The namesake

The name Thames first appears in the ancestors in the 1880 census, where we find a J.T.L. Thames, age 49, and his wife Sarah A. Thames, and their 11 children, ranging from Preston B. Thames, 23, to an unnamed 4-month-old baby girl. Preston is the right age and has the right name to be the man who married Inez Clark.

J.T.L. was a carpenter and architect, Preston was a farmer, and Sarah was "Keeping House," according to the census. J.T.L. Thames' parents were both born in S.C.; Sarah's mother was born in S.C., but her father came from Scotland. Their named children after Preston were Jacolin, Mary, Maxey G. (Maxey Gregg was a noted Confederate general), John, James Q., Peter P., Sirell D., Fanne S., and Dottie V.

Was Preston Brooks Thames named to honor the Preston S. Brooks who beat up Charles Sumner? The Sumner assault was 1856 and the first Preston Brooks Thames was named 1857 so it's highly likely. The fact that J.T.L named another son for rebel general indicates a propensity. Sumner said vile things but it's a real stretch to believe he deserved to be beaten bloody, and kind of embarrassing how proud S.C. was of the man who did the deed. I pass Sumner's statue in the Public Garden from time to time and apologize.

Preston S. Brooks is buried in the Willow Brook Cemetery in Edgefield, where our old friend Strom Thurmond also rests.