The Portland daily press., 1872-08-06


Died in this city, August 5, at $40 p. m
Elias Thomas, Esq, aged 100 years, months
and % days. Thus has passed quietly away tn
last of family who have presented an extra
ordinary longevity. Asittle more than tw,
years ago three of them were alive; Miss Bets,
Thomas, who died at the age of Sc, Mrs. Happ,
Morris, who lived to see her ninety -eightl
birthday, and now the elder of the triad ha
followed Them Elias Thomas was the secont
son OF Peter Thomas, who came from Boston
prior to the Revolution. He was sailmakel
by trade and in 1885 his loft was ON Titcomb'>
wharf. In 1863 he married KerrenhappucB
Cox. daughter of John Cox and Sarah Proctor
| granddaughter of Anthony Bracket, who
once owned and occupied nearly the whole OF
what is now Bramhalls hill, and was a direct
descendent of George Cleaves, who in 1852 was
the first occupant and settler of Portland Neck,
under the original proprietor, Sir Ferdinando
Georges. The grandfather of Mrs. Peter Thorn
as, John Proctor, was executed for witchcraft,
in Salem, in 1852; so also was Rev. George
Burroughs at the same time and place. He
was man of education and respected life, and
preached in Portland from 1876 to 1880, when,
on the second utter overthrow of the town, he
sought refuge in Salem. Mr.. Burroughs daugh-
ter Elizabeth married George Thomas, the
first immigrant of his family from Wales to
Boston. Elias Thomas was his great grandson,
and thus in his veins was mingled the blood
OF two OF the most worthy victims of that fero-
cious tragedy which has left its damned spot
on the fair. escutcheon of New England, and
which will never OUT
Mr.. Peter Thomas lived first first on Back,
now Congress street, near Quincy street Here
Elias, the subject of this sketch, was born.
When the deceased was almost five years old,
the town was destroyed by Mowatt the British
commander, and he and his sisters were carried
to Stroudwater to escape the dangers of the
bombardmsnt. His fathers house was destroy
ed, and the family were absent until the recon
struction began. Portland, at the time of his
birth. was part or rarmourn; II was of
until he was fourteen years old. There was
then less than 1000 inhabitants. In 1879 he
was prosperous merchant engaged in trade
with Isaac Mcclellan. the ancestor of many of
the name now living here. In 1893 he married
Betsey Widgery, daughter Of Judge Widgery
Of New Gloucester, by whom he had seven
children, five of whom survive. She died in
1861. 1t would be interesting, if one had time,
to note even the local changes that have come
under the observation of this venerable man.
His lifetime also covers the most wonderful
epoch of modern history. He saw Portland
destroyed twice by fire, and it is a remarkable
coincidence that in each case he was taken,
nearly helpless, from his home to place of
safety He was twelve years old when the first
brick house was built in town, and Twenty-Five
whom Capt. Nathaniel Deering built the first
brick store at the foot of Exchange street. He
lived to see Portland twice rebuilt, and attain
to population of over 10000 and a valuation
of 500, 000, 900, and in the social and moral
world there has been equal growth. sra.
Mr.. Thomas was deputy collector of customs
for many years under Isaac Ilsey; and in 1928
succeeded the late Joseph C. Boyd as State
Treasurer, and occupied the office, by repeated
elections until 1881. Much of the landed es-
tate of his ancestor Bracket came down to him.
His wife also possessed large property in her
own right, and the care and improvement Of it
was his chief vocation. He was very pleasant
and genial in his intercourse with his fellow
citizens, prompt and exact in his dealings, but
never accounted mean. The closing years of
his life were surrounded by all the comforts
that earth could offer, dutiful family, who
paid him the reverence and bestowed the care
that his pleasant, kindly life and advanced
years demanded. To the last hours, almost, he
enjoyed the company of his acquaintance, and
though be had out-lived his early associates, he
was fond Of conversing Of old times with those
who came nearest to him in the experience of
the past His grandchildren and great-grand-
children were the special objects Of his love, and
it may be remembered that on the day he COM
pleted his hundredth year, one Of the latter was
brought to be christened in his room. The last
living link that connected as with the early
days of the Revolution is broken, and there are
very few, if any, remaining among as who saw
its closing scenes. Within the past eighteen
mouths four persons, who had reached centu-
ry have gone from us, and larger number who
had reached ninety-fve and upwards.