Thompson/Crago

The first Thompson in our family to come to America was John Thompson. He and his wife were born and wed in Ireland and came to New Jersey with their three children. Soon after they moved to Bentlyville, Washington County, PA.
Their son, William John Thompson, was born August 19, 1778 in Ireland and later moved to Green County, PA where he was a harness and saddle maker, a general store merchant, owner of two farms,and a transportation businessman. He ran wagons and freight as far as Baltimore, Maryland. William John was married three times and had 24 children. Many of the Thompsons now living in Butler and Green Counties in Pennsylvania are distant relatives, as are his other descendants in Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Three of his sons left a successful coach building business to serve in the Civil War. All returned home safely and one, Harvey Downy Thompson, was elected sheriff of Butler County, Pennsylvania in 1870.
William John Thompson's third wife was Anne Wallace, mother of 13 of his children including our ancestor, Albert P. Thompson.
Albert P. Thompson was born August 8, 1827 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The family later moved to Green County, Pennsylvania where Albert met his future wife Rachel Malinda Crago b. November 23, 1831 in Green County.
Much has been published about the Crago family of Green County, Pennsylvania as they were among the earliest settlers of the Monongahalea River Valley.
Thomas Crago Sr. was born about 1738 and married Elizabeth Flenniken ( b. March 12, 1735/36 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania). Thomas purchased 263 acres of land along the Monongahalea River. While clearing this area for a home for his wife and two sons, was killed by Indians. His sons Thomas and Robert were 11 and 9 years old at the time. The land was later deeded to his son Thomas.
Thomas Crago II was born December 28, 1759 in Green County, Pennsylvania and married Priscilla Thurman (b.1763 in Green County). They had 15 children and lived on Monongahlea farm. Their son Thomas Crago III ,was born July 13, 1790 in Green County. He married Joanna Fordyce,( b. 1793 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania). They had nine children. Their daughter Rachel Malinda, (b. November 25, 1831 in Green County), was their eighth child.
Rachel Malinda Crago and Albert P. Thompson were married about 1849 in Green County. When Albert's father William John was 77 years old he moved to Ohio with four of his grown children and their families. They were Joseph, James, Albert P., and Eleanor (unmarried). On October 9, 1854 he purchased 155 acres of land in Franklin Township, Monroe County, Ohio. This land borders the Noble County line and is just east of Mount Tabor Church, which was once part of this parcel. William John Thompson died April 11, 1857 and is buried in Mount Tabor Cemetery as are many family members.
His son James Thompson and his daughter Eleanor who married John Harley, later moved to Jackson County, West Virginia. Many Thompson relatives now live in Jackson, Wirt, and Wood Counties in West Virginia .
After the death of William John, his son Albert P.,who also owned land in Noble County, purchased his father's land. He kept this land until he sold it to Benjamin Penn in 1895.
Both Malinda Rachel and Albert P. are buried in Mount Tabor, but their graves are unmarked.
Their son Herman S. Thompson was born April 21, 1874 in Monroe County, Ohio. Herman married Carrie Belle Peppers, (b. June 11, 1882 in Noble County). They moved to Cambridge, Ohio sometime before 1920 so Herman could be employed in the pottery works then thriving in Cambridge. The actual number of children they had is unknown since several of them did died in childhood.
Herman and Carrie's son William S. Thompson was born in Cambridge November 17, 1919 William married Mae Lucille Boyd, (b. July 10, 1922 in Cambridge, Ohio). Mae was the daughter of Esstella Leslie (b. February 22, 1903 in Guernsey County ,Ohio) and Ralph Clay Boyd, (b. October 6, 1895 in Kimbolton, Ohio).
If any of the persons in this journal are of interest to you, please let me know, I am always glad to share information.