Thomas Frost

b. 1735 d. 1807 m. Sarah Terrill

Children:
1 Elijah Frost b. 16 Jun 1762 at: Bedford, Va, d. Anderson, TN

2 Micajah Frost, b. 11 Jun 1764 at: Bedford, VA, m. 12 Sep 1786 at Washington, VA, d. 4 Feb 1843 at Rockcastle or Lincoln Co., Ky
Spouse: Nancy Robbins

3 Sarah Frost, b. 25 Mar 1766 at Bedford, VA, d. AFT 1830 at: Anderson, TN
Spouse: Page Portwood

4 Amella (Amiluh) Frost, b. 15 Jun 1768 at Bedford, VA, m. 24 Feb 1791 at Washington, VA, d. 1852 at: Anderson, Tn
Spouse: Rowland Allison Chiles

5 Pheobe Frost Born: 23 Jan 1771 at Bedford, VA, m. 7 Jan 1798 at Knox, Tn, d 1838 at Madison, Al
Spouse: Israel Standifer

6 Thomas Frost, b. 6 May 1773 at Bedford, VA, m. ABT 1799 at Tennessee, d. 1806 at Rutherford, TN
Spouse: Hannah Wilson

The Frost Bible was passed down from Thomas Frost,Sr. to his daughter Amilia who married Roland Chiles. She passed it down to Henry Chiles, whose daughter Nancy Elizabeth Jane Chiles passed it down to her daughter, Docia Halburnt, who passed it on to her daughter Pauline Roberts. Her husband, Snyder E. Roberts gave the Bible to the McClung Collection in Oct. 1989. Copies of the of the birth pages are included in the book, "Descendants of Joseph Frost,Sr." from Amherst, Bedford, and Washington Counties, Virginia to Anderson County, Tennessee. This book may be seen in the McClung Collection in Knoxville, Tennessee in the East Tennessee Historical Society.

The first record we find of Thomas is in Bedford County, VA. Thomas bought land across the James River from his father, Joseph. He bought 60 acres " on both sides of the Burnt Bridge Branch" from Charles Lynch.

His brother John bought an adjoining tract. Charles Lynch was granted a block of land by King Charles so Thomas was the first to live on the land and to develop it. Where the James River makes common boundary between Amherst, Bedford and Campbell counties is where the city of Lynchburg lies. This busy modern city was hardly more than a ferry crossing when Thomas and his brother bought their land. One of Thomas' sons, Micajah, gave Lynchburg as the place of his birth.

We can tell of Thomas' honesty by ads placed by him in the Virginia Gazette. On 21 July 1768 he placed this ad. Taken up in Bedford, an iron gray mare about 4 feet 4 inches high, about 3 years old, not dock or any perceivable brand.

Thomas Frost - On 26th August 1773, this appeared: Taken up, in Bedford, a red Hog about 3 years old, cropt in both ears, with one slit in the left and two in the right.

The Frosts sold their land in Bedford County in 1776 and bought land in Washington County the same year. They prospered in Washington Co. His land holdings increased and he was active in community affairs. His name appears on records as petitioner, as witness, on tax rolls as well as other type documents verifying his being in the area until about 1796 when he sold his lands in Washington County and moved over the mountains to east Tennessee.

The land Thomas purchased was in Knox County before it Anderson Co. TN was formed. The deed was for 640 acres on Bull Run Creek in Raccoon Valley for "Five Hundred Dollars and one Third." This might be $533.00 or $500.33. He did not receive a patent or grant because he was not the original land holder, but he was the first to occupy and develop this land also as he bought the land from land speculator, Stokely Donelson. Thomas had not sold all his lands in Virginia when he moved to Tennessee. In 1797 he sold land in Washington Co. which gives his residence as Knox Co. TN . From the many deeds of Thomas we know that he could not write as he signs with a Mark, but it is a distinctive mark that resembles a capitol T with an F over it... all his deeds are signed with this mark.

Strong evidence concerning land transactions indicate that Joseph Frost, one of the first property owners in Amherst county Virginia, is the father our Thomas Frost. Revolutionary soldier, Joseph Frost states he visited his brother in Bedford Co., VA. Since the only Frosts living in Bedford Co. during this time were brothers Thomas and John, the supposition is that Joseph Jr. is a brother of Thomas and John. Thomas signed documents with a distinctive combination of the letter "T" and "F" rather than the normal "X" that illiterate individuals of the time would make. This distinctive mark has been of great benefit in confirming his migration and holdings in various documents in the archives.

The Frost Clan were among the first to colonize Washington County, VA. Sons Micajah and Joseph had been in the Indian Wars defending the lands from which this county was formed. They moved from Bedford to their new home high in the Allegheny Mountains in Washington County in 1776. Thomas was just an ordinary pioneering frontiersman gradually increasing his land holdings. His brother, John, was ordained a minister and became a leader in the historic Holston Baptist Convention, the forerunner of the Baptist Convention in Tennessee. In 1795 Thomas Frost became the first known permanent settler of Anderson County TN settling in Racoon Valley. His brother John joined him by 1797 and established the first Baptist church in Anderson County, Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church, which later became Zion Baptist Church.

Micajah Frost is the next ancestor in our lineage.