Robert Thomson (abt. 1745 - abt. 1823)

Born about 1745 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about 1 Apr 1823 at about age 78 in Washington, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Robert Thomas was born and lived in Pennsylvania. He was born in about 1745 in Lancaster County and died in 1823 in Washington County. His parents are Thomas (d. 1770) and Mary Thomson.

Was not only a Revolutionary soldier, but one of the early settlers in Donegal Twp. On April 2, 1770, he bought his father's farm in 'Donigall' Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. It is stated in Pranklln Ellis' "History of .Lancaster Co., Pa." (pub.1883. p.751) that "Robert Thompson settled near Conewago Creek prior to the Revolution; his family consisted of 6 children. The location of this farm is in the present-day Conoy Twp., of Lancaster Co., which to quote the Lancaster Co. Hist. Soc.Mag.vol.33, p. 126, "In 172S this Conoy region was known as West Conestog, or Donegal, and when Lancaster County was organised in 1729, this section, including what is now Dauphin County, became Donegal Township, Lancaster County.

Robert Thompson is listed as a taxable of Lancaster Co,, Pa,, Donegal Twp., for the years 1771, 1772, 1773, 1779, ft 1782, i n the PA. Archives, Ser.3, Vol.17. The Assessment List for 1782, also given i n Ellis' "History of Lancaster County", gives the amount of their land and the occupation followed, according to which Robert Thompson is credited with 150 acres and is a farmer. This corroborates the statement by his grand-daughter, Jane (Thomson) Doran, who says: "He followed agricultural pursuits, always earning his subsistence by the cultivation ot the soil". She says further: "they were ever faithful to the precepts of the Presbyterian Church, and brought up their children to walk in like paths". In his politics he was a stalwart of the old Jeffersonian school... Mr. Robert Thomson served i n the Revolutionary Array, and acquitted himself very creditably, winning the notice of his superiors for his meretorious work." ^[1]

In 1789 he and his wife sold the Donegal Twp. land in Lancaster County, to Henry Shenk. The following year, 1790, they moved to Washington Co. Pa., where he bought land and continued farming in Smlth Township. (See Washington Co., Pa. Land Transactions) He disposed of his Smith Township property by sale on June 24, 1815; April 10, 1819; April 12, 1820; & April 1, 1823. It has been Impossible to discover where he or his wife died and are buried.

He was a private in the Revolutionary War.
He married Sarah Ann Robinson and they had the following children:
- Alexander Thomson - 1771-1840
- Thomas Thomson - b. 1764
- Eleanor "Ellen" Thomson - She married James Allison
- Robert Thomson
- Mary "Polly" Thomson
- Sarah Thomson

Note

The Biographical Sketches of Lawrence county says that Robert served in the Revolutionary War and “acquitted himself very creditable, winning the notice of his superiors for his meritorious work.”

Source: #S400

@S400@ SOUR

Type: Book

Periodical: Bigraphical Sketches of Leading Cities Lawrence Co. PA

Publication: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, New York

Date: 1897

Source Locality: online via Rootsweb

Sources

1. ↑ "Book of Biographies, Lawrence Co., Pa." pp 411-12) His service was in the Pennsylvania Militia , Col. Alexander Lowerey's 7th Battalion, under Capt. Andrew Boggs, for at least the years 1781-1783. (Pa. Arch. Ser.5 , vol.7 , pp 690, 714, 719)

• Military: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783"
  Original data: Revolutionary War Battalions & Militia Index Cards. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Volume: 2; Page: 200
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2591 #16966 (accessed 19 February 2024)
  Name: Robert Thomson.

• Tax Record: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801"
  Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4; Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794; Microfilm Roll: 328
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2497 #1229353 (accessed 19 February 2024)
  Name: Robert Thomson; Year: 1779; Town or Ward: Leacock; County: Lancaster; Archive Rollname: 328.

• 1810 Census: "1810 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1810; Census Place: Tyrone, Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: 48; Page: 115; Image: Pam252_48-0119; FHL Roll: 0193674
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7613 #444301 (accessed 19 February 2024)
  Robert Thompson in Tyrone, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, USA.

• Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
  Find A Grave: Memorial #195662142
  Ancestry Record 60525 #184718741 (accessed 19 February 2024)
  Robert Thompson burial (died in 1823) in Middle Octorara Cemetery, Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.

• Probate: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993"
  Wills, 1730-1908 ; Index to Wills, 1729-1947; Author: Lancaster County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8802 #1648466 (accessed 19 February 2024)
  Will of Robert J Thompson of Lancaster, granted probate on 12 Sep 1823.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of Jenkins Family File w:sources 9.ged on 04 October 2010.