I think that's a great idea, Thomas. My father is still living, as well as my three brothers, so I may ask my father, unless you think there is an advantage to having one of my brothers test instead?
Also, at the risk of confusing anyone with some of the complexities of my ancestry, I'd like to share some of my paternal family tree branches, which includes a lot more Thompsons than those I've already mentioned. Are any of these ancestors also common to any other Thompson forum members here?
First of all, here is my dad's ancestry.com family tree so far:
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/19226783/family?cfpid=1357698578Additionally, other Thompson families I am related to by blood or marriage are on the following related public family trees my cousin Kathy Gregory maintains on ancestry.com (I am related to Kathy a few different ways, including through the Kimbrell, Cotton, Moore, and Thompson lines.)
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/17320700/family?cfpid=493782782Note: For reference, Samuel Bird Cotton and Arminta Moore are my 3rd Great-Grandparents from my father's maternal side (my father's mother name was Ora Alcidine Kimbrell, who was married to Henry Owens Thompson. She was a cousin to both Nettie J. Kimbrell and Arthur Lay on this tree).
I am also related to FRANCES JANE THOMPSON Birth 1786 in Wilkes or Robeson Co., NC; Death abt 1830 in Wayne Co., TN, - among other relatives, we share a common set of many times great-grandparents (Zachariah Moorman & Mary E Candler). Frances' particular Thompson line goes back to WILLIAM THOMPSON Birth 1570 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland; Death 20 Feb 1630 in Scotland.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/17320700/family?cfpid=573630750Note: It is interesting that Elias Harris Kimbrell and his son William Franklin Kimbrell on this tree both married THOMPSON women: Eli married Malinda Thompson, and William married Nancy Elizabeth Thompson, dau. of Tidings Thompson. Not yet known who parents are for Malinda, and speculation is that Malinda and Tidings Thompson were siblings, or at least first cousins. Elias Harris Kimbrell was also brother to my 2nd Great-Grandfather Newton Andrew Kimbrell (sometimes seen as Andrew Newton Kimbrell). Newton Andrew Kimbrell was grandfather to my grandmother Ora Alcidine Kimbrell, who of course also married a THOMPSON (Henry Owens Thompson!).
As you might guess, I've not yet fully discovered all the ways these Thompson families are related to each other and the the rest of my ancestors on these trees! I think that your suggestion, Thomas, might shed more light on this, and help me link up with another Thompson! So thank you for your great idea! Please let me know if any of these ancestors are familiar to any other Thompson forum members here. :-)
Jean-Marie