The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
6 ft SAR Obilisk with all Revolutionary War Patriots honored is at 35.657107°, -84.109102°
Flat V/A stone
Photo credit: Joel Davenport National #209956
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
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Author: Patriot Legacies - Christy Martin
This biography has been written by a team of Revolutionary War researchers, genealogists, and local historians. For more information about Patriot Legacies exhibits, contact the Blount County Historical Museum at blountcountyhistoricalmuseum1@gmail.com
Thomas Montgomery was born in 1748, likely in Scotland. Sources indicate that he moved to Ireland after the Irish rebellion, being one of the tough groups known as the Ulster-Scots and Scots Irish. He was said to be a large man, six feet tall, with vivid blue eyes, a Roman nose, and great strength. Some genealogical records indicate he married Mary Patton in Scotland.
They lived on the western edge of Pennsylvania, in Strabane, about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. Thomas joined the local militia unit and served under Captain James Scott of the 8th Company under Lieutenant-Colonel David Williamson. Unlike many Revolutionary soldiers who settled in Blount County, Thomas never filed for a pension, so we are prevented from reading about his service and life in his own words. Records remain, and several men named Thomas Montgomery served in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Montgomery of Blount County had quite a storied life.
There was ongoing trouble with the Native Americans, egged on by the British. Strabane was vulnerable to violence and attack because of its location. The violence went back and forth, escalating. Thomas is known to have been present for one of the most brutal attacks on the Native people when Gnadenhutten, a Moravian mission site in eastern Ohio, was attacked by his militia unit in March 1782. The violence was well-documented and was a horrific tragedy for the Native American people.
According to several sources, his wife, Mary, was said to have a gift for languages and could converse in the languages of the various Native American tribes she met. No specifics were given on whether these were the tribes in Western Pennsylvania on the frontier or the Cherokee people in Tennessee.
After the Revolutionary War was over in 1790, Thomas and his family made their way towards Blount County through Augusta County, Virginia. In 1810, he acquired 122 acres on the waters of Baker’s Creek.
Thomas and Mary Patton Montgomery had at least seven children.
George was born about 1770 and disappeared from Blount County records after 1810.
William was born about 1772 and married 1) Phebe James and 2) Sarah Trimble Steele.
Sarah moved to Texas and died there in 1876.
David was born about 1774 and married Margaret McCammon.
Margaret “Peggy” married Samuel Blythe.
Susan was born about 1782 and married [?] Blithe.
Elizabeth may have died young. No records exist for her.
Samuel was born about 1786 and married Nancy Jones.
John Patton was born about 1790. According to sources, he and another man of the same name were merchants and businessmen in Blount County. He also served in Captain Gillespie’s Company of the Tennessee militia in the War of 1812.
The Patriot died in 1830 and is buried at Baker’s Creek. Mary died in 1831 and is likely buried in an unmarked grave at Baker’s Creek.
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