THOMASSON FAMILY BIBLE - MASSAC COUNTY, ILLINOIS File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John R. Thomason (© 2000 John R. Thomason) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Description of Bible: The Thomasson Family Bible consists of three leaves from a bible. The location of the bible from which the leaves were taken is unknown. The front of the first leaf is a marriage certificate of a type that was common in bibles of the era. The obverse of the first leaf is blank. The front of the second leaf is entitled, "Marriages," and the obverse is entitled, "Births." The front of the third leaf is entitled, "Deaths," and the obverse is entitled, "Memoranda." Each leaf is approximately 8 3/4 inches by 11 3/4 inches. Chain of Custody: Originally, the Thomasson Family Bible was owned by Richard Thomasson and wife, Rachel Louisa Shelby. The Bible then passed to (1) Richard Perry Thomason and wife, Malissia Wallace, (2) Charles Alexander Thomason and wife, Laura Hartness, (3) Perry Hugh Thomason and wife, Mable Cotter, and (4) Keith Thomason and wife, Betty Joyce Wheeler. The Thomasson Family Bible is now in the possession of John R. Thomason and wife, Melissia A. Henry. Supplemental Information: Richard Thomasson was born 1817 in Wilson County, Tennessee. He was the son of William Thomasson (born 1781 in VA) and Elizabeth (Betsy) Nichols Walker (born 1791 in NC). Richard Thomasson married Rachel Louisa Shelby. All of Richard Thomasson's children were born in Massac County, Illinois, except Michael Dwyer, who was born in New York City. Richard Perry Thomasson (often referred to as Perry Thomasson) was the son of Richard Thomasson. He was born January 18, 1858 in Massac County, Illinois. Richard Perry Thomasson married Malissia Wallace. All of Richard Perry Thomasson's children born before 1890 were born in Massac County, Illinois. The remaining children were born in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) or Texas. Certification: I, John R. Thomason, certify that the following is a true and correct transcription of the Thomasson Family Bible made from the original document on September 15, 2000. Transcriber's comments are placed in brackets ([]). ---------------------Begin Actual Transcription---------------------------------- [Page 1] This Certifies that Richard Thomasson and Rachel L. Shelby in State Illinois & County of Pope were solemnly united by me in the Holy bond of Matrimony at Charles A. Shelby on the 3d third day of february in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and forty two 42 conformably in the Ordinance of God, and the Laws of the State. [signed] Jacob Waganer In presence of Signed [signed] Willis Genly [signed] Richard Thomasson [signed] Francis Armstrong [signed] Rachel L. Shelby "Love One Another" [Page 2] Marriages [Children of Richard Thomasson] Sary Thomasson & Fredric Stroder was married October the 13th 1864 Saretta Thomasson and William Williford was married July the 31th 1861 Victory Thomasson and James Golightly was married June the 4th 1865 Charles Thomasson and Cristiett Lay was married June the 22 1868 Amanda Thomasson and Nathan Vick was married August the 27 1872 Cordelia Thomasson and James B. Reed was married March [blank space] the 1879 Perry Thomasson and Malissia Wallace was married July the 3rd 1881 William Thomasson and Mollie Lamb was married December the 30 1891 Perry Thomas children [Children of Richard Perry Thomasson] Malisie Edith Thomason [and] Lois [Lewis] Pitchford was married June 1st 1903 Cordelia Louisa Thomason [and] Fred D. Bedford " " Oct 12th 1903 Gertrude Thomason [and] Fred A. Edgmon [Edgemon] was married Sept 24th 1905 Charles Thomason [and] Laura Hartness was married Aug the 13th 1905 Bertha Thomason [and] Arnie Edgmon [Edgemon] was married 28 Nov 1905 Ethel Thomason [and] L A [Lee] Bedford was married 15 of April 1908 Nellie May Thomason and John H. Bounds were married Nov. 24, 1910 Richard P. Thomason and Clara B. Bedford was married [illegible, possibly Jan 1st 191?] Mary Thomason and J. W. [John] Davis was married February 1913 [Page 3] Births Richard Thomasson was born May the 19th 1817 Rachel L. [Louisa] Shelby was born February the 26th 1824 Sary E. [possibly, Elizabeth] Thomasson was born November the 8th 1842 Saretta Thomasson was born December the 20th 1845 Victory Thomasson was born January the 7th 1847 Charles G. Thomasson was born July the 2nd 1849 Amanda Thomasson was born December the 4th 1851 James A. Thomasson was born February the 8th 1854 Panetta M. Thomasson was born December the 29th 1855 Richard P. [Perry] Thomasson was born January the 18th 1858 Rachel L. C. [Louisa Cordelia] Thomasson was born February the 22nd 1860 William M. Thomasson was born August the 12th 1863 Michael Dwyer was born November the 1st 1839 [Rasied as family member] [At this point, the penmanship changes. The following are the children of Richard Perry Thomason, born 1858 in Massac County, Illinois] Melisie E. Thomason was born Aug. 22 1882 Charles A. [Alexander] Thomason was born Nov 28th 1883 Cordelia L. [Louisa] Thomason was born Mar. 3 1886 Bertha Thomason was born Aug. 22 1887 Ethel and Gertrude Thomason was born Nov 25 1889 Richard P. Thomason was born Feb. 24 1891 Nelie Thomason was born Jan 25 1893 Mary Thomason was born Mar 18th 1894 Shelby Thomason was born June 27, 1895 Myrtle Thomason was born Dec 27 1896 William Thomason was born July 30 1898 Wallace Thomason was born March 17 1900 [died in infancy] Isabel Thomason was born Oct 12th 1902 [Page 4] Deaths James A. Thomasson died on the 14th of March 1858 Michael Dwyer died on the 5th of January 1879 Richard Thomasson died on the 28th of February 1888 Pannetta [illegible, probably Ditterline] died 29 of March 1888 Wily Thomasson died on the 30 of May 1888 Amanda Vick died on the 3rd of may 1889 Rachel Louisa Thomasson died Oct 20th 1901 Perry Thomason and Melisie Thomason children below Myrtle Thomason died Jan. 2ond 1897 Wallace J. Thomason died June 22nd 1900 William M. Thomason died Nov 9 1903 Shelby Thomason died August 20 1915 Ethel Bedford died Sept 3rd 1923 Richard Thomasson died Aug 14 1935 Malisia Thomasson died Jan 22 1937 [wife of Richard Perry Thomason] Arnie Edgmon [Edgemon] died May 1th 1946 [Page 5] Memoranda Rachel L. Williford died June the 29th 1867 Amanda Williford died June the 8th 1872 Alford Williford died March the 12th 1884 Fredric Stroder died October the 29th 1876 Charles Stroder died April the 22th 1876 Frits Stroder died April the 11th 1876 Ethel Reed died October the 15th, 1880 Kate Vick died may the 2th 1877 Richard E. Golightly died December the 16th 1880 James M. Golightly died April the 29th 1881 William M. Thomasson died march 1st 1929 ---------------------End Actual Transcription------------------------------------