William Thompson (abt. 1840 - aft. 1918)

Born about 1840 in Germany [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Sherman) Thompson — married about Dec 1863 in Hawaii, Kingdom of Hawaii

Descendants

Died after Oct 1918 after about age 78 in Territory of Hawaii, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile manager: James Lubin [send private message]

Biography

Tanner and Currier. William Thompson was an assumed identity. There is no record of his birth name.

Childhood and adoption by the Sherman family

"William Thompson, a lad of fourteen years, was kidnapped in Germany and taken aboard a whaling vessel and thus came to Hawaii. Life was hard for William aboard the vessel, and he was desperately frightened, unhappy, and anxious for freedom, so on a dark night, as the vessel lay anchored off Kealakekua Bay and the crew slept, he slipped overboard and swam ashore.

For many days, William wandered up into the Kona Hills where he hid in the dense forest, living off berries and drinking water from the streams. How long he hid is not known, but when he was quite certain that the vessel had departed, he ventured from his hiding place.

One day Mary Sherman and her playmates discovered the now frail, dark (complected) boy. She said he looked like a wild, frightened animal, and his eyes were large and dark. As children do, they stared at each other and somehow Mary coaxed him to her and took him to her parents. The Shermans and the young boy could not communicate very well, but they could see he was a foreigner and guessed his plight. They took him in and fed, loved, and cared for him in the “hanai” tradition of the islanders. But fear lingered, and for years, whenever a sailing vessel appeared on the horizon, William would flee to the hills and hide. Mary would bring his food to him.

Life must have been very confusing for this young boy. He had lost all contact with his own kin in Germany, he had to learn to speak Hawaiian and English, and he had to keep his own identity well hidden. Never to his dying day did he ever reveal his rightful name to anyone but gave himself the name of William Thompson.

William became a right hand to Father Sherman on the ranch; he went to school with Mary. After a few years went by, they were married by the Catholic priest who made his annual visit to that part of Kona." ^[1]

Timeline

c. early 1840's: born in Germany (the German speaking nation states). His birth name is unknown.

1850's: escaped a whaling ship docked in Hawaii. He assumed the name William Thompson for the remainder of his life.

Nov-Dec 1863: married Mary Sherman on Hawaii island, Kingdom of Hawaii. There is a discrepancy in the transcriptions of the marriage date, either 30 Nov or 2 Dec 1863. ^{[2] [3]}

1880: listed in business directory as tanner, currier, and landowner. owns 35 acres with 2 acres cultivated on South Kona Road, Ilikahi. post office in Kalukalu. 137 miles from Hilo, via Waimea. ^[4]

c. 1889: William sells his land to the Ackerman family and moved to Honolulu. ^[5]

1900: William Thompson, head, Caucasian, 60. married 36 years. immigrated in 1850, lived in Hawaii since. Tanner. can read, write, speak English and Hawaiian. owns home on School Street. Honolulu. ^[6]

25 Nov 1918: widowed.

death: burial at Kawaiahao Church Cemetery. Honolulu. shared stone with spouse Mary. ^[7]

Research Notes

both parents born in Germany (the German speaking nation states).

His reported immigration year of 1850 and age of 60 years on the 1900 Census do not quite match Eleanor Poor Davis' story of him being captured at fourteen. An arrival to the islands around 1855 would make more sense and Mary would have been old enough to bring him food and coax him out of hiding.

Sources

1. ↑ research and recollections of Eleanor Poor Davis, 1972. collected as "Eleanor Poor Davis Story", pdf file.
2. ↑ "Hawaii Marriages, 1826-1922," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW8L-2MC : 8 December 2014), W. Thomason and Mry Sherman, 30 Nov 1863; citing Hawaii,Hawaii, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,014,411.
3. ↑ "Hawaii Marriages, 1826-1922," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW8L-2M8 : 8 December 2014), W. Thomson and Mary Sherman, 02 Dec 1863; citing Hawaii,Hawaii, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,014,411.
4. ↑ "The Hawaiian Kingdom Statistical and Commercial Directory and Tourists' Guide 1880-1881." George Bowser and Co., Honolulu and San Francisco. 1880. pgs. 275, 350. available as download, pdf file from eVols. https://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10524/19432.
5. ↑ "'Charley Thompson' marks 90th Birthday." from uncredited newspaper clipping. Hawaii c. October 1968. see son Charles' profile for edited transcription.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM5V-R5B : accessed 20 August 2017), Mary Thompson in household of William Thompson, Honolulu District, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 14, sheet 7B, family 68, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,836.
7. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80302308 : accessed 28 July 2018), memorial page for William Thompson (unknown–unknown), Find A Grave Memorial no. 80302308, citing Kawaiahao Church Cemetery, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA ; Maintained by William Foley (contributor 47574405).