In 1804, Jas Thompson, Junr, "son of Jas Thompson Senr," appeared on the tax rolls for the first time.  If that event signaled his coming of age, then he was born in 1782/3.

There is some kind of mix-up here.  In 1804 both James "Sr." and "James Jr., son of James Sr." are on the tax rolls.  James Jr is taxed as being age 21 or over, so he had to have been born no later than 1782/3, which means James Sr. had to have been born no later than 1765 and more likely no later than 1760.  Problem is, James Sr.'s father, Sgt. James, is said to have been born in 1757.  Obviously, an extra generation has been inserted here.  The hitch in the scenario is that Sgt. James is said to have died in 1803.  This date must be in error.  The James Thompson who came to Christian Co. in 1798 and became JP in 1800 was said to be the "eldest" of the JPs, which means the JP must have been Sgt. James, not not his son.  I have a lot of reworking to do here...

1.  James Thompson in Christian County Court Order Books A & B.  Synopsis: 

A James THOMPSON (either our subject or his father) first appears in Christian County Court Order Book A on 21 Jul 1798.  That he is signing approval of a mill seat on Pond River suggests this is the James THOMPSON who settled on Pond River. James THOMPSON became a Justice of the Peace for the County on 18 Mar 1800, and on 20 Mar 1800, he was given the authority to conduct marriages.  On several occasions, James posted bond for William THOMPSON to hold the office of Constable — could the two be related?  In 1804, he is called one of the two "eldest" of the Justices of the Peace and is recommended to the Governor for the office of Sheriff.  In 1806 and 1808, James is again recommended to the Governor for Sheriff.  In 1809, James received a commission from the Governor to become Sheriff of Christian County (William THOMPSON was one of the securities for his bond).  From 1800-1809, James had been in regular attendance at the County Courts, but once he had received his commission to be Sheriff, he resigned his position as J.P. and ceased his attendance at the County Courts.  Some time between January and August of 1811, James ceased to be Sheriff and ended up in litigation with his securities for that office and with the County Undertaker. A "James Thompson, Sr." was exempted from working on public roads on 14 Dec 1802, an exemption usually given to the aged due to infirmity.  Could he be the father of our subject, who served in the Revolutionary War and died in Christian Co. in 1803?  But if James' father is the adult male living with him in 1799 and 1801, why is he not there in 1798 and 1800?

2. Christian County, Kentucky, Tax Rolls, 1797-1816.  Heritage Quest, Microfilm No. V20-72 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

Year	District	Dates of  Receiving Lists	Persons Names  Chargeable with the Tax	A	B	C	D	E	F	Acres			Watercourse	In Whose Name Entered	In Whose Name Surveyed	In Whose Name Patented
										1st	2nd	3rd
1798		-	Thompson, Jas.	1		-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1799	No. 2	[unreadable]	Thompson James	2	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1800		May 6	Thompson James	1	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	120	Pond R	J Thompson	Same
1801	North	March 11	Thompson Jas	2	-	-	-	10	-	-	120	-	West fork P River	John Thompson	John Thompson
1802		July 29	Thompson James	1	-	-	-	10	-	- -	120 -	- 100	Pond R Pond R	J Thompson J Thompson	Same --
1803		Sept 16	Thompson James	1	-	-	-	4	-	- -	120 -	- 100	Pond R Pond R	J Thompson J Thompson	Same Same
1804	North	Apl 9	Thompson Jas Senr	1	-	-	-	10	-	- -	120 -	- 100	Pon R Pon R	J Thompson J Thompson	Same Same
1805	North	August 7	Thompson Jas	1	1	?	-	10	-	-	220	-	Pond River	Jas Thompson	Same
1806	North	June 3	Thompson James Senr	1	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	220	Pond River	his own name	same
1807	East	Sep 26	Thompson James	2	1	-	-	10	-	- -	120 -	- 100	Pond river same	J Thompson same	same same
1808	No. 1	July 20	Thompson James Senr	1	1	-	-	11	-	- -	120 100	- -	Pond R same	Jas Thompson same	same same
1809	No. 1	July 27	Thompson James	1		-	-	13	-	- -	120 100	- -	W F P R	J Thompson J Thompson	same same	same
1810	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1811	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1812	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1813	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Legend for numerical data [grey indicates that particular datum was not taken that year]:  A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20; C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses & Mares (gelded male horses and female horses); F = Stud Horses (intact male horses); 1st/2nd/3rd refer to 1st Rate, 2nd Rate, or 3rd Rate land.

James is often taxed on the same day as William Thompson of Pond River, suggesting they lived in close proximity.

3a.  A.B. Willhite.  [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1804-1809.  (self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY):

Pg. in Willhite	Year	Dist.*	Last  Name	First Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
26	1804	North	Thompson	Jas. Sr.	1	-	-	-	10	120 100	P R P R
48	1805	North	Thompson	Jas.	[pages said to be unreadable]
66	1806	North	Thompson	James Sr.	1	-	-	-	15	290	P R
132	1807	East	Thompson	James	2	1	-	-	10	120 100	P R P R
178	1808	East	Thompson	James Sr.	2	1	-	-	11	120 100	P R P R
226	1809	East	Thompson	James	1		-	-	13	120 100	West Fk of P R West Fk of P R
Legend for numerical data:  A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20 (this column not used in 1809); C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses; Abbreviations:  P R = Pond River
*The county was divided into just two districts:  from 1804 to 1806, into North and South Districts; beginning in 1807, into East and West Districts.  Pond River is in NE Christian Co.

2b.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1810-1813.   (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY).

Pg. in Willhite	Year	First  Name	Last  Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
42	1810	James	Thompson	1		-	-	3	120	P R
92	1811	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	-	2	120	P R
144	1812	Jas	Thompson	1		-	-	3	120	P R
199	1813	Jas	Thompson	1		-	-	2	120	P R
Legend for numerical data:  A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20 (this column used only in 1811); C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses; Abbreviations:  P R = Pond River

James' legal difficulties appear to have cost him a good deal of his property.

2c.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1814-1818.   (Self-published.  This book is out of print.  I do not have a copy.)

2d.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1819-1823.   (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY).

Pg. in Willhite	Year	First  Name	Last  Name	A	B	C	D	Acres	Watercourse
64	1819	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	165	P R
112	1820	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	145	P R
156	1821	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	2	165	P R
198	1822	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	165	P R
241	1823	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	165	P R
Legend for numerical data:  A = White Males 21 or over; B = Blacks over 16; C = Total Blacks; D = Horses; Abbreviations:  P R = Pond River

3.  Anon.  1993.  Christian County, Kentucky, Wills and Estates, 1815-1823:  Christian County Will Book C.  T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL.

p. 8	Page 21.  The estate of Abraham Adams, deceased, exposed to sale on Nov 29, 1815.  Purchasers... James Thompson... Recorded Dec Term 1815.
p. 30	Page 108.  Appraisement of the estate of Fredrick Holland deceased, taken Feb 10, 1817... Per [Christian County] Court order of Feb Term 1817, on Feb 10, 1817, appraised the estate of Fredrick Holland deceased.  Signed... James Thompson.  Recorded Jan Term 1818.
p. 37- 42	Page 138.  No. 1.  List of store accounts due Doct. Moses Steele, decd, at the store in Hopkinsville, marked #1, and comprising part of the inventory of the estate of sd Steele.  People in the list... James Thompson... Recorded May Term 1818. Page 142.  No. 2.  Part of the inventory of the estate of Moses Steele decd.  A list of Notes.  Nov 26, 1817.  Notes due: ... James Thompson.  Recorded May Term 1818. Page 144.  No. 3.  A memorandum of Medical Acct in 1815, 1816, & 17, as they appear due, at the death of Dr. Steele.  This acct comprises part of the inventory of the estate of Moses Steele, decd.  Persons named: ... James Thompson Esq... Recorded May Term 1818.
p. 65	James Thompson witnesses the will of Francis Buckner of Christian Co., 31 Aug 1818.
p. 94	Page 386.  A statement of the sale of the estate of David Pyle decd, sold on Sep 15, 1820. Purchasers:  ... James Thompson... Recorded Jun 4 1821.
p. 119	Page 479.  The estate of Geo Buckner deceased...  Disbursements mention:  taxes & levies for 1820, James Thompson...  Credits: ... James Thompson ... Recorded Jan Term 1823.
p. 129	Page 521.  Sep 15, 1822.  List of notes of hand and money of JW Cocke.  People mentioned: ... Jas Thompson...

There is no certainty all of the above entries apply to our subject.

4.  From The Kentucky Land Grants by Willard Rouse Jillson (1925, Filson Club Publ., Louisville, KY; reprinted 1994 by Genealogical Publ. Co., Baltimore, MD; online at Ancestry.com).

Name	Acres	Date	Watercourse	County
Thompson, James, Sr.	120	15 Feb 1799	West Fork Pond River	Christian
Thompson, James	100	18 Apr 1803	Pond River	Christian
The West Fork of the Pond River runs from north central Christian Co. northeastwards to join the Pond River as the boundary between Hopkins and Muhlenberg Cos.

I suspect the date on the 1803 land grant is incorrect because he was taxed on the 100 acre parcel in 1802.

5.  Pedigree of Joshua Daniel Bobbitt:  The Bobbitt Line. [link died] by Joshua Daniel Bobbitt.   James Thompson, the JP who married William James BOBBIT and Elizabeth HAILE, is said to be the brother of the John Thompson who was married to William Bobbitt's sister, Amy Bobbitt.  The trouble with this scenario is that the James Thompson who was JP was too old to be John's brother -- he had to have been his uncle.

6.  Query at Christian Co., KY, GenConnect Query board, posted under the title, "James Thompson."  The James Thompson who was Justice of the Peace in Christian Co., KY, is said to have sold a family of slaves in 1816.  But the tax rolls show that he owned no slaves.  The James Thompson who sold the slaves in 1816 was the one who came to Christian Co. in 1815 (husband of Sarah Steele), settled on Little River, in what later became Trigg Co.