Thompson Family papers, 1834-1864 (bulk 1861-1864)

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Thompson Family papers, 1834-1864 (bulk 1861-1864)

MS 266


Collection Summary
Creator:	Thompson family
Collection Name:	Thompson Family papers,
Inclusive Dates:	1834-1864 (bulk 1861-1864)
Physical Description:	.2 linear feet
Abstract:	The collection consists mainly of letters, 1861-1864, from James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. These are firsthand accounts of army life and Civil War battles, and are written from Illinois, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Collection Number:	MS 266
Repository:	University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections University of Arizona PO Box 210055 Tucson, AZ 85721-0055 Phone: 520-621-6423 Fax: 520-621-9733 URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/

Biographical Note

Bowman Thompson, 1811-1865, was born in Northumberland County, England. He immigrated to the United States about 1830 and subsequently settled on a farm in Summit County, Ohio. In 1834, he married Elizabeth Cannon, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gilchrist) Cannon. They had five sons and two daughters.

Two of the sons, Robert and James, fought for the Union during the Civil War. Robert Thompson, -1861, served in Company G of the 37th Illinois Regiment Infantry, commonly known as "Fremont's Rifles," and was involved in Fremont's attempt to subdue a small militant force in southwest Missouri. On December 5, 1861, Rober was reported missing.

James Thompson, 1840-1912, was born in Summit County, Ohio where he received a common-school education. He married Charlotte S. Oliver on January 1, 1861 before enlisting with Company L, 4th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry unit on January 13. During the Civil War, James served at Corrinth, Massachusetts, and also was with his regiment during the battle of Coffeeville. After completing his term of enlistment, he was mustered out in October 1864, having attained the rank of Commissary Sergeant. He resumed his occupation as a farmer. In subsequent years, he also held the posts of Collector, Supervisor and Postmaster. He moved to Grenola, Kansas in 1905.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists mainly of letters, 1861-1864, from James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. These are firsthand accounts of army life and Civil War battles, and are written from Illinois, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Other letters include some written to Bowman and Elizabeth Thompson, from son, Robert; most are from Missouri before he died there in 1861. Earlier correspondence, 1851-1858, contains letters to Bowman from his sister, Jane Thompson Bland, in England. Bowman's copies of the English wills of his parents and siblings are present, dating from 1840-1856. Two original drawings depict Lowther Castle, the Thompson family castle in England, and Askham Church, Westmoreland County, England. An 1834 Ohio deed is also present.

Organization

This collection is organized into four series.

Series I: Biography and Genealogy
Series II: Correspondence, 1851-1864
Series III: Legal Documents, 1834-1856
Series IV: Sketches

Restrictions

None.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Access Terms

Personal Name(s)

Bland, Jane Thompson -- Correspondence

Thompson, Bowman, 1811-1865

Thompson, James, 1840-1912 -- Correspondence

Thompson, Robert, d. 1861 -- Correspondence

Family Name(s)

Thompson family -- Genealogy

Geographic Name(s)

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives

Genre Form(s)

Correspondence

Drawings

Wills

Administrative Information

Credit Line

Thompson Family papers(MS 266).Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.

Container List


Series I: Biography and Genealogy
box	folder
1	1	Biography and Genealogy.


Series II: Correspondence, 1851-1864
box	folder
1	2	Letters of Jane Thompson Bland, Westmoreland County, England to Summit County, Ohio. (Six letters) , 1851-1858
1	3	Letters of Robert Thompson to his parents, Bowman and Elizabeth (Cannon) Thompson. (Seven letters) , August 30, 1861 to March 5, 1863
			Includes letters sent from:
			Camp Webb, Chicago, Illinois Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri Boonsville, Missouri Otterville, Missouri Syracuse, Missouri

1	4	Letters of James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. (132 letters) , 1861
			Includes letters sent from:
			Camp James, Mound City, Illinois Camp Hunter, Ottawa, Illinois Camp Wallace Camp Bowman Camp Davis, Springfield, Illinois Camp Cairo, Cairo, Illinois

1	5	Letters of James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. (1 of 2) (132 letters) , 1862
			Includes letters sent from:
			Camp Cairo, Cairo, Illinois Camp James, Mound City, Illinois Camp Cairo, Cairo, Illinois Fort Henry, Tennessee Fort Donelson, Tennessee Camp Tumuli Pittsburg Landing Camp No. 10 near Corrinth, Mississippi Camp near Chivalla Moscow, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Trenton, Tennessee Humbolt, Tennessee Oxford, Tennessee Watervalley, Mississippi

1	6	Letters of James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. (2 of 2) (132 letters) , 1862
			Includes letters sent from:
			Camp Cairo, Cairo, Illinois Camp James, Mound City, Illinois Camp Cairo, Cairo, Illinois Fort Henry, Tennessee Fort Donelson, Tennessee Camp Tumuli Pittsburg Landing Camp No. 10 near Corrinth, Mississippi Camp near Chivalla Moscow, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Trenton, Tennessee Humbolt, Tennessee Oxford, Tennessee Watervalley, Mississippi

1	7	Letters of James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. (132 letters) , 1863
			Includes letters sent from:
			La Grange, Tennessee Bolivar, Tennessee Natchez, Tennessee Jackson, Tennessee La Grange, Tennessee Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee Collierville, Tennessee Vicksburg, Mississippi Natchez, Mississippi

1	8	Letters of James Thompson to his wife Charlotte Thompson. (132 letters) , 1864
			Includes letters sent from:
			Natchez, Mississippi Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois Natchez, Mississippi


Series III: Legal Documents, 1834-1856
box	folder
1	9	Wills of John, Sara and John Thompson, Deed to John Campbell of Wayne County, Ohio. , 1834, 1840-1856
1	9	Will of Hannah Thompson, John Thompson , 1842-1951


Series IV: Sketches
box	folder
1	11	Ink sketch of Askham Church, Westmoreland County, England.
1	11	Ink sketch of Lowther Castle, the Thompson family castle, England. (exact location unknown)