Judge Thomas Bell Monroe

Notes:

Judge Monroe acquired some knowledge of books and after reaching manhood settled in Barren County, Kentucky. In 1816 he was elected to the Legislature and in 1819 he began to study and practice law. He never read a law-book until he announced himself ready to be a lawyer.

He moved to Frankfort, Kentucky in 1821 and in the winter of that year he attended lectures, and graduated in the Law Department of Transylvania University. He served as Secretary of State under Governor Adair for one year starting in Sep 1823. in 1825 he was appointed by Governor Desha as reporter of the decisions of the Court of Appeals. At about this time, he published his seven volume "Monroe's Kentucky Reports". In 1834, he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson as Judge of the United States District Court of Kentucky. He was an early supporter of the doctrines of Jefferson, but after becoming a judge, he ceased to take an active interest in politics.

As a Judge, his decisions were of the highest order being seldom reversed, and his long term of office was characterized by learning, justice, fairness and great honor.

He became a professor in the University of Louisiana in 1848 and spent several winters in New Orleans in discharge of his duties with that institution. He later filled the Chair of Civil, International and Criminal Law in Transylvania University in Lexington. He was also Professor of Rhetoric, Logic and History of Law at the Western Academy at Drennon Springs, Kentucky and taught a law class at his own home near Frankfort.

Eventually, the University of Louisiana, Centre College and Harvard University conferred upon him the degree of L. L. D.

During the Civil War, when United States troops occupied Frankfort, Kentucky in 1861, they encamped on Judge Bell's. Thereupon this fine old gentleman resigned the appointment given him by President Jackson on March 8, 1834, and went to Nashville, where in the Confederate States District Court for the Middle Division of Tennessee he took the following oath of allegiance to the Southern side:

"I, Thomas B. Monroe, hereby declare that, having renounced my citizenship of the United States, I hereby adopt myself a citizen of the 'Confederate States of America,' and solemnly swear that I will support their Constitution and will true allegiance bear to its Government so long as I am a citizen thereof."

He remained in Canton, Mississippi with his family until after the fall of Vicksburg and then went to Marietta, Georgia for a time earnestly engaging in the cause of the sick and in such other duties as he could perform.

When Kentucky was admitted to the Confederacy on 10 Dec 1861, Thomas was elected as one of the deputies to the Provisional Congress that drafted the Constitution of the Confederate States of America. In 1864 he went to Richmond, Virginia and was a member of the Confederate Congress until the fall of Richmond. He attempted to practice law but became weary of the strife and returned to his family in Abbeville, South Carolina.

After the surrender of General Lee, he went to Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he spent the remainder of his days, never having an opportunity to return to his beautiful home in Kentucky.

At least one reference confuses Thomas with Robert Bell Monroe [5270]. The parents of Robert were Andrew Monroe born about 1759 in Virginia and Ann Bell. The parents of Thomas were Andrew Monroe born 1749 in Kentucky and Anna Bell. Whether this is an error or an interesting coincidence is not known. Anyway, care must be taken at this point in both families because of the similarity of the names places and dates.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Chambers, John
- Conery, Marcia Monroe
- Guilford, Dr. Joan S.
- Johnson, Monroe

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Live Oak Cemetery

Thomas married Eliza Palmer Adair on 3 Nov 1812 in Whitehall, Mercer Co., Kentucky, USA. Eliza (daughter of Gen. John Adair, Governor Of Kentucky and Catherine Palmer) was born on 10 Aug 1790 in Whitehall, Mercer Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 7 Aug 1871 in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA; was buried in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Victor Monroe was born on 27 Nov 1813 in Glasgow, Barren Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 15 Sep 1856 in Olympia, Thurston Co., Washington, USA.
2. Anna Bell Monroe was born in 1815; died in 1873.
3. Katherine Adair Monroe was born on 10 Dec 1817 in Glasgow, Barren Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 13 Dec 1900 in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA; was buried on 15 Dec 1900 in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA.
4. Mary Hardin Monroe was born on 25 Apr 1820 in Glasgow, Barren Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 5 Mar 1913 in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA; was buried in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA.
5. John Adair Monroe was born on 22 Feb 1823 in Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., Kentucky, USA; died in 1873 in , Wayne Co., Illinois, USA.
6. Andrew Monroe was born in 1826 in , Adair Co., Kentucky, USA; and died.
7. Elizabeth Adair Monroe was born on 4 Dec 1828 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 1 Jun 1905 in New Orleans, Orleans Par., Louisiana, USA; was buried in Pass Christian, Harrison Co., Mississippi, USA.
8. Margaret Anderson Monroe was born in 1831; died in 1832.
9. Judge Thomas Bell Monroe, Jr. was born on 3 Jul 1833 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 6 Apr 1862 in Burnsville, Bath Co., Virginia, USA.
10. Benjamin James Monroe was born on 7 Aug 1836 in Montrose, Fayette Co., Kentucky, USA; died on 4 Oct 1862 in , Marshall Co., Mississippi, USA.

Notes:

**********
[Andrew Monroe] «i»Son of William Monroe (died c1775) & Rachel Piper, Removed to Woodford County, Kentucky Married Ann Bell

notes by Mrs. De Volt (1957)
«/i»
(R.W. Munro's genealogy notes)
**********

Andrew moved to Kentucky in 1792, but the Johnson reference says he married Anna Bell in Kentucky. Other references give the marriage date as 1789. Johnson also believes that Andrew's birth and death places should be reversed as he probably was born in Virginia and died in Kentucky, which seems logical. In any case, Andrew and his family were living in Scott county, Kentucky as early as 1794.

His wife was the daughter of Thomas Bell who moved to Woodford County, Kentucky and became District Judge for Kentucky. Her first name may be Annie or Ann or Anne.

There is much confusion and probably a lot of error in this family record. There is another Andrew Monroe [3556] married to another Ann Bell [3557] in a completely different family line. Is this an error or just an interesting coincidence? Care must be taken here because of the many similar names at about the same time and place.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Chambers, John
- Cones, Mona
- Howcott, Harley B., Jr.
- Johnson, Monroe - letter - 1 Dec 1995

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Andrew married Ann Bell on 24 Oct 1789 in , Albemarle Co., Virginia, USA. Ann (daughter of Thomas Bell and Elizabeth Weir) was born about 1751 in , , , Ireland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ann was of Irish descent.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

William was married twice and had children by both wives. There is some controversy about which wife bore which children. The name "Gent" may just mean "gentleman" and could have been added as part of his name in error.

He served as Colonel of Westmoreland County, Virginia, Justice of the Peace and Member of the House of Burgesses

He served as executor of his father's will.

John Piper, the father of his first wife, Rachel, left a will, 25 Sep 1759, in which he gives land and five negros to William and his wife. Rachel was the sister of Col. John and Frank Triplet of King George County, Virginia.

One reference gives William's birthdate as 1692 and gives the deathdate of Rachel Piper, his second wife, as 1759 (Williams says she died in 1775). Guilford and ref 1 says William died in 1760. Petersen says William died in 1773.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Chambers, John
- Cones, Mona
- Hund, Betty
- Rice, Dorothy
- Johnson, Monroe
- Guilford, Dr. Joan S. ("Southern Monroes" manuscript)
- Petersen, Charles A. - letter 2 Feb 1996
- Williams, Irmalee - Descendants of George Munro

Ref (2) says William died in 1760.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy chart for Andrew
Monroe (ca. 1615-1668) - signed with initials "MDH" and dated 18 Sep 1987

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - "The Monroe Family of Virginia" -
compiled by Nancy E. Harris - Jul 1988 - p. 14

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Rachel Piper after 1726. Rachel (daughter of John Piper and Mary Frank) was born about 1710 in , Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA; died in 1773. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - letter from John W. King, Jr.
dated 28 Jul 1997

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - e-mail message dated 27 Oct 1997
- p. 8

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Error alert: Rachel's birth date is given as 1734 but that makes her way too young to give birth to some of her children. Not only that, but with the given dates, Rachel is 44 years younger than her husband. I'm estimating that her birth date is about 1710. There is also a dispute as to the identity of her mother. Most references say she was the daughter of Mary Frank, but a few say she was the daughter of Ann Quisenberry.

Notes:

Thomas went to Woodford County, Kentucky and became District Judge for Kentucky.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Thomas married Elizabeth Weir. Elizabeth was born about 1728; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

William was the "godchild of Willford". He is not mentioned in his father's will. The name "Gent" may just mean "gentleman" and could have been added as part of his name in error.

William's will, dated 1737, was found in Westmoreland County, Virginia Wills 1654-1800 - p. 102. It mentions four sons, three daughters and several grandchildren.

30 Mar 1737 - Recorded in Westmoreland County, Virginia
26 Apr 1737 - Proved

William left a plantation located in King George County, Virginia to his son, Thomas. Also mentioned are: grandson Spence and his brother Andrew Munroe; granddaughter Jane Munroe; son George; grandson George son of William Munroe; grandson Daniel Payne; Jeane Payne; daughters Sarah Stone and Mary Stone; grandsons William Payne and William Stone; son Andrew Munroe's children Spence, Andrew and Jeane; son William executor.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Bolton, James, Jr.
- Chambers, John
- Cones, Mona
- DiZerega, Thomas
- Elder, Charlotte
- Monroe, Douglas Eugene
- Guilford, Dr. Joan S.
- Johnson, Monroe - William Monroe notes
- Boyer, Wallace R. - descendants of Hector Munro 13th
- Petersen, Charles - Letter 2 Feb 1996
"Journey From Ross-shire" by James Harrison Monroe - p. 8

Ref: Clan Munro files - Monroe, Richard Walter - "Virginia Descendants of
Andrew Monroe" by Anne Monroe Wintzer - p. 33

Ref (1) says William was the eldest son.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Roder, Mary Margaret Ball - Pedigree chart for Andrew
Augustine Monroe compiled by Rebekah B. McBride - dated 12 Oct 1977 - #8

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Margaret Bowcock in 1689 in Westmoreland, Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA. Margaret (daughter of Thomas Bowcock and Jane) was born in 1670 in , Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA; died in 1695 in , , Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Borgman, Geraldine Monroe - membership application
dated 3 Jul 1997

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - "The Monroe Family of Virginia" -
compiled by Nancy E. Harris - Jul 1988 - p. 7

(3) Clan Munro files - Roder, Mary Margaret Ball - Pedigree chart for Andrew
Augustine Monroe compiled by Rebekah B. McBride - dated 12 Oct 1977 - #9

(4) Clan Munro files - Monroe, Richard Walter - "Virginia Descendants of
Andrew Monroe" by Anne Monroe Wintzer - p. 33

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

John's will was dated 25 Sep 1759. He gave land and 5 negros to his daughter Rachel.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

John married Mary Frank. Mary was born about 1664; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: Mary's birth date is an estimate based on the birth date of her daughter, Rachel.