Thomas Whitson was born in Stafford County, Virginia in 1732. A resident of Rowan County, North Carolina, he served a the local sheriff prior to the American Revolution. He served a captain in the Burke and Rowan County Regiments of the North Carolina Militia and led men on numerous skirmishes against the Cherokee on the Tennessee frontier. In 1779 he also represented Burke County in the North Carolina State Assembly. Later in 1781 he also led a group of men under the command of the NC Light Dragoons. He died in Washington County, Tennessee in 1783.