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.
State of Service: CT
Qualifying Service: 2nd Lieutenant / Patriotic Service
Author: Scott Frank Tanner
Thomas was born to parents Thomas Tanner, Sr. and Martha Borden Tanner in Lyme, New London, Connecticut 30 June 1743. He grew up in western Connecticut and apprenticed to become a carpenter.
At the young age of 18, Thomas joined the campaign of 1761 in the French and Indian War serving under Colonel Nathan Whiting’s Second Regiment and Captain Samuel Elmer’s Company.
After returning home, he fell in love with a young lady, Anna Baldwin, from the nearby town of Goshen, CT and on 30 October 1765, the Reverend Able Newell married the couple and they settled in Cornwall, CT.
Thomas and Anna started their young family with the birth of their first son, Ira, on 12 January 1767. They would go on to have 8 children, Thomas (1769), Zera (1770), Isaac (1773), Anna (1777), William (1782), Sally (1785) and Lucy (1791).
With the threat of war looming with mother England, Thomas was called to serve again.
“In October. 1773, a war with England pending, he was made ensign of a “trainband” of his townsmen. In May. 1776, he was appointed second lieutenant of Capt. Smith’s company. Col. Bradley’s battalion and Gen Wadworth’s brigade. He was in the battle of Long Island. August 27. In the retreat to New York, Harlem, Washington Heights and into Fort Washington; where, with more than 2,000 Connecticut and Maryland troops. He was taken prisoner November 16. During the night he and his comrades were marched through New York to Brooklyn, where he was held four years a prisoner. Meanwhile following his carpenter trade for his support. Released then on parole. He returned to his family in Cornwall, to their great joy and relief.”
In pension testimony offered 19 November 1832, a Soldier assigned to his company, Joseph Allen, added this following detail:
“That in the fore part of the month of April of the year 1776, … [they] marched from Cornwall to Norwalk and there went on board a Vessel and sailed to New York, [they] then crossed the North River to the town of Bergen in the State of New Jersey, stayed there…until sometime in October, was marched from that place about fifteen miles to the English neighbourhood,…it was to Fort Lee, stayed there awhile to help build the Fort; that on the 15th day of November of the same year, [they] went over to Fort Washington, and on the morning of the 16th November the battle commenced and continued until the sun was about two hours high at night; that the fort was surrendered and [they] was taken prisoner and carried to the City Hall in New York or Bridewell…and that his Lieutenant [2Lt Tanner} was detained as a Hostage; that he was exchanged on the first day of January 1781; and that Col. MaGaw had the command of the Fort at the time it was surrendered.”
He and his family moved to Cooperstown, New York, where, on 17 January 1818, he passed away.
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Additional Information:
Find-a-Grave has three photos of the headstone, which is very weathered and unreadable
There are links to Find-a-Grave memorials for the patriot's parents, siblings, and five children