As Thomas was from Wales, as many immigrants to PA and MD were in those days, it i probable that there was a loose affilitoon with othe Welch families...
I speculate that one may have been either James Bean of Providence Township or one of his family.
Even though James was not active in Maryland, it seems his daughter Elizabeth Stroud was.... obliquely.. because she married a Stroud.
The Stroud family was entwined with both the Van Meters and the Shepards by marriage.
see: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000213123558852 , a letter of 1791 and the people I have queued ito the mix.
I do not contend that this if proof of anything... The situation seems to merit further investigation
