Thomas S. Blythe was born in 1848 at St. Marks, Florida, in the state of Florida in the United States. He was the son of William Blythe, a Stevedore, and Ellen Maria Shine Blythe. Thomas was a mariner by profession and mustered in as a Seaman in the Noyes Coast Guard, joining the Confederate service at St. Marks, Florida on October 9, 1861 at fourteen years of age. William Blythe, his father, born in 1820 in England was also listed as a Coxswain on Thomas's ship; having been mustered into the same company on October 8th 1861. Thomas Blythe was mustered in at the age of 14 on October 14th, six days after his father, for a term of 3 months, stationed at St. Marks, Florida.
Besides the Noyes Coast Guard unit, Thomas Blythe also enlisted aboard the CSS "Spray" on October 14, 1861 and later served aboard that same vessel as First Class Boy in September 1863. Thomas Blythe while aboard the Spray deserted to the Federals, just prior to the Battle of Natural Bridge. A man named Tom Bly, known to be Thomas Blythe, had been on board a Confederate warship, consisting of a small river steamboat manned with one gun, when he deserted and went to the Yankees; but after staying with them awhile he got homesick and returned. He then found himself as a deserter, facing a firing squad, but when he reported that a Yankee fleet was landing in the Gulf, close to St. Mark's and intended on making a speedy assault towards Tallahassee, he was informed that if his information proved true, the bullets of the firing squad would be turned in another direction; which is what occurred. The battle took place at Newport, Florida about twenty-four miles from Tallahassee, the Capital of Florida, on the St. Mark's River at Natural Bridge.
It seems no one has to date knows where Thomas S. Blythe went, what happened to him, when he died or where he is buried. It is assumed he may be buried in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia, as Florida State records reveal never returned to Florida; but nothing has yet been found to confirm his continued presence in Australia. He was though, a well known Australian after his arrival, and is therefore included in the Victoria section until information is disclosed to prove otherwise.
Besides the Noyes Coast Guard unit, Thomas Blythe also enlisted aboard the CSS "Spray" on October 14, 1861 and later served aboard that same vessel as First Class Boy in September 1863. Thomas Blythe while aboard the Spray deserted to the Federals, just prior to the Battle of Natural Bridge. A man named Tom Bly, known to be Thomas Blythe, had been on board a Confederate warship, consisting of a small river steamboat manned with one gun, when he deserted and went to the Yankees; but after staying with them awhile he got homesick and returned. He then found himself as a deserter, facing a firing squad, but when he reported that a Yankee fleet was landing in the Gulf, close to St. Mark's and intended on making a speedy assault towards Tallahassee, he was informed that if his information proved true, the bullets of the firing squad would be turned in another direction; which is what occurred. The battle took place at Newport, Florida about twenty-four miles from Tallahassee, the Capital of Florida, on the St. Mark's River at Natural Bridge.
It seems no one has to date knows where Thomas S. Blythe went, what happened to him, when he died or where he is buried. It is assumed he may be buried in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia, as Florida State records reveal never returned to Florida; but nothing has yet been found to confirm his continued presence in Australia. He was though, a well known Australian after his arrival, and is therefore included in the Victoria section until information is disclosed to prove otherwise.
Thomas S. Blythe was born in 1848 at St. Marks, Florida, in the state of Florida in the United States. He was the son of William Blythe, a Stevedore, and Ellen Maria Shine Blythe. Thomas was a mariner by profession and mustered in as a Seaman in the Noyes Coast Guard, joining the Confederate service at St. Marks, Florida on October 9, 1861 at fourteen years of age. William Blythe, his father, born in 1820 in England was also listed as a Coxswain on Thomas's ship; having been mustered into the same company on October 8th 1861. Thomas Blythe was mustered in at the age of 14 on October 14th, six days after his father, for a term of 3 months, stationed at St. Marks, Florida.
Besides the Noyes Coast Guard unit, Thomas Blythe also enlisted aboard the CSS "Spray" on October 14, 1861 and later served aboard that same vessel as First Class Boy in September 1863. Thomas Blythe while aboard the Spray deserted to the Federals, just prior to the Battle of Natural Bridge. A man named Tom Bly, known to be Thomas Blythe, had been on board a Confederate warship, consisting of a small river steamboat manned with one gun, when he deserted and went to the Yankees; but after staying with them awhile he got homesick and returned. He then found himself as a deserter, facing a firing squad, but when he reported that a Yankee fleet was landing in the Gulf, close to St. Mark's and intended on making a speedy assault towards Tallahassee, he was informed that if his information proved true, the bullets of the firing squad would be turned in another direction; which is what occurred. The battle took place at Newport, Florida about twenty-four miles from Tallahassee, the Capital of Florida, on the St. Mark's River at Natural Bridge.
It seems no one has to date knows where Thomas S. Blythe went, what happened to him, when he died or where he is buried. It is assumed he may be buried in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia, as Florida State records reveal never returned to Florida; but nothing has yet been found to confirm his continued presence in Australia. He was though, a well known Australian after his arrival, and is therefore included in the Victoria section until information is disclosed to prove otherwise.
Besides the Noyes Coast Guard unit, Thomas Blythe also enlisted aboard the CSS "Spray" on October 14, 1861 and later served aboard that same vessel as First Class Boy in September 1863. Thomas Blythe while aboard the Spray deserted to the Federals, just prior to the Battle of Natural Bridge. A man named Tom Bly, known to be Thomas Blythe, had been on board a Confederate warship, consisting of a small river steamboat manned with one gun, when he deserted and went to the Yankees; but after staying with them awhile he got homesick and returned. He then found himself as a deserter, facing a firing squad, but when he reported that a Yankee fleet was landing in the Gulf, close to St. Mark's and intended on making a speedy assault towards Tallahassee, he was informed that if his information proved true, the bullets of the firing squad would be turned in another direction; which is what occurred. The battle took place at Newport, Florida about twenty-four miles from Tallahassee, the Capital of Florida, on the St. Mark's River at Natural Bridge.
It seems no one has to date knows where Thomas S. Blythe went, what happened to him, when he died or where he is buried. It is assumed he may be buried in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia, as Florida State records reveal never returned to Florida; but nothing has yet been found to confirm his continued presence in Australia. He was though, a well known Australian after his arrival, and is therefore included in the Victoria section until information is disclosed to prove otherwise.
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