G'day Cousins
The Family History Gods have smiled on me (a little).
Progress Report
Whilst Irish records are as scarce as vocal agnostics in Kabul, I have had some luck. As I have bored you with before, my principal 'Scott of Interest', in Ireland, is one Archibald T who features as a soldier and tenant of the Scottish Stewart 'Plantationer' family. This Archie being one of four Tomo's noted in Stewarts Military Muster records of 1630/31. Four out of Stewarts standing army of sixty one men at arms. This being the highest concentration of the various T names I have been able to locate in Ulster at that time.
Well to cut a long story down to a sentence or two I found a cencus of sorts (circa 1659ish) that lists this Archie and his two sons Anthony and John living at Galinagh,Raphoe. Surname spelt Tomsone. Given Archibald Tomsone was in Donegal in 1610 and recorded as a soldier in 1630 he must have lived to a ripe old age. However in the interest of being less boring I also found an 'Index to Wills'.
The index survived, the Will documents went up in smoke with the Dublin Four Courts Building destruction in 1922. This index notes an Anthony T's, from Galdonagh, Will, recorded in 1739 and a Captain John's , from Galdinagh in 1694. Surnames spelt Thompson. Archibald Thompson's 'Will' dated 1699 and for some reason, last on the list, and registered at Carshewey. All surnames by that time spelt with the wet (p). But without much doubt the same Tomo's as once spelled their name Tomsone.
There is further Documentation that tells Archibald Tomsone purchased this Galdonagh land from a George Thomson, Son of Hugh Thomson of Londonderry. This purchase had a consideration of Fifty Pounds and was funded by the Laird of Dunduffe, William Stewart of Mt Stewart. Records of the Stewart Wills (which do survive) also note the passing of Archibald Tomsone's note/bond (Six hundred pounds) down to surviving Stewarts (Mrs Jean Stewart) after William's, Laird of Dunduffe, death. The Laird of Dunduffe being a Scottish Title and not Irish as I had originally believed. Having two William Stewarts as Plantationers either side of Lough Swilly hasn't aided me much either but I am getting a handle on this. William Stewart also had land granted to him at Newtownstewart in Tyrone which launches a further geographic can of worms/mystery/leed.
As we know, John Thompson the father of Archibald (Diary) Thompson was born circa 1710 and migrated to the American Colonies in 1739/40. This places John and Anthony as living at the same time. I am thinking the first born son gets the farm thus putting Captain John (albeit dead by 1694) out of the picture but either could fit at a pinch if they 'went forth and multiplied' and Galdinagh became too small to accomodate their sons and grandsons.
So I am getting closer to either linking the 'Diary' Tomos of the Americas to the Scotts Plantationer line or perhaps I 'crash and burn'. Either way it is and has been an interesting journey.
Another interesting observation I have made it that following the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. Where Alexander Stewart (Son of William Stewat) was killed. Oh, by the way the Stewarts were Royalists and staunch supporters of the Scottish Stewart Kings of Scotland and England. Well following that battle there was only one Thom(p)son name recorded as a POW out of the 175 Scottish Officers who survived. Ensign Thomas Thomson. But that is another story .................... but the math is interesting.