Here is what we know about Thomas Eastland and have sources for, so far. Thomas Eastland was born December 23, 1777 in Boydton, Mecklenburg County, VA, USA to William Eastland and Elizabeth Puckett.. Between 1785 and 1788 Thomas moved with his parents to Mercer County, Kentucky. In 1799 Thomas Eastland was commissioned as an Ensign in the 4th Infantry Regiment, US Army. On 8 May 1800 he married Nancy Mosby at the Mosby Home, Brookdale Farm, in Woodford County, KY, USA. He and his wife resided at her fathers place as his military duties required him to be gone for extended periods of time, along with his efforts in land investments. 15 November 1800 he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Regular Army (commission signed by John Adams). By 1808 Thomas and Nancy are living in Mercer County, Kentucky. In 1812 he served as the Quartermaster General for the State of Kentucky under General William Henry Harrison. October 1813 Thomas is with General Harrison at the Battle of Thames in Canada. During the battle, he killed an Indian and took from him a badge that the Indian had taken from an American army Lieutenant he had killed. After the war and his return home, Thomas gave the badge to his son, James Warren Eastland, who in turn gave it to his eldest son. That badge is still owned by a family member in Texas. On 9 Oct 1814 Thomas wife, Nancy Mosby, dies at the Old Stone Fort in Franklin County, Tennessee. By this time they had had 9 children. Thomas moves his family to Davidson County, Tennessee sometime during the next 2-3 years. Thomas is involved in the Battle of New Orleans which takes place between 23 December 1814 and 8 January 1815, knowing both General Andrew Jackson, as well as the pirate, Jean Lafitte. He achieved the rank of Colonel. He served on the Staff of General Andrew Jackson (a painting of him hangs at the Hermitage). On 3 July 1817 he was married to Mary Elizabeth (called Polly) Swann. The Nashville Whig reported the marriage. Between 1820 and 1823 Thomas moved to White County where he ran a tavern, and with John W. Ford, published a newspaper called The Sparta Review. In 1823 he was appointed to be the commissioner of the turnpike road leading from Sparta to the intersection of the Cumberland Turnpike Road, at or near Daddys Creek. In 1839 he bought land from James Simpson that became the old Eastland Stand, which home was still standing in a sad state of repair in 1910. It had not only been the Eastland home but also a stage stop on the road from Nashville to Knoxville and other points East. He was a noted geologist for the area and his grandchildren used to get a great laugh when they would bring him samples from one area and say it came from another. He would get angry at them and they would run out of his office, laughing with great glee. He would return to his chair smiling the whole time. It really was a two-sided game played on both sides. In his day he was considered to be the largest landowner in the area, having purchased or received grants of over 400,000 acres in 5 counties, along with some lands in Kentucky. January 10, 1860 he died in Bon Aire, White County, TN, USA and was buried on Dumpling Knob, near Bon Aire, White County, Tennessee.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 07:14:45 +0000
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