Johannes Van Kirk? Thompson

Source: John Yanik (Reference works from Josiah VanKirk Thompson's Journa ls & Gustav Anjou)

One source by (R. Lyle Brown) lists the possibility that Johannes' fath er was John Thompson (possibly Tomasson) who was born in Denmark. No docum entation to support this, or where he got the information so I am not incl uding this data, I am not adding it to the data base. If this is true th en this line is not associated with Clan MacTavish. JCT 6/8/00

Source: Cheralynn Wilson

Helen Wetnight, 365 Holly Hill Road, Oldsmar, FL 34677who cites a handwrit ten 9 page document prepared by Katherine Mayes Thompson states he owned l and in Dunbarton that had belonged in 1410 to Wm Thompson who was collect or of Customs in 1410 as per his account rendered at Perth, July 141 0. He was bailiff in 1429 to 1431 & Commissioner in 1435. John figur es in an Ayrshire deed in 1456. He was Sergeant of the Marsh in 1468.

From the above data it appears more strongly of ties to Clan Campbell th an MacTavish in that the latter was not a strong clan until after the dea th of Johannes and from this point to present day there are no recor ds of anyone in this line using the name MacTavish. In fact the Clan MacTa vish have never been a major clan. If most Thompson's were of that clan, t hen it would certainly be stronger in historical times than Campbell d ue to the number of Thompson's worldwide. While it may also be true that J ohannes was a Dane rather than a Celt, or his mother a Dane and father a C elt from his name. JCT 3/8/01

He left his land to Johannes Van Kirk Thomson, (his son) who was born in Dumbarton Scotland in the year of 1400. In 1429 Johannes became a Bailiff and was so until 1431. After serving as Bailiff he became Commissioner in 1435. Johannes or John as per the records show owned land in Ayrshire as the deed showed in 1456. Then he became the Sergeant of the Marsh in 1468. The Thomson Clan as for as I can tell fell after the death of Johannes on 18 Oct 1486 in Newton Grange, Scotland. The Clan was strong and more powerful in numbers than Clan MacTavish at this time, but had strong ties with Clan Campbell. Johannes's wife was Christina who was born in 1449 in the Highlands of Scotland, and died in Newton Grange, Scotland date is unknown.

Reference Sources

1) [http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thomson-1395]

2) [http://clanthompson.org/CTF/index.php?topic=17.0;wap2]