{{short description|American colonist (1623–1675)}} {{Distinguish|Thomas Watkins Ligon}} Colonel '''Thomas Lygon III''' (also spelled '''Ligon''', '''Liggon''' and '''Liggin'''; 11 January 1623 – 16 March 1675) was a Colonial Virginian statesman, militia officer, and landowner. Born into a genteel family in England, Lygon emigrated to the Virginia Colony in the early 1640s. He served in the House of Burgesses, representing Henrico County, and was a justice of the peace for Charles City County. Lygon owned large parcels of land along the Appomattox River, and worked as a surveyor until his death in 1675. He was the patriarch of the American branch of the Lygon family.

== Early life and family == thumb|right|250px|Coat of arms of the Lygon family Lygon was born in Warwickshire, England on 11 January 1623 to Sir Thomas Framer Lygon II of Madresfield Court and Elizabeth Pratt.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/1918807|title=Lygon of Madresfield, Worcester, England and Henrico, Virginia|author=Boddie, John Bennett|year=1936|journal=The William and Mary Quarterly|volume=16|issue=2|pages=289–315|doi=10.2307/1918807|jstor=1918807 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_cwAAAAMAAJ|title=The Ligon Family and Connections|first=William Daniel|last=Ligon|date=May 24, 1947|publisher=Bond Press|via=Google Books}}</ref> He was baptized in the Church of England in Walsgrave on Sowe.<ref name= lanham>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanhamsource.com/getperson.php?personID=I5743&tree=T1|title=Colonel Thomas Ligon, III Walsgrave on Sowe, Metropolitan Borough of Coventry, Warwickshire, England, d. 1675/6 Henrico County, Virginia|website=www.lanhamsource.com}}</ref><ref name= jamestowne>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamestowne.org/1/post/2019/07/thomas-harris-and-thomas-ligon-burgesses-from-henrico-county.html|title=Thomas Harris and Thomas Ligon, Burgesses from Henrico County|website=Jamestowne Society}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tcM40zgdAZgC&dq=colonel+thomas+lygon&pg=PA266|title=Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607–1624/5: Families G-P|first=John Frederick|last=Dorman|year=2004|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=9780806317632 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Lygon was a member of an aristocratic family that were part of the landed gentry. He was a cousin of Sir William Berkeley and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lfka.org/history|title=Ligon Family and Kinsman Association - History|website=lfka.org}}</ref> The home of Lygon's grandparents, Thomas Lygon of Elkstone and Frances Dennis, was searched by priest hunters in 1581 and, in 1592, his grandmother was fined as a recusant for refusing to attend Anglican services.<ref name= gen>{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/liggon/65/|title=Four Thomas Lygons (Ligons) |website=www.genealogy.com}}</ref> He was a great-great-grandson of Sir William Denys, who served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and as Esquire of the Body to Henry VIII, and Anne de Berkeley of Berkeley Castle.

== Life in the colonies == Following his cousin, Sir William Berkeley, who was appointed by Charles I as the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lygon emigrated to the Virginia Colony in the early 1640s, at the age of sixteen, arriving in Jamestown in 1641.<ref name= encyclopedia>{{Cite web|url=https://encyclopediavirginia.org/geodata/colonel-thomas-lygon/|title=Colonel Thomas Lygon – Encyclopedia Virginia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leagans.com/in-england-in-america/|title=In England/In America – Leagans }}</ref> On 18 April 1644, while Lygon was living at the home of John and Sarah Woodson, their settlement was attacked by Native Americans.<ref name= lanham/> During the battle, Lygon shot and killed seven people.<ref name= lanham/> The gun he used is now owned by the Virginia Historical Society.<ref name= lanham/>

Lygon patented several large parcels of land north of the Appomattox River in The Cowpens, then part of Henrico County.<ref name= encyclopedia/><ref name= hmdb>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=17131|title=Colonel Thomas Lygon Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org}}</ref> In 1668, three hundred acres of land on the south side of the James River were granted to Lygon and Major William Farrar.<ref name= smith>{{Cite web|url=https://smithharper.org/the-ligon-family-and-connection-chapter-xv-2/|title=The Ligon Family and Connection – Chapter XV – Smith Harper}}</ref> On 7 April 1671, Lygon was granted 387 acres of land on the north side of the Appomattox.<ref name= smith/> On 20 September 1672, he was granted 1,468 acres along the James River.<ref name= smith/>

He married Mary Harris, daughter of the planter Captain Thomas Harris, and had at least five children with her.<ref name= encyclopedia/><ref name= jamestowne/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AyhusD7Hc2MC&dq=colonel+thomas+lygon&pg=PA343|title=Virginia Historical Genealogies|first=John Bennett|last=Boddie|year=2009|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=9780806300429 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

Lygon was active in government in the colony, and was appointed to represent his cousin on various occasions. He served in the House of Burgesses, representing Henrico County, and was a member of the Committee for Private Causes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/1562|title=House History|website=history.house.virginia.gov}}</ref> His brother-in-law, Major William Harris, held the other Henrico County seat. Lygon was active in the county militia, serving as a lieutenant colonel and later as a colonel.<ref name= encyclopedia/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://photos.historical-markers.org/Virginia/Chesterfield-County/VA-K203-Colonel-Thomas-Lygon|title=VA-K203 Colonel Thomas Lygon|website=photos.historical-markers.org}}</ref> On 1 August 1657, he was appointed as a justice of the peace for Charles City County, Virginia. He worked as a surveyor until his death in 1675.<ref name= encyclopedia/>

He died in Henrico County on 16 March 1675.

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lygon, Thomas}} Category:1623 births Category:1675 deaths Category:17th-century American landowners Category:American militia officers Category:American surveyors Category:Justices of the peace from the Thirteen Colonies Category:House of Burgesses members Category:English emigrants to the Thirteen Colonies Thomas Category:Military personnel from Warwickshire Category:Politicians from Worcestershire