The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-03-03
THE THOMAsEs.
Pioneer Families. Of Mason
COnnty-Their Ancestors and
OescendnIItB. M.
ny yIaoIL a. LEvls


ny WHO'LL A. LEWIS
This family is Of Welsh extrac.
tion and a representative Of one Of
the most renowned peoples Of
western Europe. Who, that has
read the history Of Wales, has not
seen 10 her people the most com
plete embodiment Of patriotism,
morality, religious sentiment, and
q strict adherence to all that tends
to elevate humanity to a higher
plain. The most ardent lovers Of
civil aud religious freedom, that
people from the time Of the over.
throw Of the Northumbrian King.
dom in the eighth century to the
present time, have been found ever
battling in its defense, and when
trampled beneath the iron heel Of
tyranny at home, they have sought
the priceless boon in other lands.
Such a one became the American
ancestor Of the Thomas family Of
Mason.
Within one mile Of the little vii
lage Of Brucetown, Frederick coun.
ty, in the lower part of the Valley
Of Virginia, is a beautiful country
homestead, and to itGrifith Thorn.
as conducted Rebecca Mccoy, his
happy bride, March 8, 1885. She
was a representative Of one Of the
oldest English families Of the Val.
ley and one long prominent in The
public affairs Of the Old Dominion.
Scarcely has a Constitutional OF
State Convention of any character
convened within her borders in
which has not sat a representative
of the Mccoy family.
Griffith Thomas continued his
residence at the Brucetown home.
stead, until October 8, 1904, when
he passed from among the living.
His wife survived him eighteen
years and died March 1, 1922
They had issue:
l, William, born December %,
1855; married and lived in Virgin.
ia. He died September II, 1884.
II, Benjamin, born July 20, 1888.
He came to Mason county in 1908,
and was long engaged in the mer.
chantile business. He was post.
master ut Point Pleasant in 1926,
aud in. that capacity served many
years, and represented Mason
county in the General Assembly Of
Virginia in 1929. He never mar.
ried and was killed by an engine
on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
near the present town of Piedmont,
West Virginia, January IA, 1858.
iii, Enos, was born August 70,
1889. About the year 1907, be, in
company with his brother Benja.
min, left the Valley and pushing
westward, reached the Ohio river
probably at Wheeling. Purchas.
ing a store.boat, they descended
the river, trading by the way and
reached Point Pleasant in 1908,
where both permanently located.
Benjamin continued the merchan.
tile business while Enos read med.
icine with DR., Jesse Bennett. whose
daughter, Maria Newell, be married
August IL, 1918. She was born in
Philadelphia, January, IA, 1894.
Her father, Dr.. Jesse Bennett, was
one whose life work was identified
with the early history and interests
Of Mason county, and for that rea.
son deserves more than a passing
notice. He was descended from a
family Of Norman French mer.
chants long at the head of the com.
mercial interests Of Rouen, the me.
sropolis of Normandy. In 1865,
they with the Beckets and many
others of the Interchangeable, fol.
lowed the fortunes of William the
Conquerer TO England, and for cen.
turtles the BENEFITS we're merchants
on "CheepSide" street, London.
c"see Green's History of the Eng.
lish People"). Imbued with the
energy and perseverance character.
istic Of the Norman race, represen.
tatives Of the family early found
homes in America. One branch
settled on the banks Of the Della.
ware, and here near the same SPOT
that gave birth to Daniel Boone,
the founder Of Kentucky, Dr.. Jesse
Bennett was born, July 10, 1859.
He married Elizabeth, the daugb.
ter Of Peter HOgg, the Kings Pros.
ecutorGeneral for the Colony Of
Virginia, who received his appoint.
ment as such, from George II, upon
the recommendation of the Earl Of
H9lderness. Dr., Bennett! resided a
short time in Philadelphia, but in
l7a7, in company with his brother.