Private, Virginia Militia, Revolutionary War, June 1776 to 1781 (intermittently). Served in Capt. Bowen's Company, Colonel Campbell's Regiment and later in Colonel Barnett's Regiment. After moving to Kentucky in 1782, took part that fall in a campaign against Shawnee Indians north of the Ohio River, led by George Rogers Clark.

Although his pension application indicates that he was a Private in the Virginia "Line", the word "line" was preprinted on the form. Rather than the Continental Army, it is evident from the number of times that he was drafted, from the short periods of time that he served, and from the officers that he served under, that Thomas was repeatedly "called up" to serve in the Virginia *Militia.*

We should also not misconstrue his service as a "spy." His use of "ranger *or* spy" and the fact that he was stationed on the frontier tells us that his job was more what we would today call a "scout." And he didn't say that he was a ranger *and* a spy. He instead used those two words as if they were synonymous.

According to his pension application W-9124 of Aug 1833, Thomas was living in Washington Co. Virginia (what is now western Virginia, bordering the eastern tip of Tennessee) when he was first drafted in June 1776 and marched to Roberson's Fort, then stationed at Cowen's fort on the Clinch River for six weeks before being discharged. He was then drafted again for similar duty in September of the same year, and was drafted a third time in July of 1780 and marched to Surry Courthouse where he was detached under Captain A. Bowen and served as a "Ranger or Spy" in the vicinity of the Adkins & New Rivers for four months. Finally, he was drafted a fourth time in December 1780, and joined the Army (of Virginia) to fight Indians - occupying Cherokee Towns on the (Little) Tennessee & Hiwasee Rivers. He was then marched back to Washington County Virginia where he was discharged in March 1781. (This was part of the Cherokee Overmountain Campaign of 1780).

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SAR Patriot P-236181