Joseph Thompson

Birth Name Thompson, Joseph
Gramps ID I0016
Gender male
Age at Death between 79 years, 7 months, 9 days and 80 years

Narrative

Tying up the Thompsons.
* Established: Thomas Trevor ApSimon < Anna Elizabeth Thompson < Joseph Thompson/Agnes Pettigrew.
* Now, HTA Thompson Tree says that Joseph Thompson had (at least) one brother, Andrew Thompson. However, JdV says her father said that as far as he knew his great grandfather, Robert Thompson, had only one sibling, Joseph Thompson. I'd tend to believe JdV over HTA, who was probably busy with other things and may have relied overly on TTA's memory. On the other hand, if we abolish Andrew Thompson we can no longer explain why we have a silver snuffbox, presented to Mrs Andrew Thomson, New York, from the Glasgow Fire Brigade as a token of esteem for her son William, Glasgow 1848. (AMA: Snuffbox made in Birmingham in 1846-7. Presumably died in fire.)(Presumably Thomas Trevor ApSimon < Anna Elizabeth Thompson < Mrs Andrew Thompson.) Did Robert not mention Andrew for some reason?
* There is speculation on the interweb about the parents Robert, Joseph and possibly Andrew, one source naming as their mother Mrs Grace Thompson, who died 9/1/1829 Mountpleasant, near Florencecourt, aged 80, putting her in her early 50s at the time of their birth.
* Given Joseph's hat/fur business, the fact that his birthplace is sometimes given as Scotland, and Andrew's son William's work in Glasgow, I wonder whether he and his brother(s) are related to the Kilmarnock Thomsons: William Thomson, Kilmarnock, manufacturer and fur merchant, felted fabrics, patents // Son Thomas Thomson dies 25/1/1846 at King Street Kilmarnock aged 5 of scarlet fever (Glasgow Herald, 30/1/1846) // 1841 Scotland Census. Green Street Kilmarnock. Agnes Thomson 80 born Ayrshire occupation Ind, Agnes Thomson 15 born Ayrshire, Jean Thomson 40 born Ayrshire occupation Ind, William Thomson 55 Woollen manufacturer born Ayrshire, William Thomson 15 born Ayrshire, Boyd McCrea 15, Janet Mitchell 25, Mary Mitchell 15. // Glasgow Herald 11/2/1848: marriage of Helen, only daughter of late William Thomson of Kilmarnock, to James Mackintosh, merchant, Glasgow, at 18 Hyde Park Place by Rev Samuel Miller of Free St. Mathew's
* Re William:
** Could he be the William Thomson of Kilmarnock and the son of Andrew of New York? Surely too old for the latter.
** Perhaps he is the policeman in the following (and not the Kilmarnock William Thomson), and that he dies before getting to the States, whereupon the Fire Brigade for whatever reason send his mum in New York the famous snuffbox. Glasgow Herald 11/8/1848 p4: Police Presentation to Mr. Wm. Thomson. William Thomson, police clerk, is off to the USA. Presentation committe include Mr Forsyth of the Fire Brigade. To be presented with gold watch from Glasgow Police His situation for many years was a very peculiar one, and in the performance of his duties he uniformly acted in a manner both prudent and judicious. In present position for 6 years. Inclined to leave his situation and join his friends in America. Massive gold watch and appendages "Expressive of his value as a public servant of the City of Glasgow.
** I do not think he is one of the two William Thomsons who died in the typhus outbreak in 1847: Glasgow Herald 31/5/1847: Death of Mr William Thomson on Saturday AM of typhus, Superintendent of the Poor for the city of Glasgow. Son predeceased him 3 months ago from typhus fever, having left work in engineer's office to help father. Senior for many years worked as superintendent of the poor, having given up his private business to do so. // Long interview with Poor Law Thomson in 1843 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ypo-AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA285&ots=q6VGYfepg8&dq=william%20thomson%20superintendent%20poor%20glasgow&pg=PA285#v=onepage&q&f=false // 1841 census St Andrew's Square, Glasgow St Andrews: William 50 (1791) Superintendent, Isabella 40, William 21 (1820) civil engineer, Catherine 14, Jessie 10, Isabella 5, John 3, Donella 1 //Glasgow Parochial Board 12/7/1847 reports deaths of Inspector William Thomson and Assistant Inspector William Thomson, votes 107/2/6 for senior's family, 58/11/6 for junior's - leaves widowed mother with young family

 

Narrative

Hypotheses: Joseph Thompson came to NYC in 1840 and made a lot of money in the (mechanised?) manufacture and (whole)sale of (fur) hats and caps. Married in 1843, he built and occupied the mansion at Inwood in 1852 (I take refs to Inwood/Tubby Hook/Mount Washington to be to that particular dwelling) to accommodate a growing family. In 1859 he put capital into iron foundries and mills just in time for the Civil War. In 1865 he sold Inwood to James McCreery, who in 1868 opened a magnificent emporium on Broadway at 11th Street. He retired to Liverpool, England, in 1877, the year in which his daughter Annie was married there.
* AMA: Parents said he sold bowler hats. Did people wear bowler hats in NYC mid-century?
* You could get rich with hats: The New York Annual Register for 1832 reports that the value of hats finished in NYC was $1.5 million, 100 hat stores & manufactories in the city, introduction of machinery improving quality & reducing price.
* Do the various business addresses in the Directory indicate that he kept moving, or only allowed to advertise one outlet in each directory listing?
* Perhaps there was already a Thompson hat business in New York in 1840: in 1833 there's Thompson's wholesale and retail hat warehouse, 416 Broadway, corner of Canal Street https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=f4U-AAAAYAAJ&dq=thompson%20hats%20%22new%20york%22&pg=PA207#v=onepage&q=thompson%20hats%20%22new%20york%22&f=false
* Joseph is unconnected to the Thomsons of Inwood, but F.A. Thompson (https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-55b5-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99/book?parent=b5533200-c6f6-012f-a39f-58d385a7bc34#page/45/mode/2up) and G.J.S. Thompson, who have mansions there, may be related (TGEA speculates that F.A. is Joseph's brother, in family tradition Andrew). His neighbour at Inwood, R. White, is presumably his business partner.
* Are the Andrew and William in the following his first two sons, or those of his supposed brother Andrew? http://myinwood.net/inwoods-first-public-school/ "The old school [at Inwood] also furnished some civil war heroes, such as Col. Charles N. Swift and Thomas C. Wright, both of whom rose from the ranks during the war; Col. Cornelius Schermerhorn, John Whalen, first Corporation Counsel of Greater New York and at present the president of Bank of Washington Heights; Blake Wales and his brother Alexander, Corporation Counsel of Binghamton in 1908; Robert Veitch and his son Charles of Dyckman Street; Theodore and Benjamin Barringer, both physicians, Former Alderman John J. McDonald, Andrew Thompson, one of the active members of the Stock Exchange; his brother William"
* Perhaps he's living at Sowerby Bridge when Annie gets married in Liverpool. That might explain why the articles say she was given away by Joseph of Sowerby Bridge. Then Joseph moves to Liverpool and hands the house to Thomas?
* The John Thompson of the famous Benjamin Franklin/Thomas Jefferson anecdote was Bostonian and fictional, so don't anyone get excited about that. http://movies2.nytimes.com/books/98/10/18/reviews/981018.rv095628.html

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth [E0179] between 12/11/1802 and 3/4/1803   1855 NY State census: 1802-3. HTA: 1801. 3/4/1881 census: age 78, so born 3/4/1802-3/4/1803. Belfast Newsletter death notice: in 80th year, so born 12/11/1802-12/11/1803. I.e. born 12/11/1802-3/4/1803. JdV says family farm was Troutbeck, Ballylesson, County Down, Allen Family Tree suggests born there, 1881 UK census says Ireland, 1860 US Federal census says Scotland. 1 2 3 4
Residence [E0826] 1841 120 Av. 8th   5a
Occupation [E0822] between 1841 and 1846 118 Maiden Lane, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Caps." Not listed in 1840. 5b 5c 5d 5e
Residence [E0823] 1842 37 Carmine Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   5f
Residence [E0150] 1843 New York City, New York State   6a
Residence [E0824] 1844 409 Pearl Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   5d
Residence [E0825] 1846 12 Rose Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York State   5e
Occupation [E0827] 1847 126 Maiden Lane, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Caps." 5g
Residence [E0828] 1847 Brooklyn, New York City, New York State   5g
Residence [E0830] 1848 138 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York State   5h
Occupation [E0829] between 1848 and 1856 169 Water Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York State "Caps." In 1852, "Caps &c"... 5h 5i 5j 5k
Residence [E0831] 1852 Joseph Thompson/James McCreery mansion, Lower Bolton Road/River Road, Inwood, Manhattan, New York City, New York State See also his Brooklyn residential listing for this year. There's also a hatter of same name at 686 Fourth. Coincidence or another branch? 5i
Residence [E0832] 1852 Brooklyn, New York City, New York State Also registered with house at Inwood this year. 5j
Residence [E0833] 1856 Joseph Thompson/James McCreery mansion, Lower Bolton Road/River Road, Inwood, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Mount Washington," i.e. Inwood Hill. 5k
Occupation [E0845] 1859 48 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Caps." Thompson George J S, Thompson Francis A. hardware, are also listed - presumably neighbours at Inwood. 5l
Occupation [E0820] 1859   Thompson, White (and Prior), iron founders & millers in St Louis. 7a
Residence [E0846] 1859 Joseph Thompson/James McCreery mansion, Lower Bolton Road/River Road, Inwood, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   5l
Residence [E2267] 1/6/1860 Manhattan, New York City, New York State Joseph Thompson 53 (born Scotland about 1807(!), merchant, real estate $45000, personal estate $30000, total ca $2.5M in 2022), Agnes T 38 (born Scotland about 1822), Andrew T 16, William T 14, Josephine T 12, Maria T 10, Annie T 7, Harriett T 5, Joseph T no age, Sarah T 1, Mary Tooles 22, Mary Brook 40. New York Ward 12 District 13, Manhattan Post Office, dwelling no. 1224, family number 1795 4
Occupation [E0794] 1863 39 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State Thompson, White & Co. Iron founders/rollers. 8a
Occupation [E0844] 1864 48 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Thompson White and Co, (Joseph Thompson, Robert White & George I Ferry)" 5m
Occupation [E0818] 1864 48 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State Joseph Thompson, Robert White, George I. Ferry. Iron broker/founder/miller? 9a
Residence [E0843] 1865 Joseph Thompson/James McCreery mansion, Lower Bolton Road/River Road, Inwood, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   5n
Occupation [E0842] 1865 43 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Hats." 5n
Occupation [E0840] 1867 126 Grand Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Hats." 5o
Residence [E0841] 1867 15 E. Wash. Pl, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   5o
Occupation [E0839] 1870 481 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Millinery." 5p
Residence [E0838] 1870 40 Taylor Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York State   5p
Occupation [E0837] 1871 50 Howard Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Hats." Nice looking showroom. 5q
Residence [E0836] 1873 7 West 29th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   5r
Occupation [E0834] between 1873 and 1876 577 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State "Hats." 5s 5t 5u
Residence [E0835] 1874 Brooklyn, New York City, New York State   5t
Residence [E0819] estimated 1877 Liverpool, Lancashire ???? I guess he's living in Liverpool by the time his daughter gets married there.  
Occupation [E0178] 1881 Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Lancashire Income derived from interest of money 1
Death [E0186] 12/11/1882 11 Parkway, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Lancashire   10 11a
Burial [E2268] 11/1882 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York City, New York State He appears to have been shipped to New York on the day he died, suggesting death was no surprise, and a New York mausoleum. 12a
Probate [E0187] 5/12/1882   Personal estate £5,197 9s 8d (£665,216 in 2021). Formerly of Catherine Street, late of Park Way, both in the city of Liverpool, died 12 November 1882 at Park Way. Proved at Liverpool by Agnes Thompson, 11 Park Way, widow, relict, sole executrix. 10

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
         Joseph Thompson between 12/11/1802 and 3/4/1803 12/11/1882
    Brother     Andrew Thompson/Thomson [I0130] before 1848
    Brother     Robert Thompson [I1475] between 1802 and 1803 19/10/1896

Families

Family of Joseph Thompson and Agnes Pettigrew (Petigrew) [F0005]
Married Wife Agnes Pettigrew (Petigrew) [I0017] ( * between 1821 and 1822 + 21/12/1886 )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage [E0149] 9/3/1843 New York City, New York State The first entry in the citation is 1841, but the rest are immediately preceding the date of the magazine publication, 18/3/1841. US Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast gives 9th, published 10th. 6a
Residence [E0792] between 1853 and 1863 Joseph Thompson/James McCreery mansion, Lower Bolton Road/River Road, Inwood, Manhattan, New York City, New York State Annie born here in 1853. Small ad offering it for sale/let 1863. 1855 census values it at $50K. 8a 3
Residence [E0927] 1855 E.D. 5, Ward 12,, New York City, New York State   3
Residence [E0793] 1863 39 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York State   8b
Residence [E0445] 1881 11 Parkway, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Lancashire   1
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
Andrew Little Thompson [I0136]10/3/1844
William Hamilton Thompson [I0137]1845
Josephine Thompson [I0092]1847between 1924 and 1925
Maria Jeannette Thompson [I0138]18491929
John Pettigrew Thompson [I0134]18511851
Charles Joseph Thompson [I0135]18511851
Anna Elizabeth Thompson [I0011]27/11/185326/9/1928
Joseph Thompson [I0139]18551857
Harriet Agnes Thompson [I0090]between 1855 and 18564/11/1902
Joseph Henry Thompson [I0140]1857
Sarah Frances/Francis Thompson [I0091]18591899

Family Map

Family Map

Source References

  1. 1881/04/03 UK Census [S0007]
  2. HTA: HTA family tree [S0028]
  3. 1855 New York State Census [S0242]
  4. 1860 United States Federal Census [S0248]
  5. New York City Directory [S0116]
      • Date: 1841
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kjREAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA695&lpg=PA695&dq=%22120+av.+8th%22&source=bl&ots=gZOS4EMhBC&sig=6Jwch0Pe1CAQKVHuhiaUQCFkRps&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj275Gg67ffAhUzSxUIHYhVBscQ6AEwCHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22120%20av.%208th%22&f=false
      • Date: 1841
      • Page: Vol. 12. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/3d4349b0-4735-0136-39de-3584d3da32cb/book#page/701/mode/2up
      • Date: 1842
      • Page: Vol. 13. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/e176fd40-86f7-0136-c32d-0c3b630e57c6/book#page/321/mode/2up
      • Date: 1844
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5lQ_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA344&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwif7NutypvfAhV6ShUIHYAkBocQ6AEIMTAC#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson&f=false
      • Date: 1846
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XSVEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA386&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson+joseph&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0mu7iwZvfAhXwRxUIHWfeCe4Q6AEIRTAG#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson%20joseph&f=false
      • Date: 1842
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/e176fd40-86f7-0136-c32d-0c3b630e57c6/book#page/321/mode/2up
      • Date: 1847
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HQNLAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA93&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+caps&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwitwP3VhajfAhVRVBUIHSXRCQYQ6AEIMjAC#v=onepage&q=thompson&f=false
      • Date: 1848
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA402&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi02qLDhKjfAhX8QxUIHb0HBeAQ6AEISDAH#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson&f=false
      • Date: 1852
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eVU_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA506&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson+joseph&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0mu7iwZvfAhXwRxUIHWfeCe4Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson%20joseph&f=false
      • Date: 1852
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=70M9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA601&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson+joseph&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0mu7iwZvfAhXwRxUIHWfeCe4Q6AEIOzAE#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson%20joseph&f=false
      • Date: 1856
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9IwtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA816&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwif7NutypvfAhV6ShUIHYAkBocQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson&f=false
      • Date: 1859
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8oUtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA792&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson+joseph&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0mu7iwZvfAhXwRxUIHWfeCe4Q6AEINjAD#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson%20joseph&f=false
      • Date: 1864
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Se8pAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA89&dq=intitle:city+intitle:directory+thompson+white+ferry&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbtpXb8p7fAhWKUhUIHdhpBZYQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson%20white%20ferry&f=false
      • Date: 1865
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/258b7470-5361-0134-8a14-00505686a51c/book#page/969/mode/2up
      • Date: 1867
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/46e14e50-536e-0134-b015-00505686a51c/book#page/1033/mode/2up
      • Date: 1870
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/37dd46b0-58c9-0134-07e4-00505686a51c/book#page/1261/mode/2up
      • Date: 1871
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/46cbcec0-5ccb-0134-eae8-00505686a51c/book#page/1215/mode/2up
      • Date: 1873
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/61a3c530-5ce4-0134-84fe-00505686a51c/book#page/1361/mode/2up
      • Date: 1873
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/61a3c530-5ce4-0134-84fe-00505686a51c/book#page/1/mode/2up
      • Date: 1874
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/70f61630-5ce9-0134-91b0-00505686a51c/book#page/1/mode/2up
      • Date: 1876
      • Page: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/e71de230-5e73-0134-0c23-00505686a51c/book#page/1/mode/2up
  6. New World [S0004]
      • Date: 18/3/1843
      • Page: Vol. 6
  7. The Missouri State Gazetteer and Business Directory [S0111]
      • Date: 1860
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=s80yAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22thompson%2C%20white%20%26%20co.%22&pg=PA554#v=onepage&q=%22thompson,%20white%20&%20co.%22&f=false
  8. New York Times [S0090]
      • Date: 21/3/1863
      • NYT Joseph Thompson marketing Inwood house overlooking river, presumably the R White one. Broadway 39 address is Thompson, White & Co, but that might be a relative
      • Date: 21/3/1863
      • Page: Small ad offering Inwood for sale/rent
      • NYT Joseph Thompson marketing Inwood house overlooking river, presumably the R White one. Broadway 39 address is Thompson, White & Co, but that might be a relative
  9. The Trow City Directory Co.'s, Formerly Wilson's, Copartnership and Corporation Directory of New York City [S0109]
      • Date: 1864
      • Page: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Se8pAAAAYAAJ&dq=intitle%3Acity%20intitle%3Adirectory%20thompson%20white%20ferry&pg=PA89#v=onepage&q=intitle:city%20intitle:directory%20thompson%20white%20ferry&f=false
  10. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) [S0011]
  11. The Belfast Newsletter [S0247]
      • Date: 13/11/1882
      • Page: Page 1.
      • Citation:

        In his 81st year.

  12. US Bodies in Transit [S0249]
      • Date: 12/11/1882