Colonel William Jenkins Thomas was born on May 25, 1796 in that part of Baltimore County, Maryland, which is now Harford County, Maryland. He was the son of Giles Thomas (Revolutionary Soldier) and Nancy Ann Wheeler, the daughter of Benjamin Wheeler and Mary Neale. Colonel William Jenkins Thomas married (1), on July 6, 1819 to Rachel Montgomery Hoge (b. March 29, 1800, d. July 22, 1828) the daughter of John Hoge (b. June 24, 1772, d. June 24, 1847) and Prudence (Montgomery) Hoge. He married (2) to Lucretia Howe (b. August 26, 1806, d. February 26, 1889) the daughter of Major Daniel Howe (b. September 30, 1758, m. August 28 or 31, 1790) and Nancy (Haven) Howe. William Jenkins Thomas omitted his middle name in writing. His father, Giles Thomas (b. November 30, 1763, d. March 21, 1842), was a soldier of the American Revolution and served under his uncle General Green, and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. His mother was Nancy Ann Wheeler of Baltimore County, now Harford County, Maryland was the niece of Bishop Neale of Maryland and close¬ly related to Charles Carroll of Carrolton, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. William Thomas came to Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia when he was about eighteen years old, had varied interests and became a leading citizen in the town of Blacksburg, and community. He was the last High Sheriff of Montgomery County when it extended to what is now Floyd, Pulaski & Wythe Counties. The title of "Colonel" went with the office. He was the leading merchant of the town with a store where the Black Logan County also stands. His resi¬dence was on the adjoining corner, now the site of the old bank building and the Center Drug. He was interested in a chain of Tan Yards. The hides were hauled by wagon to Buchanan or Lynchburg & shipped by canal to markets. All merchandise was brought the same way from Richmond & other points. He had an interest in the Montgomery White Sulphur Springs, a beautiful and popular summer resort at that time. At one time, it is said that he spent ten thousand dollars on the narrow gauge railroad that brought passengers from the North and West, connecting at Big Tunnel. For some time he served in the State Legislature. He also had a farm in the Roanoke Valley Section. There is no record of when he became a Presby¬terian, as his forbearers were Catholic. The old Presbyterian Church records tell of a meeting being "holden" on July 27, 1832 for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian Church in Blacksburg. William Thomas was elected Clerk of the first session & held the office many years. On December 16, 1832, he was ordain¬ed Ruling Elder in the Church. He gave the lot & laid the cornerstone for the first church built in 1848 and gave generously of his time & means toward its support. William Thomas died Feb 13, 1863 from pneumonia and is buried near his two wives and parents in the Westview (Blacksburg City) Cemetery. The death certificate of Colonel Thomas's youngest child, Julia Ellen (Thomas) Conway, states that her father was born in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland on May 25, 1796 and died in Blacksburg, Montgomery County on February 13, 1863. According to the tombstone in the Westview (Blacksburg City) Cemetery, he was born on May 20, 1796 and died on February 14, 1863 at the age of 66 years, 8 months, and 25 days. To William Jenkins Thomas and his first wife Rachel Montgomery Hoge were born 3 children: A son (maybe James) who married a Mary F (?) and had a son named Charles (b. ca. 1855 and d. 1864), John Montgomery and Rachel. To William Jenkins and his second wife, Lucretia Howe were born 5 children: Ann Elizabeth, Giles D., Mary Black (m. Achilles Luster – No Children), William H., and Julia Ellen (m. Dr. William Buchanan Conway).