Recorded events in his life were: 

• Quaker Activity, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Southern District. Dismissed for Marriage Out of Unity, 23 September 1789.⁸

• He is listed in the 1790 Federal Census, in Southwark, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.^{9, 10} Thomas was listed as a boat builder, at the address of Almond Street, north side.  In the household were one male under 16 (Jonathan), one male over 16 (Thomas), and two females (Sarah being one of them).  Thomas had a second listing for his shop on the west side of Swanson Street.

• Thomas was listed as a boat builder in the 1791 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.¹¹ Two addresses were listed, 39 Almond Street and 34 Swanson Street.

• Thomas was listed as boat builder in the 1793 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.¹² Thomas had moved his residence to 252 South Front Street.

• He purchased land &/or property from William Shippen of Germantown, on 18 January 1794, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.¹³ Thomas paid 100 Pounds for the property, which was located "near the Southernmost Bounds of the City of Philadelphia Containing in Breadth Forty feet and in rear or depth Thirty Four feet Bounded Eastward partly by the back fence of Reardon's Lot of ground now of the said Thomas Bickham and partly by ground late of the Widow Spiles Southward by ground late of the Said William Shippen. Westward with ground of Edward Shippen and Northward with ground of John Fullerton I."  Witnesses to the transaction were Jos. Gibbons and Isaac Jousale. The deed was recorded 23 April 1798.

• Thomas was listed as boat builder in the 1794 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.¹⁴ The address listed is 30 Swanson Street which is believed to be where Thomas had his shop.

• Thomas was listed as boat builder in the 1796 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.¹⁵ The address listed is 298 South Front Street.

• Thomas was listed as boat builder in the 1797 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.¹⁶ There are again two listings for Thomas.  One at 32 Swanson Street, his shop, and his residence at 254 South Front Street.  These addresses remain the same through the 1817 City Directory.

• He signed a will Harriett Penrose on 25 February 1800 in Southwark, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.¹⁷ Harriett mentioned her brother Isaac, her sister Frances, and cousins. These cousins were Charles, the son of Uncle Thomas Penrose; and Sarah, the daughter of Uncle Jonathan Penrose. Executors were named as Sister Frances, Uncle Thomas, and Cousin Charles Penrose. Witnesses to the will were Thomas Bickham, Annah Penrose, and W. Robinson, Junr. The will was proved 6 April 1801.

• He signed a will Thomas Penrose on 15 January 1803 in Southwark, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.¹⁸ District of Southwark,  Philadelphia County, Ship Carpenter. Thomas wrote his will 15 January 1803, and it was proved 5 December 1815. He mentioned his wife Ann Penrose. A legacy to Thomas Fisher for educating Black People under the care of the people called Quakers, in Philadelphia. A legacy to cousins Bartholomew Mather and Joseph Mather, and to Benjamin Mather. He mentioned his two sons, William and Charles Penrose.  Executors were his wife Ann, and his sons William and Charles. Witnesses were Caleb Bickham, Thomas Bickham, and John Elliott Cresson. The will was proved 5 December 1815.

• Thomas was listed as T. Bickham in the 1803 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.¹⁹ The city directory listings from that time forward were as T. Bickham, instead of Thomas.  Could it be because his son, Thomas Davis Bickham had been born?

• In the 1804 City Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania²⁰ there is a listing that states "Bickham's Wharf opens at 17 Swanson." Caleb Bickham was listed as a stave merchant at 117 Swanson and his son Thomas Bickham had his boat builders shop at 32 Swanson.

• He is listed in the 1810 Federal Census, in Southwark, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.²¹ In the household were three males under 10 (Thomas Davis, John C., and Caleb), one male of ten and under 16 (unknown), one male of 45 and up (Thomas), two females of 10 and under 16 (Ann and Sarah), one female of 16 and under 26 (Mary), one female of 26 and under 45 (Sarah), and one other free person.

• He purchased land &/or property from John Mansell, on 31 March 1812, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.²² John Mansell was an umbrella maker, and his wife was Elizabeth. Thomas paid eight hundred dollars for "all those Certain Messuages or Tenements and Lot or piece of ground Situate on the West side of front Street continued Southward in the district of Southwark in the County of Philadelphia Containing in breadth twenty two feet or there abouts and in the length or depth ninety four feet Bounded Eastward by front Street aforesaid Northward partly by ground now of George Spangler late of Neil McGinnis and partly by ground of David Moffet Westward by ground late of Edward Shippen and Southward by ground of the said Thomas Bickham." Witnesses to the deed were Alex Steel and Kezia Steel.

• Letter to Thomas Bickham from Stephen Girard, dated 1 August 1815, from Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.²³ "Sir, The long Boat, which you have built for the Ship North america is not conformable to the directions which I given you therefore Capt. Irwin will return it to you so you may fix on her the three thoughts one of which to be an anch taught also cleats on the aufts out side to serve as fenders an Iron band on the _____ and cable Roll and finally for the purpose [?] of caulked and finished in a compleat, workmanlikemanner and should you neglect or object to do what is to be done by Thursday 3rd Inst. I hereby give you notice that I will not take the boat. Your obedient Servant"

• Obituary in Poulsons Daily American Advertiser, on 24 February 1816.²⁴ DIED, yesterday morning, after a lingering illness, THOMAS BICKHAM, Boatbuilder, in the 52nd year of his age. His friends and the friends of the family, are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, this afternoon at 4 o'clock, from his late dwelling, No. 254 South Front street."

• Administration to Sarah Bickham & Jonathan Davis, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.²⁵ "On the 7th Day of March 1816 personally appeared the within named Sarah Bickham and Jonathan Davis who being duly affirmed do declare and say, that they believe that Thomas Bickham, Boat Builder, within mentioned died without a Will and that they will well and truly administer all and every the Goods of the said deceased, and pay his Debts as far as his Goods will extend: that they will exhibit a true, full and perfect Inventory of the Goods of the said deceased, and render a true account of their Administration into the Register's Office, when they shall [hole due to fold in original] lawfully required: And also, that the said Sarah [word or two illegible] widow of the said deceased and that the whole of the Goods, Chattels, and Credits he died possessed of, do not in value exceed the sum of Two thousand Dollars to the best of their knowledge and belief. Sarah Bickham, Jonathan Davis. Affirmed and subscribed the Day and Year abovesaid. Sam Bryan, Regst."

• Administration to Sarah Bickham & Jonathan Davis, 7 March 1816, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.²⁵ Know all men by these Presents, That we Sarah Bickham widow of Thomas Bickham late of the District of Southwark Boat Builder, deceased, Jonathan Davis of the City of Philadelphia, House Carpenter, Thomas Davis of the said District wharf Builder & Emmor Kimber of the said City Bookseller are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the sum of Four thousand Dollars to be paid to the said Commonwealth: To the which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, jointly and severally, for and in the whole, our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, and each and every of them firmly by these presents. Sealed with our Seal Dated the seventh day of March [fold in original, illegible in copy].

• The Inventory²⁵ of Thomas Bickham  was made on 8 March 1816, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Joseph Hill and William Preston, Junr.  

• Administration of Sarah Bickham & Jonathan Davis, 17 December 1818, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.²⁵ In the "accounting" of the estate of Thomas Bickham, deceased, there were a number of cash items either received or paid that are of interest. Mainly an entry dated 4 May 1816 for cash received from the estate of Caleb Bickham in the amount of $160. This is the "converted" value of the 60 Pounds that Caleb left to his son Thomas. One entry dated 14 March 1816 is for cash paid to G. Hocknal for Henry's schooling, and there are a number of entries for "Son Thomas's schooling" and "Son John's schooling." There are entries for cash paid to Mary D. Wade (daughter), Ann Merrick (daughter), and Sarah Bickham (daughter).  A later entry is for cash paid to Sarah Price late Bickham. The final accounting of the estate was $635.38.  

Thomas married Sarah DAVIS, daughter of Thomas DAVIS, on 16 July 1789 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.⁷   

Children from this marriage were: 

  i.    Jonathan BICKHAM was born in 1790,²⁶ died on 29 August 1791 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, at age 1,²⁶ and was buried on 29 August 1791 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.²⁷ 

13 ii.   Mary David BICKHAM was born on 11 June 1792²⁸ and died on 27 August 1880, at age 88.²⁸  Another name for Mary was Mary David BECKHAM. ²⁸ 

14 iii.   Ann BICKHAM was born in 1795 in Pennsylvania.  

15 iv.   Sarah BICKHAM was born on 22 October 1797 and died on 24 January 1870, at age 72. 

16  v.  Thomas Davis BICKHAM was born in 1802 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and died on 15 April 1853 in Warren County, Ohio, at age 51. 

17  vi.  John C. BICKHAM was born on 5 August 1803,²⁹ was christened on 12 October 1804,²⁹ and died on 28 August 1844 in Milton, Sussex County, Delaware, at age 41.³⁰  The cause of his death was billious Fever.³¹ 

  vii.   Caleb BICKHAM was born in September 1806³² and died on 5 July 1808 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, at age 1.³² 

 viii.   William BICKHAM was born in 1810,³³ died on 24 March 1812 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, at age 2,^{33, 34} and was buried on 24 March 1812 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.³⁵ 

  ix.    Davis BICKHAM was born in September 1812³⁶ and died on 4 January 1817 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, at age 4.^{36, 37}