Joseph Thomas
Joseph Thomas (about 1840 – 1864) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died during the Civil War.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born about 1840, Joseph Thomas was from Scott County, and his brothers included John Thomas, Reba Thomas and William Thomas. However, it’s not entirely clear who he was.
According to Paul Roy’s Scott County in the Civil War, which cites a regimental roster by David A. Mathews of Cincinnati, Oh., Thomas enlisted in the Union army on March 25, 1862, at age 22, and was assigned to Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Infantry. He was wounded in the thigh at the Battle of Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tenn., and was later captured — along with the rest of his company — at the Battle of Rogersville in Hawkins County, Tenn. on Nov. 6, 1863. He was confined at Belle Isle in Richmond, Va. He was admitted to Hospital 21 at Richmond on Jan. 22, 1864, and died of diarrhea four days later.
Roy cited an entry in court records possessed by Campbell County Reed stating that John Thomas (32), Reba Thomas (26) and William Thomas (22), all residents of Scott County, appeared before County Court Clerk John M. Cordell on July 5, 1867 and stated they were the brothers and sister of Joseph Thomas as they applied for Commutation for Rations.”
Based on that information, these four may have been the children of Stephen Thomas (1807 – about 1854) and Sarah Reed (1812-1907). The family is found in Scott County in the 1850 census, with children Kezia Thomas (18), John Thomas (16), Mary Thomas (14), Joseph Thomas (10), Isaac Thomas (6) and William Thomas (4).
However, Joseph did not live with them when the 1860 census was taken. By that time, Stephen Thomas had died, and his brother, Abner Wylie Thomas (1799-1884) had been appointed guardian of his children. Sarah Reed Thomas was said to have been a pauper who suffered from “fits.” Sarah also lived with Abner and his wife, Rebecca, when the 1860 census was taken.
William appears to have also served in the Union army. According to Roy’s book, citing Mathews’ regimental roster, William Thomas was 18 years old when he enlisted in Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Infantry on Dec. 11, 1861. He was also captured at Rogersville and confined at Belle Isle. He was admitted to Hospital 21 at Richmond on Jan. 11, 1864, but survived.
There were also a Henry Thomas and James Thomas listed by Roy in Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Infantry. However, no record of either of them appears in census records from Scott County.