennessee, Knoxville Register, No 122,, 24 Nov 1818. "MRS. THOMAS Takes this method to inform her acquaintances that she still intends to keep a house of Private ENTERTAINMENT at the late residence of her deceased Husband near Sevierville, Tennessee. Nov 21, 1818."
3Tennessee, Knoxville Register, No. 738/Vol.XV., 22 Sep 1830. "NOTICE - There will be sold at public vendue, at the late residence of Elizabeth Thomas, deceased, TWELVE LIKELY NEGROES, together with some other articles belonging to the estate of Elizabeth Thomas, deceased. Said sale to commence on Friday the first day of October next. A credit will be given until the 19th day of July, 1831, the purchaaser giving bond with approved security. Current bank notes will be received in payment. John Thomas, } John W. Porter, } Administrators Sept. 15, 1830-3t $2.00."
4C.B. Wynn, Thomas, Isaac of Sevierville, Tennessee (Buckhorn Press, Gatlinburg, Tenn. 1980), Pg 15.
