I am also a distant cousin of Thomas Poe. I can remember my Great-Grandmother telling me the story she was told by her Grandmother, Laura Poe Bandy - a sister of Thomas. In her version of the story, it went that Thomas was killed by torries crossing Taylors Ridge, coming home from the war, and he was robbed of his mustering out pay. I also read of the information in Sartain's History of Walker County, Georgia, and assumed that was the cause. However, I have found something else. Thomas mother, Savility Jane (Maddux) Poe made a claim with the Southern Claims Commission (which was rejected), and the letter of the investigator, R. B. Avery, has some interesting information:

"Thomas Poe was implicated in the killing of a union man in Broomtown Valley, and several other outrages upon union people. The evidence against him was considered conclusive by the 5th Tennessee Cavalry, and they executed judgement upon him."

This was written in 1873 and to be this certain, Avery must have had access to some sort of documentation. Do you think something like this would have been documented in detail by the 5th TN Cav.?

I had never heard the details of his death (shot, then hung), only that he was killed. I would love to swap/share any other family information I might have.

Sean Maxwell