Thomas Cunningham (bef. 1754 - 1826)

Born before 1754 in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Colony, Colonial America

Ancestors

Husband of Phoebe (Tucker) Cunningham — married about Apr 1776 in Fort Prickett, Monongalia County,Western Virginia, Colonial America [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 2 Jun 1826 after age 72 in Fonzo, Ritchie County, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Terri Rick [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Cunningham is a member of Clan Cunningham.

Clarification of Parentage

Just as Edward, is often confused when it comes to who his parents were, so is Thomas. This specific Thomas was married to Phebe Tucker^[1]at Prickett's Fort, Monongalia County,^[2] Virginia. The Author of the referenced book gives a fantastic accounting of the trials of Thomas' wife. Unfortunately the Cunningham portion of the family genealogy provided is in error. Land sold and recorded in the Harrison County Deed Book are signed by both Thomas and his wife, thus showing that this specific Thomas was indeed married to Phebe Tucker in 1776. Further evidence is the Revolutionary War Pension application, where she uses the Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare as documentation for his Revolutionary War Service.^[3]

Documentation and evidence confirms that Thomas' brother is Edward whom is then proven to be a son of Adam by DNA^[4] and other documented sources,^[5]referenced on his profile; the documentation and evidence available today does not support Thomas to be a son of the Hugh Cunningham mentioned in the book.

Further support for Thomas being a son Adam and a brother of Walter who is a brother of Edward is the Revolutionary War Pension Application^[6]that Walter filed in 1832 stating that he visited his brother in 1776 and during this visit enlisted under Capt Scott. The payroll of Capt Scott includes Thomas as a spy. Later it is evident the brother he visited was Thomas as they enlisted together and were jointly discharged from the Ranger Company signed 7 Feb 1777 by Lt. John Mahon.^[7]

MILITARY SERVICE

• Dunmore's War of 1775

• Thomas and his brother, Edward both served during this war. Thomas served in the capacity of a spy and his name appears on the payroll for Capt. David Scott. Thomas would later be thankful that he served with the notorious Simon Girty and the he most likely attended his wedding to his wife Phoebe Tucker; it is this connection that Phoebe was able to use to convince Simon Girty to buy her freedom from the Indians.

• Revolutionary War
  • In 1776 Thomas is again serving under Capt. David Scott performing the duties of a spy. He was responsible for reporting on Indian movements. He was discharged jointly with his brother in 1777.^[8]
  • In 1777 Thomas served as a private under Capt. James Booth Command in the capacity of a Ranger or spy.^[9] On 2 Dec 1817 the Virginia House of Delegates heard the petition of Thomas Cunningham during general assembly. There it was stated that he was stationed at Coon's Fort; serving 91 days and is unable to provide documentation as it was burned up when the Indians burned his house. The House of Delegates ordered the petition and supporting documentation be forwarded to the Committee of Claims.^[10]
  • Thomas and his other brothers would often hire themselves out as guides to the westward bound wagon trains. It is most likely that was where Thomas was during the time his house was attacked by Indians and his wife was taken captive. Family History states that Thomas and his brother Edward took turns watching each other's families while the other was off being guide to wagon trains. This would explain their always living beside each other and moving together.

• June 1785

This is the fateful time when the Shawnees captured his wife and murdered four of his children.

• Thomas and his wife Phebe moved to Bingamon Creek and built a log cabin, next to Edward. In 1785 while Thomas was away on a trading expedition, a Shawnee entered Thomas' cabin as they gathered around the dinner table. Edward, keeping an eye on his brother's place, noticed the Shawnee enter and aimed his gun through an opening in his cabin. An exchange of gunfire occurred. In the ensuing attack, the Shawnee party killed three of Thomas' children, took his wife and infant captive. Edward and his family fled into the forest. The Shawnees returned during the night to rob and burn both cabins.^[11]

• In 18 Sep 1797 Thomas sold the 400 acres on Beards Run in separate parcels to his brother, Adam, his nephew William and the last portion to Moses Star. (I wonder if this Moses Starr is related to Thomas' nephew's wife?) Reynolds-2390 23:01, 5 April 2013 (EDT)

Thomas owned land on the left fork of Bingamon's Creek, referred to as Cunningham's Run in 1773. We know this since his brother, Edward, is recorded as purchasing land adjacent to his land.

• Thomas, a Religious Man

There are at least two books that state Thomas was a Minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church and received his license in 1817. ^[13] There is also a monument stating this to be fact in addition to taking part in the establishment of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Ritchie County. I have been unable to locate documentation to prove this.

Thomas died 2 Jun 1826, I could not locate a death certificate to document his death. The popular date, is 3 Jun 1826. His veteran grave stone only states that he died in the year of 1826. If you look at the Revolutionary War Papers concerning Thomas, there is a letter from the US Government, Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section, that specifically states Thomas passed away on 2 Jun 1826.^[14] This letter cited the date that, Thomas' wife, Phebe Tucker, cited in the Revolutionary War Pension Application.

Thomas and his brother, were truly outstanding pioneers. Thomas' wife, Phebe exhibit the strength and character of what a pioneer in the Colonial times was required to have in order to live in the new country. I can't help wonder how many other ancestors were subjected to similar circumstances and their stories died with them.

Headstone Application for Revolutionary Soldier

R. C. Beal, completed an application on 6 Nov 1934 for a headstone for Thomas Cunningham, stating he was a Revolutionary Soldier serving in the James Booth Company and died in 1827. He states the name of the cemetery as being "Just Rural Burying Ground" located in Smithville, West Virginia. He requested it be shipped to himself at Ellenboro, Ritchie County, West Virginia. He provides the local post office as being in Burnt House, Ritchie COunty, West Virginia. The headstone was ordered to be delivered on 24 Nov 1934.

Sources

1. ↑ Page 12 of "A Woman of Courage on the West Virginia Frontier
2. ↑ now Marion County West Virginia
3. ↑ Part 10 of Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare
4. ↑ http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/cunningham/pats?raw=1
5. ↑ Page 221 of History of Early Settlement Indian Wars
6. ↑ Va #S.923
7. ↑ War Pension Record 5056
8. ↑ War Pension Record 5056
9. ↑ VA 3291
10. ↑ Page 11 of Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates
11. ↑ Page 99 of History of Harrison County
12. ↑ Haymond, Henry. "Early Settlements West of the West of the Mountains." History of Harrison County, West Virginia: From the Early Days of Northwestern Virginia to the Present. Morgantown, W. Va.: Acme Pub., 1910. Page 25. Print.
13. ↑ Page 71, History of Ritchie County and page 860, West Virginia and its People
14. ↑ Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section Commissioner Winfield Scott, Letter, 4 Aug 1828

• Thompson, Robert. A Woman of Courage on the West Virginia Frontier: Phebe Tucker Cunningham. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2013. Print.
• Harrison County, Virginia, Book D, Vol 4 Page 97
• Wills, DeHas S. History of Early Settlement Indian Wars, Western Virginia. PHILADELPHIA: H. HOBLITZELL, 1851. Print.
• Veterans Affairs record Va #S.923
• Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates, . Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Richmond: Thomas Ritchie, Printer of the Common Wealth, 1817. 11. Print.
• http://archive.org/stream/historyofearlyse00deha/historyofearlyse00deha_djvu.txt
• Harrison County Deed Book 1, Pages 163 to 165
• Thomas , Miller and Hu Maxwell. West Virginia and its People, Volume 3. III. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913. Print.
• Lowther, Minnie. History of Ritchie County. Wheeling: WHEELING NEWS LITHO. CO., 1910. Print.
• Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare
  • http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/Chronicles-of-Border-Warfare-Alexander-Scott-Withers.html
• NSDAR Patriot Ancestor, dar-number = A028669
• U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Terri Rick for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Terri and others.