Thomas Bluford St. John

(Bluford = Beuford, Buford etc...our family has had the name since Gilliam Bluford St. John, Samuel Bluford St. John, Sr., Samuel Bluford St. John Jr. and Adam Bluford St. John before that it was passed from Payne Bluford or Beuford St. John, from Thomas Bluford St. John, Thomas B. St. John (an uncle) eight generations!)

Thomas B. was born in 1832 in Georgia, Cowetta County or Troup County. Was in the civil war of the 35th Reg, Co D of Georgia and fought at the Battle of Gettysburg Jul 1-3, 1863. He was captured on July 3 1863 with many and held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Maryland. He was released in 1865 where he had three sons William Thomas Edward St. John (Wm Ed), Payne Bluford St. John, Wyatt T. St. John and a wife waiting for him. He had not seen his youngest son, Wyatt Thomas John St. John.

Thomas Bluford St. John Born 1832 Died 1896 Bradley County, Arkansas 6-7 miles south of Warren riding a mule to town. The mule was spooked and he was dragged and kicked. Was found prostrate by another traveler and lived another 12 hours or so before he died. His wife was Martha Moss Hicks St. John who after a year and two months remarried Elijah Smith. I will submit to you a copy of what was written in his obituary later. (Promise, word for word)

T. B. St. John came to Bradley County in the company of James M. St. John, a first cousin and Thomas J. St. John his brother. James M. and Thomas J both settled around the New Edinburg area according to land records and the 1880 census. William Edward St. John is found to be residing with Thomas J and his wife Mary Marks St. John and Thomas J's three or four children. Thomas J and his wife were married in 1872 which indicates that that is the time that the thee St. John's and a brother in law Kight (pronounced Knight) "came to this area to work in the logging industry". It is told that they went by box cars loaded with their households, animals and children and landed near Arkansas City. Once there it was very cold and storming, they had also ran out of provisions. They stopped at a nearby farm who had some greens and meal that they could give them. They picked up the wilted greens from the field and made a porrage out of the meal.

Thomas Bluford brought his wife and three sons and two daughters. James M. St. John appears to have also brought is children with him as well (more about him as well.) Thomas J. married here, and this has been a most resent discovery and I have yet to investigate further than the information I have given you. I have lots of information on Thomas B. since this is the main thrust of my investigations.

Thomas B. St. John b. 1832, Georgia
...his father is James C. St. John b. ABT 1789, North Carolina
......James St. John b. 1756 (Revolutionary War Soldier), Essex Co, Virginia
.........James St. John, Essex Co, Virginia b. ABT 1730 (One of 5 sons) listed as b. 1706, Essex Co, Virginia
............William St. John, Rappanock Co (Essex Co, Virginia)
...............Thomas St. John, Rappanock Co (Essex Co, Virginia) wife Mary Day.