Thomas Posey (abt. 1750 - 1818)

Born about 9 Jul 1750 in Fairfax County, Virginia Colony [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Matthews) Posey — married 30 Nov 1772 (to 7 Aug 1778) in Augusta, Virginia

Husband of Mary (Alexander) Posey — married 22 Jan 1784 (to 19 Mar 1818) in Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Mar 1818 at about age 67 in Shawneetown, Illinois Territory

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Murlen Posey [send private message]

Preceded by Acting Territorial Governor John Gibson

Thomas Posey 2nd Governor of Indiana Territory 1812 —1813

Succeeded by 1st Governor of Indiana Jonathan Jennings

Biography

Thomas Posey is Notable.

Thomas Posey is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-272280
Rank: Captain, 7th Virginia Regiment, 20 March 1776. Major, 2nd Virginia Regiment, 30 April 1778. Transferred to 7th Virginia Regiment, 14 September 1778.

Thomas Posey was born 9 July 1750 in Fairfax County, Virginia Colony. ^[1][2]

Traditionally, his mother has been known as Elizabeth Lloyd, a woman from a family of high social standing. At the same time, his father is believed to be Captain John Posey who ended up with Thomas in his home after Elizabeth passed away when Thomas was only an infant. But some still believe that his mother may have been Captain Posey's wife, Martha.^[3]

Because of the Posey family's close connections with President George Washington, rumors implied that Thomas may be his illegitimate child. Most likely, the families were just close, as real estate transactions show John Posey giving land to President Washington which would later be a part of his Mount Vernon estate. Regardless, Thomas Posey's parents are a modern day mystery that historians continue to speculate upon.

When Posey was about 19, he moved to the western frontier. Posey served in the Virginia Militia during the French and Indian War and as a captain in a Virginia regiment during the American Revolutionary War. He was later promoted to major and colonel. He was present for the Surrender at Yorktown, in 1781.

After the Revolution, Thomas returned to Virginia along with his son by his first wife, who was now deceased. He farmed, married again and would have another nine children with his second wife.^[4]

He joined the military for a brief time during 1793/4 and attained the rank of Brigadier General.^[2]

Thomas received 450 acres of "Bounty Land" for his service as a Lt. Colonel of the Virginia Line, for his service in the Revolution. Warrant #1733 was issued Dec 7, 1791.^[5] He and his family moved to Kentucky, where Thomas was in the State senate and was its presiding officer in 1805 and 1806. He also served as lieutenant governor of Kentucky for four years and the major general of Kentucky levies after 1809.^[2]

Thomas moved to the Attakapas region of Louisiana. Jean N. Destrehan was elected to the United States Senate from Louisiana, but only served a month before he resigned, Thomas Posey was then appointed to fill the vacancy. He served from October 8, 1812, to February 4, 1813. However his election bid to fill the seat afterwards failed.^[2]

President James Madison appointed Posey as Governor of the Indiana Territory in February 1813. He was in the running to become the first official Governor of the State of Indiana, however, he lost the vote. So in 1816 after the election, he was appointed as an Indian Agent.^[4][2]

Thomas died 19 March 1818 in Shawneetown, Gallatin, Illinois, USA, and was buried in Westwood Cemetery, Shawneetown, Gallatin, Illinois, USA.^[1][2]

Posey was a Democratic Republican,^[2] and he believed in God. His will dated 6 April 1816, begins with "In the name of God Amen ~ I Thomas Posey of Jeffersonville, Indiana Territory" Solicitous for his wife Mary, "advanced in years," he suggests that she might like to live with one of their children and provides that she will be provided for and have a servant. Bequests were made to children John, Fayette, Lloyd, Thornton A., William C., and Eliza Maria Street, also Thomas, Alexander, Washington A.G., and Sarah Ann T.T.^[6]

Family

Thomas Posey married twice.

His first wife was Martha Posey, daughter of Sampson Matthews and Mary (Lockhart) Matthews. They had three children. Only one survived to adulthood.

• Thomas Posey born September 15, 1773; died 1783/
• Samson Matthews Posey Born August 4, 1778, died the 30th.
• John A Posey Born September 19, 1774

Thomas married second Mary Alexander, widow of George Thornton. They had nine children.

• Fayette Posey (1784 - 1869)
• Lloyd Posey, (1786 - 1821)
• Thornton A. Posey (c1788-1817)
• William C., (1789-1849)
• Thomas Posey (1792 - 1863)
• Eliza Maria Posey (1792 - 1847)
• Alexander Posey, (1794 - 1840)
• Washington A.G. Posey, (1799 - 1843)
• Sarah Ann Posey (1800 - 1851)

Legacy

• Posey County, Indiana is named in his honor.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #11200.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
3. ↑ "Governor Thomas Posey: The Son of George Washington?" Indiana Magazine of History. Indiana University. Volume 86, Issue 1, March 1990.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Thomas Posey on Wikipedia
5. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. The National Archives. Publication Number: M804 NARA Catalog ID: 300022 Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900. Record Group: 15 Roll: 1956.
6. ↑ Indiana County, District and Probate Courts. Will Records, Probate Court, Vol A, 1806-1852. Ancestry.com. Indiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999 [database on-line].

• Thomas Posey on Wikipedia

• The Book, "General Thomas Posey" by John Thornton Posey, 1992.
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 13 Feb. 2020), "Record of Lt. Col. Thomas Posey", Ancestor # A091439..

• United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783: Name: Thomas Posey, Military Service, Date: 1776, Place: Virginia, United States, Military Company/Regiment: United States Army Military Rank: Brigadier General, Death Date: 19 Mar 1818, Page Number: 448, Record Number: 13.

• Find a Grave, database and images, accessed 9 June 2020, memorial page for Thomas Posey (9 Jul 1750–19 Mar 1818), Find A Grave: Memorial #11200, citing Westwood Cemetery, Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave . Name: Thomas Posey, Burial Date: 1818, Place: Shawneetown, Gallatin, Illinois, United States of America. Age (Estimated): 68, Birth Date: 09 Jul 1750, Death Date: 19 Mar 1818, Westwood Cemetery. Affiliate Record Identifier: 11200.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV3-TSZ4 : 26 July 2019), Thomas Posey, 1818; Burial, Shawneetown, Gallatin, Illinois, United States of America, Westwood Cemetery; citing record ID 11200, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.