Thomas Sickles

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According to subsequent records, Thomas Sickles was born in February 1749 and probably in New Jersey. He does not seem to have been closely connected to the Albany Sickles family.

In July 1777, he married Mary Norwood of/in Princeton, New Jersey. The couple appear to have had a large family (11 children). Their first son is said to have been born in Albany in September 1778 - and subsequently was christened in New Jersey. In 1780 and 1782, sons were christened at the Albany Dutch church. Two of his sons were buried in the Albany Presbyterian church cellar in 1783 and 1785.

He is said to have come to Albany during the war. He appears to have been an officer in a New Jersey regiment of the Continental army. In March 1778, he reported to the Albany committee that two Albany-area men refused to deliver wood to the military magazine. In August of that year, his name appeared above a roster of those local tradesmen under the command of the Quartermaster General. He was identified as Assistant Quartermaster General.

In March 1779, his property in the first ward was valued on the Albany assessment roll.

In 1781, his name was on a list of Albany newcomers who had purchased the "Freedom" of the city. At that time, he was identified as a merchant.

In September 1784, he was advertizing the sale of "European & India goods" on the south side of State Street in the Albany newspaper. Within a year, he seems to have left Albany for its hinterland.

Beginning in 1786, he was a member of the New York State Assembly from Albany and then Rensselaer County. He served until 1794.

In May 1789, he was appointed assistant judge for Albany County. In 1790, his large household (13 family members) was configured on the census for the town of Hoosick which was still in old Albany County. He is said to have been an early settler (of what was once called "Sickles Mills) whose farm and cloth mill were near the Wallomsac River.

Thomas Sickles died in Herkimer County in April 1811 and was buried in the Herkimer cemetery. His survivors later received a pension for his service during the Revolutionary war. His widow died in 1840.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Thomas Sickles is CAP biography number 7062. We seek information on his parents and early life. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Family information about his wife.





first posted: 5/10/09; last revised 10/20/10