Son of Thomas Nelson Price Jr. and his second wife, Lucy Neil, of South Carolina. It's thought that Lucy died in 1926 at Columbia, SC but no death or burial records have been found.
In 1911 at the age of 16, Thomas and 4 other boys were reported missing and feared kidnapped in Columbia, SC. His mother was frantic, and asked the sheriff to help find him. A newspaper account indicates that 5 boys were missing, including one from Florida and another from Georgia, ranging in age from 16 to 20. Their plan? To ride the freight trains, "the world for us to see." Records show that all of the other boys eventually came home, but Thomas never returned.
Six years later a WW I Draft Card was issued to him. It indicated that Thomas had already served as a private for 6 months in the Hospital Corps, U.S. National Service. But in 1917 he was serving a prison term at the notorious Raiford Prison in Florida, noted for its chain-gangs and cruelty. It appears that the outbreak of The Great War came to his rescue as the nation was desparate for young recruits. He again served in the U.S. Navy during the war.
After leaving the Navy he went to New York City, apparently changing his name from Price to Darling when he arrived. Under the name Thomas Felize Darling he met and married Regina Flora (Pollenz) Von Mellenthin. The couple had three children together, Regina, Thomas Nelson Darling, and Neil Henning Darling.
The reason for his use of an alias is thought to be related to the prison sentence he served at Raiford, Florida. Some of his descendants believe he was involved in a jewel heist of some kind, but the details are murky, and he shared little of his early life, even with his children. Why he chose the name "Darling" is unknown, but some descendants believe that he adapted the name from the town of Darlington, South Carolina which was near his boyhood home.
His father-in-law, Herman Von Mellenthin, was a newspaper man and gave him training as a photographer, a profession he adopted. "When their children were young Thomas and Regina traveled around the horse racing circuit taking photographs of the riders and horses which was a huge sporting event back then." Sometimes they took the children with them. Eventually they settled in Middleburg, Virginia
Thomas again served in the U.S. Navy during WW II for a short period under the name Thomas Neil Darling.- first, as a Seamen 3rd Class, and then as Chief Petty Officer of Photography, but it appears that his past caught up with him and he was discharged after fewer than 12 months service.
Exactly why he ran away from home at age 16, abandoned his surname, and left no trace behind him is unknown. "Something was deeply troubling him throughout his life" writes his great grandson, Kenn Darling. "Was it his secret identity? The cruel affects of the Florida chain-gangs? The War? Nobody knows." Thomas died in 1955, apparently of alcoholism and arteriosclerosis.
~Bio by H Lee Price.
In 1911 at the age of 16, Thomas and 4 other boys were reported missing and feared kidnapped in Columbia, SC. His mother was frantic, and asked the sheriff to help find him. A newspaper account indicates that 5 boys were missing, including one from Florida and another from Georgia, ranging in age from 16 to 20. Their plan? To ride the freight trains, "the world for us to see." Records show that all of the other boys eventually came home, but Thomas never returned.
Six years later a WW I Draft Card was issued to him. It indicated that Thomas had already served as a private for 6 months in the Hospital Corps, U.S. National Service. But in 1917 he was serving a prison term at the notorious Raiford Prison in Florida, noted for its chain-gangs and cruelty. It appears that the outbreak of The Great War came to his rescue as the nation was desparate for young recruits. He again served in the U.S. Navy during the war.
After leaving the Navy he went to New York City, apparently changing his name from Price to Darling when he arrived. Under the name Thomas Felize Darling he met and married Regina Flora (Pollenz) Von Mellenthin. The couple had three children together, Regina, Thomas Nelson Darling, and Neil Henning Darling.
The reason for his use of an alias is thought to be related to the prison sentence he served at Raiford, Florida. Some of his descendants believe he was involved in a jewel heist of some kind, but the details are murky, and he shared little of his early life, even with his children. Why he chose the name "Darling" is unknown, but some descendants believe that he adapted the name from the town of Darlington, South Carolina which was near his boyhood home.
His father-in-law, Herman Von Mellenthin, was a newspaper man and gave him training as a photographer, a profession he adopted. "When their children were young Thomas and Regina traveled around the horse racing circuit taking photographs of the riders and horses which was a huge sporting event back then." Sometimes they took the children with them. Eventually they settled in Middleburg, Virginia
Thomas again served in the U.S. Navy during WW II for a short period under the name Thomas Neil Darling.- first, as a Seamen 3rd Class, and then as Chief Petty Officer of Photography, but it appears that his past caught up with him and he was discharged after fewer than 12 months service.
Exactly why he ran away from home at age 16, abandoned his surname, and left no trace behind him is unknown. "Something was deeply troubling him throughout his life" writes his great grandson, Kenn Darling. "Was it his secret identity? The cruel affects of the Florida chain-gangs? The War? Nobody knows." Thomas died in 1955, apparently of alcoholism and arteriosclerosis.
~Bio by H Lee Price.
Son of Thomas Nelson Price Jr. and his second wife, Lucy Neil, of South Carolina. It's thought that Lucy died in 1926 at Columbia, SC but no death or burial records have been found.
In 1911 at the age of 16, Thomas and 4 other boys were reported missing and feared kidnapped in Columbia, SC. His mother was frantic, and asked the sheriff to help find him. A newspaper account indicates that 5 boys were missing, including one from Florida and another from Georgia, ranging in age from 16 to 20. Their plan? To ride the freight trains, "the world for us to see." Records show that all of the other boys eventually came home, but Thomas never returned.
Six years later a WW I Draft Card was issued to him. It indicated that Thomas had already served as a private for 6 months in the Hospital Corps, U.S. National Service. But in 1917 he was serving a prison term at the notorious Raiford Prison in Florida, noted for its chain-gangs and cruelty. It appears that the outbreak of The Great War came to his rescue as the nation was desparate for young recruits. He again served in the U.S. Navy during the war.
After leaving the Navy he went to New York City, apparently changing his name from Price to Darling when he arrived. Under the name Thomas Felize Darling he met and married Regina Flora (Pollenz) Von Mellenthin. The couple had three children together, Regina, Thomas Nelson Darling, and Neil Henning Darling.
The reason for his use of an alias is thought to be related to the prison sentence he served at Raiford, Florida. Some of his descendants believe he was involved in a jewel heist of some kind, but the details are murky, and he shared little of his early life, even with his children. Why he chose the name "Darling" is unknown, but some descendants believe that he adapted the name from the town of Darlington, South Carolina which was near his boyhood home.
His father-in-law, Herman Von Mellenthin, was a newspaper man and gave him training as a photographer, a profession he adopted. "When their children were young Thomas and Regina traveled around the horse racing circuit taking photographs of the riders and horses which was a huge sporting event back then." Sometimes they took the children with them. Eventually they settled in Middleburg, Virginia
Thomas again served in the U.S. Navy during WW II for a short period under the name Thomas Neil Darling.- first, as a Seamen 3rd Class, and then as Chief Petty Officer of Photography, but it appears that his past caught up with him and he was discharged after fewer than 12 months service.
Exactly why he ran away from home at age 16, abandoned his surname, and left no trace behind him is unknown. "Something was deeply troubling him throughout his life" writes his great grandson, Kenn Darling. "Was it his secret identity? The cruel affects of the Florida chain-gangs? The War? Nobody knows." Thomas died in 1955, apparently of alcoholism and arteriosclerosis.
~Bio by H Lee Price.
In 1911 at the age of 16, Thomas and 4 other boys were reported missing and feared kidnapped in Columbia, SC. His mother was frantic, and asked the sheriff to help find him. A newspaper account indicates that 5 boys were missing, including one from Florida and another from Georgia, ranging in age from 16 to 20. Their plan? To ride the freight trains, "the world for us to see." Records show that all of the other boys eventually came home, but Thomas never returned.
Six years later a WW I Draft Card was issued to him. It indicated that Thomas had already served as a private for 6 months in the Hospital Corps, U.S. National Service. But in 1917 he was serving a prison term at the notorious Raiford Prison in Florida, noted for its chain-gangs and cruelty. It appears that the outbreak of The Great War came to his rescue as the nation was desparate for young recruits. He again served in the U.S. Navy during the war.
After leaving the Navy he went to New York City, apparently changing his name from Price to Darling when he arrived. Under the name Thomas Felize Darling he met and married Regina Flora (Pollenz) Von Mellenthin. The couple had three children together, Regina, Thomas Nelson Darling, and Neil Henning Darling.
The reason for his use of an alias is thought to be related to the prison sentence he served at Raiford, Florida. Some of his descendants believe he was involved in a jewel heist of some kind, but the details are murky, and he shared little of his early life, even with his children. Why he chose the name "Darling" is unknown, but some descendants believe that he adapted the name from the town of Darlington, South Carolina which was near his boyhood home.
His father-in-law, Herman Von Mellenthin, was a newspaper man and gave him training as a photographer, a profession he adopted. "When their children were young Thomas and Regina traveled around the horse racing circuit taking photographs of the riders and horses which was a huge sporting event back then." Sometimes they took the children with them. Eventually they settled in Middleburg, Virginia
Thomas again served in the U.S. Navy during WW II for a short period under the name Thomas Neil Darling.- first, as a Seamen 3rd Class, and then as Chief Petty Officer of Photography, but it appears that his past caught up with him and he was discharged after fewer than 12 months service.
Exactly why he ran away from home at age 16, abandoned his surname, and left no trace behind him is unknown. "Something was deeply troubling him throughout his life" writes his great grandson, Kenn Darling. "Was it his secret identity? The cruel affects of the Florida chain-gangs? The War? Nobody knows." Thomas died in 1955, apparently of alcoholism and arteriosclerosis.
~Bio by H Lee Price.
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