178. Thomas Nightingale was born about 1705 in
Yorkshire, England. He died in Nov 1769 in Charleston, South Carolina. Thomas
Nightingale emigrated from Yorkshire to South Carolina as a young man and got
his start operating a cow pen on the frontier. He was evidently a shrewd businessman
as he was soon prosperous. In 1754 he decided to build Newmarket Race Track in
Charleston and the first races were held there in 1760. He was among the first
to import thoroughbred stock from England to this country.
One of the most celebrated races of the colonial era was a match race held between
Adolphus, bred in Carolina and owned by William Henry Drayton, and Thomas Nightingale's
Shadow, bred in England by the Duke of Northumberland. Shadow won the race easily
and when Nightingale challenged any horse in South Carolina to take him on, there
were no acceptances.
Nightingale also promoted cockfighting.
He bought a pew, number 101, in St. Michael's Church in Charleston when it was
still under construction, for fifty pounds. He was married to Sarah Amory.
179. Sarah Amory was
born about 1718. She died on Mar 28 1765. Children were:
89 i.
Sarah Nightingale.