John Tome(s) 1775-1835

John Tomes was the patriarch of the (PA) Tomes family living in the United States. John traveled from Germany, probably to the port of Philadelphia, PA at the end of the 18th century or most likely at the beginning of the 19th century. My pursuit of his travel across the Atlantic is still being researched and I will be adding to this post once I discover the specifics to his one to three month crossing of the over four thousand mile journey from Germany to Philadelphia City Port.

John would have arrived in the United States during either the presidency of John Adams or Thomas Jefferson. The United States was still in it's toddler years and we can only imagine what was going through the mind of John as he arrived in this new world of opportunity. Since I don't have the travel records yet, I don't know if John made the trip alone or with his own or extended family.

While searching the Lebanon County Historical Society's records, I came across John Tomes' last will and testament. I had been searching for this information for quite a number of years and was excited to find such an article and to hold it in my hands. I write about the specific observations that I have made about this will in my blog post, "Last Will and Testament of John Tome(s)."

John was married to Regina Tomes (maiden name unknown) and they had six children together that survived to adulthood. Three of these children were boys and three of the children were girls. The names of John and Regina's children are as follows with their date of birth beside them.

1) John Tomes (B.1801)

2) Elizabeth Tomes (B.1803)

2) Peter Tomes (B. 1805)

3) Hannah Tomes (B.1809) -(twin with William?)

4) William Tomes (B.1809) - (twin with Hannah?)

5) (s)Charlotte Tomes (B.1812)

The earliest documentation that I have found of proof of the Tomes family residency in the state of Pennsylvania is the 1820 Census Federal Census of Londonderry Township, Lebanon, PA. In a future biographical about William A Tomes (1829-1898) the author states that "William A Tomes' grandfather emigrated from Germany, settling at Cornwall Furnace and later at Colebrook Furnace."(Gibson's Biographical Sketch of York County) John Tomes is the unnamed "grandfather" from the biographical sketch and the written history lines up with the Census report below.

Since all of John's male children eventually ended up becoming Iron Moulder's in different foundries in Lebanon, York , and Philadelphia Counties, the assumption is that John was an Iron Worker by trade. This assumption is somewhat confirmed by the above mentioned bio about John settling at Cornwall Furnace and Colebrook Furnace and the fact that Thomas Burd Coleman was a co-witness in John Tomes' Will. Thomas Burd Coleman was the son of iron mogel, Robert Coleman, who owned the largest and most profitable Iron dynasties in American history up to this point. "Burd" Coleman is listed above on the 1820 census and is probably living at the Colebrook Iron Master's Mansion and the Tomes family is living close by.

Between the years of 1820-1830, John and Regina move from their home in Colebrook Furnace to the Lebanon Township. According to the website

genealogytrails.com/penn/lebanon/RuppBook/History.html

The population in Lebanon Township in 1830 was 3,556. It also states;

"In 1830, Lebanon was bounded as follows: - but since, divided into North and South Lebanon - on the north, by Swatara and Bethel townships; east by Jackson and Heidelberg townships; south by Lancaster county, and west by Londonderry and Annville townships. Greatest length, eleven miles; greatest breadth, seven miles - containing 44, 700 acres of first rate land - surface very level, and principally limestone soil. There are many fine buildings in this township.North and South Lebanon are well watered. The Quitopahila creek, a beautiful, fine stream, flows through the borough of Lebanon, and in its course propels several mills. The Union Canal and Reading and Harrisburg turnpike pass through North Lebanon township. Iron ore is found in abundance - in South Lebanon, in the Conewago hills, and in the south part of this township. Cornwall Furnace, erected at the head of Furnace creek, is supplied with ore from these mines. The furnace is owned by (?) D. Coleman."

We see John Tomes again on paper in the 1830 census, but is now living in Lebanon Township with just himself and apparently Regina. They are notated in the columns that indicate persons "at least 60 years old but less than 70 years old. This census shows that John and Regina are not living with any of their children which must have meant they were financially stable enough to live on their own. On June 29th, 1833 John has his will drafted, witnessed, and signed (with his mark, indicating he could not write). John Shay, who was also a witness to the will, is listed on the 1830 Lebanon Census.

Since John Tomes will is recorded on November 2, 1835, he assumingely dies in October of 1835. John's widow, Regina, is named in John's will and is apparently still living when he passes away. The Tomes family are adherents to the Roman Catholic church and John actually leaves St. Mary's of Lebanon, PA a sum $12.00 ($351 worth in today's dollars) in his will. The logical place for John and Regina's resting place would be St Mary's Cemetery in Lebanon. Unfortunately, they are not listed there and I am unsure of their final resting place. John Tomes' first born son, John Tomes 1801-1872, is buried at St Marys with his wife and their young adult son, Samuel D Tomes.

If you have any information about the whereabouts of John and Regina Tome(s)' gravesite or other Tomes family information, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via this blog posting or emailing me at roberttomes729@gmail.com.