"Thomas Day"(1801-1861)

Was a free black American furniture designer and cabinmaker in Caswell North Carolina his furniture making business became one of the largest of its kind in North Carolina,employing at one point up to twelve workers,and distributing furniture to wealthier customers throughout the state.Much of his furniture was produced prominent political leaders,the state government,and the university of North Carolina.Thomas was born to free parents in Dinwiddle County,Virginia around 1801.His family moved to Warren County,North Carolina in 1817,and then to Caswell sometime after 1822.He began his cabinetmaking business in Milton,North Carolina with his brother,John Day,Jr.,but his brother left Caswell by 1825,leaving the cabinetry business solely to Thomas.John would later emigrate Liberia and serve as Chief Justice of Liberia.After his furniture business became profitable,Thomas married Aquilla Wilson from Halifax County,Virginia in 1830,and had yhree children.Thomas furniture-making business,owned by a free American,employed the use of both black slaves and white apprentices,despite the general belief that Thomas,as a free man,was of lower social stature than his white apprentice.As businessman,he was quite successful,at one point becoming a stockholder in the State Bank of North Carolina,and Thomas owned significant real estate,including his place of business and residence.This was highly unusual for a free person of color in the era before the American Civil War.Thomas had even managed to steam-power much of his furniture-making implements,which aided greatly in his production volume and efficiency.A national economic panic  in 1857 caused Thomas furniture to suffer heavily,and in 1861 or at some time shortly after,he died exact death date is not known due to the lack of local public records.