This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ggreene6401 Surnames: Thompson, James, Richardson Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/18808/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Well Michael here goes. I have been trying to read the "Any Thompson" posts because I was desperate. You're right, it seems to be a waste of time. I saw where you posted to start a new thread. I have been researching different branches of my tree for 17 years but am not too familiar with the message boards. I hope I am doing this right. I am trying to find out about a Thomas Thompson who is listed on the 1870 census for Rich Square Township, Northampton Co., North Carolina. He was a white Farmer with approximately 40 blacks in his household. The first four, Peter James, Dicy James, William James and Peter James are my ancestors. They may have been slaves of his before the civil war in 1865 and stayed over as sharecroppers by 1870. On the 1880 census they had changed their surname to Richardson and I can't find any trace of Thomas in the area. I do not think he was from Northampton Co. because I can't find him in the area before this time. I think he may be the son of Levi Thompson from Bertie Co., NC who was a large Planter in the area. I read some of Levi's papers and he mentioned that he bought his son some land and gave him a few slaves to start out. With the slavery issue and the name change I am at a dead end with my Richardson/James ancestors. Especially why if they were slaves of Thompson were they l! isted as James and why did they change their last name to Richardson? Thanks for any help anyone can give me or point me in the right direction. Anyone can also e-mail me at [email protected] gg Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.