Birth: 22 Sep 1851, Wilbraham, MA
Death: 12 Apr 1898
Burial: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Uxbridge, MA
Spouse: Arthur Wheelock
Marriage: 15 Oct 1873
Spouse: Mark Wheelock Minde
Marriage: 15 Feb 1975
Father: James C. Campbell
Mother: Lulu Grace Wheelock
Birth: Jan 1895, Kansas City, MO
Death: 1975
Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina, Los Angeles Co, CA
Spouse: Elizabeth Beatrice Wheelock
Marriage: about 1933
Birth: estimated 1744
Spouse: Sarah Wheelock
Marriage: 13 Oct 1768, Charlton, Worcester Co, MA
Notes:
Joseph Thompson was born probably around 1744. He married Sarah Wheelock 13 Oct 1768 in Charlton. Joseph and Sarah apparently lived in Charlton until at least 1772, when their daughter, Sarah was born. They moved to Spencer, probably before 21 Aug 1777, when he served (from Spencer) in Samuel Denny's regiment, Lt. Col. Benjamin Flagg's division, marching to Hadley on an alarm.[2] Worcester County deeds confirm that he and his wife Sarah lived in Spencer in the years 1782 (Worc deed 86:197), 1789 (107:321), and 1791 (115:279).[3] He is enumerated in the 1790 census living there.[4]
Neither Sarah nor Joseph appear in Spencer or Charlton in the 1800 census, nor do they appear in the Worcester County land records or vital records after 1791.
There is, however, a Joseph Thompson of the right age in the 1800 census living in Augusta, Oneida Co, NY.[5] He also appears on a list of taxpayers in Augusta in 1799. Other members of his extended family were known to have moved to Augusta in a similar time frame (e.g. Edward Wheelock, Jabez Howe, and Chapin Kelley), so it is plausible that it could be the same Joseph Thompson.[6]
Ancestry:
The ancestry of Joseph Thompson is unknown. There were two families with the Thompson surname that lived in Charlton during the 1700s - the family of John Thompson (1689 - 1756) and his second wife, Abigail Thayer (1701 - 1756), and the family of John Thompson's son, John, Jr. (1721 - ???) and his wife Ruth Merritt.[7] Both families lived in the County Gore, and had frequent interactions with the Wheelocks, including intermarriages, and guardianships. It seems likely that Joseph was a member of one of these families, each of which has room for him in the birth sequence. However, vital and probate records do not support the claim.
The Thompson families of Charlton also had many associations with the Merritt families. Several of John and Abigail's children married members of the Merritt family, including Ruth (mentioned above), as well as Henry and Job Merrit, brothers. Joseph Thompson sold land in Charlton to Job Merritt (Worc deed 99:609). Job was the husband of Hannah Thompson, suggesting a possible kinship between Joseph Thompson and Hannah (e.g. siblings).
Children:
Besides the two children recorded in Charlton (Sarah and Marvel), the vital records of Charlton and Spencer contain no indication of other children born to Joseph Thompson and Sarah Wheelock. However, eight family members are enumerated in the 1790 census - three young boys, two older men, and three females - suggesting that there were additional children.
There is another tantalizing clue in the Spencer Vital Records to 1850. On 18 Aug 1811, Joseph Thompson "of Augustia, NY" married Patty Bemis (whose brother also married into the Wheelock family). This is likely the son of Joseph Thompson and Sarah Wheelock.[8]
There are additional clues to support the claim. Sarah (Wheelock) Thompson's niece, Mary (Polly) Converse, kept a diary between the years 1804 and 1809. Her diary contains multiple references to Joseph Thompson and Moses Thompson. The references are characteristic of those to her own age group. They lack the "Mr." that she uses when referencing her elders. Moses Thompson boarded at her house in Dec 1806, and Joseph Thompson boarded at her house in Nov 1807 (perhaps on visits). In June 1808 Polly Converse notes that she wrote a letter to Joseph and Moses Thompson.
The Joseph Thompson in Polly's diary is likely the same man from Augusta, NY that married Patty Bemis in Spencer. The following paragraph discusses the likelihood that Moses is his brother.
In 1811 Joseph moved to Aurora, Erie Co, NY, per Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, N.Y.[9] His biography in the gazetteer states that he married Martha Bemis - consistent with the Spencer marriage record (Patty being a common nickname for Martha). Joseph, born circa 1783 in Massachusetts, is enumerated in the 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1855, and 1860 census records, living in Aurora with his wife, Martha. In 1865 Martha appears to have died, and he was living in the household of Moses Thompson, Jr, his nephew (per NY state census). The relationship of "nephew" directly implies that Joseph Thompson, and the father of Moses Thompson, Jr. (presumably also named Moses Thompson) are brothers. Supporting this conclusion is the fact that Moses Thompson, born about 1786 in Massachusetts, is also enumerated in the 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865, and 1870 census records, living in Aurora. His 2 Nov 1876 Erie County will (probate case 22590) identified a son name Moses Thompson, confirming the existence of a "Moses Jr." as implied by the 1865 NY state census.[10]
The final piece of evidence connecting Joseph Thompson and his wife, Martha Bemis to Sarah (Wheelock) Thompson, and her husband Joseph is this: the same bundle of records containing Polly Converse's diary also contains vital records for the family of Patty Bemis and Joseph Thompson, along with family group sheets for other cousins and close relatives of Polly Converse. This bundle of records was handed down from Polly Converse through many generations of her descendants, and is now part of the manuscripts collection at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston. The existence of the Joseph Thompson and Patty Bemis family group sheet is strong evidence that Joseph Thompson was Polly's cousin.
Sources for Joseph Thompson:
[1] Vital Records of Charlton, Massachusetts, To the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Massachusetts : F. P. Rice, 1905), p. 217; database with images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsofch1850char/page/n429 : accessed Sep 2019).
[2] Massachusetts, Office of the Secretary of State, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston: Wright and Potter, 1896-1908), Vol 15, p. 836-7, p. 649]; book online, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/masssoldiers15bostrich/page/n7 : accessed Sep 2019).
[3] Worcester County, Massachusetts, Registry of Deeds, Worcester; Joseph Thompson to Simeon Howard, 1 Mar 1782, b. 86, p. 197; Joseph Thompson to John Coburn, Apr 1789, b. 107, p. 321; Joseph Thompson to Josiah Weld, 26 Dec 1791, b. 115, p. 279; "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," database with images FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007459937?owc=MCB2-DM9%3A361612201%3Fcc%3D2106411&wc=MCBL-56J%3A361612201%2C361813601&cc=2106411 : accessed Sep 2019).
[4] "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKG-79Z : accessed 12 September 2019), Joseph Thompson, Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States; citing p. 539, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 4; FHL microfilm 568,144.
[5] "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5Y-461 : accessed 12 September 2019), Joseph Thompson, Augusta, Oneida, New York, United States; citing p. 184, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 23; FHL microfilm 193,711.
[6] New York State, Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799-1804. Series B0950 (26 reels), Microfilm, New York State Archives, Albany, New York; "New York, Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799-1804," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/nytaxassessment : accessed 12 Sep 2019); Joseph Thompson, Augusta, 1799; Edward Wheelock, Augusta, 1799, 1801-1803; Chapin Kelley (Helley), Augusta, 1799-1801, 1803; Jabez Howe, Augusta, 1799-1803.
[7] Henry Joseph Amy, Descendants of David and Amyes (Colle) Thomson and their son John (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International, 1996), pp. 15, 30-1; images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/genealogy-glh34277446 : accessed Sep 2019).
[8] Vital Records of Spencer, Massachusetts, To the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Massachusetts : F. P. Rice, 1909), marriage, Joseph Thompson of Augustia, NY and Patty Bemiss, p. 208; images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsofsp00spen/page/208 : accessed Sep 2019).
[9] F. W. Beers, Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, NY, 1788-1890, (Syracuse, New York: J. W. Vose, 1890), pg 313; database with images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/gazetteerbiograp00beer/page/n333/mode/2up : accessed 29 Oct 2022).
[10] "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1920234 : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Erie County, Moses Thompson (2 Nov 1876), case 22590; Estate papers 1800-1929 case 22575-22631 > image 358, see especially image 387.
[11] "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLB-P34 : accessed 12 September 2019), Joseph Thompson, Aurora, Niagara, New York, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 69; FHL microfilm 193,724.
[12] "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPV-SLT : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Joseph Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing 170, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 114; FHL microfilm 17,174.
[13] "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHY4-N5Q : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Joseph Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. 243, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 280; FHL microfilm 17,186.
[14] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCY4-S52 : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Joseph Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing family 1263, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[15] "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K63R-N3Z : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Joseph Thompson, E.D. 1, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. 55, line #25, family #488, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 825,680.
[16] "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCWK-Y8G : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Joseph Thompson, 1860.
[17] "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNN-LHQG : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Joseph Thompson in household of Moses Thompson Jr., District 01, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing Census, p. 41, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York.
[18] "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLB-GY5 : accessed 12 September 2019), Moses Thompson, Aurora, Niagara, New York, United States; NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 69; FHL microfilm 193,724.
[19] "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPV-SP7 : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing 171, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 114; FHL microfilm 17,174.
[20] "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHY4-NLP : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. 237, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 280; FHL microfilm 17,186.
[21] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCYW-7XB : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing family 1498, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
[22] "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K63R-J31 : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, E.D. 2, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. 74, line #20, family #108, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 825,680.
[23] "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCWK-TTS : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, 1860.
[24] "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNN-LHRX : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, District 02, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing Census, p. 4, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York.
[25] "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8FP-G11 : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson, 1870.
[26] "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNKM-LPR : accessed 12 Sep 2019), Moses Thompson in household of Miles R Thompson, Aurora, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. 8, line 38, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 825,689.
HOME INDEXBirth: Nov 1862
Death: 1929
Burial: Sunnyside Cemetery, Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co, PA
Father: Esock Wheelock
Mother: Harriet A. Dana
Partner: Thomas B. Grenville
HOME INDEXBirth: 1810
Father: Esek Wheelock
Mother: Sophia Steere
Birth: 23 May 1921, Birmingham, AL
Father: George Frederick (C.) Wheelock
Mother: Anne Elizabeth FRANKLIN
Partner: Arch Hurt Seewald
Spouse: Harry Baker Arthur
Marriage: 1947
Notes:
Gertrude (Bamy) was first the wife of an Army Officer, Arch Hurt Seewald, during World War II. They met while they were both in school in Virginia. They married shortly thereafter. After his death in Germany, March 5, 1945, she remained in Birmingham with her parents, but spent a great deal of her time in Memphis, TN, with the Seewald family. She married the second time to Harry B. Arthur, Jr., a career Naval Officer. They had two more sons. Bamy is very artistic and multi-talented. Her favorite skill if that of flower arranging. She teaches flower arranging across the country, and is on the Altar Guild at the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C. where she arranges flowers with other guild members.
Sources:
Birth: 22 Apr 1825, Grafton, Worcester, MA
Death: 8 Mar 1888, Grafton, Worcester Co, MA
Father: Thomas Wheelock
Mother: Sally Nurse Fairbanks
Birth: 9 Feb 1747/48, Charlton, Worcester Co, MA
Death: before 10 Jun 1783
Father: Jonathan Wheelock
Mother: Martha Wight
Spouse: Ebenezer Towne
Marriage: 15 Dec 1768, Charlton, Worcester Co, MA
Notes:
Children of Huldah from the will of Jonathan Wheelock, Worcester County probate case number 63715, dated 10 June 1783. He left money to "Azubah Town Lidia Town and Huldah Town Daughters of my Well beloved Daughter Huldah Town Deceased."
HOME INDEXBirth: 11 Oct 1931
Father: Daniel Perry Wheelock
Mother: Ethel Broeffle