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Thomas Gilliam Mrs. Raymond English 1103 14 October 2013 From Thomas to Thomas: Epic Lineage Stuff Looking back into my familys history is an interesting thing to do. Even my name is significant to my history. My last name is the family name of my dads side of the family. The family name of my moms side of the family is Thomas. So naturally, my last name was Gilliam, since that was now both my father and mothers last name, and then I was named after the Thomas family. The history books will put me in as a Gilliam, but because of my first name, I feel like I am also a part of the Thomas lineage. Genetically, I obviously am, but my name covers both sides of my family. I find that to be really cool. The Thomas family has a lot of history. From their roots in Germany to their multiple war heroes, I was surprised to discover all of the things they have actually done. Born in 1685 in Nusenberg, Baden, Germany, Johannes Thomas would be the man to bring the Thomas family to America. He married Anna Maria Blankenbuhler on November 18th 1711. They had five children. Their second child, Ursula Thomas, died at birth. (Mitchel) The remaining four would live to make it to Virginia. While the date the Thomas family left Germany and moved to Virginia is unknown, records show Johannes and Anna Marias children getting married in Virginia as early as 1729. In 1738, Michael Thomas was born in Culpeper, Virginia. He married Barbara Harensparger in 1770. They soon moved to Rockingham County in North Carolina. (Mitchell) This move put the Thomas family in North Carolina for the first time. They

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had a total of eight children. Their fifth child, James Thomas, is my great, great, great, great grandfather. James Thomas first son was named James Hamilton Thomas and he became the first war hero of our family. James Hamilton Thomas was born on July 23rd 1846 and was enlisted as a private in Company D, 27th North Carolina Infantry for the Confederate Army on July 31st 1864. (Harrison) At the time, he was only 18. During his service, he was injured in battle, but he maintained his love for his cause and even stated that his hero was Robert E. Lee. He claimed that Lee was the grandest man of his kind and loved his soldiers. (Harrison) James Hamilton Thomas had two wives. Interestingly enough, they were sisters. He first married Mary Alcorn and had two children. She died while she was still in her twenties. Afterwards, Thomas married her sister Sallie R. Alcorn. They had four children together. Sallie died in 1923. (Mitchel) Surprisingly, Thomas outlived both of his wives. This was due to the fact he managed to live to be 94 years old and was last surviving Civil War veteran in Rockingham County. Thomas went to the 75th Civil War Gettysburg Reunion with my great uncle Kenneth Thomas. Kenneth Thomas was the oldest brother of my grandfather, Wayne Thomas, who was 4 years old at the time. At the reunion, both James Thomas and Kenneth Thomas, who were 92 and 16 respectively, were able to hear a speech made by President Franklin Roosevelt. James Thomas youngest grandson was Cecil Dallas Thomas. Cecil Dallas Thomas was born on January 28th 1912 in Rockingham County. He graduated from Leaksville High School in May of 1929, graduated from N.C. State College in May of 1934, received Masters Degree from VPI in 1937, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army in 1934. (Thomas) Cecil Thomas participated in several important battles during World War 2. He landed on Omaha

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Beach in France as Commanding Officer of Company A of 741st Tank Battalion under intense fire, and fought through the beachhead on D-Day into France. By this point, he was promoted to Captain. His unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding action performed on June 6th and 7th 1944, and for his personal efforts during the Battle of Normandy, he was awarded the Bronze Star on August 17th 1944. On September 15th 1944, he was wounded while near the French-German border. He survived and received a Purple Heart. Cecil then managed to receive a second Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding action performed from December 17th to 19th in 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. Cecil finally retired from active duty on February 3rd 1946. He did remain in the army reserve. He married late in his life to Frances Thompson on January 27th 1962 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Cecil Thomas never had any children of his own, but he had 33 nieces and nephews. He died at his home in Raleigh on May 26th 1972. (Thomas) Cecil Thomas oldest brother, James Oscar Thomas, was the father of my grandfather, Wayne Philip Thomas. (Mitchell, Jill) Wayne Philip Thomas was born on April 15th 1934. He married my grandmother, Angie Lee Hill, on November 12, 1960. They had three daughters named Amy Hill Thomas, Jill Wayne Thomas, and Judy Claire Thomas. Jill Wayne Thomas is my mother. She married Brannon Lane Gilliam, my father, on November 16th 1991. (Mitchell, Jill) I was born almost three years later. It is really interesting to think about life that occurred before I even existed. If my ancestors could see me, what would they think? Would they think I am a good person? Would they consider me lazy? Would my struggles and challenges even be remotely close to theirs? I have found that when you look back you can gain a better perspective for when you look

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forward. There are people in my family that have traveled to a new country, fought in wars, and led their families to a better life. How will my legacy stack up in comparison to theirs?

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Works Cited Page Harrison, Ned. Veterans Gather for 75th Gettysburg Anniversary. News and Record. 28 Feb. 2001, late ed. Print. 6 Oct. 2013. (Harrison) Mitchell, Jill. Personal Interview. 5 Oct. 2013. (Mitchell) Thomas, Richard. E-mail interview. 13 Oct. 2013. (Thomas)