John Watson Triplett Thom (November 11, 1769 – May 22, 1855) was an American slave owner, planter and politician. He served in the

Virginia Senate The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virg ...

in 1815 and two terms in the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

Early life

John Watson Triplett Thom was born on November 11, 1769, in

Westmoreland County, Virginia Westmoreland County is a county located in the Northern Neck of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population sits at 18,477. Its county seat is Montross. History As originally established by the Virginia colony's ...

, to Elizabeth (née Triplett) and Alexander Thom of

Gloucester County, Virginia Gloucester County () is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,711. Its county seat is Gloucester Courthouse. The county was founded in 1651 in the Virginia Colony and is named for Henry Stuart, ...

Career

Thom commanded a regiment of troops raised from

Culpeper County Culpeper County is a county located along the borderlands of the northern and central region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 52,552. Its county seat and only incorporated community is Culp ...

for three years during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

. He was a large planter and inherited the "Berry Hill" estate in Culpeper County from his father. He owned about two hundred slaves. Thom served as a member of the

for at least two terms. He served in the

in 1815. He served as high sheriff of Culpeper County for three terms.

Personal life

Thom married Lucy Lewis (born 1783), daughter of Dr. John Taliaferro Lewis. They had three children, Lucy Lewis, John Catesby (1809–1881) and Warner Lewis. His wife died. Thom married Abigail de Hart Mayo, great-granddaughter of William Mayo, on July 27, 1815. They had one son,

Joseph Pembroke Thom Joseph Pembroke Thom (March 13, 1828 – August 21, 1899) was an American military officer and politician. He served in the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and served in the American Civil War with the Confederate States Arm ...

(1828–1899). Thom was a vestryman of St. Stephen's Parish, a Protestant church, in Culpeper County. Thom died on May 22, 1855, at "Berry Hill" in Culpeper County.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thom, John Watson Triplett 1769 births 1855 deaths People from Westmoreland County, Virginia People from Culpeper County, Virginia United States Army personnel of the War of 1812 American Protestants Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Virginia state senators American slave owners