John Thompson 1791-1865

John is the son of David Thomson and his wife Margaret Mitchell born on 28 October 1791 and baptised on 13 November at Linton, Roxburghshire.

On 8 June 1819 at Kelso, Roxburghshire John married Janet Hardie. Both were of this parish.

Before 1822 for some reason John and his family moved to the very small village of West Ilsley in Berkshire where his occupation in the baptismal register is recorded as bailiff, first to the rector and then to W Morland Esq of the brewing family. Their youngest child, James, was born in Scotland around 1836. In the 1841 census Jane is listed as head of the household, living with the younger children at Green Street, St Vigeans, Arbroath, however, John is not at home on census night. By 1851 they had moved south again to 40 Hamilton Street, Deptford, London and John was a builder employing four men.

In May 1856 John Halliburton Thomson and his wife were admitted to the communion roll of St Marks Presbyterian Church, Greenwich. They were living at George Street, East Greenwich. This is the only known instance of John using Hallyburton as a middle name, his grandson was the first to be given it at birth.

Jane died aged 62 on 29 March 1857 at 6 George Street North, Greenwich, now called Colomb Street. John was the informant, occupation railway labourer.

John took communion on all four opportunities in 1857 but none in the following year and he is recorded as left. His address was given as 36 Trafalgar Road, Greenwich.

By 1861 John was a gardener, living in Arbroath where on 20 November 1865 he died in the infirmary . His son John, who lived in London, registered the death.

For most of his life John spelt his surname with a 'p', including in the 1841 census when they were in Arbroath, and only dropping it when he returned to Scotland in later life.

Known children:-

Margaret Thompson born approximately 1820 Kelso, Roxburghshire.
In Arbroath on 9 September 1850 she married John Davidson, a mechanic. John was born in 1819 at Arbroath, the son of Robert Davison, a shipowner and Janet Littlejohn. By 1861 they were living in the house owned by John at 14 Colville Place. Margaret died there on 25 November 1888 and John in 1904. Child:-
- Jane Hardie Davidson born 1851, Arbroath
  In 1872 she married Alex Mann Dundas at Abroath. Alex was a draper and they lived at 12 Princes Street, Arbroath. There were eight known children.
George Thompson born 27 June 1822 Bedford, Bedfordshire.
Christened at Ravensden, Old Meeting House, Mill Lane Independent. In 1851 he is a gentleman's servant living with his parents in Deptford and in 1861 a labourer, born West Ilsley, Berkshire lodging with the Fiddey family at Woodland Grove, Greenwich. In 1871 he is possibly George Thompson, widower, labourer out of employment, boarding at 11 Church Street, Deptford, born Berkshire. In 1881 he is a dock labourer in the Greenwich workhouse. He was still alive in 1891 as he was a beneficary of his sister Jane's admon.
Agnes Thompson christened 14 March 1824 at West Ilsley, Berkshire
She is probably the Agnes Thompson who died on 2 February 1847 at New Cross, Deptford. Her death was registered by her father John Thompson, brick maker but her age is given as 21, one year too young.
David Thompson christened 5 March 1826 at West Ilsley, Berkshire
Jane Thompson christened 28 October 1829 at West Ilsley
Jane was a nurse, in 1861 for the Moratta household at 31 Gloucester Crescent, Paddington and in 1871 and 1881 for the Sellon household in Sydenham, London. She died on 4 February 1891 at Sydenham leaving £420-1-7 and admon was granted to her brother John.
John Thompson christened on 12 March 1830 at West Ilsley
- Grave of Caroline Burns
Caroline Thompson christened on 1 January 1832 at West Ilsley
In 1851 Caroline was a house servant living with her parents in Deptford. In 1861 she did not have an occupation and was lodging with the Ayres family a 7 Baldwins Place, Finsbury. In 1871 she was a night attendant at The Hanwell Lunatic Asylum, Norwood, Middlesex. In 1881 a dressmaker living at 37 Willow Grove, Plaistow, Essex, With her was a two year old visitor Florence Holmes born Stratford, Essex. In 1890 at West Ham she married Thomas Burns. In 1891 they were living at 24 James Street, Barking, Essex and Thomas was a railway ticket collector, born Wicklow, Ireland. By 1901 they were living at 22 Raymond Road, West Ham and Thomas was a dock labourer. Caroline died in 1911 at Greenwich.
Jemima Thompson christened on 31 May 1835 at West Ilsley, Berkshire
In 1851 she was living with her parents and recorded as born Barfield, Berkshire. Jemima had a child with Alfred Thompson when they were living at 196A Piccadilly but I have been unable to find a marriage. The Scottish death certificate for Laura states that Jemima's maiden name and married name was Thompson. Child:-
- Laura Ada Thompson born 16 November 1856, Westminister
  Her father was recorded as Alfred Thompson, gentleman on her birth certificate and when she was baptised the following July at St James, Westminster. By 1861 Laura was living with her Aunt, Margaret Davidson, in Scotland and her death on 6 April 1862, in Arbroath, from measles and pneumonia, was registered by her grandfather, John Thomson. Her father was recorded as a mercantile clerk, deceased.
Jemima married George Hewson on 18 Feb 1864 at Marylebone. George was a dairyman and Jemima signed her name with a 'p'. They lived at Upper Marylebone Street. Jemima died in 1885. Children:-
- Georgina Jane Hewson born 1872 Marylebone
- Robert Henry Hewson born 1875 Marylebone
James Thompson born 1838 in Scotland from 1851 census