Father: Edward Thompson
Mother: Amanda Rhoda Smith
Spouse: Lurana Powell - b: 6/Feb/1794 - Strafford, Orange
Co., VT
d: 22/Nov/1859 - Ward Twp., Allegany
Co., NY - bur: Phillips Creek Cem.
m: 12/Dec/1813 - NY
Child-1: Edward - b: 17/Jan/1818 - NY
d: 12/Oct/1870 - bur: Phillips Creek Cem., Ward
Twp., Allegany Co., NY
2: Laura
L. - b: Apr/1820 - NY - nra: 1900
m: Andrew Baker
3: Calvin
- b: 11/May/1825 - Allegany Co., NY - nra: 1900
m: Mary A. Farwell
4: William
- b: 1827/1828 - NY - nra: 1880
m: Adelia H. *****
5: Martha
Lurana - b: Dec/1839 - NY - nra: 1900
m: James Roberts Brown - m: Calvin Bronson Powell - 1885/1886
Biographical Details:
Harvey Thompson was born June 10, 1792, in Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut, to Edward and Amanda Rhoda Smith Thompson.1 He presumably spent his childhood in this locality and migrated with his parents and two younger brothers, Ezra and Julius, to Livonia, then in Ontario County, New York, a few years before 1810. Harvey Thompson married Lurana Powell on December 12, 1813, probably in Ontario County, but this location has not been determined with any certainty.2 Accordingly, he and his family reportedly moved a few miles southward with his parents and brothers to neighboring Allegany County, New York, in 1819. This can be confirmed by the corresponding population schedule of the 1820 US Census for Allegany County in which the household of Harvy (i.e., Harvey) Thompson was explicitly listed. Within this context, published histories of Allegany County assert that Harvey settled on the "the farm that Isaac White now owns", but for a time lived at Alfred Station which still at present can be found a mile to a mile and a half east northeast of the town of Alfred proper. Concomitantly, according to Child's gazetteer and directory, the former location would seem to have been west of the town and at present would probably lie somewhere along Stuck Hill Road, which intersects modern state highway route "two-forty-four" about four miles west of Alfred.3 Afterward, he reportedly moved to Ward Township and spent the rest of his life in this locality. In addition, these same sources affirm that Harvey Thompson served as Justice of the Peace for many years and, as such, would almost certainly have been accounted as a prominent member of the local community. Unfortunately, these accounts present some chronological difficulty since Ward Township was not formally established until April 2, 1857, from portions of Alfred and Amity Townships. Therefore, Harvey Thompson could never have actually lived in Ward Township and, thus, the previous assertion must be regarded as anachronistic. Even so, there is no reason to doubt the general geographical accuracy of these statements. This presumption is further supported by corresponding census population schedules of 1830, 1840, and 1850.Source Notes and Citations:It is known that Harvey's father, Edward, and his two brothers, Ezra and Julius, became early adherents of Joseph Smith and the Latter-day Saints, i.e., the Mormons, and, accordingly, moved further west with this group. However, neither Harvey, nor any of his family seem to have become Mormons. Even so, they were, perhaps, also religious "seekers" since it has been reported that Harvey Thompson was the first clerk of the Philip's Creek Universalist Church when it was organized in 1845. Of course, universalism was and is not by any means an orthodox form of Christianity and Harvey's association with such a group may indicate a general dissatisfaction with conventional theological ideas and forms of worship. Indeed, contemporary identification of western New York as the "Burned Over District" merely serves to indicate the exuberence and intensity of religious activity in the region in the first half of the nineteenth century. Within the context of such an environment and with the addition of prevailing folk superstitions, it may be supposed that there was a large variation of opinion and practice available to anyone seeking for a more satisfying spirituality. Indeed, such were the early Mormons themselves.4 In any case, Harvey Thompson died in Allegany County on December 12, 1853, which coincindentally was his fortieth wedding anniversary. His wife died almost six years later. No burial place is known for either of them.
1a. Anonymous, History of Allegany County, N.Y., F. W. Beers & Co., New York, NY, 1879: pgs. 340-1.
"Harvey Thompson, son of Edward Thompson, was born in Goshen, Conn., and moved with his father to Allegany county in 1819. He was for many years justice of the peace. He lived several years at Baker's Bridge, and finally settled in Ward, where he died December 12th, 1853. He had five children who lived to years of maturity."
"The Philip's Creek Universalist Church was organized as a society in July, 1845, the number of members being at that time thirty-two. Sanford Beach, Ira Baker, and Harry Lewis were the first trustees, and Harvey Thompson was the first clerk. The house of worship was built in 1849. George Walldorff donated the lot on which the building stands. It was built under the supervision of C. M. Rice, at a cost of about $800, and was dedicated during the winter of 1849-50. Rev. O. B. Clark preached for the society from the time of its organization up to 1853, when he was succeeded by Rev. Jason Lewis, who preached for the church two years. Rev. I. K. Richardson succeeded Mr. Lewis and remained with the society until January 22nd, 1860. Mr. Richardson was followed by Wellington Sisson, and he, in turn, by Rev. Mr. Payne, who preached for the society about 1865. Since 1865 the society has not maintained regular services. Rev. F. M. Alvord has preached for the society occasionally, for many years."ibid.: pg. 77.
"In the earlier years of the county the officers of the militia were enrolled with the civil officers in one of the books kept by the county clerk. We have the following persons recorded as sworn in the different years mentioned:
1807. -- ..."
"1820. -- ... ensigns--Allen Herrick, Packard Bruce, Samuel S. White, Enoch Hollady, Dennis Saunders, Anson Hill, Jonathan Barlow, Luke B. Crandell and Harvey Thompson."
back to bio.2. John Stearns Minard and Georgia Drew Merrill (eds), A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany County, New York, W. A. Fergusson & Co., Alfred, NY, 1896: pgs. 532-4.
"His (Edward Thompson) son Harvey settled where his father did. He married Lurana, daughter of Calvin Powell, Dec. 12, 1813, and settled on the farm that Isaac White now owns. He lived at Alfred Station for a few years. He was justice of the peace. Afterwards he moved to Ward where he died Dec. 12, 1853. His wife died Nov. 22, 1859. He had five children three of whom are yet living. Calvin Thompson, son of Harvey, was born May 11, 1825. He married Mary A. Farwell and settled here. She died April 21, 1890, leaving one child, Lura, who now resides with her father."
"Philip's Creek Universalist church was organized as a society in July, 1845, with 32 members. Sanford Beach, Ira Baker and Harry Lewis were the first trustees, and Harvey Thompson. was the first clerk. The house of worship was built in 1849. George Walldorff donated the lot on which the building stands. It was built under the supervision of C. M. Rice at a cost of about $800, and was dedicated during the winter of 1849-50. Rev. O. B. Clark preached for the society from the time of its organization up to 1853 when he was succeeded by Rev. Jason Lewis, who preached two years. Rev. I. K. Richardson succeeded Mr. Lewis and remained until Jan. 22, 1860. Mr. Richardson was followed by Wellington Sisson, and he, by Rev. Mr. Payne, who preached until about 1865. Since 1865 the society has not maintained regular services. Rev. F. M. Alvord has preached for the society occasionally since that time."
back to bio.3. Hamilton Child, Gazetteer and Business Directory of Allegany County, N. Y. for 1875, Printed at the Journal Office, Syracuse, NY, 1875. (Vivian Karen Bush (tr), Allegany County NYGenWeb Archives, 2000; & Vivian Karen Bush (tr), Allegany County NYGenWeb Archives, www.rootsweb.com/~nyallega/childs-alfred.html, 2000.)
back to bio.4. Richard Abanes, One Nation Under Gods, Four Walls Eight Windows, Avalon Publishing Group, New York, NY, 2002: pass.
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
5. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Allegany County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 72, (microfilm: roll M33_64; img. 46).6. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Allegany County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 30, (microfilm: roll M19_84; img. 63).
7. 1840 US Census Population Schedule for Allegany County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 8, (microfilm roll M704_265; img. 16).
8. 1850 US Census Population Schedule for Allegany County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 49A-B, (microfilm roll M432_476; imgs. 429-30).
9. Bill Greene, V. Bassett, and E. Buck,"Phillips Creek Cemetery", unpublished. (Allegany County, NY - Local History & Genealogy Site, www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany/CemeteryPages/PhillipsCreekCem%20Ward%2025.1/PhillipsCreekCem-Ward25.1.htm, 2007.)
10. Phillips Creek Cemetery, Allegany County, NY (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2241134&CScn=Phillips&CScntry=4&CSst=36&CScnty=1979&, continuously updated).
11. Ancestral File: 2ZT5-ML, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT, continuously updated.