The origins of John Thompson may have been found!

[William Flowers]

New YDNA test results are in for what a researcher of the Stephen Thompson line finds is a descendant of Stephen Thompson, son of William Thompson and Eleanor/Helen McKenzie. This test closely matches (35/37) the results of a descendant of John Thompson. Now there is no doubt that we're dealing with a common ancestor for both the descendant of Stephen and the descendant of John. Alone, this doesn't prove that William Thompson is the father of John Thompson. Rather it is indisputable evidence that both Stephen Thompson and John Thompson have a common Thompson ancestor. So the common ancestor could be a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc.

But when the results of these two YDNA tests are combined with the paper record, it can now be said with some assurance that John Thompson of New Carlisle is very probably the son of William Thompson of New Carlisle and Eel River and that William Thompson probably had two wives, John's mother (who remains unknown) and Eleanor/Helen McKenzie, mother of Stephen Thompson.

This doesn't mean that research shouldn't continue; like much in life, no knowledge is final.  But if I were a betting man, I'd bet a chocolate soda on this one.  

For more info look at these links to pages and threads elsewhere on this website.

[James Thompson]

William thats great new!

James THompson

[James Thompson]

I also found this http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Research/Research-Data/HMS-Clinton-1783-Passengers.pdf
there is a Mary Ann Thompson on board the clinton the same time that a William and John are on board, Could this be william first wife?

[William Flowers]

I also found this http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Research/Research-Data/HMS-Clinton-1783-Passengers.pdf
there is a Mary Ann Thompson on board the clinton the same time that a William and John are on board, Could this be william first wife?

This is an interesting list that you found, but we have no idea whether or not these Thompsons are even related to each other, leave aside the Thompsons we're looking for. It is reasonable to assume that the John Thompson aboard this ship, a young child, is probably the child of one of the women listed. (There is also an Esther Thompson aboard.)  Also problematic in relating any of them to "our" William Thompson is that William's other probable son, John's brother, is nowhere to be found on this list.

The HMS Clinton picked these Thompsons up on 29 Sep 1783 and deposited them at Port Roseway, Nova Scotia on 26 Oct 1783.  Also unanswered by the list is that if these Thompsons are "our" Thompsons, why and how did they end up on another ship, less than a year later, traveling from the Quebec City area to the Gaspé coast.

One strategy to help answer this question is to determine whether or not there are Thompsons of these names in Nova Scotia at the same time as "our" Thompsons are in Quebec.  And if these Thompsons can't be found in Nova Scotia, then they become even more interesting.

Thanks for letting everyone know about this list you found.

[James Thompson]

The HMS Clinton picked these Thompsons up on 29 Sep 1783 and deposited them at Port Roseway, Nova Scotia on 26 Oct 1783.  Also unanswered by the list is that if these Thompsons are "our" Thompsons, why and how did they end up on another ship, less than a year later, traveling from the Quebec City area to the Gaspé coast.

 Hi William What ship did they leave Quebec City on? and have you any records from the british archives on william military service?

Thanks
James

[William Flowers]

Hi William What ship did they leave Quebec City on? and have you any records from the british archives on william military service?
Thanks
James

A "Mr.Thompson," along with an unnamed wife, and two unnamed children, sailed aboard the Brig Polly for Chaleur Bay in June of 1784. When they drew for lots in August of the same year we find that "Mr. Thompson" is now more precisely identified as William Thompson, a "pensioner" and that the two children, still unnamed, are identified as boys, ages 4 and 1, probably John and William Thompson.

The Brig Polly was part of a flotilla of ships that carried 315 refugees and discharged British soldiers to the Paspebiac beach, near present day New Carlisle. Later that summer an additional 88 arrived for a total of 403.

All that we currently know of William Thompson's military career is that he served eight years in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The problem with finding military records from this period at the National Archives at Kew, England is that many of the records no longer exist. This link will take you to a page (and the next) at the National Archives (UK) that lists the William Thompsons who served the the Royal Artillery and for whom records still exist (or are indexed). None of them appear to fit the dates necessary to be the "our" William Thompson.

[James Thompson]

i found a couple of William Thompson who served with the royal artillery here's one of them. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-4057370&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CWILLIAM%2CTHOMPSON&accessmethod=0

I also have a name of one of William ancestors that i will contact to see what she has on him.

[William Flowers]

i found a couple of William Thompson who served with the royal artillery here's one of them. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-4057370&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CWILLIAM%2CTHOMPSON&accessmethod=0

I also have a name of one of William ancestors that i will contact to see what she has on him.

That William Thompson served 1787 to 1817.  "Our" William was already discharged and on pension by 1784, after having served in the Royal Artillery the previous eight years. Moreover the William you mention was born about 1768, "our" William was born about 1753.  As I mentioned, there are several William Thompson's in the index at the National Archives, but the dates given just don't fit what we know about "our" William Thompson. 

There are some records, though, that still exist in the National Archives that are not indexed. Perhaps the William Thompson we're looking for is in one of the few remaining records from that period.

[James Thompson]

does he say he was born in Ireland? or that he came from ireland? I am going to contact the British Archives on Monday and the Ottawa archives to see if i can dig up his Military records.

Thanks
James

[William Flowers]

does he say he was born in Ireland? or that he came from ireland? I am going to contact the British Archives on Monday and the Ottawa archives to see if i can dig up his Military records.

Thanks
James

Yes, he says he was a native of Ireland.  Hope you find something, let us know if you do.

Bill

[James Thompson]

i found this one 
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born ENNISKILLEN, Fermanagh
Served in Royal Artillery
Discharged aged 31
Covering dates 1805-1815
 
 plus this one
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born [Not Known]
Served in Royal Horse Artillery
Discharged aged 35
Covering dates 1803-1816
this one also
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born Leix
Served in Royal Artillery
Discharged aged 45
Covering date gives year of discharge. 
Covering dates 1811
thats a start, which one do you think it is?

[James Thompson]

Bill would you have williams service Number? It would help a great deal.

Thanks
James Thompson

[William Flowers]

i found this one  
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born ENNISKILLEN, Fermanagh
Served in Royal Artillery
Discharged aged 31
Covering dates 1805-1815
 
 plus this one
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born [Not Known]
Served in Royal Horse Artillery
Discharged aged 35
Covering dates 1803-1816
this one also
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Born Leix
Served in Royal Artillery
Discharged aged 45
Covering date gives year of discharge.  
Covering dates 1811
thats a start, which one do you think it is?

Bill would you have williams service Number? It would help a great deal.

Thanks
James Thompson

The William Thompson we're looking for was born about 1755, and was discharged no later than 1784 and the discharge probably occurred in 1783 or before. He says that he served eight years which would put his latest possible service dates as 1776-1784 and, as I have indicated, I suspect that the dates were earlier than that, say 1775-1783.

So when searching, keep in mind that the last date you want to see connected to someone is something like "1784" or earlier. There is nothing like that in the index at the British National Archives. Now that doesn't mean that a military record doesn't exist for William Thompson, it just means his discharge isn't indexed (and that it very probably no longer exists). He is a "pensioner" which may indicate he was injured and therefore a look at the "Chelsea" records is one possibility.  Again, I've checked the index for that and he's not there, either.  My guess is that if a record still exists for him it will be on a muster roll for the Royal Artillery.  Those are not indexed and the only way to search them is to through the names physically one-by-one. And remember, again, not every muster during that period still exists.

I have never seen a service number connected to anyone in the British Army in the 18th century. It would sure be great to have one, though! Here is a discharge certificate from 1784, no service number.

[James Thompson]

Hi Bill
 I think our probleam is we are looking in the wrong place, we should be looking at this regiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Irish_Artillery

James

[William Flowers]

Hi Bill
 I think our probleam is we are looking in the wrong place, we should be looking at this regiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Irish_Artillery

James

Perhaps, but what leads you to conclude this?