Greetings all you Thoms!
It has been an interesting month for me.
I am now among the 9.7% of unemployed people in North Carolina. That's right I was downsized!
The good part of this you may ask? Go on you know you want to.......
More time to research my branch of the Thom(p)sons.
As luck would have it, I have connected with a 2nd cousin in Richmond, Indiana through Ancestry.com who has done a remarkable job in her research. We met face to face for the first time at the "69th" R.W. Thompson Family Reunion in Lynn, IN. last Monday. She had seven, yes count them SEVEN, three inch, three ring binders filled to the bursting with birth certs., marriage lic., service records, roll calls, pay stubs, land purchases, divorce decrees, stories from family members and pictures galore! And thousands of other items from 1777 to present day.
My hubby Robert and I drove up there for a long weekend (since I am at the moment a lady of leisure, but I'm not bitter). We visited the cemetery where R.W. Thompson and his wife Nancy Bowen Thompson are buried. After wandering around in a so far fruitless search, I was almost ready to call it quits. It was a small cemetery less than an acre and a chilly 45 degrees with a stiff breeze. I stood there in the middle of all those stones for a moment then something made me turn around. There he was right at my feet! I had goose bumps and not just from the wind.
The stone was in remarkable condition, still readable and a few rows down was his wife Nancy. So, I took pictures of course and stone rubbings.
I was delighted!
We left the cemetery and went to the hall for the reunion where I spent a great time talking with people who look remarkably like me. Robert and I also poured over the binders my cousin had prepared and found that the spelling of Thompson had at one time been Thomson. Perhaps this will open another door in my search for Robert W. Thompson.
Anyway, a great time was had by all and plans made to meet again next year.
On to other news.........
Mary, I'll see you & Tom at the Hendersonville Games in November. Robert is looking forward to meeting you both and we'll scope out a place to have dinner Sat night. You said you're staying in Hendersonville right?
Any other Thoms out there who will be making the trip? Come on... it will be great fun!
I remain your Thom(p)son cousin,
Sherry