Saxapahaw, NC settler before Revolutionary War.

Christening: 16 MAY 1731 Northumberland, England

A Thomas Thompson was christened 16 May 1731, Christ Church, North Shields, Tynemouth Parish, Northumberland, Eng.; son of John (Par. Register from FHL). He married Ellinor Agan Dec 1752. She was born 22 Feb 1735, probably in Baltimore Co. MD (perhaps in England). "Ellender" died 6 May 1800 per notation in Thomas' Bible. The couple came to NC 1762/64. Thomas built grist mill at Saxapahaw, and settled 3 miles north.



(Written by Reverand William Holt Thompson (b 1830, d 1902), great grandson of Thomas Thompson and Nelly Agan Thompson)
"Thomas' father lived in England (I have never heard where), and was said to have been rich. His first wife died, and his second wife was severe upon his little son Thomas. Thomas concluded to come to America. England wanted her young men to stay at home to fight her wars, so her ship's captains were forbidden to transport young men to other countries.
Thomas prevailed upon a captain to head him up in a barrel and transport him from the shore as goods. The captain carried him to Philadelphia and sold him (as an indentured servant) to pay his passage. He ended up in a section of Harford County, Maryland which was, at that time, still part of Pennsylvania. His master treated him pretty hard and did not clothe him sufficiently for that cold climate. At any rate, his master paid his passage. As near as I can find out this was about 1750 or 1760.
The relatives of Thomas Thompson back in England were members of the Anglican Church. Thomas married a Quaker by the name of Nelly Agan in Philadelphia. After the birth of their first two children (John and Thomas) Thomas and Nelly came with a large number of Quakers and settled in a little colony near present day Saxapahaw."

26 July, 1768 - Deed from John McKie to Thomas Thompson, Hawfields in Tract #3 (Lewis Conner owned 12,223 acres mostly n & w of Cain Creek, e of Haw River, but included land along e bank of river, s of Cain Creek).
13 January, 1770 (Book 2, Page 587) - Thomas Thompson "yeoman" bought 277 acres (50 lbs) Haw River mouth of Cain Creek (east of river) from William Carruthers. Land corner of later Alamance, Orange, and Chatham Counties.
1773 Thomas Thompson on "Intruder List", Hawfields Tract #3 (Samuel Strudwick lawsuit).
1781 Tax Orange County Caswell District. Adjacent entries:
Thompson, John 1177 acres 5H, 6C; 6965 pds (5 horses, 6 cows, assessment.
Thompson, Thomas -- ac. 4H, 22C, 1770 pds.
Their combined assessment was exceeded in the district only by Lewis Kirk, 13,247 pds.
18 June, 1787 (Book 3; Page 47) Thomas Thompson received from Samuel Strudwick 450 acres (600 pds) on Motes Creek adjoining land of John Steel, part of Edward Mosely grant (Granville agent); witness James Mebane.
11 August, 1788 (Book 4; Pge 15) Thomas Thompson received from Samuel Strudwick 640 acres in the Hawfields, late in the possession of Hugh Rodgers, on Haw River ne to Meadow Creek. Witness: James Mebane, Esqr. (included later James U. Thompson Plantation).
1790 Tax List: 1373 acres, 0 Black Poll, adjoining sons James, William, Thomas, Jr. (500 acres total). Thomas was the largest landowner in Caswell District (today's sw Orange, and se Alamance Counties).
Augusts, 1797 Inventory of Thomas Thompson's estate submitted to Court of Pleas "by oaths of Jno. Thompson & Elinor Thompson admrs. & ordered recorded" (record not found)
JH50P: 1797 deed to Josiah Thompson from Thompson: John, Maria, James, Rachel, William, Thomas, Hannah, Samuel, Robert, Joseph, Jonathan, Sarah & Ellender (none of the girls were married yet; all signed as Thompsons. Deed not recorded. 14 surviving children - 9 boys and 5 girls - plus 3 who died young).
John Thompson, Rachel Thompson, James Thompson, Mary Thompson, Hannah Thompson, William Thompson, Thomas Thompson, Robert Thompson, Jonahtan Thompson, Samuel Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Josiah Thompson, and Ellender Thompson.



In 1901, Franklin Pierce Thompson, a descendant wrote, "I have at this time a Bible of the first Thomas Thompson, with date of printing 1765, and a grindstone over a hundred years old, and a clock supposed made 1781 or before cases was invented as it sits on a shelf. Thomas Thompson came from England some time near 1740. He ran away from his step-father and was headed up in a barrell and put on board ship as freight. He was 21 years of age. Registered as an emigrant to America, he landed at Philadelphia and was hired out to pay his fare. He sailed from Liverpool and landed at Philadelphia. He later went over in the hills of Pennsylvania and married Elinor Agan. He came to North Carolina and landed at Fayetteville Mills, came up Haw River to Saxapahaw and built a tub-wheel mill to grind corn. Then he moved up north three miles, settled and raised a large family. He died 1795. His old log house stands now (1901) and could be repaired to make a home for the fourth and fifth generation of his grandchildren. It is known as the "Si" place.