John Watson Triplett Thom (November 11, 1769 – May 22, 1855) was an American slave owner, planter and politician. He served in the Virginia Senate in 1815 and two terms in the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses 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 (United States), county located in the Northern Neck of the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population sits at 18,477. Its county seat is Montross, Virginia, Montross ...

, to Elizabeth (née Triplett) and Alexander Thom of

Gloucester County, Virginia Gloucester County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 38,711. Its county seat is Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia, Gloucester Courthouse. T ...

Career

Thom commanded a regiment of troops raised from Culpeper County for three years during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

. 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 Virginia Senate 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 19th-century members of the Virginia General Assembly