Deputy U.S. Marshal

Thomas A. Royal

Accident
End of Watch January 17, 1901
Age 45
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Location: North Carolina Incident Date: Monday, January 14, 1901

Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Royal was accidentally shot and killed near Footville, Yadkin County, North Carolina.

He and three other deputy marshals were conducting liquor raids and were riding their horses through the area when a Winchester rifle being carried across the saddle of another deputy marshal discharged. The round struck him in the side, fatally wounding him. He was taken to a home in Footville where he died several days later.

Deputy Marshal Royal had served with the United States Marshals Service for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Royal gave the United States Department of Justice 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Royal.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 17, 1901
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Gunfire (Inadvertent)

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thomas is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1901, 18 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 121st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 45. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas A. Royal

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch January 17, 1901

Where the Name Is Cut

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