James Thompson

Family records say James Thompson was from Aghadowey, Co. Derry. This fits with his probable birth in Agivey, (a grange, or extra-parochial district, locally in the parish of Aghadowey, in the county of Londonderry) where his father John farmed at the homestead. (An obituary record for his brother, the Rev Thomas Thompson, states that Thomas was born on 17th May, 1841, the eldest son of Mr. John Thompson, a farmer at Agivey, County Derry, and was brought up in the congregation of Aghadowey, under the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Brown. It further states that Thomas had three brothers, one living in the old homestead, another a merchant in Glasgow, and the third being Mr. James Thompson, of Ballymoney).

In the 1901 census James' daughters Annie and Margaret are visitors to the Wilsons at Tinto View, Bothwell, Lanarkshire, where their brother Thomas's fiancee is residing with her parents. The birthplace of both daughters is given as Ireland, and they are stated to be daughters of a 'provision merchant'.

The corresponding 1901 census return for Ireland [viewed online at www.census.nationalarchives.ie] shows James (55) and Elizabeth (56) in Linenhall Street, Ballymoney. He is a grocer and they have a domestic servant who is 22. If his age, 55, is correct, then he would have been born in 1846, not 1843 as family records say. Birthplace listed as Co. Derry which accords with family records.

The 1911 census has the couple still in Linenhall Street, now aged 67 and 68 (which could put his birth year at 1843) - http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001376491/. James is still described as a grocer. At the same address, besides a domestic servant aged 23, are their single daughters Mary Elizabeth (33) and Margaret (31). It is stated that they have been married for 45 years and had 7 children born alive of whom just 3 are still living.

The death certificate for James Thompson (see media) states that he died at home in Linenhall Street on 28 September 1918, aged 75. He was a widower and his occupation was grocer. The cause of death was heart failure. His daughter Margaret Thompson, who was present at his death, was the informant.

A note of the settlement following his death [viewed online at willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie] gives his name, James Thompson; his address Linenhall Street, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim; and his occupation, merchant. The grant was made on 11 December 1918 to the executor, the Rev. David D. Boyle.

His obituary in a local newspaper (see media) started with the following: Ballymoney has lost an old and respected inhabitant in Mr James Thompson, who died on Saturday morning at the age of 74. The late Mr Thompson was a native of Aghadowey, and came to Ballymoney about 57 years ago to serve his apprenticeship with the late Mr John McMullan, who carried on business at the corner of High Street and Linenhall Street. He afterwards commenced business for himself in High Street, where he remained some years, and subsequently removed to Linenhall Street, where he carried on business for 47 years. He was married to Miss Pollock, who pre-deceased him about eight years ago. Of his family he is survived by two daughters; his son, Dr Thomas Thompson, and a daughter having died some years ago. He is also survived by one brother.