My known ancestors appear to have all come to the US before the Revolutionary War, principally from Ireland, England, Wales, Germany and France. Having initially settled in PA, VA, NC, and SC (Old 96th District -Pendleton Dist./Pickens Co. area), in the 1800's many continued to move south and west, some migrating to GA, KY, AR, and TX.
James THOMSON emigrated from Ireland to the US in 1776 with his wife and they are said to have landed in NYC and then travelled overland to settle in Union Co., SC. James' son (my GGGgrandfather William THOMPSON), is believed to have been born in Union Co., but later (re)moved to the 12 Mile Creek area N. of Pendleton township, SC. There, in what is now Pickens Co., my GGgrandfather Charles was born as well as my Great-grandfather George McDuffie THOMPSON (aka George Mack), and my Grandfather Ghould. GGGgrandfather William allegedly moved or travelled from SC to AL and was killed in an indian uprising.
Since beginning my quest to uncover the THOMPSON family history, I have discovered a great many THOMPSONs in MD, PA, KY, TN, GA, NC, SC, AL. Due to an apparent fondness by the THOM(P)SONs for "certain" given names, and the tradition of carrying the family names forward by naming children after parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents, ... there are a large number of male THOM(P)SONs named James, William, Charles, and George, ... even in the same geographic area and at the same time. Many could easily be brothers, uncles, and/or nephews. Since there was no national census prior to 1790, and the early census records only named the head of each household, it is extremely difficult to tie specific THOMPSON males to their respective families. Without knowing the middle names of my grandfathers James and William, the names of their spouses or siblings, ... proving possible connections between the different THOMPSON clans is quite difficult.
After the death of his first wife (Sallie Dillard) in SC, my Great Grandfather, Rev. George McDuffie Thompson left SC late in 1880 (after October) and moved with his 2nd wife, Melissa Lavada Winchester and family, to N. Texas, settling in the vicinity of Lamar Co./Paris, TX, where both my father and I were born. True to form, I was named after two of my Dad's brothers, and my 'Uncle George' was apparently named after George 'Mack'.
On the THOMPSON side, I am researching the ARCHDEACON, BILLINGTON, COLE, DILLARD, DOUGLASS, ELROD, FEATHERSTONE, GAINES, GEORGE, GREGORY, HARDY, HOGUE, HOLDER, MAYO, MEBANE, PENDLETON, PETTUS, RUSSELL, TAYLOR, THORNTON, VALENTINE, WAINSCOTT and WALKER surnames.
On my mothers' side, I am researching COBB[s] (from the Ambrose Cobb of England branch), BAKER, ELLIS, FLOWERS, GIBBS, HASKINS, HUTCHINSON, HODO, MONK, NEAL, O'NEAL, POPWELL, & WATSON families from GA to N.E. Texas (in the vicinity of Greenville and Rockwall Co. area). Previous to July, 2001, my maternal Grandfather, John Edwards COBBS, born 1882 in Bell Co., TX, and his father E. H. COBB[s]have been almost impossible to find. MANY THANKS to my newly found cousin, Les Wade, for the research that broke down this previously dead end.
MY DEEPEST THANKS and sincere appreciation also go to Janice Mauldin Castleman, Becky Bonner, and her mother Josephine Lindsay Bass, whose paths I constantly crossed as I began my Genealogical journey on the Internet back in 1998. Their years of exhaustive research spurred me on and motivated me to develop my interest in genealogy. They filled-in many generations of blank spaces in my Father's family tree. After 3 years, about all I have really done on my own is to compile and piece together information researched and uncovered by others. Consequently, I have verified very little of the information contained in this report and it may contain (numerous) errors. Please contact me if you are aware of any errors or additions.
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Ancestors of George Frank Thompson