Thomas Farmer, my third-great-grandfather, was born in Montgomery County, Tennessee a few years before the start of the Civil War. Not much is known about him, even from the records we have.

Our first record of Thomas is the 1860, where he is four years old, giving him a birth year of about 1856. He was the only child living with his parents, Nancy (Mosier) and Wiley Farmer. Their post office was Clarksville in an area called at the time “North and East of Cumberland River, Montgomery, Tennessee”. He is incorrectly marked as female. (An 1860s “typo” of sorts.)

Thomas had a sister named Harriet that was born in 1850 (and is on the 1850 census) but is not on the 1860 census with the family. She likely died young. She is the only known sibling of Thomas.

On the 1870 census, Thomas is fourteen (birth year of 1856) and is living with his parents, Nancy and Wiley. He works as a farm laborer in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

In 1873, at the age of 17, Thomas marries Sarah Jane Watson. (Source: Volume 5, page 185) The exact date is not listed, and her name is listed as Jane Watson. She was 24 at the time of their marriage.

Their first child, Ellen Gray Farmer, is born October 7, 1876.

Daughter Harriett Almeda “Hattie” Farmer was born January 20, 1880.

On the 1880 census, Thomas was 24 and working as a farmer in Montgomery County, Tennessee. His age was consistent on all three censuses he appears on, so I feel safe to confirm his birth year was 1856. His wife, Sarah Jane, was listed as sick with the flu.

Daughter Addie Mary Farmer was born July 20, 1882. She is my great-great-grandmother. Last, Lillian Lee Farmer was born September 29, 1885. We know Addie and Lillian were his daughters by their death records.

Sarah Jane remarried to Robert Lawrence on November 10, 1895, meaning Thomas died sometime between 1885 and 1895. The 1890 census was lost to a fire, so we don’t have that to refer to. Various family trees list Thomas’ death year as 1889, not sourced.

Thomas lived a very short life, and I would like to know more about him along with when and how he died.

If any other descendants read this, I would love to hear from you! Please email downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.

All records can be found on Ancestry.com.