Thomas was born on Tuesday, June 4, 1861 to Thomas Welsh and Annie Murphy. Thomas was the couple's second child and second son, taking his father's name. The Civil War had been raging for a mere two months at this time.

8 year old Thomas is enumerated in the 1870 census in his parent's household. Interestingly enough, the family's next door neighbor is James Flanagan, who will soon be Thomas' father-in-law.

Thomas lost his father on Tuesday, March 11, 1875 at only 13 years old. Thomas and his family laid him to rest in St. Peters Cemetery alongside his brother.

18 year old Thomas is enumerated in his mother, Ann's, household. Thomas was working as a laborer, likely for the Flanagan Quarry.

Thomas is informant for his sister's, Nora Frances Moore, first child's birth certificate.

Thomas married the love of his life, Maggie, at 29 years old. Many folks spoke highly of their loving relationship.

Tommy and Maggie's first child, Martin Dineen Welsh was born. Martin appears to have been named after Thomas' Uncle, although it is unclear where "Dineen" originates from.

Tommy and Maggie's second child, Essie Tamson Welsh, was born. Maggie chose the middle name "Tamson" after her Uncle's (John Griggs Flanagan) first wife, who died at only 35 years of age.

Sometime during the morning hours, Thomas received the full blast in the mine from a charge that had failed to explode the day before. According to newspaper accounts, he was thrown to the ground and a large portion of stone fell on top of him. He was also hit with various smaller pieces of stones to the head and other parts of his body. Thomas sustained a compound comminuted fracture of the leg, a number of severe scalp wounds, and other various cuts all over his body. Miraculously, and contrary to reports in the newspaper otherwise, he survived, and his leg was able to be saved.

The Shepherdstown Register publishes an update on Tommy's condition after the accident. They state that Thomas is improving daily, and will soon be able to be around and about. On July 2nd, he was able to get up out of bed, and his leg has mended quite nicely.

Thomas' mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Ellen Caton Flanagan, unexpectedly passes away.

A 39 year old Thomas is enumerated at his home in Bakerton with his wife and two young children. He lists that he is a day laborer, and he had been out of work for 6 months during the past year. This period without work was likely due to Thomas' quarrying accident a year earlier. Thomas also notes that he owns his home free and clear without mortgage, and that it is a house and not a farm.

Thomas is enumerated in the 1910 Federal census with his small family. He lists himself as being a 48 year old lime worker who has been married 17 years. The couple's son, Martin, is employed at a cooper shop, and also going to school.

58 year old Thomas and his wife are now empty nesters, and are enumerated in their household without their children. Tommy lists his occupation as a lime kiln laborer.

Thomas' mother, Annie, passed away on Friday in November, 1922. His brother, William, chose to bury her in St. Peters Cemetery beside their father. Annie was 82 years old. In her will, she left each of her children $1.00.

Tommy loses his beloved wife, Maggie, after a short battle with bowel obstruction. He buries her in Shepherdstown at Elmwood Cemetery where many of her family members are buried.

Thomas succumbed to heart disease at 4:00p.m. on a Tuesday. He was 80 years old. His children laid him to rest in Elmwood Cemetery in Shepherdstown, beside his wife, on July 25, 1941.