Elizabeth Thames McAllester Story –Thames list Nov. 1, 03
I have just read the post on the Thames list concerning Elizabeth Thames McAllester the daughter of Colonel Joseph Thames.This post describes her trials and tribulations with her drunken second husband.The story as stated in the post is incorrect.I got this story from William C. Fields III and passed it on to C.M.C. the source cited in the post.She then passed it on to her cousin R.M.B. who then passed it on J.T.H. that made the post, or something like that.I guess that is what happens with “good gossip over the back fence”.Not to put it down, because I enjoy it just as much as anyone.The problem is that it always gets changed around with each repeated telling.
Elizabeth Thames McAllester the daughter of Colonel Joseph Thames and was born in 1786.She was married once and that was to Charles McAllester.They had no children that survived beyond childhood.The story is she gave birth to ten children all stillborn.
A few years after the death of Elizabeth Thames McAllester on August 21, 1830, Charles McAllester remarried to Elizabeth Thames born April 9, 1811 the daughter of Rev. David Thames.Elizabeth and Charles were married on November 22, 1835 they had several children one being Captain Alexander McAllester who lost a leg in the “Civil War”.Charles McAllester died August 25, 1840 and is buried in the Thames-McAllester cemetery next to his first wife.It is only fair to mention here that during his lifetime Charles McAllester was a very important member of the Thames family.
Elizabeth Thames McAllester (widow) married Robert McNabb on September 5, 1845.Robert McNabb is supposed to be the drunken abusive husband in this story.I have no idea when the “Piano String Event” took place.It is part of the “Family Folklore” of the McAllester, Thames and Evans families.Elizabeth Thames McAllester McNabb died August 17, 1883 and is buried in the Thames Graveyard with her father and mother David & Hannah Thames.