James Thompson

MEMORIAL OF JAMES THOMPSON, OF CHARLESTOWN, MASS.; 1630-1642, AND WOBURN, MASS., 1642-1682; AND OF Eight Generations of His Descendants. 'Rv RP\! i pA· i\.i11PO .._l ..H .. ,-1i\JlPC1-1i\T AM JJ .l .L ,.I.J l • J.JJ.J 1, &.J .I.Ji\. '-.J LY .l.l v'-.J .I.,' eH 1., Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Sodety. FOR THE THOMPSON MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. BOSTON: PRESS OF L. BARTA & CO., 1887. '·· ~{' •.;..,~~"·... ?I:·' ~;.>-- PREFACE. IT is deemed proper, before the Thompson Memorial manu script leaves-me, that something should be said of its history. More than fifty years ago, I became interested in the family history of my ancestors, and never failed to seize upon and retain every item of it that could subserve my object, which was· then wholly my personal gratification. Thirty years ago my interest was largely increased by looking through a brief manu script genealogy . mainly of families of Thompsons in the vicinity . of Woburn and Charlestown, prepared by Cyrus Thompson, Esq., of. Woburn, and Henry Jaques, Esq., .of Boston, which, as a beginning, was worthy of special commen- ~ • ♦ ~ • ~ = -,-: ... • t- • - - ~ '! "! - ctation. 1 o tn1s co11ect1on or names ana aates, 1 was ao1e to add more or less eaC;h year by employing a large part of the time I could command outside professional duties. · At the organization of the Thompson Memorial Association in 1884, I was appointed, by vote of the members, their histo rian, with the added request that I would, as rapidly as possible consistently with thoroughness, complete the work which had so long occupied my leisure hours. This I have endeavored to do, though with many -perplexities and often apparently in superable obstacles, such as they only can comprehend who have had a like experience. I have visited many towns, near and far off ; searched many and sometimes very obscure and unsatisfactory records, and written letters without number. Some of these letters failed to receive any recognition, some were answerea,, oy promises• wn1cn~• 1 were never penormea,r "'!I ana"! some 3 4 were answered only in part; but a large number brought a prompt, full, and hearty response, ·which was welcomed in each case as a benediction. I had feared that I should wear out the patience of those I addressed. by my persistence, but, in the main, they have ·borne with me nobly, and placed me under great obligations for their attention to my wants. Thus, de spite all the trials, and delays, and perplexities, I have greatly enjoyed my work. A growing interest and even a fascination have led me on and on to the conclusion. I cannot do justice to myself without a distinct acknowledg ment of the great kindness of many friends, to some of whom I have been very pleasantly introduced through my work. Beside those who have furnished to me the special record of their own families, there are nqt a few who have patiently taken the time and expended the labor necessary to secure for me the records of numerous other related and often scattered families. Among these I cannot forbear to mention the following: Mrs. H. T. Dewey, Monson, Mass., Mrs. Harriet J. Baker, Amherst, Mass., Mrs. Elizabeth C. Wheaton, Barre, Vt., Mrs. Emma E. Chase, Chicago, Ill., Mrs. George Lee, Everett, Mass., Mrs._ May Abbott Thompson, for Capt. Tobias 0. Thompson, Winterport, Me., Cyrus Woodman, Esq., Cam bridge, Mass., Charles M. Freeman, Esq., West Baldwin, Me., F. A. Hosmer, Great Barrington, Mass., Addison F. Bond, Brooklyn, N. Y., Josiah A. Thompson, West Falmouth, Mass., Ferris Sherman Thompson, New York, Abraham R. Thompson, Esq., Boston, Edward H. Thompson, Esq., Cambridge, Mass., the late Ebenezer Rumford Thompson, Esq., Dunkirk, N. Y., the late Nathan Wyman, Woburn, Mass., James Thompson, Esq., Hooksett, N. H., Edward C. Thompson, Brandon, Vt., Rev. Charles ·w. Thompson, Westminster, Vt., Horace W. Thompson, Esq., Bellows Falls, Vt., Abijah Thomp~on, Esq., Winchester, Mass. I have. also been greatly aided by my friend, S. Millett Thompson, Esq., of Providence, R: t, who, though representing another family of Thompsons, ought to have descended from James of Charlesto\vn and Woburn. 5 Before closing these introductory paragraphs, it is deemed proper that the writer should add a few facts of a more gen eral character. During the time employed in the preparation of the Thomp son Memorial, there have been, in repeated instances, mutual disappointments in the experience of both myself and my correspondents bearing the name of Thompson, in our inability to connect our respective families. It was well known, in the outset, that there were several distinct families of the name in New England and other States. But research has proved, beyond question, that these families are far more numerous than is generally supposed. I cannot say how many there are, but I have gathered, from time to time, a mass of material, which, if reduced to order and written out; would, of itself, fill a respectable volume. In visits, here and there, I have often found representatives of from four to six entirely distinct families in a single town. Instead of the half dozen which were once supposed to be found, it now seems safe to say there are at least from twenty to thirty in N e\v England· alone. In New York, Pennsylvania, and several of the western States, to say nothing of the southern, there have been found many more. It would perhaps be pleasant if we could all meet and join hands as belonging to one family, but in this country, at least, I am convinced that the missing links of connection will never be found. In England and Scotland to some extent, they may be. Many of the English coats-of-arms and some of the American, bear, except in some less important details, for which the occasional setting up of new heads of families might account, so much resemblance as to suggest strongly one origin and one original family. Major Robert Thompson of London, his son Joseph of Hackney, his grandson Joseph of the "Inner Temple,'' William of Eltsham, and Sir William, a mem her of the " Corporation of New England," all seem to have felt a ,varm interest in the New England colonies, and to have been owners of property in Boston and elsewhere on this - side the water, though, so far as appears, they never came to this country in person. The same was true of a large number 6 of others connected with this family, some of them ranking among the highest in station and influence, including several barons and knights of whom it is recorded, "they took great inter.est in the affairs of the British Colonies. '.in North Amer- "-ica, and had an important part in their management." But at this distance of time, and on this side the water, it is not easy, probably ··it is not possible, to trace the exact relations of these old English families to the early New England Jamilies, of Thompsons.· Many facts indicate that kindred links did connect them, and while the arms of Sir William have come down through many generations of James. Thompson's descendants, the arms of two or three other English families, evidently allied to that of Sir William, have long been _in the possession of other New England families. The most numerous and best known families of Thompsons in New England, beside that of James, are the following: The Plymouth family, whose founder, John, came over in the third embarkation from England with his mother and step father, and arrived at Plymouth in May, 1622, when in the sixth year of his age. His descendants are very numerous, especially in Plymouth County. Another family is said to have settled in or near Portsmouth, N. H., a:bout 1623, or a little later. Two brothers, David and Robert, as is supposed, were the patriarchs. David was the agent of M·ason and Gorges, and subsequently lived on an island, which still bears his name, in Boston Harbor. Robert ultimately settled in or near Durham, N. H., and his descen dants are still found in that town and elsewhere, in large numbers. Anthony, William, and John Thompson, brothers, arrived at Charlestown, Mass., about 1637, and soon settled at New Haven, Conn. They became the ancestors of a very numerous posterity, now found in that State, in New York, in Pennsyl vania, in Massachusetts, and elsewhere. Rev. William Thompson, who became the first pastor of the church in Quincy, in 1639, was the ancestor of numerous descendants in Massachusetts and,_ Maine. 7 We could go on and enumerate many other families less extensive and not so well known at least in Massachusetts, but the work is needless, if not endless. I will only add that I have been greatly surprised that, in the case of most of these many families, no one seemed able, clearly and satisfactorily, to trace the generations back to a known first founder, even in this country. This, however, is, by no .. means, true of all. Should all these families, hereafter, be traced even to their American founders, some one has a vast work be£ ore him, yet it is a very desirable work. And no one would rejoice more sincerely in· the achieyement than the compiler of this imperfect Memorial Volume. L. THOMPSON• . NORTH WOBURN~ MASS., March 2, 1887. EXPLANATIONS. THERE will be fbund in the following Memorial Volume, most of the usual abbreviations ; as the initials or abbreviated forms of the names of colleges, offices, titles, etc.; also b.

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