This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PAULLINBABY Surnames: THOMPSON Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/17891.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I have a suggestion: look at the various THOMPSONs who lived in w NJ in the Colonial period...there was a very large THOMPSON family in Salem Co, then part of Salem was split off to form Cumberland County NJ. Look for first names of your family in other THOMPSON families b abt the same time or 1 generation earlier. My THOMPSONs lived there and many left to homestead OH abt this time, when a major treaty w Indians was signed. The "road" west had several routes: through KY, or through PA. WVA was created out of part of what was formerly VA and part of it became se OH. My group went to Greene Co OH, others went to Dayton. They were not German. Many THOMPSONs belonged to the Presbyterian Church before they went west, some were Baptists or Quakers (maybe to secure land by agreement with a church affiliation) and they are likely Scottish...some lived in Ireland for a time before moving on to America. You are welcome to look at the THOMPSONs in my tree, but I only traced them going backward from this time frame...Look in my tree for Mary b abt 1740 NJ. 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.