History of the Thompson Family

History of the Thompson Family

(From Margaret Gardner-Cannefax's: Cannefax-Gardner and Related Lines pp. 90-94 pub.1972)

The Thompsons were originally from Scotland. During the persecution of the Presbyterians during the reign of Charles II in England Presbyterianism was abolished and Episcopacy established as the church of England.

Ministers were ejected from their parishes, could not preach or pray except in their own homes with their own family. Multitudes were banished and sold as slaves. Women and children were tortured and murdered for refusing to take an oath supporting the church.

No Presbyterian could hold office in the army or navy; in the customs or post Office nor in any courts of law. They were forbidden to be married by their own ministers - could not erect any meeting houses and doors and windows were nailed up on ones already built. More than twenty thousand came to America.

According to "The Scotch Irish" Hannah Vol. II appendix 2 we find that from Scotland to the Providence of Ulster, Antrim Ireland came more than fourteen thousand families of Thompsons.

From "Early Presbyterian Congregations in Ireland" The Adair Mms. page 371 there were Thompson pastors of Presbyterian churches from 1698 to 1800 mostly in Antrim, Down and Monaghan counties.

John Thompson who was born in Northern Ireland about 1690 entered the University of Glasgow 1 March 1706 from which he later received the degree of Master of Arts.

He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1713 by the Presbytery of Armagh, and was licensed by the Ulster Synod, meeting at Antrim on June 23, 1713. Two years later he arrived in this Country.

He did not come (with his wife, young daughter Esther, and his sister Esther) as a stranger; but had relatives and friends in Virginia. There were Thompsons living in York County long before Reverend John Thompson and his family came in 1713 or 1714. In fact a John Thompson lived in York County as early as 1646. After his arrival he taught school in Virginia and across the Bay in Maryland.

Two years after his arrival in this country, Reverend Thompson was called to the church at Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware, where he remained until the latter part of 1729.

After being pastor in Lewes, he went to various other places, among them Middle Octarara and Chestnut Level in Pennsylvania and Centre Church in Delaware. It is not known how many times he visited the "back parts" of Virginia between 1733 and 1744, but it is recorded that he supplied in the neighborhood of Winchester and Staunton in 1739, and preached in the Opechon neighborhood, at Rockfish Gap, at Cub Creek in Lunenburg County, at Buffalo and Walkers in Amelia County, and at Hat Creek and Concord in what became Campbell County.

From 1744 to 1750 he lived in Spring Creek on a tract of 386 acres, which he purchased for twenty-four pounds from Samuel Cobb. In Mar. 1750 the Philadelphia Synod of the Presbyterian Church received a petition from the people of North Carolina requesting the appointment of a minister. Reverend Thompson was selected and in late 1752 he left his Amelia County, Va. home and established residence in North Carolina.

He was granted 627 acres between Davison Creek and the Catawba River. This grant contained the clause that within three years three acres for every one hundred acres must be cleared and in cultivation. Rev. Thompson was the first licensed preacher to make a home west of the Yadkin River. Rev. Thompson in 1758 had "The Holy Bible" printed for himself and Abraham Small at Philadelphia before he left for the "back country."

From "Carolina Cradle" by Robert W. Ramsey we find: "In terms of colonial prominence John Thompson was unquestionably the most celebrated of the early inhabitants of the Carolina frontier." After being twice elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church, he became the first moderator of the New Presbytery of Donegal in 1732.

Two years later his pamphlet, "The Poor Orphans Legacy" was published by his friend, Benjamin Franklin. He also wrote a shorter form of the catechism, which is still used. His pamphlet "The Poor Orphans Legacy" was written after the death of his first wife, about 1733, as a reminder that his eleven children would be orphans should he die.

Before leaving Virginia, in a letter from Rev. Patrick Henry, uncle of Patrick the statesman and orator, to Rev William Dawson of Williamsburg, under date of Feb. 13, 1744, he said: "I sent and invited Rev. Thompson to my house. He entertained me with a distinct account of the new light men in our Church, their peculiar tenets and practices; their rise and progress to this time. He is, in my opinion, a man of learning and good sense, a strenuous opposer of these new preachers, and I believe he is a man of piety and veracity, so that his information may be looked upon as true."

Rev. Thompson's relation to Patrick Henry: Sarah Thompson's daughter became the wife of Rev. Richard Sankey, minister of the Buffalo Church near Cub Creek - married about 1730and had one son and several daughters. One daughter became the wife of Richard Gilliam, son of John Gilliam who married Lucy Henry, daughter of Patrick Henry. In other words, a grandson of Patrick Henry married a granddaughter of Rev. Thompson. This explanation from Worth Ray's "Tennessee Cousins."

In 1744 Rev. Thompson was a member of the original board of trustees of a public school or "Seminary of Learning" which was established by the New Castle Presbytery and which later grew into the University of Delaware. While living in Virginia Rev. Thompson established a school which served as a fore runner of Hampden-Sydney College. Many young ministers were given encouragement and aid by Rev. Thompson, the result of which lead to their success. Three of these were Rev. John Craig, Rev. Richard Sankey and Rev. Henry Patillo.

While living in Amelia County, Va. his son-in-law, Samuel Baker, and wife Elizabeth, another son-in-law Rev. Richard Sankey and wife Sarah settled nearby in Prince Edward County, Va. About this time Rev. Thompson lost his first wife and not long afterwards married a second time, a widow Mary McKean Reid widow of Thomas Reid of Octarara, an elder in the Church there and Justice of the Peace of Lancaster County, Pa. In two records she is described as "a Highland woman of dark complexion." The name of his first wife is not known.

By his first wife Rev. John Thompson had three sons and nine daughters:

(1) Esther Thompson (c. 1713-1770) was twice married, first about 1734 in Lancaster Co. Pa. to Samuel Crockett (1685 -c.1750) and secondly about 1753 in Southwestern Virginia to William Sayres (c.1730-1784). There is a very beautiful and romantic story that has been told and retold in connection with the marriage of Esther and Samuel Crockett, to the effect that when Rev. Thompson and his family came over from Ireland, Samuel Crockett, a young man was a passenger on the same vessel and fell in love with Esther as a child, resolving to marry her at some future time and did so. This may be true, but more likely they met at Yorktown, VA. Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay was settled in 1686 by John Crockett; who with his eight sons and their families, chiefly of Cornish descent, came over form the mainland of Virginia. (David Crockett was the great grandson of Robert Crockett, a brother of Samuel Crockett) During the two years the Thompsons lived at Yorktown Rev. Thompson frequently visited and preached on the "Eastern Shore" in Accomac County. Doubtless he delivered sermons, or taught pupils across the Chesapeake on Tangier Island. After Samuel and Esther married, they moved westward up the James River via Nottoway to the mouth of the Buffalo, where they settled. Other of the Tangier Island Crocketts came with them - brother Robert bought land along the Cow pasture River nearby.

(2) Mary Thompson (c. 1715-1761) married in Lancaster Co., Pa. Robert Baker Jr. (d.1759)

(3) John (c. 1716-1791) married Margaret Davidson. Their children were: John III - Andrew - Esther Phair - Matthew - William - Elizabeth Gill - Jane Mitchell.

(4) Abraham (c.1718 - past 1771) married _____________ lived in Prince Edward County, Va.

(5) Sarah (b. ca. 1720) married in Lancaster Co., Pa. about 1737, Rev Richard Sankey. He was ordained and installed as pastor of the Monada Presbyterian Church 15 Aug. 1738. In the summer of 1759 he and his family and a large part of his congregation moved the Buffalo River community in Prince Edward Co., Va.

(6) Daughter name unknown - married John Graham

(7) Robert - called Roger - married 2 May 1750 Ann Ferguson. Killed at Alamance Creek N.C. 1771

(8) Daughter name unknown married John Finely in Lancaster Co. Pa.

(9) Jane Thompson b. ca. 1726, born in Sussex Co., Del. married Douglas Baker about 1744. She married secondly 10 April 1767 William Watson

(10) Ann Thompson (c. 1728-c. 1776) married about 1747 James Cunningham Jr. of Charlotte Co.

(11) Margaret Thompson b. ca. 1730 married John Shields

(12) Elizabeth Thompson (c. 1732 - 1776) married first Samuel Baker about 1749 and secondly in North Carolina Charles Harris. Samuel Baker was a brother of Robert and Douglas.

(13) Hannah Thompson (1735 - c. 1769) married in Anson Co. to Roger Lawson (1731-1803)

Reverend John Thompson died September, 1753 and was buried near the cabin in which he lived. Samuel Baker who lived nearby, was buried beside his father-in-law and gives name to the burying ground. Among others who are buried here are Mrs. Isabella Davidson mother of Major John Davidson and James Price and his wife Mary Davidson Price.

Most of the above about Rev. John Thompson was from "Some Descendants of the Rev. John Thompson (c1690-1753)" by John Goodwin Herndon and from the Archives of the Presbyterian Church.

Children of Robert (Roger) Thompson and Ann Ferguson Thompson were:

1. Rebekah b. 27 Jan. 1752 m. Issac Wright - daughter Rebekah m. Henty Goodloe

2. Letitia b. 29 Aug 1753 m. Minor Cannon - son Newton Cannon governor of Tennessee and Dr Guilford Cannon m. Jane McGehee

3. Samuel b. 18 June 1755 m. Margaretr McClintock

4. Robert (Robin) b. 15 Mar. 1757 m. (1) Sara___________ (2) Nancy____________

5. Thomas b. 2 Oct. 1759

6. Ephraim b. 23 June 1761

7. Lavina b. 28 Jan. 1763 m. (1) James McKamie (2) James Irvine

8. John b. 27 Feb. 1765 d. 6 June 1791 m. Elizabeth Mitchell daughter of Thomas and Agnes

9. Jason b. 27 May 1767 d. 1 Mar. 1791

Robert (Robin) and Nancy Thompson's children were:

1. Robert married Elizabeth Pedill

2. Catherine d. 1817 m.

John Singletary

3. Alice captive of Creek Indians for two years m. 14 dec. 1795 Edmond Collingsworth

4. Small son killed by Indians when his parents were killed.

Robert was appointed administrator of his father's estate. He married Elizabeth Pedill in Davidson Co. They later moved to Humphreys Co. near the mouth of the Duck River. There Children were:

1. Polly m. 11 April 1804 William Morris

2. James M. m. 24 April 1809 Sarah Goodwin

3. Elizabeth m. 30 Aug. 1812 Simpson Perry

4. Rhoda m. 30 Dec. 1812 Francis Steed Perry

5. John b. 1792 m. 17 Act. 1812

Elizabeth Dillahunty

6. Robert Jacob (also called Robin) m. Nancy Becton b. 6 Jan. 1805 d. May 1876 b. 3 Mar. 1801 d. 8 Mar. 1876 Buried Baker Creek Cemetery, Blount Co. Tenn.

7. Letitia m. 7 Dec. 1817 Willis Cannon

John and Elizabeth Dillahunty Thompson had only one daughter, Sara Elizabeth Dillahunty Thompson m. 30 June 1831 Moab Stephen Smith b. Aug. 7, 1813 d. 27 Oct. 1878.

"History of Tennessee - Lawrence Co." page 757 - Goodspeed

The city of Lawrenceburg is situated on a 400 acre tract of land that was granted John Thompson by the Legislature of North Carolina on 14 April 1792 for services rendered in a battalion raised for the defense of Davidson Co. claim confirmed by assembly of Tennessee passed 23 Nov. 1819. The site was selected by David Crockett.

A few weeks after the Boston Massacre Parliament took the tax off all articles except tea, but a tax of six cents per pound was left on that popular drink. The colonies objected to paying this tax. In North Carolina some of the inhabitants, who felt they were unjustly taxed met together and called themselves "Regulators"; and refused to pay this tax, and drove out some of the judges. Governor Alex Martin, Robert Thomas, (called "Robin" youngest son of Rev. John Thompson) and Robert McTeer went as a committee to headquarters of Governor Tryon and ask for some kind of settlement and relief from this unjust taxation.

Their efforts were fruitless, and when they turned back to the Regulators camp they were fired upon by the King's men and Thompson was killed; the first man to lose his life in the American Revolution. This infuriated the Regulators and the Battle of Alamance Creek in 1771 by Troops of the King under Royal Governor William Tryon and the regulators followed. There were about two hundred men killed or wounded. Many others crossed the mountains into the territory which later became Tennessee and Kentucky.

In the fall of 1779 a party, was on the way to Kentucky by pack horse. There was the older John Buchanan, his wife and three sons, Samuel, John and Alexander. There were also John and James Mulherrin with their families, Stephen Williams, Daniel Williams and Thomas Thompson (one of the sons of Roger Thompson) going to Clark's Station a mile from Danville Tenn. to leave their wives and children in comparitive safety, while they went on down to the Middle Cumberland to start a settlement with the Buchanans.

These men built a station or fort of logs with stockade, above the Biglick or French Lick, called Buchanan Station. Later this was the sight of Nashborough, later changed to Nashville.

Robert, Thomas, Jason and Ephraim, sons of Robert and Ann Thompson all came to Davidson County, Tenn. in the latter part of the eighteenth century.

From "Tennessee Cousins" Worth S. Ray - "One Sunday night, September 3, 1792, Thomas Latimore, "Robin" Thompson and others at the Buchanan Station when the Creek Indians attacked. Although there were very few men there they succeeded in running off the Indians without casualties."

Robert Thomas and Jason Thompson sons of Robert and Ann, from middle Tenn. in 1783 rode with Captain John Gordon's Calvary in defense of the frontier of Tennessee and Kentucky. These are listed in "Tennessee Historical Archives" in Capt. John Gordon's muster roll at the expiration of service Sept. 18, 1793. It is a list of heroes who helped make the frontier safe for other settlers who came later.

On the 28th day of January 1792 Oliver Williams and Jason Thompson, at night camped on the road leading from Bledsoe’s Station to the ford on the Cumberland River where they were fired upon by the Creek Indians. Both were wounded and their horses and food and clothing taken from them, but they managed to escape with their lives.

On Feb. 25, 1792 the Indians attacked the house of Mr. Robert Thompson within seven miles of Nashville, killed and scalped Mr Thompson, his wife and small son and daughter. Miss Alice Thompson and Mrs. Coffey, a neighbor, and her son were captured. Elsey remained with the Creeks for two years before she was found by the whites and freed. Robert Jr., who was away at the time of the raid, was made administrator of his father's estate.

On June 2, 1791 the Indians killed John Thompson while he was working in his corn field within five miles of Nashville at the mouth of Hall's Creek on Big Richland.

Robert, Thomas and Ephraim all died in Davidson County (then part of North Carolina) They came west along with the Crocketts, as wellas the Cannons(Minos Cannon's wife was Letitia Thompson), Isaac Wright and wife Rebekah Thompson Wright, and all their children and relatives, including Goodloes, Harpers, Patillos and others.

Samuel Thompson did not go west with his brothers, but remained in North Carolina, where he married Margaret McClintock, daughter of John McClintock. They were married in 1779 in Guilford County, N.C. The McClintock family descended from John and Margaret Simpson McClintock, both natives of northern Ireland. Their sons James married Margaret Hutchinson, daughter of William Hutchinson of northern Ireland. James and Margaret had only one child John McClintock b. 28 Feb. 1795, who married Margaret Hunter. This John's daughter Margaret married Samuel Thompson in 1779 , settled in Hardin Co., Tenn.

From "North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee 1778-1791" find that the Thompsons were granted quite a lot of land in Davidson County in the Cumberland and Harpeth valleys:

William Thompson - 428 acres - 1787 - North Cross Creek

Thomas Thompson - 640 acres - 1787 - East Bank of Station Camp Creek

Thomas Thompson - 640 acres - 1787 - West Fork of Jones Creek

Thomas Thompson - 640 acres - 1787 - East Side of Jones Creek

Thomas and Samuel Thompson - 4260 acres - 1790- Both Sides of Mill Creek

Samuel Thompson - 200 acres - 1780 - French Broad River - Greene Co.

Robert Thompson - 274 acres - 1786 - West Side of Big Harpeth River

Robert Thompson - 640 acres - 1789 - Between Cedar and Spencer Creeks.

Robert Thompson - 640 acres - 1789 - On the Waters of Hurricane Ck.

Robert Thompson - 420 acres - 1789 - South side of Cumberland R.

Robert Thompson - 100 acres - 1789 - On Fletcher Lick Creek

Robert Thompson - 100 acres - 1787 - On Richland Creek

John Thompson - 640 acres - 1789 - East Side of Mill Creek

John Thompson - 200 acres - 1788 - On Cales Branch - Sullican Co.

Jason Thompson - 640 acres - 1789 - On Spring Creek

Jason Thompson - 640 acres - 1789 - On Mill Creek

Jason Thompson - 640 acres - 1790 - On Mill Creek

The Thompsons

(From a Copy of pages 177 & 178 of a Journal; in the handwriting of Ethel Wasson Nix(1879-1964)

John Thompson was a personal friend of John Wesley, when he was in Georgia. He was baptized by Wesley and became one of the first Methodist preachers. His ministry took him from Ga. top Tenn. Where he settled.

John Thompson married Elizabeth de la Haunte. Her parents disowned her for marrying a backwoods illiterate preacher. There is no record of other children except Sara Elizabeth de la Haunte Thompson, Aug. 7, 1813 - Oct 27, 1876 (dates in the birth death portion of the journal are Aug. 7, 1813 - Oct 27, 1878), who married Moab Stephen Smith, Sept. 3, 1807 - Nov. 7, 1865.(death is listed at the age of 56 and list this same death date, this would mean he would have had to have been born Sept. 3, 1809).