Individual Details

Of Amherst Co VA.

Unknown source on Ancestry Family Tree:
Cornelius Thomas, born 1736, Northampton, VA. His parents were Lucy Thomas and James Neville. He served in the Virginia Colonial Militia from Albemarle County in 1758 at the rank of Lieutenant. He was known in later life as Captain. After the war, he was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1761 representing Amherst County. He served in the House of Burgesses until 1771. As warden of the Amherst Parish, in September 1762, Cornelius and William Cabell, Jr. bought 204 acres from Aaron Higginbotham to be used as the Parish Glebe. The Glebe House still stands today North of Amherst. Cornelius owned large tracts of land in what is today's Amherst and Nelson counties. He operated a mill and ferry landing in Amherst County. The Thomas ferry pre-dates the Waugh Ferry. The site is where the Thomas Mill Creek flows into the James River. The ferry connected to the land of Nicholas Davis in Bedford County and to that of Cornelius in Amherst County. In 1783 Amherst County petitioned to establish Waugh's Ferry at the site of the old Thomas ferry. Cornelius was married twice, first to Sarah Henderson and then to Hannah Scott. Where and how he died is unknown, we thank he was killed in present day Nelson County close to Glade Rd where he owned 2000 + acres.


1752 - James Nevill of St Ann's Co, Albemarle writes his will Mch 1752
which is probated 9 Nov 1752 [Albemarle Wills 2:1]. Mentions sons: James Nevil, Cornelius Thomas the son of Lucy Nevil; daughters: Bethemiah Allen wife of John Allen, Johanna Brown & her son John Brown & her eldest daughter [not named], Hannah Matthews, Mary Douglas, Martha Nevil, Elizabeth Nevil (under 21), Judith Nevil (under 21), Sally Nevil (under 21); he appoints friends George Carrington & Abraham Childers executors [VA Hist Mag 37:169]

After 1784 - Chancery Suit in Williamsburg Chancery Court entitled Thomas vs Neville: Captain James Neville made his will 7 Mch 1752 & it was proved 9 Nov 1752. He m twice: By his first wife (name not given) he had:
(1) James Neville, who d 1784 leaving Lewis;
(2) Joanna Brown;
(3) Hannah Matthews;
(4) Mary Douglas.
By his second wife, Lucy Thomas, he had:
(5) Cornelius Thomas, born out of marriage, who m & had John, Cornelius, Elizabeth (m John Wood), Lucy (m James Lewis), Sally (m Thos Moore);
(6) Bethania, also born before marriage, m George Hilton;
(7) Martha m Henry Hobson;
(8) Elizabeth, d under age & unmarried;
(9) Judith m Robert Mitchell of Richmond;
(10) Sally m 1st Michaux & 2nd Vaughan & had a son Jacob Michaux & 3 daus, Sally m Christopher Haskins, Judith m 1st Wm Hendrick & 2nd Palmer, & Lucy m Tscharner Woodson.
The widow, Lucy Neville m 2nd Abraham Childress [Wm & Mary Q 19:61]

Spouse	Sally Henderson ( - )
Child	Cornelius Thomas (1771 - 1829)