Searching for information about my grandfather's grandfather, Samuel G. Thomas

Found some more information.

He was named Samuel G. Thomas. Through another person on ancestry.com I learned that I could request copies of vital records for people in New Jersey. By doing that I got a copy of the "Return Of Marriages" for Camden County for May, 1852. On May 10, 1852, Samuel G. Thomas's marriage on February 18, 1852 was recorded. You can see a scan of the photocopy that was sent to me by clicking on the link below.

The really great thing is learning the name of the father of Samuel G. Thomas, Jacob Thomas. Confirming his wife's last name and the name of her father are also great advances.

Always good to keep digging and a little help from some friends is always welcome.

The information below was collected around Dec. 2010

I have been doing some research on my family. My grandfather's grandather according to family lore, Samuel Thomas, fought in the Civil War. From my research I got the impression that he served with the 24th Regiment NJ Volunteer Infantry. Going with that I looked for records related to his service. I did find that a Samuel Thomas, rank of private in Company A of that regiment had applied for a pension. The image of the pension card that gave me hope of locating him after 1870 is attached. -- Sure looked like Samuel J. Thomas to me.

I also learned that it is possible to obtain a copy of the pension application through the National Archives at archives.gov. So I requested a copy of the pension application for the hefty fee of $75. It came in the mail yesterday on a CD. I booted up my computer and pored over the 93 pages of the application file.

Somewhat to my dismay the Samuel Thomas I had located was not "my" Samuel Thomas but one from your neck of the woods.

If you want to see the 93 page PDF file that the National Archives provided to me click
here.

"My" Samuel G. Thomas was born in 1829 in New Jersey, son of Jacob Thomas, farmer and died during or before 1880. This Samuel Thomas was born 11 April 1826 in Upper Alloway Creek Township and died sometime after 1900.

I will also attach a copy of the last Federal Census that I can find for him, 1870 in Philadelphia. If you have trouble locating his family click on the "detail" image.

In the hopes that someone else might be searching for this ancestor - the family group at the time was

Thomas, Samuel M(ale) W(hite) House Painter owns real estate worth $3,000 and has $300 in personal possessions - a US Citizen

Samuel Thomas, 41 years old, head of household, house painter, born in New Jersey, probably in 1829

Mary Smallwood Thomas, 40, his wife, keeping house - born in Pennsylvania - born 1831 - died 1899
Her grave marker can be seen at the link below - Downer United Methodist Church cemetery near Williamstown, NJ

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18151789

Alphonso Thomas, 15, attended school in the last year - born in New Jersey born 1850 or 1856 - died 1920
His grave marker can be seen at the link below - Downer United Methodist Church cemetery near Williamstown, NJ

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18151828/alphonso-lyon-thomas

Annie Thomas, 10, attended school in the last year - born in New Jersey

Samuel Jacob Thomas, 9, attended school in the last year - born in New Jersey born 1861 - died 1936
His grave marker can be seen at the link below - Downer United Methodist Church cemetery near Williamstown, NJ

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18151795

Charles Thomas, 2, - born in Pennsylvania - born 1869 - died 1903
His grave marker can be seen at the link below - Downer United Methodist Church cemetery near Williamstown, NJ

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18151790

I think that I have the 1860 Census for "my" Samuel Thomas living in Camden, NJ. I will attach that image below also. At that time he was listed as a "Hay Dealer." One of his grand-daughters reports family lore that said he was "unlucky in business," he signed some sort of note and lost most of his property. He may have been selling Hay to the Union Army and lost out in some sort of swindle.

The details of the 1860 Census are listed below.

1860 United States Federal Census about Samuel Thomas
Name: Samuel Thomas born in NJ
Age in 1860: 34
Birth Year: abt 1826
Birthplace: New Jersey
Home in 1860: Camden Middle Ward, Camden, New Jersey
Gender: Male
Post Office: Camden
Value of real estate: none
Value of personal estate: $200
Occupation: Hay Dealer

Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Thomas 34
Mary Thomas 30 born in Pennsylvania
Alfonsa Thomas 5 born in New Jersey
Anna Thomas 3 born in New Jersey

For 1870 - the family is in Philadelphia, PA.
Philadelphia Ward 24 District 81, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Samuel Thomas 41 - born in NJ - house painter real estate valued at $3,000 personal estate at $300
Mary Thomas 40 - born in PA - keeping house
Alphonzo Thomas 15 born in NJ occupation left blank - attended school w/in the year
Annie Thomas 13 born in NJ occupation left blank - attended school w/in the year
Samuel Thomas 9 Born in NJ occupation left blank - attended school w/in the year
Charles Thomas 2 Born in PA occupation left blank

For 1880 I located a United States Federal Census for Mary T. Thomas and three sons are shown living in the state of Delaware,
the Brandywine 100, in Newcastle County -
Mary T. Thomas 49, keeping house, widowed
Alphonzo 24 working in a paper mill
Annie - who would be 22 is out of the picture
Samuel J. 18 working in a paper mill
Charles 12 at school

An image of this census is also attached.

The mystery here is what happened to the elder Samuel G. Thomas? How did he die? Where is he buried?

Any help solving this riddle would be greatly appreciated.