John Warren Thomas (April 1, 1815 - July 20, 1888)[1] was a shoemaker,[1] and politician who twice served as the Sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, first for one year, from 1852 to 1853, and again for 21 years, from 1857 to 1878.[2]
John Warren Thomas[1] | |
|---|---|
| Norfolk County, Massachusetts Sheriff | |
| In office January 1, 1857[1] – January 1, 1878[1] | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Adams |
| Succeeded by | Rufus Corbin Wood |
| Norfolk County, Massachusetts Sheriff | |
| In office 1852[1]–1853[1] | |
| Appointed by | George S. Boutwell |
| Preceded by | Thomas Adams |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1, 1815[1] Weymouth, Massachusetts[1] |
| Died | July 20, 1888[1] |
| Political party | Democratic Free Soil Republican[1] |
| Spouse | Sarah Blanchard[1] |
| Children | John Warren Thomas, Jr., born November 14, 1849[1] |
| Occupation | Shoemaker[1] |
Personal life
editThomas, the son of Andrew Thomas, was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on April 1, 1815. Thomas received his education in the Weymouth public schools.[1] He was a Congregationalist.[1]
Thomas died on July 20, 1888, at the age of 73.[1] His portrait is in the collection of the Dedham Historical Society.[3]
Political career
editIn 1852 Thomas was elected to represent Weymouth in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and in 1853 he was elected to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.[1]
In 1852 Thomas was appointed Norfolk County sheriff by Massachusetts governor George S. Boutwell. The next year Thomas was removed from office for political reasons by Boutwell's successor John H. Clifford[1] In 1856 the state law was changed and the office of sheriff became an elected, rather than appointed position, Thomas received the nominations of both the American and Republican parties.[1] Thomas was elected by a plurality of three thousand, and a majority of twenty five hundred votes over the Democratic and (Fillmore) American party candidate Edward Potter.[1] Thomas was once again sworn as the Norfolk County sheriff on January 1, 1857.[1] Thomas continued in office until January 1, 1878, winning each triennial election until he declined to run again due to failing health.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Cutter, William Richard (1908), William Richard Cutter (ed.), Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Vol. I, New York, NY: Lewis Historical Pub. Co., pp. 1873–1874
- ^ "History". Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ "Old Dedham". Boston Post. April 2, 1890. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
 | This biography article about law enforcement in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |