BIO: Martin THOMAS, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 177-178. _______________________________________________________________ THOMAS, MARTIN, son of Martin Thomas and grandson of Durst Thomas, an early emigrant to Pennsylvania, was born March 15,1737, in Heidelberg township, then Lancaster county, Pa., and died July 15,1802, in East Pennsboro' township, Cumberland county, Pa. He served, as a private, in the French and Indian war in his father's company, and prior to the Revolution established a furnace in the neighborhood of Shamokin, Northumberland county, Pa. He served in the struggle for independence as sergeant of Capt. John Simpson's company, First battalion, Northumberland county associators, March 25,1776, and subsequently sergeant in Third regiment, Pennsylvania Line. During the "Great Runaway" of 1778, his family fled from the locality, and settled on the Yellow Breeches, in Cumberland county, where he built a stone mill, yet standing, and where here remained until his death. He disposed of his Northumberland county property, receiving a large sum in Continental currency therefor, which, before he had the opportunity to re-invest, became worthless. He was one of the founders of Friedens Kirche, near the present Shiremanstown. He married, in1767, Ursula Muller, born 1740, in Lebanon township, now Lebanon county, Pa.; died 1807, in East Pennsboro' township, Cumberland county, Pa.; daughter of John and Barbara Muller.