Our Thompson Family in Maine, New Hampshire, and the West
By Rev. Charles N. Sinnett
Preface
This is the story of a sturdy, honest, witty, patriotic, and talented family. It is like that of many others of the name who have starred the history of Great Britain and America with noble achievements along many lines. And hosts of other Thompsons, as sturdy and gifted as these, have devoted their time and talents to the possession of lands--of which they have taken the best of care. Hence this book is largely the story of family migrations to the shaggy forests of Maine, to the fair fields of the West, and the sunny slopes of the Pacific, that broad acres might be theirs. It is a magnificent record that, though the author of this book has carefully studied the history of many of these acquisitions, he has found no slightest trace of any Thompson using unfair means in his quest. And at his country's call these precious acres and the homes upon them have always been left behind. When James Thompson moved to New meadows, near Brunswick, Me., he made that whole region glow with patriotism when the news of the battle of Bunker Hill reached him in the field by the river. This is the story of all neighborhoods where these Thompsons have lived. Not till the last note of war had died away did they go back to the fields and forests which had such a charm for them. Find any Thompson who is a brilliant scholar, successful in the law, or along any line of work, and he is holding firmly to some island, or plot of "God's green earth." Let his country need him tomorrow and in the gray dawn his steps will ring down the pathway of duty. An old Thompson coat-of-arms lies before me. It shows that through long generations the family has been what it is today.
This book holds much about the noble Thompson women and of those who wisely chose Thompsons for husbands. Read the chapter on the descendants of Lieut. Hugh Mulloy and his wife and you have a picture of what these women have ever been, and what a precious heritage they gave to all the generations after them; and where a Thompson woman has not chosen to marry, the neighborhood where she has dwelt has arisen to call her blessed because of her unfailing charity. The brilliant career of Emma Eames is sketched as showing the talents of this race from which she sprang.
The author of this book has carefully examined every Thompson record and legend and has given the story of the ancestry as clearly as he could. He is still searching in Great Britain for more light on this matter. The results will be given in due time. He has gathered many other Thompson records, which may be printed later on.
This book, on which so much time has been spent in the last eight years, is now...
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