THOMAS T IRISH was born 29 January 1737 in Falmouth, York County, Maine, which would later become Cumberland County, Maine. At the time he was born, Falmouth was still part of Massachusetts. He was the son of JAMES IRISH, an immigrant from Boxford, Suffolk, England, and ELIZABETH CROADE, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but migrated with her family to Falmouth. According to Falmouth records, JAMES IRISH was a butcher by trade.
On 22 July 1756, THOMAS IRISH married DELIVERANCE SKILLINGS, the daughter of BENJAMIN SKILLINGS and MARY PRIDE. THOMAS and DELIVERANCE had ten children, all born in Gorham.
In 1775, THOMAS enlisted as a private in Col EDMUND PHINNEY's 31st Massachusetts Regiment of Foot, under Capt HART WILLIAMS. Three of his brothers JOHN IRISH, JAMES IRISH and WILLIAM IRISH also enlisted in this same Regiment and Company on the same date in October 1775. Another brother JOSEPH IRISH, would enlist in a different Regiment and Company in 1776. All of the sons of JAMES IRISH and ELIZABETH CROADE fought in the Revolutionary War.
THOMAS IRISH re-enlisted on 7 July 1779, with the rank of Sergeant, in Col ALEXANDER McCLELLAN's company of JONATHAN MITCHELL's regiment of the Massachusetts Militia, supporting 44 American Naval ships during the ill-fated Penobscot Expedition. His brothers JOSEPH IRISH and WILLIAM IRISH also enlisted on that same date. They all survived and were mustered out to return home in September 1779
Unfortunately I have been unable to find any information about THOMAS's occupation, or his circumstances after the war. His middle initial "T" may have been for the surname "THOME" or THOMES", which was the surname of a family living in Gorham. So far, I have not established any connection between the IRISH family and the THOME / THOMES family.
However, one thing that is truly remarkable about THOMAS IRISH is his longevity. When he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension on 31 July 1832, he was 95 years old! The pension was approved, but unfortunately THOMAS only lived a short time longer. He died on 14 August 1832, and was buried in the North Street cemetery in Gorham. His death information was published in the newspaper, his age being "96 years, 8 days".
Sources:
-DAR Patriot Index
-Descendants of James Irish by Jennie J Wright Howes
-History of Colonel Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot by Charles Edwin Allen
-History of Gorham, Maine by Hugh D McClellan
-Publishments, Marriages, Births and Deaths from the Earlier Records of Gorham, Maine, compiled by Marquis F King
Have a great day!
Betty
© Betty Tartas 2025
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