To learn more about James L. Thomas, a search has to be expanded to other individuals, including siblings, in-laws, descendants, and wives such as Sarah May. This research should include more complex census searches and then expand into locality and DNA research.

Sarah May in the 1866 Alabama State Census

The 1866 Alabama State Census is an important census for researchers in Alabama. It was similar to the earlier federal censuses that took a count of individuals within age ranges. This census was taken just after the end of the Civil War, and it can be used to determine what happened to individuals and families. There are special columns to indicate death or disability of veterans, which is especially helpful in finding evidence of whether a soldier survived the war.

It is uncertain if James L. Thomas, married to Sarah May, survived the Civil War. A medical card suggested James Thomas had spent some time in the hospital during the war. But the military packet did not contain any additional details.¹ If he survived the war, James would be listed in the census. If he did not, then Sarah would be listed.

A search of the 1866 Alabama State Census did find a James Thomas in Autauga County, Alabama, who matched.

James Thomas²

• Males under 10 years: 2
• Male 30-40 years: 1
• Females under 10 years: 1
• Females 20-30 years: 1

The listing matched up with the family listing in FamilySearch. There were no tick marks in the columns about the death or disability of veterans. This means James L. Thomas survived the war and did not have any long-term disability. This census listing also tells us the family was intact until at least 1866. The mystery remains of what could have happened between 1866 to 1870 when Sarah then appears alone in the 1870 U.S. Census.³

Emily Hitt in the 1886 Alabama State Census

A similar search found Emily Hitt in the 1866 Alabama State Census. Emily married James C. Mann on 19 August 1855 in Jefferson County, Alabama. Emily and James had four children: one son and three daughters. Since Emily was found in the census, this means that James did not survive the war.

Emily Mann

• Male under 10 years: 1
• Female under 10 years: 1
• Female 20-30 years: 1
• Soldier died of sickness: 1

This census listing suggested that only 2 of Emily’s children with James C. Mann were with her in 1866. The census also indicated that James C. Mann died of sickness. Since Emily was a widow in Jefferson County, Alabama, she was in the right place and time to meet and marry James Lloyd Thomas in 1868.⁴

It is still possible for James L. Thomas of Autauga County, Alabama, to have relocated to Jefferson County, Alabama, to marry Emily Hitt. But the evidence is pointing to the likelihood that the two James L. Thomas FamilySearch profiles are for different men. At least, the idea needs to be considered. Evidence shows James L. Thomas of Autauga County was the son of John L. Thomas. The idea that James married Emily Hitt in another county while still being married to Sarah May is a conflict that is still unresolved.

More Census Research

Deeper and more strategic searching of federal censuses could help unlock other parental candidates for James Lloyd Thomas of Jefferson County, Alabama. A search of the 1850 U.S. Census could identify other Thomas families in Alabama that could be researched. This kind of search revealed several possibilities that need the researcher to eliminate the possibilities.

A similar search for Sarah May in the 1880 U.S. Census could be done. If Sarah remarried, she would have a different last name. A search of Autauga County, Alabama, returned several results for women with the first name of Sarah, born about 1837 in Alabama. Each of these women could be researched to eliminate the possibilities of what might have happened to Sarah.

James C. Mann and Emily have not been found in the 1860 U.S. Census. This is a mystery that needs some attention. Emily and James would have had to be in proximity to each other to meet and marry. Did the Thomas family cross paths with the Mann family? Some additional looking in the 1860 U.S. Census could identify another James Thomas in the same area as James C. Mann.

Additional Military Research

James Lloyd Thomas of Jefferson County, Alabama, enlisted in Shelby County rather than the county where he resided.⁵ His enlistment was a little unusual because soldiers tended to enlist in the nearest city in the county where they lived, which should have been Birmingham. What connections could James have had in Shelby County? Brothers and friends would often enlist on the same day at the same location. Some research on the 31st Alabama Infantry unit could identify some possible connections or family members. Additional research about the history of the Civil War in Jefferson and Shelby County could provide some insight.

Locality Research

Understanding the history of a locality could help with this case. Autauga, Jefferson, and Shelby counties have historical and genealogical societies that could have some documentation or research that is not online. The Thomas family was particularly tied to Autauga County, so reaching out to the Autauga County Heritage Association and the Autauga Genealogical Society could provide essential information on James L. Thomas and Sarah May and their families.

Descendancy Research

When the documentary evidence for the focus person of a research objective runs dry, research needs to transition to researching friends, associates, neighbors, and extended family. These extended family relationships can provide indirect evidence for what may have happened to James L. Thomas, Sarah May, and their children.

This descendancy research should include William E. May and all of his children. If Sarah was widowed after 1866, where would she have gone? If Sarah died after 1866, where would her children have gone? Sarah or her children could have lived with or near her siblings.

Descendancy research should be done for John L. Thomas and all of his children for the same reasons. This kind of research, while time-consuming, is also invaluable for identifying modern descendants who may be willing to do a DNA test. DNA is a great tool for filling in the gap when documentary evidence runs out or is not available.

Sources

1. “US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – Alabama, 1861-1865”; digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 16 April 2025), 32nd and 58th Alabama Consolidated Infantry, entry for J L Thomas; citing National Archives microfilm publication Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations , compiled 1903 – 1927, documenting the period 1861 – 1865, record group 109, Alabama. ↩︎
2. 1866 Alabama State Census, Autauga County, Alabama, population schedule, no. 9, James Thomas household; digital image, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 30 April 2025); citing Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery. ↩︎
3. 1870 U.S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama, population schedule, Beat No. 5, p. 36 (penned), dwelling 317, family 317, Sarah Thomas household; digital image, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 April 2025); citing NARA microfilm publication M593. ↩︎
4. 1866 Alabama State Census, Jefferson County, Alabama, population schedule, no. 7, page 63 (penned), Emily Mann household; digital image, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 30 April 2025); citing Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery. ↩︎
5. “US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – Alabama, 1861-1865”; digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 16 April 2025), 31st Alabama Regiment Infantry, Co. C, entry for J L Thomas; citing National Archives microfilm publication Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations , compiled 1903 – 1927, documenting the period 1861 – 1865, record group 109, Alabama.  ↩︎