Thomas was b. about 1824, the eldest son of George (Armsworthy) Armsey, c. 1799-1867, and Sophia May Armsey, c. 1799-1866. Thomas m. Roanna Davis (b. 1827) about 1844, and they had at least four, probably eight, and possibly nine children: John, b. 1845; Sophia, b. 1846; Caroline, b. 1848; George, b. 1849; Ira, 1850; Elihu D., b. 1852; James, b. 1856; Thomas, b. 1858, and Virginia, b. 1867. Thomas Sr.'s military history can be read in Nelson Harris' "17th Virginia Cavalry" (H.E. Howard Inc, 1994, Lynchburg, VA - ISBN 1-56190-062-1). Thomas' son John W. Armsey also served in the Confederate army; possibly his son George also. Interestingly enough, others in the family did not share Thomas' passion for the Confederacy; his father, George, even though he was in his 60s at the time, served as a volunteer in the Union army. Of Thomas' four brothers, at least two served in the Union army; at least one of his brothers-in-law (my gg grandfather Vinson Leroy Slasor) also served in the Union army.