My GG Grandfather, William Terrell Thompson, was born in 1824 in Jackson County, Alabama. His siblings were  Minerva (b. ca 1823),  Andrew J. (b. 1829),  Rachel (b. ca 1831), and  Robert F. (b. ca 1833) His father, John Thompson, was born in Ireland, ca 1798 - based on information in the Tuscaloosa census reports of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Since there are no census reports from 1890, I assume that he died after 1880 - in Tuscaloosa. His wife was Hannah Eddy, b. 1796, South Carolina. They married in 1822. She appeared on the census reports with her husband through 1870, but did not appear in 1880, so I assume that she died after 1870 - in Tuscaloosa. They married in 1822. Their first child, Minerva, was born ca 1823 in Alabama. This tells me that sometime after 1798, when John was born in Ireland, and 1822, when they married, he came to America - and to Alabama fairly soon after. His parents' names may be David Thompson and Jane ?? I have often wondered where William Terrell Thompson got his middle name. The name Terrell continued to be used in the family in later generations. Obvious candidates for Terrell (or Terrill) would be the last name of John's mother, Jane ??, or of Hannah Eddy's mother, Rachael?? I've tried these paths to brick walls. However, in the 1850 census, there were two other families living with John and Hannah Thompson. One was the family of Allen and Jane (Melton) Stoker, with five children aged 15 and younger. They were no longer with the Thompsons in 1860, but Allen Stoker's mother, Elizabeth, was now living with them. The other family in 1850 was William H (Higgins) Terrill and his daughter, Sarah L. I have found that William Higgins Terrill was married to Cynthia Eddy - could she be the sister of Hannah Eddy? Well, that is the mystery. Does anyone on the list connect with this Thompson family? Do you know who the Stoker family is? Do you know how the Terrell/Terrill name joins the Thompson family? I am new to this list, so I searched the archives first, but did not find any links. If the topic has already been discussed, please point me in the right direction. If it hasn't been discussed, I hope to find a new cousin who has new information!! Martha in California --  Martha  I before E except after C. We live in a weird society!