Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

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