William Henry Thompson (abt. 1790 - 1830)

Born about 1790 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Unknown (Copeland) Thompson — married before 1814 in Ireland

Husband of Mary Hide (Meakings) Thompson — married 21 Oct 1821 in New York, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1830 at about age 40 in Rye, Westchester, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alison Kilpatrick [send private message]

Biography

William Thompson was born in Ireland.

William Henry Thompson was said to have been a native of Enniskillen,^[1] though the family had earlier ties with the county Donegal, near the town that bears the same name.^[2]

His wife was Miss Copeland, also of Enniskillen. The couple had two children: Eliza Jane (c.1814–1837) and John (c.1815–1880).^[2]

Mr. Thompson was a well respected merchant. However, in the mid-1810s, he determined to leave the mercantile sphere for more literary pursuits.^[2]

William Thompson migrated from Ireland to United States.

Accordingly, in about 1816-17, the family emigrated to New York state.^[1][2][3]

On his arrival in the United States, Mr. Thompson took account of the state of his health (described as delicate), and changed course by entering into studies for the holy ministry. On the 19th April 1821, he was ordained by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart in Christ Church, New York City, and admitted to the holy order of priests by the Right Rev. Bishop White at St. Peter’s Church, Philadelphia on May 8th 1822.^[1] He counted amongst his friends, the Rev. George Washington Doane (1799–1859), and the Rev. Lucius Carter (1799–1878).^[2][4]

In 1821, the Rev. Mr. Thompson's removed to his first post at Trinity Church in Pittsburgh, also known as the Old Round Church—so named for its then octagonal construction.^[5][6]

It is not known when Mr. Thompson's first wife, the former Miss Copeland, died, but on the 21st October 1821, he married Miss Mary Hide Meakings in New York City.^[7] Three children are known to have issued from this union: Mary Sophia (c.1822),^[8] Ann Emily (1823), and Jane Hide (1826).^[9]

On 1st October 1823, Rev. Mr. Thompson took charge of the parish at Rye in Westchester County, New York state. The church was described as "agreeably situated upon rising ground, overlooking the village and vale of Blind Brook."^[1][10]

Rev. William Henry Thompson died at Rye in New York state on 26th August 1830. His body was buried in Milton cemetery near the church.^[11]

In his native country, the Belfast News-Letter marked his passing, viz.—

On the 26th of August last, in the Parsonage-house, Rye, in the United States of America, the Rev. William Thompson, of the Episcopal Church, in that town, and formerly a respectable merchant of Enniskillen.^[12]

Robert Bolton's epitaph for the Rev. William H. Thompson, penned in 1855, makes a fitting tribute:

The Rev. William Thompson, A.M.,

  who succeeded Mr. Haskell [in the parish of Rye], was a native of Enniskillen, in the north of Ireland and came to America about 1816-17. After obtaining holy orders, he was for a short time rector of Trinity Church, Pittsburgh, Penn., and on the 1st of October, 1823, he took charge of this Parish.

  He fell asleep in the arms of his Saviour, on Thursday, August the 26th 1830. His remains were interred in the old village burying ground, near those of Mr. Rogers. The following notice of his death appeared in the Christian Journal of 1830. "Died, at Rye, Westchester County, New-York, on Thursday, August 26th, the Rev. William Thompson, rector of Christ Church, in that town."

  Mr. Thompson was a native of Ireland, and came to this country about twelve or fourteen years ago. Soon after his arrival here, he reviewed a determination which he had previouslý cherished at home, but abandoned on account of delicate health, of entering the holy ministry; and after completing a course of study with that view, was ordained deacon by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, in Christ Church, in this city, on the Thursday before Easter, April 19th, 1821. He soon after removed to the charge of Trinity Church, Pittsburgh, Penn., and at the convention of that diocese, in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, on Wednesday, May 8th, 1822, he was admitted by the Right Rev. Bishop White, to the holy order of priests. Two or three years afterwards, Mr. Thompson returned to this Diocese, and settled in the Parish, in the charge of which he continued until his death. He was a man of great piety, and kind and affectionate dispositions, and most sincerely devoted to his Master's service. He understood well, and therefore highly prized the distinctive principles of the communion at whose altars he ministered, and happily illustrated the natural union of the sound and good churchman, the truly pious man, and the faithful and evangelical preacher. His health was declining for a long time before his death. He was conscious of it; but was supported and consoled under that consciousness, by the grace of God strengthening his faith, and brightening his christian hopes. Mr. Thompson was in the prime of life; when in the ordinary course of Providence, many years might have been expected to be added to his ministry.

  A neat monumental tablet, on the north side of the chancel of Christ Church, perpetuates the memory of this excellent man:

In memory of

WILLIAM THOMPSON,

   Rector

of Christ Church at Rye,

a native of Enniskillen,

   Ireland,

ordained April, 1820,

appointed in the charge of this Parish,

September, 1823,

Died August 26th, 1830.

‘Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for

the end of that man is peace.’—Psalm xxxvii. v. 37.

Erected by his affectionate

   Widow.^[1]

... and from a friend,

A mere loving spirit I never knew; he loved God, loved his fellow-men, loved his Church, and was willing to spend and be spent in the service of his Divine Lord. He actually wore himself out in duty. ^[10]

Research notes

Estimated date of birth:—based on having attained the age of about 24-25 years when his first child, Eliza Jane, was born c.1814. It is an estimate, only. ~Kilpatrick-1128 (2020-12-05)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Bolton, Robert. History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the County of Westchester, from its Foundation, A.D. 1693, to A.D. 1853. New York: Stanford & Swords, Publishers, 1855.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} The Armagh Guardian, 13 February 1880. "Death of Mr. John Thompson." Photocopy obtained from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 9 August 2011.
3. ↑ Kilpatrick, Alison. Quercus Arborealis: John Thompson 1815–1880.
4. ↑ Armentrout, Don S., and Robert Boak Slocum. An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church. New York: Church Publishing, 2000. Extracts online at episcopalchurch.org/library/glossary/ (accessed 2020-12-05).
5. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 14 October 1895 (pg. 8). “Old Round Church. Sketch of that Historic Edifice, Trinity’s Predecessor.” Online at newspapers.com (accessed 2020-12-05).
6. ↑ Killikelly, Sarah Hutchins. The History of Pittsburgh: Its Rise and Progress. Originally published in1906; reprinted 2015.
7. ↑ U.S. Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704–1930. Original record: Newspapers and Periodicals. American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Digital images of typescript copies online at ancestry.ca (accessed 2020-12-04). Extracts: (i) “New York Evening Post, Friday, Oct. 12, 1821. Last eve [by] Rev Mr Lyell, REV WILLIAM THOMPSON & MARY HIDE MEAKINGS niece of Benj Hall [sic] of this City.” (pg. 81.) (ii) “Thompson, William Rev., m. Mary Hide Meakings in New York City (CC.Oct.17,1821).” (pg. 3624.) Note: CC = The Columbian Centinel (Boston, Mass.)
8. ↑ U.S. Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704–1930. Original record: Newspapers and Periodicals. American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Digital images of typescript copies online at ancestry.ca (accessed 2020-12-04). Extract: “New York Evening Post, Saturday, Febryary [sic] 13, 1841. … Wednesday evening 10th inst. St. Bartholomew’s Church by Rev. Mr. Balch, David H. Dick to Mary S. Thompson, dau. of late Rev. William.” (pg. 32.)
9. ↑ Greene, Richard Henry, and Henry Reed Stiles et al. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Vol. XXVIII. Citing vital records at Christ's Church, Rye, New York. American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1907.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Baird, Charles W., Chronicle of a Border Town: History of Rye, Westchester County, New York, 1660–1870. New York: Anson D.F. Randolph and Co., 1871. Page 196
11. ↑ Find-a-Grave Memorial no. 63215582. Extract: Rev. William Thompson, born in Ireland, died 26 August 1830, Rye, Westchester County, New York, USA; buried in Milton Cemetery, Rye. Memorial created by Miles L. Davenport, 22 December 2010 (accessed 2020-12-04).
12. ↑ Belfast News-Letter, 5 October 1830 (pg. 2). Death notice for the Rev. William Thompson of Rye, USA, formerly a merchant of Enniskillen. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-12-04).