This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: tunnelm1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/8020.2.1.3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Thompsons in VA in the early-mid 1700s present a real challenge to researchers. I believe that much of what is posted on the internet is incorrect, and I have been fortunate to have exchanged information with some very dedicated Thompson researchers who used only available court records (wills, deeds, tax records, marriage bonds, etc.) as their source. Of course, even dedicated researchers using court documents can be "led astray," on occasion. Chalkley's is a wonderful resource, but I have even come across an apparent transcription error or two there. The William Thompson, Sr. who married Jane/Jean did not mention his son William Thompson, Jr. (who married Mary Patton) in his will, yet there is other strong evidence that makes it essentially certain that they were father and son. Unfortunately, sons were sometimes not mentioned in their father's wills, especially in those cases where the son had already been "given his share," and/or where the son was already well-off. In a similar fashion, the Matthew Thompson who died circa-1753 left a will, and he mentioned children named Matthew "Junior" (who eventually left VA), John, William and Margaret (who MAY have actually been a daughter-in-law, since her last name was listed as "Thompson," yet the will stated that she had five children of her own......but who knows)? This will did not mention a son named James Thompson, but I am rather certain that the James Thompson who died in 1773 was also Matthew's son (and per avaialble records, James owned a plantation, several years ! before Matthew Thompson wrote his will.....so it would make sense that he may have already been "given his share," and hence, not mentioned in the will). The sons of Matthew Thompson named John and William present a real challenge, but I feel confident that some of the later Thompsons in the area who cannot be "assigned" to William Thompson, Senior's family, nor to the families of William's apprent brother Hugh Thompson, nor to the above James Thompson, were out of these brothers named John and/or William Thompson (sons of Matthew). For example, the Joseph Thompson who married Mary Wright, and whose daughter Mary Thompson married the John Davidson who was born in 1757 (the ancestors of Governor John Letcher), was almost certainly either the son of the above James Thompson or a son of one of the above brothers named John and William Thompson. There were two Joseph Thompsons in the area, and both men had some children with the same names. One was the above Joseph Thompson who married Mary Wright, and the other Joseph Thompson eventually left VA and moved to KY or TN (can't remember which now). Also, the above Mary (Thompson! ) Davidson was closely associated with an Alexander Thompson, and he also appears to have been a son of one of the above brothers named John and William Thompson. This particular Alexander Thompson never married, and he lived to be in his 90s. He is buried in the cemetery at Tinkling Springs Church, and he should not be confused with any of the Alexander Thompsons in the family of the William Thompson, Senior who married Jane/Jean. New results were provided today by the Family Tree DNA testing company for a DNA donor who had been listed in the "no matches section" of the Davidson/Davison/Davisson DNA website (this donor had previously done only 12 markers, and that was not enough to be sure that he truly was from the same family as some of the other donors). This donor upgraded to 25 or 37 markers, and it is now clear that he is another "matching member" of Family 3 (the same overall family that includes the John Davidson who married Tabitha Porter). The website administrator will add the additional markers to this man's record in the near future, and his kit number and related information will be moved-up to the Family 3 section (which wil result in seven donors being shown there). This donor has kit number 108895, and his lineage is shown back to a William Davison, Sr. (born 1740s) in Ulster, Ireland and then to a David Davison (born 1779) who married a Margaret Thompson and who lived in Portaupiq! ue, Nova Scotia. See the above kit number on the "Current Results" page at www.davidsongenes.org (if you click on the kit number, you will see this man's lineage). I don't know if all seven of the donors in Family 3 know how they "connect" to one another, but I suspect that some probably cannot determine the exact "connection" at this time. 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.