From a posting in the RootsWeb archives by Robert Jones:
"The Arthurs came to Kentucky from Virginia in 1803. The family was an otable one in old Virginia. John Arthur was governor of Sumner Islein 1 640. In 1648, Governor Sir James Barkeley granted land to thefamily so uth of the James River where the Arthurs remained over ahundred years.
In 1780 Governor Jefferson made a grant of land in Western Virginia toC ol. Thomas Arthur, a Revolutionary hero and father of Capt. AmbroseArt hur.Col. Arthur died and is buried in Knox County, Kentucky."
Residences & events:
Caroline Co, VA where he was born and raised.
Military service: Bet. 1776 - 1783, served in French and Indian Warand R ev War
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications,1889-197 0
Name: Thomas Arthur
SAR Membership: 28810
Birth Date: 25 Jul 1749
Birth Place: Bedford, Virginia
Death Date: 8 Sep 1833
Death Place: Knox, Kentucky
Spouse: Sara Arthur
Children: Ambrose Arthur
1788, Was a delegate to Virginia Convention at Richmond and voted toad opt the constitution.
1800 Christian Co, KY
From The Alexander Stewart Family of KY:
In 1798, reflecting his restlessness...., Alexander and his familymov ed from Lee County, Virginia, to Knox County, Kentucky. This waslittl e more than fifty miles away. He settled in the Cumberland RiverValley i n an area between Turkey and Stinking Creeks a few miles fromthe villa ge of Flat Lick. “Flat Lick was a famous old place onthe Warrior's P ath, Boone Trace, and the Old State Road. Almost allearly explorers, p ioneers, and settlers mention it. Captain AmbroseArthur, who, with his f ather, Colonel Thomas Arthur, first settlednear ‘the Flat Lick!' about 1 800, told members of his family thatthere was, in reality, a large fla t lick near the old village. Almosta half acre of flat rock had been l icked bare by wild animals inquest of salt. Since that date the rock h as disintegrated, andvegetation has sprung up.”
1803 Flat Lick, Knox Co, KY
Again from the Stewart Family:
"First Circuit court was holden for Knox County at the Courthouse July1 , 1805.
The court proceeded to appoint a clerk and Richard Ballinger wasappoin ted their clerk pro tem. Whereupon he had the oath prescribedby the Co nstitution of the United States and the Constitution ofKentucky and th e laws of this state administered unto him and enteredinto bond with A lexander Stewart, Thomas Arthur, George W. Craig andPeter Engle, as hi s securities in the penalty of one thousand poundsand conditioned as t he law directs and is ordered to be recorded,which if in the words fol lowing, to wit:
Know all men by these present that we, Richard Ballinger, AlexanderSte wart, Thomas Arthur, George W. Craig and Peter Engle, of KnoxCounty an d State of Kentucky are held and firmly bound unto hisExcellency, Chri stopher Greenup, Governor of this Commonwealth forthe time being and h is successors in office in the just and full sumof one thousand pounds , good and lawful money of this Commonwealth towhich payment will and t ruly be made we bind ourselves, our heirs,executors and administrators j ointly and severally by these present,as witness our hand and seal thi s 1 July 1805.
Acknowledged in open court Jonathan McNeil. Richard Ballinger, AlexSt ewart, Thomas Arthur, George W. Craig, Peter Engle."
1810 Same place. At census time Thomas Arthur was over 45 years olda nd a family of 1 male age 26-44, 1 female age 10-15 and probably hiswi fe also over 45. He owned 4 slaves. Next door neighbors wereMartin M iller and William Patterson, both unknown names.
8/7/1820 State Rd, Knox Co, KY. He was listed in the next census asT hos Arthur Snr, over 45, living alone with his wife, also over 45,and 8 s laves. Four people were engaged in agriculture. Son ThomasJnr lived n ext door, farther down was a Fletcher family, relatives ofthe wives of s ons Ambrose and Thomas. Ambrose lived in South Eastside of Cumberland R iver, same county. In Lynncamp Creek Twp ofthat county, was John Art hur, also over 45.
1830 Same place. That year Arthur living in Knox Co, were Ambrose,Jo seph, Margaret, Thomas Sr and Jr. Having lost his wife, ThomasArthur S r lived alone at 70-79 (actually 81). The slave total hadgrown to 12. N ext door were daughter Milly and Robert Gregory, sonThomas was still d own the road. Three doors down on the next pagewere son Ambrose, daug hter Sarah and John Goodin plus daughterElizabeth and George Leath. .
Will of Thomas Arthur from Abstract of Early Kentucky Wills &Inventory , Knox County Book A, page 141 (genealogy.com): KnoxCounty...Book A... 1801-1842
Arthur, Thomas. Dated May 17, 1828, Proved Oct. Court 1833.
Son; Ambrose. Son-in-law Gregery and wife Milly.
Other legatees; negroes, Mary, Lucy, Jack.
EX: Ambrose Arthur.
Wit: James Save, Lyne S. Kenningham, Wm. Baker,Sr., Benj. Gregory,Blag grove Hopper, Matthais W. Cain, Coleman Rice.
The Children of Thos. Arthur not mentioned in will were: JeannaMcSpadd en, Elizabeth Leash, Mary Baker, Sally Goodin, SusannahStewart, Thos. A rthur, Jr.
According to Nora Brashear at FindaGrave, Thomas emancipated hisslaves u pon his death.
