Thomas West (1788 - 1862)

Born 26 Oct 1788 in Saint Johns Parish, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Husband of Rebecca (Staton) West — married 16 Aug 1809 in Mason, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Jun 1862 at age 73 in Lewis County, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Eric Weddington [send private message] and Jeffrey Fors [send private message]

Biography

Thomas West was the son of James and Martha West, born on 26 Oct 1788 in St. John's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland.^[1]

Thomas West married Rebecca Staton in Mason County, Kentucky on 16 August 1809.^[2][3]

Thomas and his household appeared on the U.S. Census in Mason County, Kentucky, in 1810 and 1820, and in Lewis County, Kentucky, in 1830 and 1840. Analysis of the census (see Research Notes) suggests that he and Rebecca raised four sons and eight daughters. By 1850, the couple lived on their own in Lewis County.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Thomas West and Rebecca Staton had (at least) the following children:

• James Madison West (1813–1868)
• Elias Thomas West (1818-1857)
• Elizabeth (West) Wallingford (1823–1899)
• Frances Mary (West) May (1825-1871)
• Margaret M. A. West

Rebecca died on 13 Dec 1859.^[9]

Thomas was murdered in his home in the summer of 1862.^[10]

(shared on Find A Grave^[11])
"Horrible Murder"
On last Sunday night an old man, named West, was murdered in Lewis County, about five miles from Mt Carmel. Some young men who had been living with him left him alone at home that night & were horror struck on their return next morning to find him in his bed, dead, with a bullet hole through his body. Circumstances attached suspicion to his son-in-law, named May & a possee went to his (May's) house & near it found a letter revealing a conspiracy on the part of five strong secessionists to murder old man West who was a Union man for his money, some $600, & also to murder Capt Brown & Major Hambrick for their political sentiments. The letter stated that the assassins would send their victims to Lincolns hell, while they would go to Dixie. Four persons strongly suspected were arrested near Mt Carmel yesterday & another was caught near Lewisburg last night. This is Southern rights. (Shelby (Ky) News).

• Note: The article states that the family left on Saturday, 18 June 1862 and returned Monday. Based on the calendar for that year, it was most likely 28 June 1862.

• Note: Most of the individuals who were buried in Mays cemetery are related to John Shaw May and his wife. While only 20 graves have readable headstones, there are quite a few unmarked graves within the small cemetery. It is likely that Frances West May's parents are buried in this family cemetery.

Research Notes

The following analysis of the households that list Thomas West as head are meant to show the growth of his family over time, and attempt to guess at the identities of his children.

1810 United States Federal Census^[4]

Enumeration Date: 6 Aug 1810; Mason, Mason County, Kentucky

• Males - 16 thru 25 (1785-1794): 1 (Thomas, b. 1788)
• Females - 16 thru 25 (1785-1794): 1 (Rebecca, b. 1793)
• Males - Under 10 (btw. 1800-1810): 1 (unknown son - prob. b. May 1810)

1820 United States Federal Census^[5]

Enumeration Date: 7 Aug 1820; Mason County, Kentucky

• Males - 26 thru 44 (1776-1794): 1 (Thomas, b. 1788)
• Females - 26 thru 44 (1776-1794): 1 (Rebecca, b. 1793)
• Males - Under 10 (btw. 1810-1820): 3
  • unknown son - prob. b. May 1810
  • prob. James Madison West (b. 1815)
  • prob. Elias Thomas West (b. 1818)
• Females - Under 10 (btw. 1810-1820): 2
  • unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1812
  • unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1820

Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1

All Other Persons Except Indians not Taxed: 7

• Under 16: 5
• Over 25: 2

Total Free White Persons: 7

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 14

1830 United States Federal Census^[6]

Place: Lewis County, Kentucky

• Males - 40 thru 49 (1781-1790): 1 (Thomas, b. 1788)
• Females - 30 thru 39 (1791-1800): 1 (Rebecca, b. 1793)
• Males - 15 thru 19 (1811-1815): 1 (prob. James Madison, b. 1815)
• Females - 15 thru 19 (1811-1815): 1 (unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1812)
• Males - 10 thru 14 (1816-1820): 1 (prob. Elias Thomas, b. 1818)
• Males - 5 thru 9 (1821-1825): 1 (unknown son - poss. b. abt. 1821)
• Females - 5 thru 9 (1821-1825): 2
  • unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1820
  • poss. Elizabeth (b. abt 1823)
• Females - Under 5 (btw. 1825-1830): 2
  • poss. Frances Mary (b. 1825)
  • unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1827

1840 United States Federal Census^[7]

Place: Lewis County, Kentucky

• Males - 50 thru 59 (1781-1790): 1 (Thomas, b. 1788)
• Females - 40 thru 49 (1791-1800): 1 (Rebecca, b. 1793)
• Males - 20 thru 29 (1811-1820): 2
  • prob. James Madison West (b. 1815)
  • prob. Elias Thomas West (b. 1818)
• Females - 15 thru 19 (1821-1825): 1 (poss. Elizabeth, b. abt 1823)
• Males - 15 thru 19 (1821-1825): 1 (unknown son - poss. b. abt. 1821)
• Females - 10 thru 14 (1826-1830): 3
  • poss. Frances Mary (b. 1825)
  • unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1827
  • unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1830
• Females - 5 thru 9 (1831-1835): 1 (unknown daughter - poss. b. abt 1832)

Sources

1. ↑ Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HYGN-LTPZ : 12 February 2020), Thomas West, 1788.
2. ↑ Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850; Provo, UT, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.
3. ↑ Mason County, Kentucky, Marriage Index, 1804-1860; Marriage Records of Mason County, Kentucky 1804-1811 Volume II; Provo, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2001.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} 1810 United States Federal Census; Place: Mason, Mason, Kentucky; Roll: 7; Page: 297; Image: Kym252_7-0310; FHL Roll: 0181352; Lehi, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1820 United States Federal Census; Place: Mason, Kentucky; Page: 65; NARA Roll: M33_26; Image: 75; Provo, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} 1830 United States Federal Census; Place: Lewis, Kentucky; Series: M19; Roll: 38; Page: 318; Family History Library Film: 0007817; Provo, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} 1840 United States Federal Census; Place: Lewis, Kentucky; Roll: 117; Page: 59; Family History Library Film: 0007829; Provo, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
8. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Place: District 2, Lewis, Kentucky; Roll: 210; Page: 169b; Lehi, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
9. ↑ Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852-1965; Lehi, UT, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
10. ↑ Newspapers.com, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, 24 Jul 1862, Thu, Page 3: Death of Thomas West.
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #155999187

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155999187/thomas-west: accessed 11 November 2022), memorial page for Thomas West (1789–29 Jun 1862), Find a Grave Memorial ID 155999187, citing Mays Cemetery, Lewis County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by JFINK (contributor 48479510) Burial Details Unknown.