William Austin Thompson (1878 - 1942)

Born 28 Aug 1878 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Blanche Elliotte Saunders — married 5 May 1903 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA

Died 28 Jul 1942 at age 63 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA

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William Thompson is part of a Bahamian family.

William Thompson is buried in Key West Cemetery.

Biography

William Thompson was born 28 August 1878 in Key West, Florida.^[1] He was the son of Caleb Thompson and Affie Russell.

Willie married Blanche Elliotte Saunders on 5 May 1903 in Key West in a ceremony performed by Rev. Gilbert Higgs at the rectory of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.^[2] The witnesses were William Lightburn and Mrs. Clara V. Higgs. Willie and Blanche separated in the late 1920s; by 1930, Blanche lived on her own and styled herself a widow.^[3] No record of a divorce has been found.

Willie died 28 July 1942 in Key West,^[4] and he is buried beside his mother in the John A. Sawyer (aka Sanchez Family) Plot on Fourth Avenue in the City Cemetery.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ William's full date of birth is stated on a 1922 passenger list when he and Blanche returned from a trip to Cuba. William's World War I draft registration card provides his month and day of birth. It states that the year was 1870, though his age reflects a birth in 1878. "Florida Passenger Lists, 1898–1964," S.S. Gov. Cobb, arrived 11 August 1922, Key West, Florida, no. 8, Wm. A. Thompson; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/8842/41256_b126417-00959/3267086?backurl=http://person.ancestry.com/tree/37835005/person/19352146189/facts/citation/155138446171/edit/record : accessed October 2015). "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918," William Austin Thompson, serial no. 2219, order no. 2675, Monroe County, Florida, Draft Board; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTD-3FDF : accessed October 2015); citing National Archives microfilm publication M1509.
2. ↑ St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Key West, Florida), Record Book, 1894–1942, Marriages, p. 382, William Austin Thompson and Blanche Elliott Saunders, 5 May 1903; FHL microfilm 1763497. Monroe County Marriage Licenses, 5: 496, William A. Thompson and Blanche Elliotte Saunders, 5 May 1903; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89KN-Y1?i=583&cat=341167 : accessed November 2015); citing FHL microfilm 0945905.
3. ↑ 1930 U.S. Census, Dade County, Florida, population schedule, Miami Precinct 35, enumeration district 18-44, stamped page 133, sheet 3B, dwelling 48, family 62, Alice Philpott household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1930usfedcen&h=102609856&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt : accessed October 2015); citing National Archives microfilm T626, roll 310.
4. ↑ Key West City Cemetery Burial Record Card, William A. Thompson, 28 July 1942; Key West Public Library.
5. ↑ Key West City Cemetery, Willie Thompson grave stone, Lot 20, Tract 5, Fourth Avenue, Sanchez Family Plot; photographed by Jeffrey L. Haines, 15 October 2015.