The Rev. Thomas Springer Bronston, Sr. was born in Washington Twp in Franklin Co "near Chambersburg, Penna" (so reads his headstone). He was the son of Thomas Brownston/Bronston (c.1750-1831) & Mary Anne Springer (whose name is found only in family lore).

About the time that his father remarried and moved to Mercer Co, PA in 1805; young Tom and his older brother Jacob moved to KY (family lore blames the stepmother). In 1813, Tom served 71 days in the War of 1812, and was at the Batlle of the Thames.

Tom was married 10 Oct 1814 in Richmond, Madison Co, KY to Lucy Ann Wilson Clark (1792-1846), d/o Benjamin Clark & Jane Mullins.

Tom practiced his trade of Blacksmithing when he first arrived in Kentucky. Later he was a successful farmer.
In about the mid 1820's Tom became a Christian minister...a reformed Baptist. He was the first preacher of the Glades Meeting House near Berea (est. 1825-26). He was a close friend of Alexander Campbell, who often stayed with the Bronstons. Rev. Bronston was known to travel throughout the South; and it is said that he sold socks made by his daughters, bringing them back their earnings. (Source: Gerald Tudor, Glades Church historian).

Children of Tom and Lucy:

1) ELIZA JANE (1815–1882) married 1st Samuel Black [6 children]; She married 2nd Abram Newton Dale [no children].
2) MARY ANN (1817–1884) married William Smith Collins [5 children].
3) PAULINA (1819–1820).
4) SAMIRA (SOMIRIA) MAUPIN (1822–1856) married Dr James Edward Baker of Abbeville, SC [1 child].
5) SALLIE ANN (1823–1849) married her 1st cousin Thos. S Bronston Jr [1 child]. Sallie died of cholera.
6) THOMAS CLARK (1825–1906) married Mattie Voralis McCreary [no children], sister of Gov James B. McCreary. Meanwhile, Tom carried on a 30-year relationship with Maria Lakes of Jackson Co [2 children].
7) LUCY CLARK (1827–1909) married David Kennedy Best [4 children].
8) ELIZABETH CAROLINE (1829–1834).
9) EMILY FRANCES (1833–1871) Emma married Lewis E Francis [no children].
10) HENRIETTA EARLE (1835–1918) Ettie married Dr Robert Cameron Chenault [5 children].
11) JACOB CHENAULT (1838–1910) married 1st Sarah Black [1 child], niece of Samuel & Eliza (Bronston) Black. Jake married 2nd Miss Carrie Evans [8 children].

In addition to their own 11 children, Tom and Lucy took in his brother Jacob's children when they were orphaned in 1832:
~ William H (c.1813-1884) worked as his uncle's overseer, married Susan A Gilliam (divorced) and Nancy Bailey - moved to KS
~ Thomas Springer Jr (1817-1890) h/o Sally Ann Bronston, Elizabeth Ballard, and Henrietta A Baker - never left Richmond.
Mary (c1823-aft 1880) w/o Dr Geo W MillS of Barren Co,
~ Martha A (c1822-c1852) w/o William G W Cates - moved to MO.
~ Jacob (h/o Livonia Woods) moved to KS.
~ Elizabeth (c.1829-1888) family lore says she fell from a horse and died insane.

Tom was married for the second time on 6 Jan 1852 to Miss MARTHA "PATSY" BLACK (1802-1857), the old maid sister of his son-in-law Samuel Black.

In 1864, Rev Bronston was banished from Kentucky by General Stephen G Burbirdge, as were other prominent citizens and Southern sympatizers. It may have been during this time away from home that he was married to a widow, Mrs MARTHA VANCE (ALEXANDER) McGEE (1805-1878) of Anderson County,SC. She was the mother-in-law of his grandson, Alex Black.

Thomas Springer Bronston Sr. was survived by his 3rd wife and 7 of his 11 children and eventually the tally of his grandchildren exceeded 30.

Nearly all Bronstons in the US are descended from this PA line, although several Russian Bronston families arrived in the US in the 1880's.