Father: Gideon Thompson
Mother: Lydia Punderson

Spouse: Dorcas Wright
  m: 1754 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT

Child-1: Johnathan - b: 31/Dec/1756 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                               d:  11/Dec/1838 - bur: Goshen Center Cem., Litchfield Co., CT
                               m: Anne Lucas - 18/Jul/1785
          2: Sarah - b: 23/Jan/1759 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                         m: Allen Lucas - 8/Oct/1780 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
          3: Deborah - b: 23/Jan/1759 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
          4: Gideon - b: 23/Feb/1761 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                            d: 2/Aug/1831 - Union Vale Twp., Dutchess Co., NY
                           m: Hannah Wooley - 27/Jan/1788 - Beekman Twp., Dutchess Co., NY
          5: Elisha - b: ~1763 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                          d: 2/Jan/1838 - Greene Co., NY - bur: Jewett Heights Cem.
                         m: Honour Pratt - ~1790 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
          6: Solomon - b: 27/Aug/1764 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                               d: 6/Aug/1820 - Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., NY
                              m: Esther Merrill - ~1789 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
          7: Edward
          8: Israel - b: ~1770 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                         d: 30/Dec/1807
                         m: Sarah Foot - Dec/1794 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
          9: Harriet - b: ~1770 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                           m: ***** Foote
        10: Lydia - b: 1772 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                         m: Moses Cook, Cove, or Coole - ~1795
        11: Samuel - b: 1774 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                            d: 28/Dec/1807 - Goshen, Litchfield Co., CT
                           m: Caroline Shepard - 1793 - Litchfield Co., CT

Biographical Details:

Elisha Thompson, son of Gideon and Lydia Punderson Thompson, was apparently born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 23, 1729.  This implies that he would have moved with his family to the newly formed township of Goshen, Connecticut, at about the age of eleven.  Subsequently, he married Dorcas Wright about 1754 in the township of Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut.  They appear to have remained resident in this locality for the remainder of their lives and were reportedly the parents of eleven children.  There is some evidence that their oldest son, Johnathan or Jonathan, died in the 1780's and fathered no children.  In addition, the daughters, Sarah and Deborah, are generally believed to have been twins.  However, this issue is further confused because some researchers give the birth date of Sarah as January 23, 1759, and the birth date of Deborah as June 23, 1759.  Obviously, this is impossible even with present medical technology.  Moreover, the husband of both sisters has commonly been asserted as having been Allen Lucas.  Accordingly, this suggests that rather than twins, Sarah and Deborah Thompson may have actually been one and the same person (perhaps, she was named "Sarah Deborah" or "Deborah Sarah").  The next four sons of Elisha and Dorcas Wright Thompson, viz., Gideon, Elisha, Jr., Solomon, and Edward, all reportedly emigrated from Connecticut to New York and produced numerous descendants.^1,2,3  Very little is known about the remaining children.

Elisha Thompson died April 24, 1812, at Goshen and was buried in Center Cemetery.  Apparently, his surname was spelled "Thomson" instead of Thompson on his tombstone, which also indicates that he was a veteran of the French and Indian War.  However, no details of his military service are known.

1. What is known of the migration of the three sons, Gideon, Elisha, Jr., and Solomon is summarized as follows:

Gideon Thompson - According to early census records, Gideon settled in Dutchess County, New York, before 1790 and was living in Beekman Township in that year.  Indeed, it is believed that he married Hannah Wooley in Dutchess County in 1788.  Geographically, Dutchess County lies on the east side of the Hudson River and adjoins Litchfield County, Connecticut.  Thus, this would have been a relatively short move.  Moreover, in 1800 there were apparently two households of Gideon Thompson then resident in Dutchess County, viz., one in Beekman Township and one in Pawling Township.  Within this context, Gideon Thompson of Pawling Township seems to have been older than Gideon Thompson of Beekman Township and, hence, can be plausibly identified as a younger brother of Elisha Thompson and, thus, the uncle of Elisha's son, Gideon.  Subsequently, in 1830 the household of Gideon Thompson was resident in Union Vale Township where he reportedly died the following year.

a. The household of Gideon Thompson can be confirmed from relevant census records.  (1790 US Census Population Schedule for Dutchess County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 57, (microfilm: roll M637_6; img. 177); 1800 US Census Population Schedule for Dutchess County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 10, (microfilm: roll M32_21; img. 11); 1810 US Census Population Schedule for Dutchess County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 70, (microfilm: roll M252_30; img. 60); 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Dutchess County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 20, (microfilm: roll M33_71; img. 27); & 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Dutchess County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 423, (microfilm: roll M19_104; img. 827).

Elisha Thompson, Jr. - Published sources (see following) affirm that Elisha Thompson, Jr., moved from Goshen, Connecticut, to upstate New York, in 1791.  This locality was included in Greene County, which was formed from Ulster and Albany Counties in 1800.  He apparently remained resident in this locality for the remainder of his life.

b. The household of Elisha Thompson, Jr., can be confirmed from relevant census records.  (1800 US Census Population Schedule for Greene County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 1071, (microfilm: roll M32_22; img. 428); 1810 US Census Population Schedule for Greene County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 307, (microfilm: roll M252_27; img. 171); 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Greene County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 100, (microfilm: roll M33_64; img. 109); & 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Greene County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 122, (microfilm: roll M19_110; img. 235).

Solomon Thompson - Little definite seems to be known regarding the adult life of Solomon Thompson beyond the assertions that he married Esther Merrill in Connecticut in 1789 and died in New York in 1820.  Concomitantly, census records indicate that there was a household of Solomon Thompson resident in Oneida County, New York, in 1800 and in Jefferson County, New York, in 1810.  However, the implied location is far to the north, just to the east of Lake Ontario, which does not seem consistent with Solomon's reported death in Rennselaer County and, moreover, this individual appears to have been too old to have been the son of Elisha and Dorcas Wright Thompson.
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2. Frederick L. Beers, History of Greene County, New York, J.B. Beers & Co., New York, 1884: pg. 459. (Reprint available from Hope Farm Press, Cornwallville, NY)
     "Elisha Thompson, of Jewett, immigrated to this place from Goshen, Connecticut, in 1791.  He was born in 1763, and died January 2nd 1838.  He was a man widely known and beloved by all who knew him."  (Annette Campbell (tr), Greene County NYGenWeb Archives, www.rootsweb.com/~nygreen2/mini_bios_jewett.htm, 2003.)
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3. Elisha Thompson Family Bible
     "Original Bible is in the possession of the gg-granddaughter of Elisha D. Thompson.  Copies of the family record courteously provided by Ray Thompson, a gg-grandson to Elisha D.  Ray has also provided the following family history:
     Elisha's parents were Elisha and Honor (Pratt) Thompson who came to Jewett from Goshen, CT in 1791.  They are buried in the Jewett Cemetery.  Elisha D. was one of four children born to this couple.  The other siblings were Isaac Pratt Thompson, John W. Thompson and Betsey B. Thompson.
     Elisha D. married Abigail Howard on April 28, 1822, but it is not known if they were married in Greene County or Madison County, NY.  He is listed in the 1820 census residing in Smithfield, Madison Co.  Then in 1845, he and his family relocated to Watertown, WI, where he died on May 22, 1879.  Elisha D. Thompson was the 4th great grandson of Anthony Thompson, one of the Founders of the New Haven Colony.

Marriages:
     E.D. Thompson and Abigail Howard were married April 28, 1822
     Prudence Malbina Swap married to Birney Thompson October 9, 1867
Births:
     E.D. Thompson born August 14, 1799
     Abigail Howard, w/o E.D. Thompson was born March 12, 1804
     Births of children of the above named parents:
     Addison P. Thompson, July 31st 1823
     Eudorus P. Thompson, October 31, 1825
     Mary E. Thompson, May 6th 1828
     Adaline B. Thompson, July 4, 1830
     Hiram S. Thompson, June 6, 1832
     Eliza A. Thompson, September 19, 1834
     John N. Thompson, December 26, 1836
     Mahala M. Thompson, February 1, 1839
     Sidney I. Thompson, July 7, 1841
     Birney G. Thompson, August 31, 1846
Deaths:
     Isaac P. Thompson, b. August 23, 1787, d. December 27th, 1855, in the sixty ninth year of his age
     Betsey B. Thompson, b. May 1st, 1796, d. February 11, 1829, in the 33rd year of her age
     Honour Thompson died in the 20th of April 1833 in the 71st year of her age
     Elis(h)a Thompson died January 2, 1838 in the 75 year of his age
     Diema (should be Deidama) Thompson wife of J.W. Thompson died March 9th 18??, aged 44
     Harriett (??) daughter of the above, died March 16th 1844 in the 27 year of her age
     Elisha Thompson son of 2? JWT died 20 July 1866 aged 21st year
     Sidney Thompson son of John W. Thompson died October 7, 1849 aged 30
     Adaline B. Thompson died October 7, 1833 aged 3y3m
     Addison P. Thompson died December 9, 1847, aged 26y5m
     Hiram S. Thompson died June 7, 1864 aged 32y
     Eudorus P. Thompson died January 2nd 1884, aged 58y2m1d
     Birney G. Thompson died April 20, 1920 at 5pm, aged 73y7m20d
     Elisha D. Thompson died May 22nd 1879 aged 79y9m8d
     Mrs. Mary E. Weston died March 7, 1881, aged 52y10m
     Abigail Thompson died February 22, 1888, aged 83y
     Prudence Malbina Thompson died June 26, 1943 at 6:30pm at the age of 94y5m5d"

The owner of this Bible, Elisha D. Thompson, was the grandson of Elisha and Dorcas Wright Thompson of Goshen, Connecticut.  (Greene County NYGenWeb Archives, 2003.)
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Additional Citations:

4. 1790 US Census Population Schedule for Litchfield County, Connecticut, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 390, (microfilm: roll M637_1; img. 347).

5. 1800 US Census Population Schedule for Litchfield County, Connecticut, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 76, (microfilm: roll M32_2; img. 43).

6. 1810 US Census Population Schedule for Litchfield County, Connecticut, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 77, (microfilm: roll M252_2; img. 79).

7. Charles R. Hale, "Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions", W. P. A. 1932-5, Connecticut State Library, 231 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT, 06106.  (Hale Collection of Goshen, Connecticut, Center Cemetery Inscriptions, www.rootsweb.com/~ctlitch2/cemeteries/goshen-c.htm, 2003.)

8. Ancestral File: C0RD-FM, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT, continuously updated.

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