THOMAS NORRIS

1/23/1756 - 4/02/1818

Private, fought in Maryland,

[D-3] Old Cemetery

By Jan Manos

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Thomas Norris was born in Harford County, Maryland, January 23, 1756.  He was the son of John Norris and Susannah Bradford.  At the time of his birth, the Norris family had been in Maryland for over 125 years beginning with Thomas’ 3 times great grandfather, also named Thomas Norris.  Thomas Norris lived in Maryland during the American Revolution.  He served as a Private in the militia under Col. William Smallwood and Capt. John H. Stone, in the 1st Company, Maryland Regiment.  His service has been documented and proven by the Daughters of the American Revolution.  His Patriot number is A084439.

 

Thomas Norris had a twin sister named Sarah.  They were born in Harford County, Maryland which today is just north of Baltimore.  The following was written by a family member in 1930, describing Thomas Norris, “He was educated in the schools of Baltimore, Maryland.  In 1776 he and his brother, John, enlisted as Privates in Captain John H. Stone’s Company, 1st Maryland Regular Troops.  In 1778 Thomas signed the Oath of Allegiance.”  Following his military service, Thomas married Sarah Ann Billingsley, daughter of Francis Billingsley and Asenath Howell about 1782/1783 in Harford, Maryland.  Sarah, like Thomas, was born in Harford County, Maryland.  She was born in 1767.  The Billingsley and Howell families both arrived into Maryland in the mid 1600s.  Francis Billingsley was a staunch Quaker.  In 1778 he signed the Oath of Allegiance.  In 1780 he was drafted to serve as a member of the Grand Jury of Harford County.  He sacrificed his religious principles and accepted this duty to his County and Country.  He was made Foreman and was the only member of this jury who was reappointed and served until 1783.  His service has been proven and documented by the Daughters of the American Revolution.  His Patriot number is A010181.

 

The family history continues, “Thomas Norris moved to Wilkes County, Georgia the latter part of the year 1786, and there is a letter written by him dated April 1787 to his brother, John Norris, in Harford County, Maryland, in which he mentions a piece of land he bought which he intended to open up in the fall.  His brother, Alexander Norris, either moved to Georgia with him or followed shortly afterwards as Alexander was recipient of a grant of land, 108 acres, in 1789.  His father-in-law, Francis Billingsley, followed him to Wilkes County, Georgia late in the year 1789 or early in 1790.  There he accumulated considerable land, built a house and a mill.”  Both the Norris family members and the Billingsleys at this time worked the land and were slave holders.  Again we see a group of family members all migrating southward together.   

 

Thomas Norris and Sarah Billingsley had 12 children: 

   Asenath Ann b. 1784/85

   Alexander b. 1786

   John Bradford b. 1787

   Benjamin Billingsley b. 1789

   baby Norris b. 1791

   Susan b. 1794

The first child Asenath Ann was born in Harford County, Maryland and the rest of the children were born in Georgia.

 

The family story continues, “He (Thomas Norris) was an old line Whig and the family Methodists.  There is evidence to warrant statement that he was a member of the Masonic fraternity tho the lodge in which he was made a Mason is not known.”  Norris was an attorney and purchased the Roger’s House in 1817.  City records say the family business was manufacturing.  Norris died in 1818 without leaving a will but Sarah’s children made sure she was financially secure.  Sarah continued living in Madison in the Rogers house until June of 1824.  At that time she moved to Dallas County, Alabama with her son John B. Norris, an attorney, and his family.  She is buried in an unmarked grave in the old cemetery in Cahaba, Alabama.  She died prior to 1827 because “the State of Georgia in 1827 issued certificates for land for Revolutionary service to solders, their widows, or heirs.  Thomas Norris died in 1818, Sarah, as widow, does not appear, but Alexander Norris, eldest son and heir by law, does appear and was granted the land.”

 

In the Old Cemetery in Madison, the gravestone to the immediate left of Thomas Norris’ is that of his daughter, Emily Frances (Norris) Allen.  Her husband was Nathaniel Allen a prominent lawyer in Madison, later a Judge and also a planter.  They had a home in town and a large plantation of 800 acres “four miles north east of Madison, on Hard Labor Creek, adjoining the lands of Drs. Jones and Johnston, and Nathan Massey.”   One of Emily’s daughters was named Sarah Ann Allen.  She married a man 20 years her senior, Dr. Hugh J. Ogilby.  The gravestones directly in front of that of Thomas Norris, are children of Sarah Ann Allen and Dr. Hugh Ogilby.  The children would be Thomas Norris’ great grandchildren.  One stone is for Emma Ogilby who died as an infant, another stone is for Emily Ogilby, who died at one year and to the left of Emily Norris Allen’s marker is the stone of Nathaniel Allen Ogilby, who died at twenty, another of the Ogilby children.  That cluster of graves surrounding Thomas Norris represents four generations of his family.

 

Patriot Thomas Norris lived to be 62 years old and his wife, Sarah Billingsley lived to be 60.