In recognition of the 250th celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the DAR America 250! Committee of the Botetourt County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is placing a spotlight on members’ Patriot ancestors who helped the country achieve American Independence. Patriot ancestors are men and women whose service to the American Revolution has been documented through careful research. Whether they served as soldiers, provided supplies, or performed essential public service, their contributions have been proven by previous members of DAR. Captain Thomas Amis is a Patriot ancestor of DAR members Betty Holt and Sarah Beth Richardson.
Thomas Amis was born in 1744 in Northampton County, N.C. On January 27, 1763, at the age of 19, he married Alice Gale. The Seven Years’ War ended that year, and colonists in North Carolina began expanding westward into lands occupied and controlled by the Cherokee.
By the age of 31, Thomas was father to six children and lived in Bladen County, N.C., where he established a gristmill. In January 1776, he was appointed captain under the command of Col. Richard Caswell. He served in the 3rd Regiment and fought in the Battle of Moore’s Creek. Thomas was elected to the Provincial Congress and voted to approve the Halifax Resolves, which called for independence from England.
In December 1776, he became the commissary for the 3rd Regiment, North Carolina Continental Troops. As commissary, he addressed the critical issues of logistics and resupply during a time when infrastructure and supply lines were inadequate. In April 1778, voters elected him to a term in the House of Assembly, but the following month he resigned his seat to accept an appointment as a militia contractor where he continued to provision the army into 1779.
At Thomas’s property near the South Carolina border, Gen. Francis Marion, a Revolutionary raider known as the “Swamp Fox,” frequently camped near Amis’ mill on Drowning Creek. Marion used the site as an area to regroup and rest in the relative safety of a community friendly to the Cause.
The Battle of King’s Mountain in October 1780 ended major fighting on the Carolina frontier, but Amis continued his work as commissary agent. Believing his family and fortune were threatened in Bladen County, he moved his family to western North Carolina on 1,000 acres along Big Creek that he received as a Revolutionary veteran. Once there, he continued serving as superintendent commissary for Washington and Sullivan counties until 1783.
Today, his property lies in Hawkins County, Tenn., which was part of North Carolina at that time. Thomas directed workers to build and operate a tavern, store, water-powered mill, blacksmith shop, tannery and distillery, while also cultivating fields and raising livestock. His property became a frontier trading center where travelers, many of them Revolutionary War veterans, stopped as they headed west to claim their Revolutionary War land grants.
A proud member of the Society of the Cincinnati, he died on December 4, 1797, and was buried in the Amis Cemetery near his home. His legacy continues: the mill he built is now a popular restaurant, Amis Mill Eatery in Rogersville, Tenn., and his descendants live in the stone house that Thomas and Alice built. His service to a new nation is one that will be remembered through the ages.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political organization open to any woman who can document her lineage to a Patriot who contributed to the success of the American Revolution. Founded over 135 years ago, it is focused on service to the community through its mission of Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism. If you are interested in joining the chapter or have questions about membership, contact Membership Chair Emily Talbot-Guillote by email at [email protected], or Registrar JoElla John at [email protected]. We welcome your interest and would be happy to help you explore your Revolutionary War ancestry and the membership process.
~ Botetourt County DAR
