It is not yet known if William Joseph TROTTER settled in Wayne or Hamilton Co., IL first but he was one of the original settlers in the area.  Thomas and his many sibblings, came to the area with their father, William Joseph TROTTER.

Thomas was a private when he served in the Black Hawk War under Capt. Biggerstaff, 3rd  regiment, 1st brigade, and the Illinois Mounted Volunteers.

He was born 1807 in NC and died June 13, 1858 in Hamilton Co., IL.    He married first to a lady named Rhoda and they had the following children:

1)	James Madison TROTTER
	born Jul 25, 1820 KY and  died Dec 15, 1876, in Missouri.  James married Mary Melissa HEALY on Feb 9, 1843 in Hamilton Co., IL
2)	William Harrison TROTTER
	was born Apr 25, 1824  in  KY and died after 1900.   He was married to Elizabeth FRAIZER.
3)	Joseph TROTTER
	was born Jun 11, 1827, IL and died Oct 12, 1890 in Hamilton Co., IL.  He was married to Elmira PENNINGTON.
4)	Eliza Jane TROTTER
	was born Feb 8, 1828 in IL and died Aug 18, 1901, Wayne Co., IL.  She was married Jul 7, 1848 in Wayne Co., IL to James TAYLOR

Thomas Archibald TROTTER  married (2) Mary CAMPBELL and they had the following  6 children

5)	Rachel M. TROTTER    was born  1836
6)	Mary Polly TROTTER
	was born 1835,   She married John BUCHANAN  Jun 24, 1849 in Wayne Co., IL
7)	George Washington TROTTER
	was born Apr 10, 1840 in IL and died Jan 1, 1900.  He married Martha Jane WALKER
8)	Sarah TROTTER    was born  1843 in IL
9)	Tabitha TROTTER
	was born  1846  in IL and  was married to JAMES STROUD
10)	Catherine TROTTER
	was born 1847 in IL.  She  married Solomon COATS on Aug 14, 1869 in Hamilton Co., IL

Thomas Archibald TROTTER  married (3) Mar 29, 1849 to Harriett TRAMMEL.  Harriett was born  1812 and died  Dec 1, 1868.   It is believed to be that she was the dau of Garrett and Bathsheba TRAMMEL.      Harriett had two previous marriages (before Thomas TROTTER)   Her first marriage was to  (1)George W. WOODRUFF and they had 2 children.  She married  (2) Dec 31, 1840 to George W. CRISEL and, they had one child (that is known).
 

Thomas Archibald and Harriett (TRAMMEL) TROTTER had 3 children and they were:

11)	Ebenezer TROTTER
	born Feb. 11, 1850 in  IL and he died Jul 1,1915 in Essex, Stoddard Co., MO.  He married (1) Jan 23, 1869 in IL to Ellen J. HALL .   Ellen was born 1852 in IL and died 1897 in  Essex, Stoddard Co., MO.  Ebenezer married (2) Delitha and she was born Jan 15, 1867 and, she died Apr 25, 1902 in  Essex, Stoddard Co., MO.  Ebenezer married  in MO to (3) C. W. MARY.  She was  born in 1853
12)	Harriett Annie TROTTER
	was  born 1853, in Hamilton Co.,IL.  She  married (1) Unknown MITCHELL  and  (2) to John C. THOMAS on May 16, 1881 in White Co.,IL.
13)	Chester William TROTTER
	was  born Nov.1856 in Hamilton Co., IL.  He  married Jan 6, 1878, in Hamilton Co., IL to Belle JONES.