Thomas Benge "Rev.War"

Thomas Benge was born in Virginia, though the supplied records do not agree on the details. One current family record gives January 1734 in Albemarle, Virginia, while a patriotic-service record gives about 1738 in Orange County, Virginia. He was married to Susannah Lewis.

Thomas lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina. A patriotic-service record identifies him as having rendered material aid during the American Revolution. Family-tree notes further state that Thomas Benge Jr. supplied a large cannon to the American Revolution and was compensated for it, but the supplied material does not provide documentation for the size, use, or importance of that cannon.

On 21 January 1811, Thomas Benge of Wilkes County made his last will and testament. He described himself as being of sound mind and perfect memory. He provided for his wife, Susannah, during her lifetime with household furniture, livestock sufficient for her support, and the enslaved people named Cloe, Fancy, and Jack, subject to later bequests. After Susannah's death, Cloe was to go to their son James; Fancy to their son Richard; and Jack to their grandson Micajah M. Benge, son of William Benge. Micajah M. Benge was also to receive the 200-acre tract where Thomas lived.

Thomas gave five shillings each to his sons Micajah, David, and Thomas, and to his daughters Elizabeth Sparks, Anne Samuel, Sally Gray, and Susannah Martin. He left a 200-acre tract on Little Elkins Creek to his son Richard. After the deaths of Thomas and Susannah, the remaining land, household furniture, and livestock were to be sold on twelve months' credit, with the proceeds divided equally between daughters Nancy Bryan and Mary Ray.

Thomas named John Martin Sr., James Gray Jr., and Meredith Thurmond as executors. Robert Martin, Thomas Green, and James Sanders witnessed the will. The will was proved in open court in Wilkes County at the April 1811 term, when Robert Martin and Thomas Green gave their oaths and Meredith Thurmond qualified as an executor. Thomas therefore died after making his will on 21 January 1811 and before its probate in April 1811.

Family-tree notes also state that Thomas's brother John Benge first married Susannah's sister Elizabeth Lewis. Those notes further report that John later married Elizabeth Watts, identified there as Wurteh, a half-blood Cherokee and “Woman of the Red Paint Clan.” These additional statements are family-tree material and are not documented by the other supplied records. The same notes contain a tradition that the first American Benge arrived at Jamestown on the Marygold from Scotland as a gun and cannon maker; this tradition is not substantiated in the supplied citations.