According to Ken Thornton in his book "Thorntons in North Carolina" (1999), Thomas, his brothers and father left South Carolina on December 13, 1782 during the evacuation of Charleston, South Carolina. They left South Carolina because they were loyal to Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. Thomas fought for the British along with his father and his uncle John Thornton. They served from June 14, 1780 until late 1782.  They went to Nova Scotia, Canada, which was still a british colony. Thomas' father died soon after arriving in Nova Scotia. Thomas stayed one winter in Halifax, Nova Scotia, then in April 1783, went to Newport, and then Rawdon (probably in Nova Scotia). According to land records in Nova Scotia, Thomas owned about 250 acres of land, which he had received from his father when he died. Thomas sold his land in Nova Scotia in 1785, and went back to North Carolina (North Carolina passed a law in 1786 that pardoned all loyalists returning to North Carolina). Probably Thomas knew this and felt safe in returning.  Thomas two brothers were cared for by Reuben Lively (see below).

Thomas probably left for Ohio about 1806, according to research done by Ken Thornton. They moved to a Quaker settlement near Dayton, Ohio. The family went via wagon, which was pulled by oxen. The wagon was loaded with household goods, food and children. Each of the families engaged in the move made 5 bushels of noodles before they started on the trip. They migrated from North Carolina to Ohio to get away from slavery and then left Ohio because timber was scarce and no public land was left to enter. Illinois better suited their needs because they found good soil and an abundance of timber. After Abagail died, she asked that if Thomas ever married again, he would name a daughter Abagail after her. Thomas did this after marrying Sarah. Thomas and Sarah moved to Vermilion County, Illinois in 1821, where they both died in 1834.  Thomas's gravestone could still be read in the 1970s, but by the later 1990s, it was becoming very difficult to read. It was not anchored in the ground and was leaning.

Found at www.livelyroots.com:

The Thomas Thornton claim said that two of his younger brothers were in the care of Reuben Lively. Thomas received a 250 acre grant. Reuben Lively was born 1756 in America, and died in 1826 in Rawdon, Nova Scotia. He married Mary Liddell 1780 in South Carolina or Nova Scotia. Reuben Lively Sr. was from the 96 District in South Carolina and served as a private in Col. John Cotton's, Stevenson Creek Militia on the side of the British in the American Revolution.

From the John Duncanson book "Rawdon and Douglas: Two Loyalist Townships in Nova Scotia". Rawdon Township (now in Hants Co, Nova Scotia) was formed in 1784 by the government of Nova Scotia "for the Loyalist refugees from the 96th District, South Carolina and St. Augustine, Florida." 96th District is in the extreme northwest corner of South Carolina and had been Indian Territory up to at least 1766, some of which was only settled after that date by settlers moving south and by new arrivals from North Ireland, Yorkshire, England, etc. After the American Revolution began in 1775, action in South Carolina was limited to skirmishes until the fall of 1779 when the British launched a major campaign taking Charleston and establishing military posts from Camden to the 96th District. However, on 1781, May 22, the Americas under General Greene attacked the 96th District post. The post held out but finally on June 21, 1781, Lord Rawdon, Commander of British forces in South Carolina ordered the evacuation of the 96th District post and loyalist refugees moved to Orangeburg, and later to Charleston. Charleston itself was evacuated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in October 1782 and included the 96th District loyalists, which also included Reuben Lively. On August 3, 1784, a grant of 24,500 acres was made in Rawdon township, Nova Scotia to 57 settlers, "most of whom were loyalist refugees from the old 96th District. This grant is sometimes referred to as "The Bond Grant" after Captain James Bond, one of the settlers from the 96th District, and a recognized leader among the Rawdon settlers. Reuben Lively of the 96th received 500 acres in this grant.

Reuben Lively, loyalist claim #104 dated July 1786 stated that he was a native of America, settled in the 96th District of South Carolina in 1775. He avoided service with the Americans by being under age; served with them for 6 months but only against the Indians. His father was friendly to Great Britain but was killed by the rebels in 1781. Reuben joined the British at the 96th District post after the taking of Charleston by the British in the autumn of 1779 and served in the militia until the fall of the 96th District. He had 250 acres in the 96th District from his wife. They were married in 1780, her family was named Cameron. He also had 200 acres from his wife valued at 10 shillings per acre. Had 15 horses, 30 cattle, 6 negroes, all lost to the Americans. He was buried at the Anglican Church, St. Pauls, Upper Rawdon, Nova Scotia.