Maguire, Thomas, 1801-1886.

Thomas Maguire (1801- 1886) was born in Ireland. In 1818 he immigrated to America and by 1820 owned land in Gwinnett County. A wealthy land owner, Thomas became a prominent member of Lithonia society. By 1860 he had 959 acres of land, which he titled the "Promised Land," and as many as 26 slaves. In April 1830 he married Jane Anderson (1812-1837) and had three children with her: Margaret Elizabeth (1831-1849), Mary Jane (1832-1913), and Thomas Jefferson (1834-1861). After his first wife died, he married her sister Elizabeth Anderson (1821-1881) and had eight children with her: John E (1840-1898), Catherine Celia (d as infant), James Henry Clay (1844-1891), Sarah Edney (1847-1928), David Oscar (1850-1913), Amanda Emma (1854-1912), Cora Anne (1857-1886), and William Anderson (1860-1914).

Thomas held several political positions including Captain of the Militia, Rockbridge district # 571 in 1828; road commissioner for the Rockbridge District in 1836; state representative in 1838; second lieutenant in Hamilton's Company; Postmaster of the Rockbridge Post Office from 1839 to 1865; and member of the Gwinnet County Board of Education in 1871. He was a staunch supporter of the Universalist and Baptists churches of Lithonia and in 1874 helped start the Rockbridge Universalist Church. Thomas also fought for Temperance and was a very active member of the local Masonic Lodge, where he held various positions throughout his life. Although Thomas was too old to join the Confederate army, three of his sons volunteered. Thomas Jefferson died in Arkansas in 1861. John E. was wounded in 1862 but survived, as did James H.C. Thomas and his family witnessed the Atlanta campaign and several Union raids on the plantation.