Thomas Fletcher was born in about 1753. His birthplace has not been determined. The names of his parents have not been determined. Considering that by the mid-1770s, he was living in Westmoreland Co., PA, one might suspect that his ancestry was composed of Ulster-Scots and that he may have been born in Northern Ireland. However, considering his marriage prior to 1777 into the Sorrency and West families of New Castle Co., DE and Duck Creek Hundred, Kent Co., DE, a suggestion that he was born in Delaware would be plausible. If Thomas Fletcher lived in Delaware before the Revolutionary War, he could have been English, Scottish, or even French Huguenot, if there had been a surname change. He probably married Ann (Sorrency or West) after her family had moved to western Pennsylvania. So much false information has been printed about the background of Thomas Fletcher, that it is hard to determine which possibility is most likely. Even the maiden name of his wife is in question. The tradition is that Ann West married first to Samuel Sorrency, who was killed in the Revolutionary War. They had three sons, David, Jacob, and Samuel. Then, Ann (West) Sorrency married Thomas Fletcher and had children born from 1777 to 1788. The "Genealogies of Kentucky Families", 1981, contains the following:

Records from the Family Bible of Joseph Lancaster...

"...Nancy West was a sister of Benjamin West, the Artist, who was for many years President of the Royal Academy in England.
"His Sister, Nancy West, lived in Delaware and married a man by the name of Samuel Sorrency. They had three boys, David, Jacob, & Samuel. Her husband was killed in the Revolutionary War. She with her three boys and old Aunt Hettie, the colored woman came to Bourbon County near Paris, Kentucky, and lived several years. The Wests from whom we are descended were related to the Maryland Wests, Lord Delaware's family name was West, and we are of the same tribe. One of our ancestors was an Aunt of William Penn. So you see we are of considerable Quaker stock.
"Thomas Fletcher was Colonel in the Revolutionary Army. His father (Gen. Robert) was killed at Bunker's Hill. The Fletchers came from England to Nova Scotia. Through New England into Virginia. Thomas Fletcher came from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Kentucky and located at a Stone house between Paris and Millersburg, Bourbon County.

"Col. Thomas Fletcher and the widow Nancy West Sorrency married in Bourbon Co., Ky., they with her three boys and old Aunt Hettie moved to Bath County, Kentucky, on a farm near Flat Creek; died and buried on the farm. After their death the farm passes into Mr. Johnson Young's hands. Grandfather and Grandmother Lancaster are buried on the same farm.

"Benjamin West visited his sister in Kentucky and wore his Quaker costume. He died in 1820.

This is a smooth blend of fact and fiction. I have never been able to confirm whether there is a connection to the Maryland West family (Lords Delaware) or the artist Benjamin West. However, they are mutually exclusive theories since the artist was not of the Lord Delaware line. Nor have I been able to confirm that an ancestor was an Aunt of William Penn. Artist Benjamin West was NOT a brother of Ann (West) (Sorrency) Fletcher. They had different parents. Ann did have a brother named Benjamin, but he was NOT the artist. Since the artist did have West cousins in northern Delaware, Benjamin and Ann could have been cousins.

Thomas Fletcher was NOT a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. His rank during the Revolutionary War was Lieutenant. After the war, he rose to the rank of 1st Major of the Kentucky Militia. His son, Thomas Fletcher, Jr. was a Major in the War of 1812 and was later Colonel and then General of the Kentucky Militia. This might explain the confusion in rank. I have never seen any evidence that Thomas was a son of Gen. Robert Fletcher, killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. This is probably fanciful but may provide a clue as to the name of Thomas Fletcher’s father. The immigration route from England to Nova Scotia to New England to Virginia is implausible, though not impossible. Notably, there is no mention in this record of the family having been in Westmoreland Co., PA.
Thomas Fletcher’s great-granddaughter was Eugenia Washington (NSDAR #1), co-founder of the DAR. Her DAR papers are full of errors:

"...Also descendant on her maternal side from Col. Charles Francois Joseph Count de Flechir, who was born in France in 1755, died in New York in 1815, and who served in the War of the Revolution.

"Granddaughter of Gen. Thomas Fletcher and Nancy McIlhenney, his wife. Gen. Thomas Fletcher served in War of 1812 on the staff of Gen. William Henry Harrison. He was grandson of Col. Flechir, who came to Virginia with his friend and maternal kinsman Marquis de Lafayette, and entered the service as a private. He was soon elected captain of Company H, "Independent Washington Guards;" reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, he was ordered to Canada.
"Great-granddaughter of Samuel Fletcher and Abigail West, his wife. Col. Flechir's name was Americanized and spelled 'Fletcher.'
"Great-great-granddaughter of Charles Francois Joseph Count de Flechir, and Ruth Phillips Sourency, his wife.
"Col. Charles Francois Joseph Count de Flechir served in the War for Independence as colonel of horse, in Canada."
 

Eugenia Washington substituted Samuel Fletcher and Abigail West for Thomas Fletcher and Ann West. The French connections are no doubt fanciful. If an authentic French heritage can be found in the ancestry of Thomas Fletcher or his wife, Ann, it was probably through the Sorrency family. Eugenia Washington’s erroneous descent was corrected by the DAR application of her great-niece, Mys. Audre Moncure Bachschmid (NSDAR #144851), shows Thomas Fletcher, Jr. (1779-1826) as a son of Thomas Fletcher (1753-1799) and Ann (West) Sorrency (died 1826).

The "Calendar of Kent County, Delaware Probate Records, 1680-1800", 1944, provides the following :

p. 276 "West, David. Yeoman. Will. Made Nov. 26, 1770. Duck Creek Hd. Heirs: Sons Joseph & Benjamin; daus. Ann Surency & Mary Varnan. Exec'rs, sons Joseph & Benjamin. Wits. Samuel West, Mary Smith. Prob. April 21, 1773. Arch. vol. A54, pages 11-13, Reg. of Wills, Liber L, folio 130."

p. 299 "West, Benjamin. Will. Made April 18, 1775. Duck Creek Hd. Heirs: bro. Joseph; sisters Ann & Mary; niece Jamima Sorency; nephew David West, son of Joseph. Exec'r, bro. Joseph. Wits Daniel David, Thomas Hackett, Daniel David, Jr. Prob. Aug. 12, 1775. Arch vol. A54, page 9. Reg. of Wills, Liber L, folio 172."

This proves that David West (died 1770) did have a daughter named Ann (West) Sorrency, who had a daughter, Jamima Sorrency born before 1775 (and probably a lot earlier). Considering that Mary Fletcher was born in Jul. 1777, Thomas Fletcher married Ann before Oct., 1776. If Thomas Fletcher’s wife, Ann, was actually Ann (West) Sorrency, widow of Samuel Sorrency, one would suspect that her children by Samuel would have been quite young. If Thomas Fletcher was really born ca. 1753, one wouldn’t expect Ann to be much older than him. Since her youngest child was born in 1788, one could contend that she was born as early as 1743, thus making her 45 at the time. Perhaps Thomas Fletcher was born before 1753.

The Sorrency mystery deepens further when one considers that a listing of Rangers on the Frontier in Westmoreland Co., PA (1778-1783) shows both a Thomas Fletcher, Lieutenant in Thomas Fletcher’s Company, and a Jacob Sorensay in George Vance’s Company. Ann (West) Sorrency is reported to have had sons named David, Jacob, and Samuel. Yet, if Thomas Fletcher was really born ca. 1753, it is doubtful that the Jacob Sorrency, who served some time between 1778 and 1783 was a stepson. This Jacob was more than likely a brother-in-law to Thomas Fletcher.

The 1810 census of Montgomery Co., KY (p. 360, p. 378) shows that both David Sourency and Jacob Sourency were born before 1765. The 1787 tax list of Bourbon Co., KY showed both Thomas Fletcher and David Sorrency. Both must have been born in 1766, or earlier. The 1792 tax list of Bourbon Co., KY showed both Thomas Fletcher, David Sorrency, Jacob Sorrency, and Samuel Sorrency. All must have been born in 1771 or earlier. All of them moved to near Sharpsburg in what is now Bath Co., KY in 1795. Samuel Sorrency disappeared from the tax lists after 1797. On June 28, 1798, David Sorrency married Susye Brown in Montgomery Co., KY.

The most logical explanation is that Samuel Sorrency married Ann West, daughter of David West, in the 1750s. They had children: David, Jacob, Samuel, Jr., Jemima, and Ann. This family then moved from Delaware to Westmoreland Co., PA in the 1770s. Samuel and Ann (West) Sorrency’s daughter, Ann Sorrency then married Thomas Fletcher.

The error that I think earlier West, Sorrency, and Fletcher genealogists made is that they collapsed mother and daughter into one generation. Thus, Ann (West) Sorrency and her daughter, Ann (Sorrency) Fletcher, were combined in the printed record to become Ann (West) (Sorrency) Fletcher. Without information regarding the ages of David and Jacob Sorrency, this was a reasonable interpretation of the data.

This error may have contributed to Eugenia Washington’s collapsing of Samuel Sorrency and Thomas Fletcher into a fictitious man named Samuel Fletcher.
Thomas Fletcher and his family, along with his Sorrency in-laws moved to Bourbon Co., KY between 1783 and 1786. They moved east to near Sharpsburg, KY in 1795. This was part of Clark Co., KY until 1797, when Montgomery Co., KY was created. Thomas Fletcher died before Jul. 9, 1799. His Will was probated in Montgomery Co., KY. He wrote:

“Also David Sorency is to have one hundred and fifty acres of Deeded to him of Land where Samuel Sorency lived-

This has been cited as evidence that Thomas Fletcher’s wife, Ann, was the widow of Samuel Sorrency. Yet, if this is the case, any land that Samuel Sorrency owned prior to Oct. 1776 must have been in Pennsylvania or even Delaware. The truth can be found in the tax lists of Clark Co., KY and Montgomery Co., KY: Samuel Sorrency was taxed on 100 acres on Flat Creek in 1797. David Sorrency was taxed on 150 acres on Flat Creek in 1801. Samuel Sorrency apparently borrowed money from Thomas Fletcher in 1797, pledged his land as collateral, and then died. Thomas Fletcher’s will, written on May 14, 1799, merely reverted the land to David Sorrency, who must have been the heir at law to Samuel. This means that David was either Samuel’s eldest son or eldest brother.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Samuel Sorrency, Sr. died in the 1770s and that his widow then married a second husband. This could explain why there is little evidence of the Sorrency family in either Westmoreland Co., PA or Bourbon Co., KY until the sons of Samuel and Ann came of age. If the descendants knew that she married a second husband, but couldn’t recall his name, the information about Thomas Fletcher marrying Ann Sorrency and then mentioning the Sorrency real estate transaction in his will, was probably enough to convince genealogists that Thomas Fletcher was the second husband.
Samuel Sorrency was probably the son of Jacob and Jemima Sorrency. The will of Jemima Sonney (misspelling of Sorrency) entered probate on May 3, 1748, in New Castle Co., DE (Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle County, 1682-1800, p. 40). She had sons, John, Silas, Samuel, and Jacob. The latter was identified as her youngest sons.

If the earlier genealogists are correct, Thomas Fletcher’s descendants have no Sorrency ancestry. But if my theory is correct, the above-noted Sorrency records in New Castle Co., DE pertain to our ancestors. Thomas Fletcher’s widow, Ann, died in 1826 in Bath Co., KY. She will be identified as Ann (Sorrency) Fletcher throughout the remainder of this chapter.

Service: Thomas Fletcher served as a Lieutenant in the 1st Company, under Capt. James Clark, of Westmoreland Co., PA Militia on Jun. 10, 1777, and as a Lieutenant under Col. John Perry of the Westmoreland Co., PA Militia on Apr. 25, 1778 (Pennsylvania State Archives, Vol. 2, Ser. 6, p. 303, 309, and 312). Thomas Fletcher is also reported to have served under Col. Archibald Lowrey.

After the Revolutionary War, Thomas Fletcher was involved in a battle with the Wabash Indians in September 1786. On August 10, 1787, he was paid two pounds, seven shillings, and three pence for his services as a soldier on the late expedition against the Wabash Indians, under General George Rogers Clark (Kentucky’s Active Militia, 1786”, by Mrs. Jonett Taylor Cannon, 1965). In 1792, Thomas Fletcher was made a 1st Major of the Kentucky Militia.

Family: (Generation 9) The 1790 census of Bourbon Co., KY no longer exists. In about 1795, Thomas Fletcher and his family moved to near Sharpsburg, KY, which was in Clark Co., KY until 1797, when Montgomery Co., KY was created. Thomas Fletcher died before Jul. 9, 1799, in Montgomery Co., KY. The will of Thomas Fletcher (Montgomery Co., KY Will Book A, p. 30) was written on May 14, 1799, and entered into probate on Jul. 9, 1799. He mentions his wife Ann, son Thomas Fletcher, daughter, Ann Fletcher, daughter, Mary Moore, Quinten Moore, daughter Ratchel Lankester, Joseph Lankester, daughter Rebecca Fletcher, daughter Caterene Fletcher, daughter Ruth Fletcher, Daid Sorency, and Samuel Sorency. The will was witnessed by Jacob Sorency, Elijah Adams, and Quincy Sorency. His will listed 9 slaves.

The 1800 census of Montgomery Co., KY no longer exists. The 1810 census of Montgomery Co., KY (p. 376) shows the Ann Fletcher family as 00000-00011- This household contained one female born before 1765 and one female born between 1765 and 1784. They were listed next to the household of Thomas Fletcher.

In 1811, Bath Co., KY was created from Montgomery Co., KY. The 1820 census of Bath Co., KY.(p. 188) showed the Nancy Fletcher family as 000000-10011- This household contained one female born before 1775, one female born between 1775 and 1794, and one female born between 1810 and 1820.

Ann (Sorrency) Fletcher died in June 1826, or earlier. The will of Ann Fletcher (Bath Co., KY Will Book B, p. 95) was written on Jun. 16, 1823, and entered into probate in Jun. 1826. She mentioned “my deceased husband, Thomas Fletcher”, daughter Ann Fletcher, Rebecca Hazelrigg, and Ruth Byram. The will was witnessed by B. Saunders, Sally Doggett, and Rachel Lancaster.

The Fletcher-Hazelrigg Family Bible contains birthdates for the seven children of Thomas and Ann Fletcher:

1. Mary Fletcher was born July 21, 1777
2. Thomas Fletcher was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa. Oct. 21, 1779
3. Ann Fletcher was born May 3, 1781
4. Rachel Fletcher was born Oct. 3, 1782
5. Rebecca Fletcher was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa. Feb. 29, 1784
6. Catherine Fletcher was born Jan. 30, 1786
7. Ruth Fletcher was born Jul. 21, 1788

The Joseph Lancaster Family Bible contains more information on these children:

1. Rachel Fletcher m. Joseph Lancaster. Lived & died in Kentucky.
2. Mary Fletcher m. Quinton Moore, went to Missouri, and the friends lost sight of them after a long time.
3. Rebecca Fletcher m. Ely Hazelrigg, lived in Kentucky.
4. Anna Fletcher, never married, was buried at Old Bethel.
5. Catherine Fletcher m. Augustus Byram.
6. Rutha Fletcher m. Valentine Byram.
7. Thomas Fletcher's first wife was Miss McIlhaney. Second wife Mrs. Howe. These are Grandmother Lancaster's Sisters and Brother. He was a General in the War of 1812*, wounded at Fort Erie, had a fine home East of Sharpsburg, Ky. Was buried on the farm."
*[Note: He became a General after the War of 1812.]

Thomas Fletcher and Ann (Sorrency) Fletcher had seven children:

1. Mary Fletcher (born Jul. 21, 1777, died before Jun. 12, 1845, in Waverly Twp., Lincoln Co., MO), married before Feb. 18, 1794, in Bourbon Co., KY to Quinton Moore (born before 1765, died before Oct. 15, 1821, in Waverly Twp., Lincoln Co., MO).
2. Thomas Fletcher, Jr. (born Oct. 21, 1779, died Mar. 13, 1826, near Sharpsburg, Bath Co., KY), married 1) Jan. 15, 1801, in Montgomery Co., KY to Nancy McIlhaney (born ____. died ____), married 2) Aug. 13, 1818, in Bath Co. (or Montgomery Co.), KY to Margaretta Galbraith (Nicholas) Bartlett (born ____, died Sep. 1, 1819, in Owingsville, Bath Co., KY, widow of John Crane Bartlett, whom she married Nov. 4, 1811 in Fayette Co., KY). He was elected state representative in 1803, 1805, 1806, 1817, 1820, 1821, 1823, and 1825. He served in the U.S. Congress for 3 months, from Dec. 2, 1816, until Mar. 3, 1817, after being elected to fill a vacancy. He is said to have been a candidate for the U.S. Senate at the time of his death. He served in the War of 1812 as a Major in the 10th Reg’t (Boswell’s) Kentucky Militia, and on May 15, 1813, he distinguished himself as the hero of Ft. Meigs. By 1818, he was a Colonel in the Kentucky Militia. By 1826, he was General of the Kentucky Militia. In 1825, he was the host of Marquis de Lafayette when he made his long journey across America. Notable among Thomas Fletcher, Jr.’s descendants were great-grandson, Claude Matthews (1845-1898), who served as Indiana Secretary of State from 1891 to 1893, and Governor of Indiana from 1893 to 1897, and granddaughter, Eugenia Washington, co-founder of the DAR (NSDAR #1).
3.  Ann Fletcher (born May 3, 1781, died ____). [age 26-45 with mother in 1810, age 26-45 with mother in 1820]
4. Rachel Fletcher (born Oct. 3, 1782, died Dec. 19, 1828, in Kentucky), married Mar. 15, 1798, in Montgomery Co., KY to Joseph Lancaster (born Apr. 1772, died Apr. 14, 1814, in Kentucky).
5. Rebecca Fletcher (born Feb. 29, 1784, died Jul. 3, 1820, in Bath Co., KY), married Jan. 1, 1801, in Montgomery Co., KY to Eli Hazelrigg (bor,n Oct. 20, 1777 in Prince William Co., VA, died Oct. 8, 1852 in Bath Co., KY). Eli Hazelrigg married, his second wife, Ruth (Fletcher) Byram, sister of Rebecca, on Mar. 15, 1845, in Bath Co., death date: The deathdate of Rebecca is probably incorrect since she was named in her mother’s 1823 will.]
6. Catherine Fletcher (born Jan. 30, 1786, died before Dec. 1816), married ca. 1807 to Augustus Byram (born ca. 1782 in Stafford Co., VA, died Jan. 20, 1849 in Jackson Co., MO). Augustus Byram married, his second wife, Sally Toulson on Dec. 1, 1816, in Bath Co., KY.
7. Ruth Fletcher (born Jul. 21, 1788, died 1860), married 1) Valentine Byram (born ca. 1783 in Stafford Co., VA, died before Jul. 1, 1828, in Bath Co., KY, married 2) Mar. 15, 1845, in Bath Co., KY to Eli Hazelrigg (widower of her sister, Rebecca).