Lodowick Thompson of Lancaster and Kershaw Counties, SC

©  Kathy Duncan, 2020

For many years, I questioned whether the Lodowick Thompson who married Delilah Womack in Greenville County, Virginia could be my ancestor Lodowick Thompson who was married to Priscilla Reeves and lived in Lancaster County and Kershaw County, South Carolina.

I dug into this question a year or so ago, and still have questions, but believe that they were the same man.

There are no surviving 1790 census schedules for Virginia because they are believed to have been destroyed during the British attack on Washington during the War of 1812. However, a personal tax list for 1789 in Virginia does exist and can be used as a census reconstruction. 1789 found Lodowick Thompson in Southampton Co., Virginia.

On the 1790 Southampton Co., Virginia tax list:

Loderick Thomson with Willie Turner

A research question: Why is Lodowick Thompson listed with Willie Turner? Is Turner a step-father? Grandfather? Uncle? Older step-brother? Or is there no family connection at all?? There was a Willie Turner who died in Southampton County in 1794 and left his property to his mother Lucy Turner. If she died that property was to go to John Wesley Turner, and if he died while underage, it was to go to Lucy and John Little. 

Lodowick Thompson married Delilah Womack on 18 March 1793 in Greensville County, Virginia with Richard Gilliam as security.

[Source: "Greensville County, Virginia Marriages,” Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History by Elizabeth Petty Bently]

More research questions: Who was Richard Gilliam? Why was Lodowick and Delilah's marriage record filed in Greenville County instead of Southampton County? 

Delilah’s father Thomas Womack died in 1795, leaving a will dated 26 January 1794 in Southampton County, Virginia that left a small bequest to Harris Thompson, son of Lodowick Thomson. Evidently, Delilah had died, probably in childbirth. Harris Thompson probably would have been born within nine to ten months after his parents’ marriage. The fact that Thomas Womack left nothing to Delilah suggests that she was deceased. 

There are no surviving 1800 census schedules for Virginia; however, there are surviving schedules for Kershaw and Lancaster Counties, South Carolina. Since Lodowick Thompson cannot be found in South Carolina on the 1800 census, that may be an indication that he was still in Virginia in 1800.

Lodowick was in Lancaster District, South Carolina by 12 November 1800 when he purchased land:

12 November 1800, James Douglass of Lancaster Dist., for 30 pounds sterling to Lodawick Thompson, 200 acres adj. George Correy, near to where Solomon Smith raise a house, part of a grant to sd. Douglass, 986 acres, 1787…James Douglass (seal), Wit.: James Anderson, George Vickery (T). Proved by James Anderson, 3 April 1804.

Deed Bk F, p. 240

[Source: Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1787-1811 by Brent H. Holcomb]

By 1806, Lodowick was selling the same piece of land:

Lodwick Thompson of Lancaster Dist., for $150 to Andrew McIlwean of same, 200 acres at the Waggon Road near Mary Watson, adj. George Currey, near to where Solomon Smith raised a house, along the road known by McDonalds Road, part of a grant to James Duglas, 966 acres, 1787…26 Sept. 1807. Wt: Wm Ross, Elias Caston.    Loddwick Thompson (L) (LS)

Proves by Wm Ross, 10 Nov 1806 before Jno. Crowder, J.P.

Deed Bk G, p. 112-113

[Source: Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1787-1811 by Brent H. Holcomb]

Lodewick Thomson of Lancaster Dist., for $355 to Andrew McIlwain, two bay mares, beds & furnature, hogs, etc… 9 April 1808.

Wit.: Robert McIlwain. Proved by Robert McIlwain, 15 March 1808, before Jno Simpson, J.Q.

[Source: Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1787-1811 by Brent H. Holcomb]

By 1810, Lodowick Thompson had moved from Lancaster County, South Carolina to Kershaw County, South Carolina.

1810 Kershaw Co., SC:

Lodrick Thomson 31001-21001

                3 males under 10 = Lodowick b. 1806, Lewis B. b. 1805, Solomon R. Thompson b.c. 1804

                1 male 10-16 = Harris Thompson

                1 male 45+ = Lodowick Thompson

                2 females under 10 = Abigail b. 1807, unknown female

                1 female 10-16 = unknown female

                1 female 45+ = Priscilla (Reeves) Thompson

1820 Kershaw Co., SC:

Thompson, Lodowick 311301-1121    6

                3 males under 10 = James, Sterling b. 1810, unknown male

                1 male 10-16 = Lodowick P. Thompson

                1 male 16-18 = Lewis B. Thompson

                3 males 16-26 = Solomon Thompson, two unknown males

                1 male 45+ = Lodowick Thompson

                1 female under 10 = unknown female

                1 female 10-16 = Abigail Thompson

                2 females 16-26 = two unknown females

                1 female 26-45 = Priscilla (Reeves) Thompson

Thompson, Harris 0001-201

                1 male 16-26 = Harris Thompson

                2 females under 10 =

                1 female 16 – 18 =

1820 Kershaw County, South Carolina

                

1830 Kershaw Dist., SC:

Thomson, Lodowick 11111001-1202001

                1 male under 5 = unknown male

                1 male 5-10 = unknown male

                1 male 10-15 =  James Thompson?

                1 male 15-20 = Sterling J. Thompson

                1 male 20-30 =

                1 male 50-60 = Lodowick Thomson

                1 female under 5 =

                2 females 5-10 =

                2 females 15-20 =

                1 female 40-50 = Priscilla Thomson

Lodowick Thompson was deceased before 1840.

1840, Kershaw Co., SC census:

Mrs. Thompson 00101-01112111

                1 male 10-14 = unknown male

                1 male 20-29 = Starling J. Thompson 

                1 female 5-9 = unknown female

                1 female 10-14 =

                1 female 15-19 =

                2 females 20-29 =

                1 female 30-39 =

                1 female 40-59 =

                1 female 50-69 = Priscilla Thompson

Will of Priscilla Thompson, legacies:

Son Starling Thompson

Starling’s son Jesse Thompson

James Thompson

Mary Ann Thompson

Lewis L Thompson

Harriet Amanda Thompson

Rebecca Fisher Thompson

Will mentions:

Lodowick Thompson Jr’s land

Solomon R. Thompson

10 Nov 1843, James P Dickinson swore that he saw Priscilla Thompson sign with her mark.

Priscilla (Reeves) Thompson left a special legacy for her grandson Jesse Thompson. She had other grandchildren by this point, so what made Jesse so special? Is there a clue in his name? Was there a Jesse Reeves who she was related to? Was there a Solomon Reeves? 

Children of Lodowick and Delilah (Womack) Thompson:

 1. Harris Thompson

Children of Lodowick and Priscilla (Reeves) Thompson. Birth order unknown:

2. Solomon Reeves Thompson

3. Lewis B. Thompson

4. Lodowick Pinkney Thompson

5. Abigail Thompson m. Scarborough

6. Sterling/Starling J. Thompson

7. Harriet Amanda Thompson

8. James Thompson

9. Mary Ann Thompson

10. Rebecca Fisher Thompson