Philip Thomas (1693/94-1762)
MSA SC 3520-1246
Biography
Born: March 1, 1693/94, at West River, Anne Arundel County; eldest surviving
son.
Native: Third
generation.
Resided: "Lebanon," West River, Anne Arundel County.
Died: November 23, 1762, at "Lebanon," West River, Anne Arundel County, after
a long illness that had prevented him from attending meetings in
Annapolis since at least 1760.
Family
Background
Father: Samuel Thomas (ca. 1655-by 1743) of Anne Arundel County, a
Quaker, son of Philip Thomas (?-1675).
Mother: Mary (?-1751), daughter of Francis Hutchins (?-1698).
Brothers: Samuel (1690-died young); Samuel (1693-died young); John
(1697-?); and Samuel (ca. 1702-1780).
Sisters: Sarah (1689-1724), who married Joseph Richardson;
Elizabeth (1698-?), who married Richard Snowden; Mary (ca. 1700-?),
who married John Galloway; Margaret (1710- ?), who married
William Harris; and possibly Ann, who married Edward Fell.
Nephew: Evan Thomas (1738/39-1826).
Married: first, in 1721, Frances (?-by 1724), daughter of William
Holland (?-1732) and his first wife Margaret. Her stepmother was
Elizabeth (1664/65-1739), widow of Thomas Ennalls (?-1718) and daughter
of Roger Woolford (?-ca. 1701/2). Her stepuncle was Roger Woolford
(1670-1730). Her brothers were Francis (1691-?); William (1695-?); and
Thomas (?-1742). Her sister was Margaret (1701-?).
Married: second, in 1724, Anne (ca. 1707-1777), daughter of Samuel Chew
(1683-1736) of Anne Arundel County, a merchant, and his wife Mary
Harrison. Her brothers were Samuel (?-1736/37), who married Henrietta
Maria (?-1765), daughter of Philemon
Lloyd (ca. 1674-1732/33); Richard; and Francis. Her sister was Mary.
Her nephew was Samuel Chew (by 1734-1786).
Children
Sons:
William (ca. 1722-?); Samuel (1725-1784), who married his first
cousin Mary Thomas (?-1770); Philip (1727-1784), who married Anne
Harris Galloway; Richard (1736-?), who married in 1760 Deborah Hughes
of Cecil County; and John (1743-1805), who married Sarah
Murray.
Daughters:
Mary (1730/31-ca. 1762), who married first, Henry Hill
(?-1752), and second, Robert Pleasant of Virginia; and Elizabeth
(1732/33-1790), who married Samuel Snowden (1728-1801).
Private Career
Education: Literate.
Religious Affiliation: Quaker, associated with West
River Meeting, Anne
Arundel County. Thomas and his wife Anne were recorded as ministers of
the Society of Friends, 1756. When Thomas took his place on the Council
on January 27, 1741/42, he took the usual oath required by law of councillors.
Social Status and Activities: Esq., by
1749; Hon., by 1753.
Occupational Profile:
Planter, with contacts with London
merchants.
Public Career
Legislative Service: Upper House, 1742-1744, 1745,
1745/46-1748, 1749-1751, 1751-1754, 1754-1757, 1757-1758 (did not
attend), 1758-1761
(served only during 1st session), 1762 (did not attend; died before the
2nd session of the 1762-1763 Assembly).
Other Provincial Offices:
Council, 1741/42-1762 (qualified January 27,
1741/42); judge, Land Office, 1743/44-1746; justice. Provincial Court,
1744-at least 1746 (quorum 1744-at least 1746).
Local Office: Justice, Court
of Oyer, Terminer, and Gaol Delivery, Prince George's County,
appointed 1743 quorum).
Stands on Public/Private
Issues: Governor Horatio Sharpe (1718-1790)
described Thomas in 1755 as a councillor "not averse to writing to
Lower House" in contrast to other councillors who, although holding
lucrative public offices, "scarcely ..... have ever taken upon
themselves to pen a common message."
Wealth During Lifetime
Land at First Election: Probably 1,695
acres in Anne Arundel, Cecil, and Calvert counties (probably 500 acres
in Calvert County acquired through marriage to Anne Chew and his
355-acre home plantation in Anne Arundel County acquired as his share
of his father's estate; Thomas was probably living on the land prior to
his father's death).
Significant Changed in Land Between First Election and Death:
Purchased
1,707 acres in Baltimore County from his father-in-law's estate in
1752, but sold it to his sister-in-law Henrietta Maria Chew Dulany in
1758. Acquired 20 acres in Anne Arundel County by the time of his
death.
Wealth
at Death
Personal Property:
Total estate value, £408.14.3 sterling, £4,467.18.9 current
money (including 80 slaves, more than 716 oz. plate); Final balance, £408.14.3
sterling, £4,362.19.8 Maryland currency prior to distribution to heirs.
Land: 1,715
acres in Anne Arundel, Cecil, and Calvert counties.
Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al., eds. A Biographical
Dictionary
of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. Vol II. Baltimore:
Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1985, p. 810-811.
Return to Philip Thomas' Introductory Page
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