Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Thomas, Jane

THOMAS, Jane, heroine, b. in Chester county, Pa., in the 18th century. She was the wife of John Thomas, colonel of the Spartan regiment of South Carolina. On hearing that a large party was approaching to seize the ammunition that Gov. John Rutledge had intrusted to his keeping, Col. Thomas fled with his band of twenty-five men, taking with him a part of the powder. Two men and two women were left in charge of the house, which was attacked by the Tories. Mrs. Thomas and her companion loaded the guns for the men, and a continual firing was kept up until the assailants withdrew. It is said that the ammunition that she saved through her courage was the main supply for Sumter's command in the skirmishes at Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock.