Thomas King III was born in Pitt County,North Carolina in 1780.His father,John King(1740-1804) served in The First Georgia Regiment Continental Troops in the Revolutionary War,was one of largest land owners in Camden County,Georgia.Thomas King's father married,Jane Morehead(1747-1788)of Morehead City,North Carolina in North Carolina before the family moved to Georgia.

Before coming to Florida Thomas King,in 1817, was a Private in the Camden County Georgia Militia under the command of Major William Bailey's Company.

On Nov 26 1818,Thomas King recieved a 257 acre Spanish Land Grant.The property was on the St Marys River in an area which was known as Live Oak Landing.He later added to his land holdings when he purchased an additional 250 acres from,William Haddock on May 2 1831.When Thomas took ownership of the Haddock property it was known as Mill's Ferry which he renamed King's Ferry.The town that developed around the ferry became King's Ferry,Florida.

Thomas King used the 3rd in his name to distinguish him self from two other,Thomas King's in Camden County,Georgia.

In about 1804 Thomas King was married to,Maria Theresa Woodland.Maria was the daughter of,James Woodland(1749-1801) and Elizabeth Richardson(1766-?)Thomas and Maria had the following thirteen children...

1)John King(Adams)b Jun 18,1805,d Sep 10,1874.Changed his last name to "Adams"

2)Sara Matilda King(Hodge) b 1807,d Apr 1860

3)George King b 1811,d ?

4)Hiram King(Adams) b 1813,d Jan 1846.Changed his last name to "Adams"

5)Josiah King b Sep 6,1814,d Sep 17,1895

6)Adeline King(Casey) b 1818,d 1885

7)Henry Perry King b 1820,d aft 1870

8)Andrew Jackson King b Jan 26,1823,d Sep 3,1871

9)Elizabeth Ann King(Ramis) b Mar 4,1825,d Sep 6,1860

10)Lawrence D King b 1829,d bef 1853

11)Mary King(Fox) b 1832,d Jun 1912

12)Ellen Mae King(Holzendorf) b 1834,d Oct 14,1854

13)Edwin R King b 1836,d 1900

Thomas King III was tried and convicted of murder.He was executed on May 8,1835 in the town of Jefferston in Camden County,Gerogia at the end of a hangman's rope for deeds that in the end are unspeakable.It was said that he accepted his fate and repented his actions.

After his hanging the following Newspaper notice appeared on page 2 of the Columbus Georgia Enquirer of June 5,1835..

"The execution of Thomas King 3rd took place in Camden County Georgia on Friday the 8th-altime,in conformity with the sentence of the law.He apparently suffered little in his speedy transit from time to eternity".

"The solemnity of the occasion seemed felt by all, while the exchange of the last farewell between the Father and his numerous family, rendered the scene deeply affecting.
During the last days of his confinement, he was well attended by Clergy------made a full confession of his guilt, and his mind seemed prepared for the awful change, which awaited him.Savannah Georgian--May 29".

In his last will and testament he named his wife Maria and son, Josiah King, as executors,naming his hairs as follows his wife Maria King and his children,Josiah King,Lawrence D. King,Edwin R. King,Andrew Jackson King,Elizabeth A King,Mary H King and Ellen M. King.His sons John,Hiram and George were not listed in his will,due to their envolvment in the Casey murders.He also did not list two of his older daughters,Adaline King,Casey and Sarah M King.While being held in jail John ,Hiram and George escaped and fled. John King fled to Mississippi and changed his name to John Adams.The remaining family that,Thomas King left behind in Florida make up all the descendants in Kings Ferry,Nashua County ,Citrus County and throughout the state of Florida.Descendant of the King Family have prospered and are many in the state of Florida and beyond.

John Harris 4th Great Grandson to Thomas King III

~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~~~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~