Edna Elizabeth Thomas

Notes:

[Jeff Wester]

Excerpt from Harnett County Heritage Book: "Isaac Jones and Nannie McDonald Gilchrist," by Peggy Gilchrist Smith and Dorothy Johnson, page 187: "Daddy (Jones Gilchrist) was born April 16, 1894, in the Cool Springs Community, and one of his ancestors, my Great-Grandma Edna, was said to have lived to be over 100 years old, and when in her 90s, she could throw a rock across the Cape Fear River."

This was probably out of the Sanford Herald:
Lee's Oldest (Photo) Mrs. Edna Gilchrist, Route 2 Jonesboro, has witnessed much time and history. She will be 101 years old November 18, 1940, and is the last surviving member of a family of 14 children.
LEE COUNTY'S OLDEST PERSON STILL ENJOYS BEING FRIEND TO MAN
Born November 18, 1839, She Is Last Living Member of Family
VISITS NEIGHBORS
By Thomas L. McIver
When some energetic person goes about writing a comprehensive history of this section of the state, he might do well to visit Mrs. Edna Gilchrist, Route 2 Jonesboro, for a first hand version of the past century in Moore and Lee counties.
For Mrs Gilchrist, born November 18, 1839, and now nearing her 101st birthday, is Lee county's oldest living person, so far as is known, and recorded in her memory are many personal experiences and many facts about people who have made this section their home over the long decades that have passed since 1839.
Mrs. Gilchrist was born in what was then Moore county, the daughter of William Tillman Thomas and Harriet Judd Thomas. One of 14 children, all but one of whom reached the age of maturity; she is the last surviving member of the family. The house in which she and the other 13 Thomas children were born is the old homestead on which J. R. Howard has lived for a number of years.
Runs in Family
Longevity seems to have run in Mrs. Gilchrist's family. Her mother, whose family name was Solomon before her marriage and who was related to the Solomons of Henderson and the Judds of Wake county, lived to be 91, and her father died at 82.
Mrs. Gilchrist remembers she had at least three brothers who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil war. These were J. M. B., Henderson Judd, and William Thomas. Among her other brothers were Jefferson and Mack Thomas, and Polk Thomas, the last of whom was too young to see service at the time of the war, and who was later killed while cleaning a loaded pistol.
The Civil war claimed the life of Mrs. Gilchrist's first husband, Stanford Hunter. Later she married Charles Gilchrist, and to the couple were born six children. She lives with one of them, Mrs. Mary Knight, wife of Sion Knight, near the Harnett county line within a few miles of Buckhorn falls.
Formerly a member of the Juniper Springs Baptist church, she now has her name on the rolls of the Baptist Chapel church.
Remembers Grandfather
Questioned some time ago about her grandparents, she said she remembered her grandfather, John Thomas, very well but could not recall anything about her "Grandma," Mary Thomas, other than that "She was Mary Oaks before she married, and they always said I favored her."
A diminutive little old lady of five feet two who could never have tipped the scales at more than 100 (?) ...prime, Mrs. Gilchrist has delicate features which do not betray her age. She has blue eyes and a fair amount of soft, wavy gray hair.
Even at 101 she still is able to visit neighbors who live as much as a half mile distant, likes to talk, is happy, and enjoys her mellow philosophy, developed over the years, of being a friend to everyone.
Friend To Everybody
Speaking of a granddaughter-in-law in a recent interview, Mrs. Gilchrist said "I know she has her hands full now. I wish I could help her, for I do love her well." and added reflectively, I love everybody. There is nobody anywhere I could hold an ill feeling against." Perhaps that attitude of being a universal friend to man has had much to do with Mrs. Gilchrist's longevity, which she so well deserves.
Mrs. Gilchrist's once very clear eyes have dimmed in the past few years, and her hearing has grown bad as time gradually catches up with her, but she is still surprisingly healthy and active for a woman nearing 101 years of age.

Mrs. Edna E. Gilchrist, 100, Dies in Harnett; Rites Held
(Special to Daily News)
DUNN, May 17.--A throng of more than 500 people attended the funeral service this afternoon for Mrs. Edna E. Gilchrist, of near Lillington, widow of a confederate veteran. She died late yesterday.
Mrs. Gilchrist, believed to be the oldest resident of the county, celebrated her 100th birthday last November 16. She leaves 243 descendants.
She was in good health up until a month ago, when she became ill for the first time in several years, and her condition became gradually worse.
Despite her age, she was active up until the time of her illness and visited in the neighborhood regularly. Mrs. Gilchrist was born and spent her entire life in the section between Lillington and Jonesboro.
Her first husband, Stedford Hunter, was killed in service during the civil war, and she later married Charles Gilchrist, who died about 25 years ago. Since her husband's death she had lived with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Knight.
Funeral service was held at the Cool Springs Methodist church, near Mamers.
Three Earlys, another of Harnett's first families, officiated. Rev. J. V. Early, of Hillsboro, former pastor, Rev. B. G. Early and his son, Rev. Waldo Early. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Surviving are two sons, J. C. Gilchrist, of Broadway, route 1, J. P. Gilchrist, of Lillington, route 3, and her daughter. There are 43 grandchildren, 151 great-grandchildren, and 46 great-great-grandchildren.
Photo caption: MRS. EDNA E. GILCHRIST.

Harnett County Death Certificate for Edna E. Gilchrist, widowed, d/o Tillman Thomas and Hattie Judd both b. Cumberland Co., d. at age 100 yrs. Informant was J. C. Gilchrist of Broadway, NC.

Edna married Charles Alexander Gilchrist in 1865. Charles (son of Archibald Alexander Gilchrist and Nancy Catherine Douglas) was born on 18 Apr 1842 in Moore Co., North Carolina; died on 25 Feb 1915 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried on 26 Feb 1915 in Cool Springs Methodist Church Cemetery, Mamers, Harnett Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Randall Gilchrist was born in Nov 1867 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 5 Jul 1938 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried on 5 Jul 1938 in Cool Springs Methodist Church Cemetery, Mamers, Harnett Co., North Carolina.
2. James Knox Polk Gilchrist was born on 6 Mar 1870 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 23 Jun 1941 in Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried in Cool Springs Methodist Church Cemetery, Mamers, Harnett Co., North Carolina.
3. John Chalmers Gilchrist was born on 6 Mar 1870 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 22 Jun 1944 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried on 23 Jun 1944 in Cool Springs Methodist Church Cemetery, Harnett Co., North Carolina.
4. Mary Jane Gilchrist was born in Jul 1879 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina.
5. Angus Grant Gilchrist was born on 1 Apr 1872 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 19 Apr 1906 in Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried in Cool Springs Methodist Church Cemetery, Harnett Co., North Carolina.
6. Nancy Elizabeth Gilchrist was born on 5 Jun 1874 in Upper Little River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 4 Apr 1927 in Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried in Cool Springs Methodist Church Cemetery.

Edna married Stanford Hunter about 1860. Stanford was born about 1836; died about 1866. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Harriet Martha Hunter was born on 9 Jul 1861 in Moore Co., North Carolina; died on 30 Nov 1890 in Moore Co., North Carolina.

Notes:

[1880 Census]

Census Place: Jonesboro, Moore, North Carolina
Source: FHL Film 1254973 National Archives Film T9-0973 Page 282C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Tillmon THOMAS Self M M W 73 NC
Occ: Farmer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Harrett THOMAS Wife F M W 71 NC
Occ: Keeping House Fa: NC Mo: NC

William married Harriett Melinda Judd in 1828 in Moore Co., North Carolina. Harriett (daughter of William Judd and Elizabeth Solomon) was born on 18 Nov 1808 in Cumberland Co., North Carolina; died on 6 Jan 1901 in Lee Co., North Carolina; was buried in Baptist Chapel, Broadway, Lee Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary Oates on 25 Oct 1793. Mary was born about 1777 in Wake Co., North Carolina; died between 1830 and 1840 in Moore Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Elizabeth Solomon in 1794 in Franklin Co., North Carolina. Elizabeth (daughter of William Solomon and Diana Unknown) was born in 1776 in Moore Co., North Carolina; died in 1857 in Moore Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Martha Patsy Unknown about 1769. Martha was born about 1750; died before 1819. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Jeff Wester]

The identity of the Widow Thomas is not yet known. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

William married Diana Unknown. Diana was born about 1755 in Franklin Co., North Carolina; died in Franklin Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]