Benjamin Thompson

Notes:

Son of Benjamin Thompson who died 1771 in Bute County, North Carolina. Some of his great-grandchildren through son Benjamin Jr's son Jesse later claimed that Benjamin Thompson and some children came from Ireland about 1743, although other descendants said he came from Amelia County, Virginia, where he or another Benjamin Thompson was on record. (Sources: “a book written by George White about 1850,” just 110 years after the immigration; also on the internet under “History of Thompson Bridge Road,” page #3, last paragraph, "Thompson History of South Georgia river settlers, and kinfolk", Ga Historical Society.)


He married Anne Spain, the daughter of Thomas Spain and Martha Haskins. Benjamin and Anne Spain Thompson emigrated to Georgia in 1773 with at least 15 children.


Benjamin Thompson's will was proven in Hancock County, Georgia, 10 March 1797.
Some Georgia County Records, by The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., Vol 1, p.116 (Southern Historical Press, 1977):
[Hancock Co. Wills & Estate Records; 1794-1804, Vol. A-AAAA] Pages 177-179: Will of Benjamin THOMPSON, Senr. of Hancock Co. . . . very sick and weak in body...my dearly beloved wife Anne . . . to my son Jesse son William . . . to my daughter Rachel CUTCHING (CATCHING?) . . . sons Benjamin THOMPSON, John THOMPSON, Isham THOMPSON, Gideon THOMPSON, Joseph THOMPSON and heirs of Zachariah THOMPSON one dollar to each of them . . . daughters Rebecca JONES, Susannah MCINTOSH & Nancy CAWLY one dollar to each . . . to grandsons Benjamin WOOD, Joseph WOOD one hundred dollars when they come of age...wife Anne, Jesse son, and friend Henry GRAYBILL, Exrs . . . May 12, 1796 . . . Benja. THOMPSON (Seal). Wit: Hen. GRAYBILL, Solomon JORDAN, John GOODE. Proven by Solomon JORDAN and John GOODE. March 10, 1797.

Deed Book A-B, Pgs 258 - 259 12 July (1793?) Hancock County, Georgia. Records: Jesse THOMPSON and wife ANN, for 40 lbs Sterling, deed to John LANGSTON RN 14505, Solomon LANGSTON RN 407 AND Moses LANGSTON RB 59771, 135 acres of land on Shoulderbone Creek, Adj. McGEE, part of a grant to said THOMPSON /s/ Jesse THOMPSON and Ann THOMPSON Witnesses: John COLBERT, Samuel TOWNSON.
(ref., Thompson Magazine, p. 77, Vol 5, July 1966)
 

Notes:

Some descendants claimed later that this Benjamin Thompson came from Ireland to N.C. while other descendants state he was from Virginia. Some give a long family tree in New England and Virginia.

Bute County was created from Granville County, North Carolina in 1764. A courthouse was erected in Buffalo Rice Path, 6 miles (10 km) southeast of modern Warrenton. Bute County ceased to exist in 1779 when Bute was divided into Franklin County and Warren County, roughly along Shocco Creek, with Franklin on the south side of Shocco and Warren County on the north side of Shocco.



Granville County, N.C. 
Deed Book 2 p. 154: ____1769, Benj Thompson to Zachariah Thompson both of Bute Co 20 pds VA money for 150 a in Bute Co on ES sd Benj Thompson's Spring Branch adj Simmons, Pounds and Roberson, part of grant 13 feb 1769 Wit; Clement ARLEDGE, John LANDEMAN (?), John Pounds, Gedeon Thompson. Proved by Clement ARLEDGE Bute Feb Ct 1769 reg 10 June 1769 Marginal note: Del 14 Feby 1771 to Zach Thompson. Bute Co NC Court Minutes for Second Tues in Feb 1769 p. 54 show that the oath of Clement ARLEDGE proved a deed of bargain and sale from Benjamin Thompson to Zachariah Thompson for 150 acres.

Warren County (Bute Co.), N.C.
Deed Book A, page 301:
JOHN GIBBS to JOSEPH MONTFORT, of Halifax. 24 Oct. 1765. 160 Pds. Va. money for 320 A., & mill, on NS Shocco Creek, adj. SHIRLEY WATLEY, WILLIAM WILLIAMSON & BENJAMIN THOMPSON, where I now live. Wit: ZACH. GIBBS. Ack: 6 March 1766, JAMES HASELL, C.J. (place not named) Reg: 15 Aug. 1766, WILLM JOHNSON, P.R.

Deed Book 3, page 311. 30 March 1771. BENJAMIN THOMPSON & ELIZA. THOMPSON, of Bute Co., to JOSEPH MONTFORD, of Halifax. 212 Pds:l0 Sh: Procl. money for 240 A. where 
BENJAMIN THOMPSON & his son DRURY new live, the remaining part of a patent, on SS Great Shocco Creek adj. THOMAS ROBERTSON, lands bought from JOHN GIBBS & land 
sd. MONTFORD sold to ZACKARIAH THOMPSON. Wit: JOHN BROWN, ELIJAH JARMAN, GEDION THOMPSON. Proved by ELIJAH JARMAN, Bute August Court 1771, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. 
Reg: 18 November 1771, by JAMES JOHNSON, P.R.

Deed Book 3, page 118. 2 April 1770. ZACKARIAH (ZACKARIAS) THOMPSON, of Bute Co., to JOSEPH MONTFORT, of Halifax. 106 Pds:13 Sh:4d. Procl. money for 150 A. on SS Great Shocco Creek, deeded to him by his father BENJAMIN THOMPSON, adj. JOHN POUND & THOMAS ROBERTSON, to mouth of Benjamin Thompsons Spring Branch but leaving out the Spring which they now use. Wit: JOHN BROWN, HONORRIES POWELL. Proved by JOHN BROWN, Bute August Court 1770, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: 9 February 1771, by WILLIAM JOHNSON, P.R

Joseph Montfort above was appointed the Grand Mason of America in 1771, the year Benjamin Thompson died. He was "APPOINTED PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF AND
FOR AMERICA ON JAN 14, A.L. 5771 (A.D. 1771)
BY THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT, GRAND MASTER OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND A..F. AND A.M."
He was buried in front of the Halifax masonic lodge which he founded at Halifax, NC:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25133092



Abstract of the will of Benjamin Thompson, March 30, 1771 Bute Co., N.C. (now Warren Co.):
Seven children, already provided for, to receive five shillings: Jennings Thompson, Mary Phillips; John Thompson, Benjamin Thompson, Joshua Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Susannah Yarbrough; Zacharias Thompson. Wife: Elizabeth Thompson, property for life then to go to six children: William Thompson, James Thompson, Drury Thompson, Gedion Thompson, Shem Thompson, Elizabeth Thompson. 
Bute Co., NC Will Book A, p. 182.


Benjamin's son Jennings Thompson later made his brother-in-law Joshua Yarbrough executor of his estate in Mecklenburg Co., NC.
The names Gidion, Shem, and Drury were among those names handed down in the Yarbrough family from the Thompsons.


In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Thompson of Bute County North Carolina being aged sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory thanks to my God and knowing that all men must die, to prevent disputes that otherwise might arise after my decease, I make and ordain this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made.

Inprimis, to each of my seven children following I give five shillings each to be paid by my executor, to wit, Jennings Thompson, Mary Philips, John Thompson, Benjamin Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Susanna Yarborough, and Zacharias Thompson.
I have already provided for each of them to my abilities and desire.

Item. I give and bequeath the use of what estate I die possessed of, of what nature or kind whatever, to my belov'd wife Elizabeth Thompson to be at her
entire disposall during her natural life and after her decease then to be equally divided betwixt my six following children, to wit, William Thompson, James Thompson, Drury Thompson, Gideon Thompson, Shem Thompson, and Elizabeth Thompson and to their respective heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I appoint and constitute my loving wife Elizabeth Thompson and my sons Zacharias Thompson and Gideon Thompson executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of March 1771.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Benja Thompson to be his
last will and testament in presence of:
Jos. Montfort
John Brown jurat
Elijah Yarman
Jno Pounds (signed with an X as his mark)

(Benjamin signed with a squiggly capital B as his mark)

Bute County May Court 1771
This will was presented in court by Zacharias Thompson one of the executors herein named who made oath thereunto and the same being proved by the oath of John Brown one of the witnesses and the same is ordered to be recorded and letters of Testamentary is granted to the said Zacharias Thompson who was qualified accordingly.
Test Ben Mc Culloch CC





Deed Book 5, page 139. 7 November 1774. JOHN POUND of Shocco, in Bute Co., to JOSEPH MONTFORT, of Halifax. 200 Pds. Va. money for 100 A. in Bute Co. on MS Great Shocco Creek, bought from BENJAMIN THOMPSON by JOHN POUND,SR., father of JOHN POUND who now lives on this tract. Wit: THOMAS ROBERTSON, SAML. POUND. Ack: by JOHN POUND, Bute November Court 1774, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: 13 March 1775, by JAMES JOHNSON, P.R.

Deed Book 5, page 165. 31 December 1774. JOSEPH MONTFORT to SOLOMON WILLIAMS, both of Halifax Co. 2,100 Pds. Procl. money for 1,500 A. in Bute Co., 3 tracts on SS Great Shocco Creek, from the mouth of a small branch below the mill, along the edge of the Tobacco Ground of DRURY: 1.) 'Walkers Hill', bought from JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON & WILLIAM SIMMONS; 2.) 'Thompson Lands', bought from ZACHARY THOMPSON & BENJAMIN THOMPSON; 3.) 'Pounds Lands', bought from JOHN POUND, adj. THOMPSON, GIBBS, THOMAS ROBINSON, JOSHUA PERRY & THORNTON, on Little Shocco Creek & Great Shocco. Wit: HENRY MONTFORT, PHIL: KEARNEY, THOMAS MAYFIELD. Proved by HENRY MONTFORT, Bute February Court 1775, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: 6 April 1775, by JAMES JOHNSON, P.R.


Benjamin Thompson is not known to be interred in Fairview Cemetery and is more likely buried in one of the country cemeteries along Shocco Creek and now lost, but his memorial is placed here because some of his neighbors were later buried here, such as the Greens of Esmeralda Plantation on Shocco Creek. 

Benjamin married Elizabeth Jennings. Elizabeth was born 1705, North Carolina, United States; died 1773, North Carolina, United States. [Group Sheet]