William Thompson Sr. ¹

   FamilySearch ID: PQBF-HFW.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Moved: 1784, , Rowan, NC.

2. Census in 1820 in , Rowan, NC. ² The 1820 census recorded in the Lexington side of Rowan County four Thompson households as neighbors:

William Thompson with this household:
Males (born)
45 & over (<=1775) = 1 father (William Sr.)
Females (born)
10-15 (1805-1810) = 1 daughter or granddaugher
16-25 (1795-1804) = 1 daughter
45 & over (<=1775) = 1 mother
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture = 1
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other = 4

James Thompson with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 4 sons
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 father (James)
Females (born)
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 mother

Isaac Thompson with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 1 son (Frederick)
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 father (Isaac)
Females (born)
10-15 (1805-1810) = 1 daughter (Anna)
45 & over (<=1775) = 1 mother

Andy (Andrew) Thompson with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 1 son
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 father (Andy)
Females (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 2 daughters
10-15 (1805-1810) = 1 daughter
(Andy's wife apparently had died).

3. Fact: A page by page review of the 1830 census reveals William was not recorded in Davidson County., 1830, , Davidson, NC. The 1830 census in Davidson County lists only 4 Thompson households and none have an elderly man.
Isaac Thompson - image 11 of 148
James Thompson - inage 19 of 148
Zadock Thompson - image 63 of 148
James Thompson = image 87 of 148.

4. Pension Revolutionary War: William Thompson applied for a pension for his service during the Revolutionary War in the Continental Army. Pension Sums Received $90, N. J. Militia, age 85 (born 1746) on 4 Mar 1831 in , Davidson, NC. ³

5. Pension Revolutionary War on 24 Apr 1834 in Jackson Hill, Davidson, NC, United States. ⁴ State of North Carolina
Davidson County
On this 24th day of April 1834 personally appeared in open Court Jacob Goss, who being a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, William Thompson a resident of the United States in the County of Davidson and state of North Carolina age according to record which he has of his age 86 years, the 2d day of last September, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, to wit: He was born in the State of New Jersey Hunterdon County, Amwell Township on the 2d Sept. 1748 and married about the year of 17?2 <writing not clear, may be 6>, according to the date of some paper evidence. He the said William Thompson for the first instance states that on account of his advanced age and about 10 years ago having a delirious attack for some time, the dates of his service and officers and many other circumstances have become obscure and abstracted. But to the best of his recollection he was drafted in the County of Hunterdon (it might been Morris County as he lived in both counties) for the term of three months in the New Jersey Militia troops and entered the service as he now believes in the year of 1779 or 1780 in the 31st or 32 year of his age he believes in the fall season of the years in Sussex County New Jersey at Elizabethtown, opposite to Staten Island and on an arm in the sea as ground that winds round the north west side of Staten Island in which the enemy or British to a considerable quantity had landed. He states that when he entered his first tour of duty, that he believes that he was put under Capt. Jacob Keerhart or Carhurt whom he can recollect better than any other person, on account of his being a Blacksmith. He states that he does not recollect any other officers at that time he was there stationed with his officers & other soldiers to prevent the British from foraging the town and landing into the New Jersey State. He states that he was employed in raising and making a fort of brick and that until his first term expired and then he received a discharge, but does not now recollect by whom it was assigned & then returned to his family at the former residence and was soon drafted the second time for three months more to defend the same place and section of Country adjoining, by scouting round about watching the maneuvers of the enemy and strengthening & putting up the fort at said town, but he does not now recollect whether Keerhart or Carhart was his Captain as the officer or not, or who was, but at length his second tour of three months ended when he believes he received a discharge from some officer but not long after he returned home to his family he was again drafted the third time during three months more to defend the same town as before stated and returned to Elizabethtown and to the best of his knowledge he was put under Capt. Sheeler, no other officers recollected, but during the two first tours they built houses and other fortifications for the defense of that section of the State, which was in greater danger perhaps than any other section on account of so many British being in Staten Island and having such great opportunities of landing if not prevented, but he the said William Thompson further states that during his third tour of three months they were stationed at Elizabethtown, Sussex County as near as about that place in discharge of their duty as soldiers according to the directions given them by their head officers. He further states that he was not in any regular battle but was often besieged and assaulted by the enemy from Staten Island; but they would with the other Americans shoot at and expell them from doing them much damage. He further states
that he recollects one circumstance that transpired whilst he was at Elizabethtown perhaps as well as any event. To wit: the British were in the habit of coming down from the Island to the arm of the Bay and shooting over towards the fort or town & turning up their backs for impudence and at length some one of our soldiers fired at one of them in the act, daring as before described, and at the fire the British soldier fell with his head to the ground & the others carried him off as a dead man. The said William Thompson states that he remained in the service of the New Jersey Militia until his third tour of three months service expired. From some one of his head officers to the best of his recollection he received the 3rd discharge & then returned to his former residence in Hunterdon or Morris County as he resided in both about that period and does not now recollect precisely which of the two counties, but ending three tours each three months in the service of the Revolutionary War, making nine months service. Sometime after he had performed his services in the war of the Revolution he moved from the New Jersey state to North Carolina, Rowan County now Davidson Co., he believes in the year 1784 according to some
dates that he has papers where he has resided ever since about fifty years. He further states that he did not think the discharges which he received from his officers were of any value or service; therefore he took no particular care of them so he either left them in the New Jersey State or has lost or mislaid them many years ago. He further states that he has no documentary evidence of his service nor does he know of any person now living by whom he can prove his service, nor does he know of any preacher or clergyman near him with whom he has much acquaintance, owing to the account of old age to his private life.
He further states some of the names of his fellow soldiers who served with him to wit: Anthony Garlick, Stofle Garlick & Alexander Baty.
He states from the debility of old age and bodily infirmity caused by having the rim of his bowels broken that he is not able to attend to Lexington the Co. seat wherein said County he now resides, it being at the distance of 20 miles. He states that he served under more Captains than he has recollection of now other superior & subatem
officers too. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the provision roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to, and subscribed, that day and year aforesaid.
William Thompson (his mark)
Jacob Goss (signature)

In addition to the above declaration on the 24th day of April 1834 appeared Andrew Thompson son of William Thomson the above applicant before me Jacob Goss, the said Justice of the Peace and doth on his oath depose to the following declaration as traditional evidence of his father's service in the Revolution. He the said Andrew Thompson states according to a record of his age that he will be 47 years of age the 2d of October next, And ever since he can recollect of hearing his father talk of his native state (N. Jersey) that he recollects of his telling about serving three tours in the militia of said state at and about Elizabethtown, Sussex Co., New Jersey, and that he has heard his father call the names of his head officers and soldiers
and that he could relate and did a great number of occurrences that happened when he was a soldier & the time when he served with distinction such he believes he could not have a related unless they had been true (all of which he related before he delirious spell which greatly injured his recollection) of past events and before there was any hope or expectation of the soldiers ever drawing a pension. And therefore he the said Andrew Thompson states that he believes his father William Thompson the above applicant did serve three terms in the N. Jersey Militia as above stated as much as he believes nothing that he never saw because his father told him the said occurrences & events in childhood, boyhood & manhood.
Sworn to and subscribed that day and year aforesaid.
Andrew Thompson (signature)
Jacob Goss (signature)

I, Abraham Cameron, residing in the County of Davidson hereby certify that I am well and acquainted with William Thompson, and have been during 48 or 50 years, who has subscribed and sworn to the above and within declaration; that I believe him to be 85 years of age; that I never heard his character thought in question; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that I concur in that opinion & believe that he served the length of time that he states. And I further certify that Andrew Thompson who has subscribed to the above additional declaration is a credible person & his statement is entitled to credit. Sworn to and subscribed day and year aforesaid.
Abraham Cameron (signature)
Jacob Goss (JP) (signature)

We Thomas Davis & Isaac Grist residing in the County of Davidson hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Thompson and have been for many years who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; the we believe him to be 85 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we consider in that opinion. We further certify that Andrew Thompson who signed the within additional declaration is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Thomas Davis (signature)
Isaac Grist (signature)
Jacob Goss (JP)

I Jacob Goss Sen. residing in the County of Davidson hereby certify that I am well acquainted with William Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration, that I saw him where he now resides the year that he moved to where he now resides about 49 or 50 years ago and he and I had a conversation about the Tories being recently scouted out from the section of the County & he the said Wm. Thompson remarked to me that he was glad of it because he said that he was a Whig and served as a soldier of the Revolution from whence he came; and I further certify that I believe him to be 85 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that I concur in that opinion, and that Andrew Thompson who has subscribed & sworn to the additional declaration is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.
Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid.
Jacob Goss (JP)
Jacob Goss (his mark)

I Jacob Goss being one of the acting Justices of the Peace in & for the County of Davidson & State of North Carolina do hereby declare my opinion, after investigating the proceedings in relation to the declaration of William Thompson the foregoing applicant who has sworn to & subscribed to the same, that he Wm. Thompson was a Soldier of the Revolution and served three terms in the N. Jersey Militia as he states & I further certify that the above applicant cannot attend at the Court House in Lexington (the County seat) it being about 20 miles from his residence on account of his bodily infirmity caused by healing the rear of his bowels broken and also his extensive old age. And moreover I further certify and declare that I am personally acquainted with Absolom Cameron, Thomas Davis, Isaac Grist & Jacob Goss Sen. the affiants who have signed the preceding and respective certificates relative to the foregoing declarations & do certify and declare that they are residents in the County of Davidson and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Given under my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid.
Jacob Goss (JP) (seal)

State of North Carolina
Davidson County
I Samuel Gaither clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Jacob Goss whose name appears to the foregoing declarations, certificates of the affiants & his certificate, is and was at the time of signing the same and active Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid duly appointed, commissioned & qualified and that they, the preceding signatures, are his proper name and genuine signatures and due faith and credit are due his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affirmed the seal of said County at office.
May the 12th 1834
Sam Gaither (CC)
By D. Mock

Affidavit of Thomas Davis, Jacob Goss, and Andrew Thompson

I, Thomas Davis, a Clerk of the Court of Davidson County, certify that William Thompson and his wife are married and have two sons living. I have heard that they have lived in this county for many years. I believe he is a man of good repute and good character, and I believe he has been a soldier of the Revolution.

I, Jacob Goss, a Justice of the Peace in the county of Davidson, certify that I am well acquainted with William Thompson, who has resided in and been a part of the surrounding district about 40 or 50 years ago, and he has always been a man of good repute and good character. I believe he is a soldier of the Revolution, and that the services in this opinion of his, that he served the length of time that he states, that he is a man of good repute and good character, and that he is a soldier of the Revolution. I believe that he is entitled to a pension under the act of Congress passed on June 7, 1832.

I, Daniel Parker, a Clerk of the Court of Davidson County, certify that the above declaration was made in the open court and that the court is of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to a pension under the act of Congress passed on June 7, 1832.
.

6. Probate on 5 Apr 1842 in Lexington, Davidson, NC. ¹ State of North Carolina
Davidson County
To Spring Term 1842
In Equity
To the Honorable the Judge of the Court of Equity in and for said County
The Petition of Isaac Thompson, William Thompson, Andrew Thomson & James Thompson against Isham Thompson, Peggy Thompson & Polly Grice, Fredrick Thompson, Peggy Thompson & Sally Morris
Humbly Complaining your Petitioners Respectfully
There unto your Honor that there father William Thompson Sr. departed this life in this County in the month of December 1841 Intestate and was at his Death Seized & possessed of 525 acres of land in four tracts all adjoining each other whereon he lived, said lands adjoining the lands of Hiram Ward & others and on the waters of Cabin Creek in said County that said William Thompson Sr. left no widow but left the following persons his Children and Grand Children who are his heirs at law ( to wit ) your petitioners Isaac Thompson, William Thompson Jr. & James Thompson and the Defendants Peggy Thompson who resides in the State of Kentucky, Sally who intermarrying with Isham Wallace & who reside in Kentucky - Polly Grice Widow of Isaac Grice Dcd. who resides in this County & Fredrick Thompson & Peggy Thompson, Grand Children being the Children of John Thompson decd. who died before his father the said William Thomson Sen. and Grand Child Sally Morris infant Child of Betsy and William Senn Daughter who had intermarried with John Morris & Decd. before said William Thompson. Said Fredrick Thompson & Peggy Thompson reside in Kentucky and Sally Morris is a minor in this County without any regular Guardian.
Your petitioner would show unto your Honor that said tract of land cannot be divided among the said Heirs without injury to the interest of all concerned and they would further show that a sale of said land would be of advantage to all interested and materially promote the interest of the infant Sally Morris.
Your Petitioners therefore pray your Honor to Decree a sale of said 525 acres of land upon some Reasonable Credit and that the Clerk and Master sell the same and that the proceeds of sale be divided among your petitioner and the defendants as they may be respectfully entitled to as next of kin & heirs at law of said William Thompson Sen. Decd. and that the interest of the infants & same coverts duly secured.
Your petitioners pray that the said Isham Thompson Sen. Peggy Thompson Sen. Polly Grice Fredrick Thompson Peggy Thompson Jr. & Sally Morris be made party defendants to this petition and that a copy thereof with process issue and be served upon such of them as they are in this State and that Publication be made as to those who are out of the State and that a guardian be appointed for Sally Morris the infant. And your Petitioners pray your Honor for such other and further relief in the premises as the nature of their case may require and to you may be just and right and your Petitioners as in duty bound ever pray.

Research Note: Cabin Creek runs south of and parallel to Lick Creek Church Road and north of the village of Jackson Hill in southern Davidson County. Other records show "Jackson Hill" as the location for the elder William Thompson.
.

7. Probate on 5 Apr 1842 in Lexington, Davidson, NC. ⁵ State of North Carolina
Davidson County
Isaac Thompson & others }
vs. Isham Thompson & others } in Equity
The Plaintiff Isaac Thompson maketh Oath that Peggy Thompson and Isham Wallace & Sally his wife are not inhabitants of this State but that they reside in the State of Kentucky as he is informed and believes - That Frederick Thompson & Peggy Thompson reside beyond the limits of this State - that they reside in the State of Tennessee as this affiant believes.
Isaac Thompson (his mark)
Sworn to & subscribed before me
5th of April 1842
R Bowen.

8. Newspaper: Carolina Watchman, 25 Jun 1842, Salisbury, Rowan, NC, USA. ^{6 7} State of North Carolina
Davidson County
IN EQUITY - APRIL TERM, 1842

Petition for sale of Real Estate
Isaac Thompson, William Thompson, Andrew Thompson, James Thompson
vs.
Joshua Thompson, Peggy Thompson Sr., Polly Grice, Frederick Thompson, Peggy Thompson, Jr., Sally Morris

It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that Peggy Thompson, Isham Thompson and Sally his wife, Frederick Thompson and Peggy Thompson Jr., heirs at Law of William Thompson, dec'd, reside beyond the limits of this State : It is therefore ordered that publication be made in the Carolina Watchman, for six successive weeks, for said absent defendants to be and appear before the Honorable the Judge of our next Court of Equity, to be held for the County of Davidson, at the Court House in Lexington, on the 1st Monday after the 4th Monday in September next, then and there to show cause if any they have, why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted, otherwise judgement pro confesso will be taken against them, and the cause heard exparte as to them.

Witness, W. Wommock, Clerk and Master of our said Court of Equity, at Office, the 1st Monday after the 4th Monday in March, 1842.
W. WOMMACK, C.M.E.

9. 525 acres of land on Cabin Creek belonging to heirs of William Thompson sold on 24 Nov 1842 in Jackson Hill, Davidson, NC, United States. A list of the Sale of the lands of William Thompson Sen. Dcd.
Sold November 24th 1842 by Wommack

William Thompson Jr. purchased 1st tract of 150 acres at the sum of $149
John Morris becamse the purchasor of the second tract of 247 acres at the sum of $400
Thos. J. Loftin became the purchasor of the third tract of 150 acres at the sum of $225.50
Sampson Newsom became the purchasor of 15 acres at the sum of $70.
All sold on a credit of 12 months.

Home tract 150 acres $149.00
Andrew Thompson tract 247 acres $400.00
Isaac Thompson tract 150 acres $225.50
Small tract in bottom 15 acres $70.00
Total $844.50
Amount received for Thompson Land
Interest up to Feby 13th 1844 on the several notes shared
$844.50
10.76
$855.26
66.72 ¾
$1788.56
\emdash ----------
86.61 ¾.

10. Probate in Apr 1847 in Lexington, Davidson, NC. ⁸ Spring Term 1847
Isaac Thompson & others vs. Peggy Thompson & others
In this case the death of Isaac Thompson one of the Petitioner is suggested and on motion Frederick Thompson the 2d and Henry Beeker and Anna his wife Children and Heirs at Law of said Isaac Thompson , are made party petitioners, also the death of James Thompson, another of the petitioners is suggested and his children and heirs at Law are on motion made party petitioners to Wit:
1. William Thompson 2. John Thompson 3. Nathan Thompson 4. Daniel Thompson 5. Noah Thompson 6. Nancy Thompson , 7. Susan Thompon 8. Alley Thompson and Sally Thompson.
And it further appearing to the Court upon Affidavit filed that John Thompson the father of Frederic Thompson the 2d was advanced in land in his life time by his father William Thompson the elder, It is therefore ordered by the Court that it be referred to the Clerk and master of this Court to enquire and ascertain and report if said John Thompson was so advanced in land in his lifetime in all or in part and to what amount and that he have power to summon witnesses and to examine any of the parties on oath before him. And it appearing that Frederick Thompson the first is not an inhabitant of this State . It is therefore ordered that notice in the Greensboro Patriot a public newspaper printed in this state for twenty days as to said Frederick Thompson be sufficient for taking such account.

11. Probate of William Thompson Sr.'s Estate in Nov 1847 in Lexington, Davidson, NC. ⁹ State of North Carolina
In Equity Davidson County
Fall Term 1847
Isaac Thompson vs. Peggy Thompson & others
In this case it being reported to the Clerk and Grantee to inquire and ascertain whether John Thompson, the father of Frederick Thompson the 2nd one of the Petitioners in this case was advanced in land sufficient by his father William Thompson the elder in his lifetime after giving twenty days notice to the parties thru the Clerk and master begs can he report that he gave said notice in the Greensboro Patriot as published in this state and caused witnesses to appear before him on the sixth of August 1849 the first of which Andrew Thompson being duly sworn and examined deposed to and saith as follows \endash that he is agreement with John Thompson mentioned in this case and that his father William Thompson gave John Thompson a deed for 125 acres in his lifetime worth two hundred and twenty five dollars that he acted as the agent of his said brother John Thompson in collecting the mone for said land which was sold and that in value it was equal if not more than John Thompson was entitled to from the Estate of William Thompson and further this deponeth saith not/
Andrew Thomson (signed)
In accordance with the aforesaid evidence I, Peter K. Rounsaville Clerk and Master in Equity - do report that John Thompson has been sufficiently & fully advanced by his father and is therefore not entitled to receive his reliable share of $87.61 or any part thereof of the Real Estate fund of his father William Thompson dcd. But that said share is distributable amongst the other Heirs at Law and real Representatives of said William Thompson.
All of which is very Respectfully submitted
P.K. Rounsaulle.

12. Letter: Mr. F. L. Penn wrote to obtain the military pension info for, 8 Dec 1934, Washington, District of Columbia, DC, USA. ¹⁰ December 8, 1934

Mr. F. L. Penn, Jr.
P. O. Box 7
Monticello, Georgia.

BA-V/TLL
William Thompson
S. 7720

Dear Madam:

The data given herein were found in pension claim, S. 7720, based upon service of William Thompson in the Revolutionary War.

William Thompson was born September 2, 1748 in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; the names of his parents were not given. He resided during the Revolutionary War in Hunterdon County and in Morris County, New Jersey.

William Thompson enlisted in the fall of 1779 or 1780, and served three months as private in Captain Jacob Carhart's New Jersey company, shortly after which he enlisted and served another tour of three months in the New Jersey militia, name of captain not given; he served a third tour of three months in Captain Sheeler's New Jersey company, stationed at Elizabethtown; during this last service he fired upon the British.

William Thompson married "about the year 1772" exact date, place and the name of his wife were not given. He referred to his family, to whom he returned between his different tours of service in the Revolutionary War.

He moved about the year 1784 from New Jersey to Rowan County (later Davidson County), North Carolina.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 24, 1834, at which time he resided in Davidson County, North Carolina.

Andrew Thomson (as he signed his name), the soldier's son, was born October 2, 1787; in 1834, he made affidavit in behalf of his father's claim for pension in Davidson County, North Carolina.

In order obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and possibly, the date of death of William Thompson, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and site the following:

William Thompson
Certificate # 27816
Issued May 31, 1834
Rate $30 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831.
Acto of June 7, 1832.
North Carolina Agency.
.

William married.