Thomas AUSTIN was born 26 Mar 1773 in Calvert Co., Maryland. He was the son of Samuel AUSTIN and Mary DEAL. Other children of Samuel AUSTIN and Mary DEAL were: Samuel b. 1766, Henry b. 1771, Elizabeth b. 1775, and William b. 1780. In 1789, the AUSTIN family moved to Albemarle Co., Virginia.

On 2 Feb 1797, Thomas AUSTIN married Frances DICKERSON in the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Virginia. Frances was the daughter of John DICKERSON. Two of Thomas' brothers married two of Frances' sisters. Henry AUSTIN married Mary DICKERSON and William AUSTIN married Edith DICKERSON.

In 1811, Thomas AUSTIN and his family moved to Sumner Co., Tennessee. His two brothers, Henry and William, and their families, also moved to Sumner County soon after Thomas. Henry AUSTIN remained in Sumner County. After the death of his wife, William AUSTIN, along with ten of his children, moved to Coles Co., IL in 1828.

Thomas AUSTIN first settled in the Cairo area then later moved to the upper part of Sumner. In 1820, he bought 500 acres from Thomas GREER for the sum of 1,200 dollars.

The children of Thomas AUSTIN and Frances "Fanny" DICKERSON are:

1. Dickerson Deal AUSTIN b. 1798 in Albemarle Co., VA d. 28 Feb 1876 in Sumner Co., TN. Married: 1) Sally HALL in 1827 2) Emily Berry ANDERSON in 1835. For more information see the Dickerson Austin contribution.

2. Mary E. AUSTIN b. abt. 1800 in Albemarle Co., VA d. after 1870 in Sumner Co., TN. Married: Reuben T. SEARCY b. 22 Sep 1782 in NC d. 15 Feb 1865 in Sumner Co., TN. Reuben was the son of Reuben SEARCY and Elizabeth JETT.

3. Elizabeth AUSTIN b. abt. 1802 in Albemarle Co., VA d. 1852 in Jackson Co., MO Married: Thomas POTTS, Jr. b. abt. 1795 d. abt. 1840 in Jackson Co., MO. Thomas was the son of Thomas POTTS.

4. John W. AUSTIN b. 24 Apr 1807 in Albemarle Co., VA d. 10 Sep 1897 in Sumner Co., TN. Married: Rhoda GROVES. For more information see the John W. Austin contribution.

5. James M. AUSTIN b. 24 Oct 1808 in Albemarle Co., VA d. 17 Feb 1883 in Sumner Co., TN. He is buried in Austin Cemetery, Sumner Co., TN. Married: 1) Nancy BANDY on 27 Sep 1830 in Sumner Co., TN. Nancy b. 15 Aug 1808 in TN d. 22 May 1862 in Sumner Co., TN. Buried in Austin Cemetery. Married: 2) Margaret MNU. Margaret was b. 1811 in TN d. 22 Feb 1885 in Sumner Co., TN. Buried in Austin Cemetery.

6. Edith AUSTIN b. 3 Sep 1810 in Albemarle Co., VA d. 12 Nov 1875 in Simpson Co., KY. Married: Thomas S. JONES in 1829. For more information see the Thomas S. Jones contribution.

Frances DICKERSON AUSTIN died abt. 1812 in Sumner Co., TN.

Thomas AUSTIN married second to Elizabeth GROVES abt. 1813. Elizabeth was b. abt. 1785 in NC and d. bet. 1860 -1870 in Sumner Co., TN. Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas GROVES.

The children of Thomas AUSTIN and Elizabeth GROVES are:

1. Thomas AUSTIN b. abt. 1814 in Sumner Co., TN. Married: Elizabeth SHORT b. abt. 1826. Elizabeth was the daughter of Isaac SHORT and Mary OVERBY.

2. Samuel AUSTIN b. abt. 1818 in Sumner Co., TN d. 1865 in Sumner Co., TN. Married: Mary Angeline PITT on 1 Dec 1845 in Sumner Co. Mary was b. 14 Jan 1828 in TN d. 25 Oct 1887 in Sumner Co., TN. She is buried in Crafton Cemetery, Sumner Co., TN.

3. Frances AUSTIN b. abt. 1821 in Sumner Co., TN d. bet. 1860 - 1870 in Simpson Co., KY. Married: Thomas MEGUIAR on 17 Oct 1842 in Sumner Co., TN. Thomas was b. abt. 1819 in TN. He was the son of John MEGUIAR and Sarah WILLIAMS.

4. Allen AUSTIN b. abt. 1822 in Sumner Co., TN d. 1896 or 1897 in Sumner Co., TN. Married: Jane O. THORNHILL on 5 Sep 1842 in Sumner Co., TN. Jane was b. abt. 1824 in TN. She was the daughter of James B. THORNHILL and Leonilla STEWART.

Additions and/or corrections are appreciated.
Robyn Collins
RobCOLL224@aol.com