Thomas Cemetery, SUNY Purchase College. 735 Anderson Hill Rd

This small but significant family cemetery is situated in the heart of the SUNY Purchase College campus. Revolutionary war hero, Major General Thomas Thomas is buried here. John Thomas, his father, was a judge who is remembered for reading the Declaration of Independence outside the County Court House in White Plains on July 11th, 1776. Judge Thomas was taken prisoner and died in prison on May 2, 1777.

The Thomas family were in a militia formed with Harrison residents. In 1775, Thomas Thomas was commissioned Colonel of a regiment that served Patriots. Col. Thomas was captured, but later paroled. In 1779, an attempt was made to capture him after he returned to the Patriots. He was exchanged during his parole but was able to avoid the enemy. After the Revolution, he was called to military duty again, this time as Major General of the Westchester County Militia. Thomas and his men were assembled as part of the defense in the War of 1812. [1]

After his military service, he continued by serving the Town of Harrison. Thomas Thomas was Harrison’s first Supervisor. “Preservation Society was deeded the cemetery in exchange for the sum of $1. The Society pledged its “perpetual care and preservation of the Burying Ground Monument and the Grave of Major General Thomas Thomas” and shortly afterwards held a rededication ceremony.” [2]

You can learn more about the Chisolm family who owned a 500 acre farm estate called Strathglass Farm, before it became SUNY Purchase, here.

[1] Kelly, Jean. Town of Harrison Tricentennial, 1696-1996, 1996, p.100.

[2] Purchase College Development 1964-72. Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.purchase.edu/purchase-history/purchase-college-development-1964-72/.