I've spent many years wondering about the middle name of my 3x great-grandfather Solomon R. Thompson, who lived in Kershaw and Lancaster Counties, South Carolina. A good guess would be that it was Reeves because that was his mother Priscilla's maiden name. However, that would only be a guess, and I always want documentation.
In the late 1920s, his daughter, Eliza Ann Rebecca (Thompson) Kelley and one of her daughters and some grandchildren were applying for membership in the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Their rejected applications are part of the Baker Roll. What is important about these applications is not that they were rejected - they are important for the information that they provide about the family.
The applications of Eliza's daughter Annie (Kelley) Price and the grandchildren include affidavits from Eliza. The affidavit that she provided for Annie Price is very revealing.
For one thing, there is Eliza's signature:
More importantly, Eliza's statement provides her father's full name: Solomon Reeves Thompson. And it documents his place of death: May 5, 1882, in Lancaster Co., South Carolina. This is a close match to his Findagrave memorial which bears the date May 9, 1882. However, his tombstone is so eroded it is difficult to tell from a photograph if the date is May 9 or May 5.
Why is Solomon's middle name important? Well, it suggests that I need to pay close to any other Solomon Reeves that I come across. However, since he was the eldest son it might also suggest that I should keep a close eye on Solomon Thompsons if his given name is from his father's side and his middle name is from his mother's side.
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