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Part of the American
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Jane Black Thomas 1720 ~ 1811
It is in wild and stirring times that such spirits as Jane
Thomas are matured and rise in their strength. She was a native
of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the sister of the Rev. John
Black of Carlisle, the first president of Dickinson College. She
was married about 1740 to John Thomas, supposed to be a native
of Wales, who had been brought up in the same county.
Some ten or fifteen years after their marriage Mr. Thomas
removed to South Carolina. Their residence for some time was
upon Fishing Creek in Chester District About the year 1762 he
removed to what is now called Spartanburg District and built a
home upon Fair-forest Creek, a few miles above the spot where
the line dividing that district from Union crossed the stream.
From being adjutant and captain of the militia, Colonel Thomas
was elected to lead the regiment raised in this district. In an
engagement with the British early in the Revolution he was taken
prisoner and sent to Charleston, where he remained in durance
until the close of the war. The district about his home was then
continually robbed and pillaged by British invaders. The Whigs
were robbed of their horses, cattle, clothing and every article
of property of sufficient value to be taken away. In this state
of things Mrs. Thomas showed herself a bright example of
boldness of spirit and determination. While her husband was
prisoner in a local jail before his removal to Charleston she
paid a visit to him and her two sons, who were his companions in
rigorous captivity.
By chance she overheard a conversation between some Tory women,
the purport of which deeply interested her. One said to the
others, "Tomorrow night the Loyalists intend to surprise the
Rebels at Cedar Springy." The heart of Mrs. Thomas was thrilled
with alarm at this intelligence, for Cedar Springs was within a
few miles of her own house, and among the Whigs posted there
were some of her own children.
Her resolution was taken at once for there was no time to be
lost. She determined to warn them of the enemy's intention
before the blow could be struck. Bidding a hurried adieu to her
husband and sons she was upon the road as quickly as possible,
rode the intervening distance of nearly sixty miles the next
day, and arrived in time to give information of the impending
danger. The moment this body of Whigs knew what was to be
expected a party of consultation was held and measures were
immediately taken for defense. So successful were their
strategic preparations that when the foe advanced warily upon
the supposed sleeping camp sudden flashes and shrill reports of
rifles revealed the hidden champions of liberty and the British
finding themselves assailed in the rear by the party they had
expected to strike unawares gave themselves over to overwhelming
defeat
The victory thus easily achieved was due to the spirit and
courage of a woman. Such were the matrons of that day! Not
merely upon this occasion was Mrs. Thomas active in arousing the
spirit of independence among its advocates, and another instance
of her intrepid energy is still remembered. Early in the war
Governor Rutledge sent a quantity of arms and ammunition to the
house of Colonel Thomas to be in readiness for any emergency
that might arise. These arms were under a guard of twenty-five
men, and the house was prepared to resist assault. When,
however, word was brought to Colonel Thomas that a large party
of Tories was advancing to attack him, he and his guard deemed
it inexpedient to risk an encounter with a force so much
superior to their own, and they retired, carrying off as much
ammunition as possible.
Mrs. Thomas was left alone with only two youths and a few women
to guard the considerable supply of powder and arms which was
necessarily left behind. The Tories advanced and took up their
station, supposing the place to be heavily guarded, and demanded
the treasure. Their call for admittance was answered by a volley
from the upper story which proved most effectual. The
old-fashioned batten-door, strongly barricaded, resisted their
efforts to demolish it Meanwhile Mrs. Thomas urged on the youths
to continue their fire from the upper windows, she loading their
guns as fast as they discharged them. Believing that many men
were concealed in the house and apprehending a sally, the enemy
retired as rapidly as their wounds would permit, little dreaming
that almost the sole defender of the house had been a woman.
Mrs. Thomas was the mother of nine children and her sons and
sons-in-law were active in the American service. She thus became
liable to some share in the enmity exhibited by the Royalists to
another matron against whom the charge, "She has seven sons in
the Rebel Army' was an excuse for depredations on her property.
If Jane Thomas had but five sons she saw to it that her
daughters married men who were both brave and efficient
patriots.
Mrs. Thomas was a woman of considerable beauty, with black eyes
and hair, fair complexion and a countenance sprightly and
expressive. Soon after the close of the war Colonel Thomas and
she removed to the Greenville District where they resided until
their death.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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