Thanks Deloris....back to the drawing board for my pre-Civil War Thomas'. Records indicate they were born in Virgina, were held as slaves in NC and freed following the CW.
However, there were a couple of FPOC Thomas' in Edgecombe Co., NC in 1860, Could have been freed in a state other than NC, freed under given name only and assumed the Thomas surname after freedom. Many, many possibilties here.
Oh well, this is what makes this stuff so fascinating.
Thanks again.....Art