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they reached the camp, apparently without being detected, the loyalist forces attacked, expecting to carry out an ambush. However, thanks to Jane Thomas's information, the patriot forces were able to open fire from their secure positions, and thus inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking army. In this way, 60 patriots were able to repel and roundly defeat an attacking force of around 150 loyalists. The men of the
Spartan Regiment had become downtrodded by the events of the war, but this win followed by the news of another group of patriots' success at Huck's retreat, which occurred that night about 50 miles (80 km) away, improved their morale.
355:
256:
291:, operating close to the frontier and involving significant amounts of active service. Colonel Thomas led his regiment into a battle with Native Americans in 1776. When that campaign ended, and the Native Americans sued for peace, Thomas was entrusted with the protection of a long section of the frontier. He retained his command until after the
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924:
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Jane Black Thomas was also a staunch whig. Learning of
British plans to attack patriots at Cedar Spring, she rushed the intelligence to American forces. As a result, the patriots were able to spring an ambush. She boldly defended a cache of weapons stored in their place. Both John and Jane Thomas are
163:
had the mission to take control of
Carolina. Leaders of the patriots in South Carolina created and distributed Articles of Association to identify and obtain the signatures of the people who would fight against the British government. The Thomas family, including their sons-in-law, were committed to
111:
William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb state that Jane Thomas' intervention before "the Battle of Cedar
Springs helped launch a resurgence of Patriot fortunes in South Carolina, and brought a much-needed boost in morale." Markers were erected to honor Jane and her husband Col. John Thomas for their
383:
The rebels were therefore able to prepare measures for self-defense, withdrawing to the surrounding woods a short distance from their campfires, which were prepared to burn as brightly as possible. At that point, they heard from a distance the loyalist forces approaching their camp by stealth. When
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were led by her son John Thomas, Jr. after her husband Col. Thomas was captured. On July 12, 1780, the day after hearing the news Jane Thomas resolved to notify the rebels of the news, and left quickly from Ninety Six, riding 60 miles to relay the information to her son of the impending attack. She
298:
As soon as the news of the surrender of
Charleston reached the borders of the State, Thomas and other colonels drew up plans to concentrate their forces to protect the country. They were impeded in this by Colonel Fletcher, who remained in the area, and informed some British troops who had recently
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had entrusted to his keeping, Col. Thomas fled with his band of twenty-five men, taking with him a part of the powder. Two men and two women were left in charge of the house, which was attacked by the Tories. The two men were her son-in-law Josiah
Culbertson (Martha's husband) and her son William.
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The other women were her daughters. Thomas and her grown children loaded the guns for
Culbertson, and a continual firing was kept up until the assailants withdrew, believing that there were more men at Thomas's house. It is said that the ammunition that she saved was the main supply for
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While visiting her husband and two sons in Ninety Six, Thomas overheard a conversation between some Tory women, hearing one of them say: "To-morrow night the loyalists intend to surprise the rebels, at Cedar Spring." The
Spartan regiment that was posted at the
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At the
Thomases' house, Ferguson took what he could, including enslaved people, household goods, and their livestock. The result was that anything that the soldiers could carry away was taken, and they attempted to destroy their home and farm.
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particularly focused on a relentless campaign against the Thomas family and the patriots that were loyal to them. Ferguson's troops stole their livestock, took their enslaved people, and stole or destroyed their possessions.
112:
contributions during the
American Revolution. A monument was installed by the Greenville County Historical Preservation Commission and Mark III Properties and a highway marker was installed by the Spartanburg Chapter of the
174:
armies clash, and the significance is magnified when those involved are friends and neighbors and kin, some on one side, some on the other. This kind of fighting would go on for almost two years, and not
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In the last few years of the war, life became very difficult. Loyalists had stole livestock, ruined crops, and set fire to barns. Women and children did not have the food and clothes that they needed.
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The Torys who lived in the area were encouraged to make life difficult for the patriots, who were subject to attacks, having their property stolen, and their houses destroyed. Colonel
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155:, like other colonies, people were essentially at war with their neighbors. The Thomas family—Jane, John, their children, and their children's spouses were all patriots. After the
144:. Colonialist's allegiances could be decided by their means of income, for example, if their livelihoods relied on trade with England, they might then have more loyalty to
362:
Colonel Thomas was captured. Too old to flee, he was forced to accept protection, hoping to be allowed to live with his family. However, he was arrested and imprisoned at
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366:, as were her sons Abram and Robert. The men suffered from poor, minimal food and disease. Jane was allowed to bring supplies to her husband and sons. Abram died there.
948:
974:
A roster of Revolutionary ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution : commemoration of the United States of America bicentennial, July 4, 1976
275:, the church that she was affiliated with for much of the rest of her life. The building was made of logs in the 1770s. Thomas and her husband owned enslaved people.
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Her eldest son Col. John Thomas, Jr. rose during the war from the rank of captain to succeed his father in the command of the Spartan regiment, commanding at the
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William was also a soldier, wounded at the Battle of Mudlick Creek. He, his mother, and his sisters protected their house from an attack by the Loyalists.
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466:. It was erected by the Greenville County Historical Preservation Commission and Mark III Properties in 2019. For Jane, the marker says,
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John Thomas was a magistrate and a captain of the militia, for many years. He resigned from both positions before the outbreak of the
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439:), where they lived the rest of their lives. They both died in 1811, Jane on April 16, as was published in her obituary in the
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arrived in the area, as well as a loyalist cavalry regiment 30 miles (48 km). These forces were united, and surprised
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Martha, one of the daughters, married Josiah Culbertson, who received a captain's commission towards the close of the war.
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Col. Thomas was transferred from Ninety-Six to Charleston, where he remained until near the close of the war.
220:, becoming Jane Thomas. John also grew up in Chester County and he is thought to have been a native of Wales.
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was forced to abandon the country or accept British protection, with many of them fleeing to North Carolina.
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Jane Black, the daughter of Annabelle (Waters) and Robert Black, was born about 1720. She was a native of
132:(1775–1783) as to what side had their allegiance. Loyalists aligned with the British and the English King
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Capt. Robert Thomas, another son, was killed in Roebuck's defeat at the Battle of Mudlick Creek.
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When small numbers are involved, a few deaths have as much impact as hundreds or thousands when
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They were also said to have first settled along Fishing Creek in the Chester District in 1755.
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Gallantry in Action: A Biographic Dictionary of Espionage in the American Revolutionary War
178:
all were small fights—some backwoods encounters would involve hundreds of men on each side.
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After the end of the war, in 1785, John and Jane Thomas moved to Greenville district (now
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327:, a British officer, incited such behavior and became directly involved in the activity.
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forces at the meeting point before the others arrived. Within a short time, almost every
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1108:. National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 1905. pp. 145–146.
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159:(May 12, 1780) the infighting became more fierce in South Carolina. British General
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488:, another notable woman from the Fishing Creek area during the Revolutionary War
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On hearing that a large party was approaching to seize the ammunition that Gov.
839:"Coordinates for where Kelsey Creek flows into Fairforest Creek in Spartanburg"
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Abram, who was wounded and captured at Ninety Six, died in enemy imprisonment.
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Thomas had nine children, and her sons and sons-in-law were active soldiers:
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The old Island Ford Road at Ninety-Six National Historic Site, South Carolina
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1170:. Original from the New York Public Library: Baker and Scribner. pp.
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The approximate area where Kelsey Creek meets up with Fairforest Creek is
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John Thomas received a land grant in 1754 for 600 acres in what was then
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The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas
252:. Thomas and her family attended the Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church.
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buried here, in sight of their home, later owned by S.C. Chief Justice
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for 800 miles (1,300 km) and settled in the Camden District along
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erected a monument for "Col. John Thomas and his wife Jane Thomas" at
108:. She passed key intelligence that thwarted an ambush of Whig forces.
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is met by Kelsey Creek. Thomas was one of the first members of the
1181:"South Carolina Biography: Revolutionary Women: Jane Black Thomas"
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Jane, the third daughter, married Captain Joseph McCool or McCoal.
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254:
1158:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
1186:. South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission
459:, recognizing both as heroes of the American Revolutionary War.
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protecting their homes and to fight against the Loyalists.
629:
The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America
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897:
872:
870:
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Mahoney, Harry Thayer; Mahoney, Marjorie Locke (1999).
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A marker for "Col. John and Jane Thomas" is located in
1038:
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976:. Evansville, Indiana: Unigraphic. 1976. p. 634.
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Bennett, William J.; Cribb, John T. E. (2013-04-08).
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People of South Carolina in the American Revolution
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554:This could also be Col. Thomas Brandon of the 2nd
468:
169:
1233:People from Spartanburg County, South Carolina
1228:People from Greenville County, South Carolina
1127:"Col. John and Jane Thomas Historical Marker"
1105:Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine
661:"American Experi nce: Loyalists and Patriots"
8:
918:
916:
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802:. University Press of America. p. 299.
949:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography
380:arrived at night, having evaded the enemy.
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208:and the sister of Reverend John Black, of
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428:Letitia was the wife of Major James Lusk.
287:. John Thomas was elected Colonel of the
96:(c. 1720–April 16, 1811) was the wife of
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453:Daughters of the American Revolution
443:. Her husband died later than year.
114:Daughters of the American Revolution
843:Geographic Names Information System
263:In 1762, they moved to what is now
265:Spartanburg County, South Carolina
14:
216:. She was married about 1740, to
104:who fought for the rebels in the
1223:Women in the American Revolution
1153:
922:
1164:Ellet, Elizabeth Fries (1849).
451:The Spartanburg Chapter of the
74:Brave contributions during the
632:. Thomas Nelson. p. 251.
273:Fairforest Presbyterian Church
1:
431:Esther married Robert Carter.
206:Chester County, Pennsylvania
44:Chester County, Pennsylvania
457:White Stone, South Carolina
240:). They traveled along the
238:York County, South Carolina
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437:Greenville, South Carolina
234:Province of North Carolina
153:Province of South Carolina
130:American Revolutionary War
76:American Revolutionary War
63:Greenville, South Carolina
567:The marker is located at
212:, the first president of
61:Greenville District (now
972:"Thomas, Jane (Black)".
952:. New York: D. Appleton.
668:Smithsonian Institution
370:Ambush at Cedar Springs
1179:Ingle, Sheila (2022).
477:
359:
345:Battle of Hanging Rock
267:, settling near where
260:
189:
586:34.99556°N 82.27750°W
533:34.85583°N 81.82861°W
464:Greer, South Carolina
357:
343:(August 1, 1780) and
341:Battle of Rocky Mount
258:
124:Men and women of the
86:Col. John Thomas, Sr.
943:"Thomas, Jane"
1208:18th-century births
1057:, pp. 257–259.
1030:, pp. 255–256.
1018:, pp. 254–255.
891:, pp. 251–252.
828:, pp. 250–251.
591:34.99556; -82.27750
582: /
538:34.85583; -81.82861
529: /
473:John Belton O'Neall
142:War of Independence
106:American Revolution
360:
347:(August 6, 1780).
339:'s command in the
293:fall of Charleston
261:
161:Charles Cornwallis
157:Fall of Charleston
1069:, pp. 19–20.
809:978-0-7618-1479-5
639:978-1-59555-375-1
401:Battle of Cowpens
301:Colonel Brandon's
285:Revolutionary War
279:Revolutionary War
214:Dickinson College
126:Thirteen Colonies
91:
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58:(aged 90–91)
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325:Patrick Ferguson
319:Attack by Tories
289:Spartan Regiment
269:Fairforest Creek
259:Fairforest Creek
242:Great Wagon Road
193:Patrick Ferguson
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846:. Retrieved
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56:(1811-04-16)
1213:1811 deaths
589: /
536: /
218:John Thomas
98:John Thomas
94:Jane Thomas
20:Jane Thomas
1202:Categories
1190:2023-04-02
1136:2023-04-02
1091:Ingle 2022
1079:Ellet 1849
1067:Ingle 2022
1055:Ellet 1849
1043:Ingle 2022
1028:Ellet 1849
1016:Ellet 1849
999:Ellet 1849
987:Ingle 2022
906:Ellet 1849
889:Ellet 1849
877:Ellet 1849
862:Ingle 2022
848:2023-04-03
826:Ellet 1849
773:Ingle 2022
754:Ellet 1849
739:Ingle 2022
727:Ingle 2022
715:Ingle 2022
700:Ingle 2022
688:Ingle 2022
606:References
577:82°16′39″W
574:34°59′44″N
524:81°49′43″W
521:34°51′21″N
364:Ninety Six
200:Early life
134:George III
120:Background
30:Jane Black
938:Fiske, J.
146:The Crown
480:See also
210:Carlisle
191:Colonel
181:—
138:Patriots
1148:Sources
305:patriot
232:in the
151:In the
35: (
33:c. 1720
806:
636:
447:Legacy
82:Spouse
1184:(PDF)
1174:–262.
664:(PDF)
493:Notes
309:Broad
236:(now
804:ISBN
634:ISBN
311:and
51:Died
37:1720
26:Born
1172:250
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