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John THOMPSON
Sophia H. BEST
Husband:  John THOMPSON
Birth:  ca. 1765-70, prob. Augusta Co., VA
Death:  Oct-Dec 1816, Christian [now Todd] Co., KY 
Father:  Robert THOMPSON
Mother:  Agnes __?__
Marriage:  22 Jan 1789, Greenbrier Co., VA [now Monroe Co., WV]
Migration:  1806, to Christian [now Todd] Co., KY
Wife:  Sophia H. BEST
Birth:  1765, Chester Co., PA
Death:  1840, Todd Co., KY
Father:  John BEST
Surviving children:
— born in Greenbrier Co., VA [now Monroe Co., WV] 
1.  Robert Nicholas THOMPSON, b. 9 Sep 1792 
2.  James THOMPSON, b. 1794-1800 
3.  Mary "Polly" THOMPSON, b. 1794-1800 
4.  Jane THOMPSON, b. 1796/7
5.  Alexander THOMPSON, b. 1800/1801; d. bef. May 1854
6.  John W. THOMPSON, b. 1800-1810 or ca. 1798; d. aft. 1850, Polk Co., MO
7.  Sophia THOMPSON, b. 1800-1810 or ca. 1804
8.  Nancy THOMPSON, b. 1800-1810 or 1795
9.  Isabella R. THOMPSON, b. 1800-1810 
Keywords for search engines:  genealogy; USA, US, United States, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Timeline
Year Location Event
c1765-70   birth of John THOMPSON
c1770-75   birth of Sophia H. BEST
1789 VA [now WV]: Greenbrier [now Monroe] Co. marriage of John THOMPSON to Sophia BEST
1790 VA [now WV] VA [WV] census destroyed
1792 VA [now WV] birth of son, Robert
1794-1800   birth of son, James
1794-1800   birth of daughter, Polly
1794-1800   birth of daughter, Jane
1800 Census - VA and KY censuses destroyed
1800   birth of son, Alexander
1806 KY: Christian [now Todd] Co.: WFRR John THOMPSON on tax rolls for the first time
1800-10   birth of son, John
1800-10   birth of daughter, Sophia
1800-10   birth of daughter, Nancy
1800-1810   birth of daughter, Isabella
1810 Census KY: Christian [now Todd] Co. John THOMPSON, head-of-household
1814 KY: Christian Co. marriage of daughter, Polly, to John McFARLAND
1815 KY: Christian Co. marriage of daughter, Jane, to William SNOWDEN
1816 KY: Christian [now Todd] Co. death of John THOMPSON
1820 Census KY: Todd Co. S. THOMPSON, head-of-household
1824 KY: Todd Co. marriage of daughter, Sophia, to Andrew MOORE
1824 KY: Todd Co. marriage of son, Alexander, to Mary STANDARD
1825 KY: Todd Co. marriage of daughter, Nancy, to David MOORE
1830 Census KY: Todd Co. Sophia THOMPSON, head-of-household
1836 KY: Todd Co. marriage of daughter, Isabella, to William KEELING
1840 KY: Todd Co.: WFRR Sophia THOMPSON on tax rolls
1840 Census KY: Todd Co. Sophia appears to be living w/son, Robert
1840-50   death? of Sophia (BEST) THOMPSON
WFRR = West Fork Red River (southwestern Todd Co.) 


Sources (n.b., Todd Co. was not formed from Christian Co. until 1820; WV was not formed from VA until 1863):

1.  Jordan R. Dodd, ed.  1993.  Virginia Marriages:  Early to 1850.  Liahona Research, Orem, UT (Broderbund CD-229):
Thompson, John Best, Sophia 22 Jan 1789 Greenbrier Co., VA [now WV]

2.  Census Index:  U.S. Selected Counties, 1790 (Broderbund CD-311):  not found, but the 1790 VA census was destroyed.

3.  Census Index:  U.S. Selected Counties, 1800 (Broderbund CD-312):  not found, but the 1800 VA census was destroyed. 

4.  1810 Census (extracted by A. Robert Matthiesen, see 1810 Table): 
John Thompson 22010-32010-00 Christian [now Todd] Co., KY p. 114
These data indicate  an adult couple with nine children — four sons and five daughters — exactly what is expected for this family.
No. & Sex  Age Class Therefore Born Individuals Inferred
2 males 9 or under 1800-1810 = James or John
= Alexander (b. 1800)
2 males 10-15 1794-1800 = James or John
= Robert (b. 1792/3/4)
1 male 26-44 1765-1784 = John Sr.
3 females 9 or under 1800-1810 = Sophia, Nancy, & Isabella
2 females 10-15 1794-1800 = Polly & Jane
1 female 26-44 1765-1784 = Sophia 
There is the possibility that other children were born and died up until John died in 1816, so we cannot be absolutely certain that the nine alive in 1810 were the same nine alive when John wrote his will in 1816.  However, we can be fairly certain that Polly and Jane are the two older girls in 1810; otherwise, they would not have been old enough to marry in 1814/15. 

5.  1820 Census (extracted by A. Robert Matthiesen; see1820 Table): 
1820  KY Todd Co. p. 133 S. Thompson 000110-00120
These data indicate:
No. & Sex  Age Class Therefore Born Individuals Inferred
1 male 19-25* 1794-1801
1 male 26-44 1775-1794
1 female 16-25 1794-1804
2 females 26-44 1775-1794 = Sophia
= ?
*In the 1820 Census, the third column is age class 16-18 and the fourth column is age class 16-25; therefore, any individual in column three is duplicated in column four.  By subtracting the number in column three from the number in column four, you can create an age class "19-25."
There should still be three daughters living at home.  Is this census-taker error?  It's extremely difficult to fit Sophia's family into these data, but who else could it be?

6.  1830 Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com; Image #31-32 of 68; extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):
1830 KY Todd Co. p. 373 Ln. 10 Sophia Thompson 001 000 100 - 000 001 010 000100-000000
These data indicate:
No. & Sex  Age Class Therefore Born Individuals Inferred
? male 10-14 1815-1820 = ?
1 male 40-49 1780-1790 = Robert? (b. 1792)
1 female 30-39 1790-1800 = ?
1 female 50-59 1770-1780 = Sophia

7.  1840 Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com; Image #63-64 of 72 — mis-indexed as being in "Todd City" because the "Cty" in "Todd Cty" was misread as "City" [there's no such place as Todd City]; extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):
1840 KY Todd Co. p. 32 | pp. 269B-270A Ln. 1 Thompson Robert N 000 000 100 - 000 000 000 100 000000-010000 0100000
These data indicate:
No. & Sex Age Class Therefore Born Individuals Inferred
1 white male 40-49 1790-1800 = Robert (b. 1792)
1 white female 70-79 1760-1770 = Sophia
 
1 female slave 10-23 1816-1830 = ?
1 person employed in agriculture
It appears that Sophia is living with her bachelor son, Robert.  This is the first year Robert is enumerated in the census, so presumably he is not a widower.

8a.  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
- 1804-5 - - - - - - - - - -
86 1806 South Thompson John 1 - - - 7 400
400
200
W
W
W
132 1807 East Thompson John 1 - -
-
9 400
400
200
W
W
W
- 1808-9 - - - - - - - - - -
Legend for numerical data:
A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20; C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses
Abbreviations:  W =  West Fork of the Red 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.  The change tells us that John was in the southeast quadrant of early Christian County, which later became the southwest quadrant of Todd Co., when it was formed in 1820.  This location is confirmed by the location of the West Fork of the Red River in today's southwestern Todd Co.

8b.  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
41 1810 Thompson John 1   1 -  9 200
400
400
W F
W F
W F
92 1811 Thompson John 1 - 1 1 11 200
400
400
W F
W F
W F
144 1812 Thompson John 1   1 3 11 200
400
400
W F
W F
W F
- 1813 - - -   - - - - -
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:  W F = West Fork of Red River

8c.  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.  If you have one to sell, please contact me.)

8d.  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
1819 1819 Sophia Thompson - - 2 3 544 W F
- 1820-23 - - - - - - - -
Legend for numerical data:
A = White Males 21 or over; B = Blacks over 16; C = Total Blacks; D = Horses
Abbreviations:  W F = West Fork of Red River
As expected, Sophia drops off the Christian Co. tax rolls when Todd Co. is formed in 1820.

9.  1840 Tax List - Todd County, Ky [link died] transcribed by Karen Combs.
Pg.  Name Acres Watercourse Value
46 Thompson, Sophia Sr 67½ Westfork 260

10.  Queries at Christian Co., KY, GenConnect Query board, posted under the titles, "Thompson Family" and "Robert and Agnes Thompson of Christian Co."  John's father/brother, Robert, was known to have been "of Augusta Co., VA" and have come to Christian Co., KY, ca. 1806, so it is likely that John has similar origins and migrated at the same time... and now that I have the tax rolls, yes, indeed, John shows up in Christian Co. for the first time in 1806, however, there are no Robert Thompsons on the tax rolls until 1811.

11.  Abstract of will (online in the Archives of the KYTODD-L mailing list at RootsWeb.com).  Kentucky Family Records - Volume VIII, pp. 48-51, "Abstract of Some Early Wills, Todd County, KY, Will Book A."  (The first date is the date the will was signed, the second date is the date the will was recorded, which is done after the testator is deceased):
THOMPSON, John.  25 Oct 1816. Dec 1816.
Wife:  Sophia.
Daus: Jane Snowden, Sophia, Nancy, Isabella, Polly McFarin.
Sons: John, Alexander, Robert, James.
Wit: Finis Ewing, Thomas Bryan, George Snoden.

12.  James Taylor Killebrew.  1999.  County Court Order Book "F," Parts 1 & 2 [but not 3], Christian County, Kentucky, for the years 1819-1825.  County Genealogical Society (1101 Bethel St., Hopkinsville, KY 42240).  First column is the page number in Killebrew; second column is the page number in Court Order Book F.
p. p. Date Motions
113 164 2 Dec 1816 The last will and testament of John Thompson deceased was produced in Court and proven by the oaths of Thomas Bryan and George Snowden and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Robert Thompson and Sophia Thompson executor and Executrix of the last will and testament of Jno. Thompson deceased who made oath as the law directs certificate of probate is granted them in due form of law on the estate of said John Thompson deceased whereupon
114 they entered into an acknowledged bond with George Snowden, Wm. Greenfield and John Gorin their securities conditioned as the law requires.

13.  Jordan R. Dodd, ed.  1993.  Kentucky Marriages: Early to 1850.  Liahona Research, Orem, UT (Broderbund CD-229).
We know that John and Sophia's two eldest daughters were married in Christian Co. (in 1814 and 1815) and that Sophia lived on in Todd Co. until at least 1840.  It stands to reason that the rest of her children would have married there in Christian or Todd Co. during this time (i.e., from 1810 onwards — none was old enough to marry before 1810). Below are the potential marriages for the remaining children of John and Sophia (Best) Thompson:
1810-1820, Christian Co.:
Thompson, James Haile, Polly   2 Nov 1813
Thompson, James Cordry, Polly    6 May 1819
In or after 1820, Todd Co.:
Thompson, Isabella Keeling, William H. 21 Jul 1835
Thompson, James T. Roberts, Ruth 25 Apr 1822
Thompson, James Maben, Margaret 14 Jun 1825
Thompson, John Mansfield, Emily 13 Jun 1827

14.  Email from Robert E. Graham.

15.  Email from Brad Segers, who confirms that their daughter, Isabella, is the one who married William Hiram KEELING.

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