John Thompson was 39 years old when he enlisted as a Pvt. in Co. E. 4th Regiment Georgia Calvary November 1862 in Waynesville, Ga. He was born in Tattnall Co., Ga. Oct. 23, 1823. son of Richard Franklin Thompson and Lucretia Rogers Thompson.
He married Mary Hagin of Bullock Co., Ga. Feb. 1843. They had one son, Richard W. Thompson born in 1844. John married his second wife Jane Moore in 1847. John moved his family from Tattnall to Wayne Co., between 1890 and 1900. He died Oct. 5, 1901 just before his 78th birthday in Wayne Co., Ga. and is buried in Odum Cemetery along with his wife Jane. His will recorded in Wayne County Court House shows he owned a lot of timbered land in and around Wayne Co., Ga.
In Hazel Overtstreet's book published on Odum, Georgia she wrote John owned a store n Odum, where Lloyd Jones abandoned store stands today. She credits the Thompson family with contributing to the growth of the community. In John's will he divided his land and belongings with his wife and living children, and the heirs to his two sons Richard W. and James who were already deceased when John died.
In 1903 Jane applied for Widow Pension. Jane claims her property was valued at only $300 to $400. That she is being taken care of by family members as she has no income. She also states because of her age she is disabled and that she has two affected daughters living at home with her. In John's will he speaks of Mary Ann and an idiot (she must have been retarded); the other daughter that is mentioned in the Widows application would have been Sophronia, as she did not marry until 1932, Sophronia was 71 years old when she married James Moreland of Wayne Co., Ga.
Jane died 4 years later after applying for the Widows Pension. John and Jane's children were:
James, b. 1847,
Mary Ann, b. 1849,
William, b. 1856,
Henry C., b. 1859,
Queen A., b 1860,
Livina, b. 1861
Sophronia L., b. 1862 and
Eli Thompson, all born in Tattnall Co., Ga.
In 1867, Eli married Nancy Jane Tatum daughter of Rev. Jourdan Tatum and Josephine (Douberly) Tatum. Eli and Nancy died in Wayne Co., and are buried in Old Bethel Cemetery their son John Douce Thompson born in 1889 married Lonie Gertrude Yarborough daughter of Thomas Graham Yarborough and Lena (Roberson) Yarborough of Wayne Co., Ga. September 10,1910. John Douce died Aug. 19,1930 in Wayne Co. and is buried in Old Bethel Cem., Gertrude Thompson died March 18, 1985 in Jacksonville, Fla. and is buried in Old Bethel Cem. They are the parents of my mother Jessie Mae Thompson Bloodworth born in Wayne Co., Ga., who lives in Jacksonville, Fla.
Source of Information: Widows Application for Pension; Home E-Mail: Jenny Londrico
