John W. Thomas (sheriff)

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(s) Sarah Blanchard[1]
Children John Warren Thomas, Jr., born November 14, 1849[1]
Occupation Shoemaker[1]

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]

Early life and education

Thomas, the son of Andrew Thomas, was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on April 1, 1815. Thomas received his education in the Weymouth public schools.[1]

Early political career

In 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]

Norfolk County sheriff

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]

Death

Thomas died on July 20, 1888.[1]

Portrait

Thomas' portrait is in the collection of the Dedham Historical Society.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 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
  2. "History". Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. "Old Dedham". Boston Post. April 2, 1890. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.


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