Betty Thomas
Finger at the
Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY
We are now into our fourteenth year on the web. It is thrilling to hear from so many Marchant
Thomas descendants and I appreciate all the additions, corrections, and clarifications.
My husband & I have made regular research trips to Kentucky and to Washington, D.C. At the
National Archives we researched the Eastern Cherokee Applications for the Sizemore
families and spent much time researching Civil War pension records.
Our trip to Kentucky in 2005 included a visit to the the William T. Young Library at the
University of Kentucky in Lexington, where we spent a few hours viewing microfilmed copies
of the old Three Forks Interprise newspaper of Beattyville. In Frankfort, we made copies of
Confederate Pension Records at the Kentucky State Archives and spent some time looking for
old historic maps at the Kentucky Historical Society (picture above).
For my Thomas information, I have made it my policy to go to the most direct source
possible. I have consulted vital records, census records, pension records, and, wherever
possible, I have talked to or contacted direct descendants of each line. At times I have
used other sources as a starting point, such as the John J. Dickey Diary and the Arch &
James Bowman Works, and then tried to verify them with what sources are available today.
My research has included personal visits to Owsley County, Kentucky to interview descendants of Marchant Thomas and to document the
Griffith Cemetery with photos and research, as well as a fruitful visit to the Owsley County Library. We have also made research trips to
the Breathitt County Library and Historical Society, the Clay County Court House and
Historical Society, the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, KY, two trips to the South
Carolina Archives in Columbia, and the NARA (National Archives and Records Administration)
in Washington, D.C.
Accuracy is VERY important to me and I would appreciate it if you would
notify me of any inaccuracies or discrepancies you notice on my site. Together we can make
this a complete and accurate Marchant Thomas genealogy site. Please contact me with any comments,
corrections or additions.
Let's build a valuable & reliable Marchant Thomas descendants website!
Thanks to all of you Marchantonians out there who have
contributed to my research.