| Birth: | 1756, USA | | Death: | Jun. 3, 1826
Fonzo
Ritchie County
West Virginia, USA | 
Revolutionary War Veteran. He married April, 1776 in Prickett's Fort, Marion County, VA/WV, to Phoebe (Phebe) Tucker.
Thomas and his brother, Edward, came to West Augusta County, VA about 1775 and located temporarily in the area of Fairmont, WV.
In May, 1777, Thomas and Edward enlisted in Captain James Booth's Company of Rangers. Their mission was to protect the settlers from Indian attacks in the newly formed state of Virginia. Captain Booth, a resident of Monongalia County, VA/WV, had been the first settler in the area in 1768. When he was killed by Indians on 16 June 1778, the Ranger Company was disbanded and Thomas and Edward, having served thirteen months, returned home.
In 1781, the Rangers were reactivated and Thomas was sent to Winchester, VA for a month to guard the British soldiers who had surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown. This was the end of Thomas' service.
By 1785, Thomas and Phebe had four children: Henry, Lydia, Walter and Thomas. On August 31,1785, while Thomas was away on a trading trip to Pittsburgh, an Indian entered the house, as Phebe and her children were eating at the table. When he was preparing to leave with his captives, the Indian tomahawked Walter, a two year old boy, and threw his body into the back yard. Phoebe was summoned to follow the Indian and, with one infant in her arms and two other children clinging to her, she did so, as her house was set on fire. Henry, the oldest son, age four, and Lydia, three, were then killed and scalped. Phebe and the infant were taken to a cave on Little Indian Run for the night. The infant was killed soon after and Phebe was taken into captivity. (Note: Hardesty's History states that one child was raised by Indians. Clarification of this point will be appreciated.)
Phoebe Tucker Cunningham, in captivity for over three years, was released in 1788 after intervention by Simon Girty.
Thomas and Phebe were reunited but did not return to their farm on Cunningham Run where the Indian attack had occurred. They established a home south of Clarksburg, in present-day Lewis County, and had seven more children: Rachel, John, Sara Leah, Phoebe, Barbara, Benjamin, Eva.
In 1807, they built a cabin on the South Fork of the Hughes River, a few miles above where Smithville is now located in Ritchie County.
Thomas and his son, William, became Methodist Ministers. Thomas continued to serve The Lord until his death, 3 June 1826, at the age of seventy.
Family links:
Children:
Rachel Cunningham Collins (1794 - 1882)*
Phebe Cunningham Hardman (1795 - 1871)*
*Point here for explanation
| | | Burial:
Cunningham Cemetery
Ritchie County
West Virginia, USA |
Created by: Maria Smith
Record added: May 03, 2007
Find A Grave Memorial# 19196612 |
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~American Patriot~
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Vicki
Added: Apr. 21, 2009 |
In memory of you.
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Your family
Added: Feb. 4, 2008 |
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