John Thompson

was a wealthy merchant and large landowner in Hanover Co, VA. It is reported that John Thompson and Samuel Davies, noted Presbyterian Clergyman, were intimate friends and married sisters. The following epitaph is on his tombstone at "Old Hollowing Creek Church in Hanover County, VA and is said to have been written by Rev. Davies:

"An Honest merchant all mankind might trust Prosperous in Trade, yet scrupulously just, Kind without flattery, plain, yet not austere. Though frugal, generous, liberal without show Such once the dust that molders here below. His once loved friend scribes the grateful stone, His weeping widow rears to worth well known."

Louisa Co Historical Magazine, Vol 19, No. 1, Spring 1988

John Thompson, who came to Virginia before 1730, lived near Newcastle in Hanover County, VA and was a prominent merchant. He also a plantation at Clover Lea and land in Louisa County which later was involved in a legal fight between the heirs of his children. His first wife was the sister of the wife of Samuel Davies, esteemed Presbyterian minister & President of Princeton University. One of their children married the well known Presbyterian Minister Rev. John Todd, close associate of Samuel Davies.

Following his first wife's death, John Thompson married a "young girl" Kerenhappuck Brame. The couple had three children. The last, Sarah, was born after John Thompson's death and probably without his knowledge of the pregnancy, since the future child was not mentioned in his will. Kerenhappuck must have died shortly after John Thompson, since their children were raised by her brother, Melchizedek Brame, of Caroline County, VA.

John Thompson's will survived the burning of Hanover County records, as a copy of it had been introduced in a court action in Louisa County before the loss. It is thought that he was buried in the family plot at Clover Lea. One tombstone, his son John, is still standing at the edge of the woods at the site of the first Upper Church in St. Paul's Parish. It is thought that this stone is not in its original spot.

Louisa Co, VA Deed Books a & B 1742 - 1759. p. 165-166. 15 September 1756. John Thomson of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Merchant, and Kerenhappuch, his wife, to John Todd of same, Clerk, and Margaret, his wife, daughter of said John Thomson. For Love and affection and for better maintenance. 1,797 acres, the lower part of a greater tract of 3,544 acres surveyed and divided by William Parry, surveyor on south side of Southanna River. Also the following negroe slaves: Philip, and Valentine, 2 men; Davy, a boy, Frankey, a woman; Peg and Janny, girls. Signed: John Thomson, Kerin-happuch Thomason. Wit: Barttelot Anderson, Thomas Lodg Dennis, Roger McClelland, John Hawkins, George McGeorge, David Shelton, Wm. Shelton, Blackmore Hughes. 24 May 1757 proved by oaths of Barttelot Anderson, David Shelton and William Shelton.

Decsendants of John Thompson

1. John1 Thomson1,2 was born March 08, 1693/94 in Tividale, North Britian, Scotland, and died February 05, 1759 in Hanover Co, VA. He married (1) Ann Holt Bef. 1732 in Virginia, daughter of David Holt and Margaret. She was born Abt. 1713 in New Kent Co, VA9, and died Bet. 1742 - 1743 in Hanover Co, VA10. He married (2) Kerenhappuch Brame Abt. 1751 in Hanover Co, VA, daughter of Richins Brame and Hannah Cheadle. She was born February 22, 1720/21 in Middlesex Co, VA, and died Aft. 1759.

Children of John Thomson and Ann Holt are:

* 2 i. John Thompson, Jr., born March 17, 1731/32 in Hanover Co, VA15,16; died November 08, 1736 in Hanover Co, VA17,.

• + 3 ii. Mary Thompson, born May 1734 in Hanover Co, VA; died 1789 in Hanover Co, VA.
• + 4 iii. Margaret Thompson, born 1736 in Hanover Co, VA; died September 17, 1809 in Paris, Bourbon Co, KY.

Children of John Thomson and Kerenhappuch Brame are:

* + 5 i. Joseph Thompson, died Bef. November 19, 1807 in Louisa Co, VA.

• + 6 ii. Elizabeth Thompson, born Bet. 1752 - 1753; died Bet. 1791 - 1795.
• + 7 iii. Sarah C. Thompson, born Abt. 1759 in Hanover Co, VA; died Bet. 1809 - 1828 in Louisa Co, VA. .

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Links

• http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=156993126
• Thompson Family
• Free African Americans of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina from the Colonial Period to about 1820, Volume 2