Thomas Young was born in Laurens, South Carolina on January 17, 1764, although his brother, Christopher, says he was born in February. Sometime around 1765 his family moved a short distance to modern day Union County.

In June of 1780 Thomas received word that his twenty year old brother, John Young, was dead. John was serving with the Fair Forest Regiment of militia when he was killed in an early morning raid by Tories commanded by Captain William “Bloody Bill” Cunningham.

Thomas was so devastated by the news that he vowed to avenge his brother’s death. He left home the next day and joined the Fair Forest militia, commanded by his uncle, Colonel Thomas Brandon. He was only sixteen years old at the time. 

Thomas Young fought at the Battle of King’s Mountain, the Battle of Cowpens, the Siege at Ninety Six, and numerous other battles and skirmishes. After joining the militia at the rank of private, he quickly rose to the rank of Major.

The wartime experiences of Major Thomas Young are detailed in the 2010 novel by Tony Zeiss, entitled Backcountry Fury: A Sixteen Year Old Patriot in the Revolutionary War.