Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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The exact location <strong>of</strong> his residence cannot<br />
be positively stated, but it is probable<br />
that is was near the junction <strong>of</strong> Elm street<br />
and Traverse. It appears by the records<br />
that he was an extensive land owner for<br />
that time. It is probable that he disposed<br />
<strong>of</strong> most <strong>of</strong> his property before his death,<br />
as his will makes no reference to real<br />
estate. His first wife, Elizabeth, died<br />
November 13, 1643, an ^ he was married<br />
(second) February 15, 1644, to Susanna<br />
Blodgett, widow <strong>of</strong> Thomas Blodgett, <strong>of</strong><br />
Cambridge. She died February 10, 1661.<br />
He survived his second wife about twenty-one<br />
years, and died in Woburn, 1682.<br />
Simon Thompson, second son <strong>of</strong> James<br />
and Elizabeth Thompson, was a native<br />
<strong>of</strong> England, but there is no record <strong>of</strong> his<br />
birth. With his father, he came to<br />
Charlestown and subsequently to Woburn,<br />
and became a freeman <strong>of</strong> that town in<br />
1648. After a residence there <strong>of</strong> several<br />
years he became a purchaser with others,<br />
from that town and from Concord, <strong>of</strong><br />
the territory which is now the town <strong>of</strong><br />
Chelmsford. He was one <strong>of</strong> the seven<br />
men who held a meeting in that town<br />
to arrange for some form <strong>of</strong> local government.<br />
It is the tradition that he became<br />
the first town clerk. They made prompt<br />
arrangements for the settlement <strong>of</strong> a<br />
minister. Within three years after the<br />
completion <strong>of</strong> the organization <strong>of</strong> the<br />
town, he died, in May, 1658. He was mar-<br />
ried in Woburn, December 19, 1643, to<br />
Mary Converse, a daughter <strong>of</strong> Edward<br />
Converse, one <strong>of</strong> the foremost men <strong>of</strong><br />
that town. His widow was married Feb-<br />
ruary 1, 1659, to John Sheldon, <strong>of</strong> Bil-<br />
lerica.<br />
James Thompson, second son <strong>of</strong> Simon<br />
and Mary (Converse) Thompson, was<br />
born March 20, 1649, m Woburn, and was<br />
the only son <strong>of</strong> his father who lived to<br />
reach manhood. After his father's death,<br />
he lived to the age <strong>of</strong> twenty years with his<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
45<br />
uncle, Samuel Converse, in the south part<br />
<strong>of</strong> Woburn (now Winchester), and as-<br />
sisted in the care <strong>of</strong> the mill, built by his<br />
grandfather, Edward Converse. James<br />
Thompson married (first) January 27,<br />
1674, Hannah Walker, who died February<br />
4, 1686. James Thompson died September<br />
14, 1693. He made no will. His<br />
property was assigned by the court, in<br />
1700, to his widow and five sons and the<br />
only daughter then living. Joshua Thompson,<br />
son <strong>of</strong> Lieutenant James and Hannah<br />
(Walker) Thompson, was born September<br />
15, 1677, in Woburn, and settled<br />
in that part <strong>of</strong> the town which became<br />
Wilmington in 1730. He was admitted<br />
a member <strong>of</strong> the church in that place in<br />
1742. He with others <strong>of</strong> the name was<br />
somewhat prominent in the affairs <strong>of</strong> the<br />
town. On March 2, 1731, he was elected<br />
"Clerk <strong>of</strong> the Market" an <strong>of</strong>ficer whose<br />
business seems to have been to aid in<br />
regulating the prices <strong>of</strong> labor and goods.<br />
He died July 10, 1760. He married, May<br />
6, 1702, Martha Dayle, who died June 3,<br />
1749.<br />
Robert Thompson, second son <strong>of</strong> Joshua<br />
and Martha (Dayle) Thompson, was born<br />
in what is now Wilmington, probably<br />
about 1708. Early in life he settled<br />
in Windham, New Hampshire, where his<br />
descendants were numerous, and for<br />
many years active, efficient citizens. Two<br />
<strong>of</strong> his sons were soldiers in the French<br />
and Indian War, and three or four <strong>of</strong><br />
them were soldiers <strong>of</strong> the Revolution.<br />
He died October 31, 1756.<br />
Robert Thompson, eldest son <strong>of</strong> Robert<br />
Thompson, resided in Londonderry, New<br />
Hampshire, and was a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Board <strong>of</strong> Selectmen in that town in 1782.<br />
He was a soldier <strong>of</strong> the Revolution, and<br />
was an elder <strong>of</strong> the Presbyterian church,<br />
which proves him to have been a man <strong>of</strong><br />
character and standing in the town. The<br />
maiden name <strong>of</strong> his wife, Margaret, is