• Born: February 1758 in Hilltown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
•  Died: May 8 or 10, 1839 in Hilltown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Buried at the Hilltown Baptist Church “Lower” Cemetery)
• Spouse: Martha James
  • Born: about 1765
  • Died: April 14, 1854, age 89
• Married:      around 1783
• Children:     Josiah, Margaret, Abel, Esther, Martha, Elizabeth, Asa, James, Catharine, and three others (two of whom were named Thomas and died young)
• Occupation:   Shoemaker, stone mason

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Asa Thomas spent almost his entire life on family land.  He was born in 1758 in the house that his grandfather, Elder William Thomas, had built for his father, Thomas.  Asa was a stonemason and shoemaker by trade. It is said that he was short in stature, with broad shoulders, light brown hair, blue eyes, and a florid complexion.

Asa enlisted as a private in the American army at a young age.  He was 20 years old when he fought at the battle of Brandywine in September 1777.  The story goes that he was among the men ordered to guard the fords of the Brandywine creek, and that he became thirsty on the way back to their posts.  Rather than stopping at a tavern and risking an encounter with enemy soldiers, Asa stopped at a private home. When he was about to depart, he saw British soldiers entering the tavern and his host, a Quaker, led him to his safe escape behind a hedge at the rear of the house.

At the end of the Revolution, approximately the year 1783, he married Martha James, daughter of Abel James and Mary Howell and also of Welsh descent.  Asa and Martha lived in a log and stone house on Thomas family land. 

Asa spent his final days in a log home he built for his oldest son, Josiah, and died in May 1839 at the age of 82.  His wife, Martha, died on April 14, 1854, aged 89.

Children of Asa Thomas and Martha James

Asa and Martha had nine children who lived past childhood (listed below) and three others, two in succession who were named Thomas, who died very young. 

Josiah is discussed here.

Elizabeth was born in 1788 and married Isaac Miller.  Isaac was from Virginia and died on October 11, 1828.  They had one son, Thomas. Elizabeth later remarried Eleazar Bitting.  She died in New Britain on April 3, 1862.

Margaret was born in January 1797 and married Charles Hendricks in 1817.  Charles was a blacksmith and the family lived in various towns including Hilltown, Hatfield, and New Britain.  He died on October 31, 1844 of a fever. Margaret died on July 30, 1883. Their children were Thomas, Albert G., Martha, Oliver P., Samuel A., Benjamin J., and Elizabeth.

Martha was born on January 27, 1795 and married Henry Hohlbein.  Their children were John, James, Elvira, Eliza, Mary, and Susannah.  Martha died on May 23, 1868.

Abel was born on July 3, 1799.  He was the grandfather of Arthur K. Thomas, who published the book The Thomas Family of Hilltown.  Abel was a blacksmith and lived in various towns in both Bucks and Montgomery counties in the pursuit of work.  Before 1840 he lived in the village of Penllyn (just south of where the Penllyn railroad station stands) and was chosen by the Democratic party to be a Commissioner of the county.  He later moved to Doylestown and joined the New Britain Baptist church. He was also involved in the Pennsylvania volunteer militia beginning in 1830 and climbed through the ranks over the next decade.  On April 27, 1839 he was commissioned colonel of the Ninety-Second Regiment, Second Brigade, Second Division Militia of Bucks and Montgomery counties. He died on July 8, 1883 in Delaware County. Abel’s wife was Mary Craig, and their children were Albert, Allen, Asher, Ann Elizabeth, Ashbel C., Charles B., and Abel.

Asa was born on August 17, 1809 and married Ann Kulp of Gwynedd.  Their children were Asa, Franklin, Margaret, Annie, Mary, and Ellen.  He died on March 25, 1884.

James was born in May 1811.  He was a mason and never married.  He died in 1840 after a brief illness of pneumonia. 

Esther also never married and died of yellow fever in August 1810 when still a young woman.

Catharine was born in 1807 and married Samuel Kentner.  Their children were Benjamin, Judson, Samuel, Louisa, and Elvira.  She died in 1880 at the age of 73.