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    William Abdiel Thompson

    Birth: 6-15-1762

    Death: 12-9-1847

Biography

  • William A. Thompson was born at Woodbury, on the 15th of June, 1762. His father was Hezekiah Thompson, a respectable lawyer of that town. His mother was Rebecka Judson, was a daughter of Isaac Judson.
  • William had three brothers; James after graduating at Yale, studied law, and practiced at Durham, N. Y.; was elected to the Assembly of New York in 1806; re-elected in 1807, and about 1816 became a priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Samuel, received a classical education and studied medicine; but, although of a fine genius, became intemperate, and died aged thirty years, in the Island of St. Thomas. Charles, was also a lawyer, and died at Monticello in 1817. The sisters were Polly, Hannah, Rebecka and Amy, all of whom married respectably.
  • In 1778 he entered college at New Haven, where he studied and graduated.
  • After leaving college he studied law, first under his father; then under John Canfield, an eminent lawyer at Sharon; next with Governor Griswold at Lyme; and finally with his father.
  • on the 17th of July, 1785, he was married to Fanny, a daughter of Israel Knapp. On the 11th of June, 1788, she died of consumption, leaving him with two children. On the 7th of September, 1791, he was married in the city of New York, by Bishop Moore, to Amy, the sister of his first wife. On the 13th of August, 1807, Amy Knapp, his second wife, died, the mother of seven children, one of whom survived her but a few weeks.
  • In 1810, Judge Thompson built his mansion-house, in Thompsonville.
  • On the 9th of December, 1847, Judge Thompson died, peacefully and without a struggle, at his residence, in Thompsonville. His children were - by his wife Frances Knapp - 1. Charles Knapp, born May 12, 1780; 2. William Augustus, December 11, 1788. By Amy Knapp- 3. Adeline Augusta, September 28, 1793; 4. Julia Margaretta, June 11, 1795; 5. Louisa, January 16, 1798; 6. Cornelia, January 4, 1891; 7. Caroline, January 28, 1802; 8 . Harriet, February 11, 1804; 9. James Knapp, May 26, 1806. By Charity Guyer- 10. Francis William, December 25, 1809; 11. Helen Maria, July 15, 1811; 12. Louisa Elizabeth, February 23, 1813; 13. Samuel Guyer, September 4, 1814; 14. Maria Antoinette, January 17, 1818; 15. Ann Augusta, March 29, 1821; 16. Catharine Elizabeth, October 28, 1823. In 1806, Judge Thompson was a candidate for Representative in Congress. Although he received every vote of the town in which he resided, he was defeated by his opponent, Barent Gardinier of Kingston.

Letter References

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
  • William A. Thompson was born at Woodbury, on the 15th of June, 1762. His father was Hezekiah Thompson, a respectable lawyer of that town. His mother was Rebecka Judson, was a daughter of Isaac Judson.
  • William had three brothers; James after graduating at Yale, studied law, and practiced at Durham, N. Y.; was elected to the Assembly of New York in 1806; re-elected in 1807, and about 1816 became a priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Samuel, received a classical education and studied medicine; but, although of a fine genius, became intemperate, and died aged thirty years, in the Island of St. Thomas. Charles, was also a lawyer, and died at Monticello in 1817. The sisters were Polly, Hannah, Rebecka and Amy, all of whom married respectably.
  • In 1778 he entered college at New Haven, where he studied and graduated.
  • After leaving college he studied law, first under his father; then under John Canfield, an eminent lawyer at Sharon; next with Governor Griswold at Lyme; and finally with his father.
  • on the 17th of July, 1785, he was married to Fanny, a daughter of Israel Knapp. On the 11th of June, 1788, she died of consumption, leaving him with two children. On the 7th of September, 1791, he was married in the city of New York, by Bishop Moore, to Amy, the sister of his first wife. On the 13th of August, 1807, Amy Knapp, his second wife, died, the mother of seven children, one of whom survived her but a few weeks.
  • In 1810, Judge Thompson built his mansion-house, in Thompsonville.
  • On the 9th of December, 1847, Judge Thompson died, peacefully and without a struggle, at his residence, in Thompsonville. His children were - by his wife Frances Knapp - 1. Charles Knapp, born May 12, 1780; 2. William Augustus, December 11, 1788. By Amy Knapp- 3. Adeline Augusta, September 28, 1793; 4. Julia Margaretta, June 11, 1795; 5. Louisa, January 16, 1798; 6. Cornelia, January 4, 1891; 7. Caroline, January 28, 1802; 8 . Harriet, February 11, 1804; 9. James Knapp, May 26, 1806. By Charity Guyer- 10. Francis William, December 25, 1809; 11. Helen Maria, July 15, 1811; 12. Louisa Elizabeth, February 23, 1813; 13. Samuel Guyer, September 4, 1814; 14. Maria Antoinette, January 17, 1818; 15. Ann Augusta, March 29, 1821; 16. Catharine Elizabeth, October 28, 1823. In 1806, Judge Thompson was a candidate for Representative in Congress. Although he received every vote of the town in which he resided, he was defeated by his opponent, Barent Gardinier of Kingston.
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
History of Sullivan County
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
James Eldridge Quinlan
Chapter Title: 
Thompson
Year: 
1873
Citation Notes: 
Available at Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=eEkVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11&dq=history+of+sullivan+county+quinlan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkyrzWro_QAhWZ8oMKHanADeAQ6AEIJzAC#v=onepage&q&f=false
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://person.ancestrylibrary.com/tree/51804969/person/13434131297/facts
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 11:15
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 11:15
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://genealogytrails.com/ny/sullivan/history_thompson.html
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 11:15
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 11:15