Thomas Best (d. 1791) was a resident of Martin County. A near neighbor of John Lewellen, Best was likely an early member of the Gourd Patch Conspiracy. He met with other Martin County members of the plot at the Gourd Patch, where they elected him to a decision-making leadership role. While at the Gourd Patch, Best heard of plans to assassinate several North Carolina state officials including James and Nathan Mayo. Best later appeared on a list of witnesses prepared to give evidence against William Tyler before the Edenton District Court of Oyer & Terminer when all the leading members of the plot went on trial in the fall of 1777.