1799 Carter County Tennessee Tax List

William Thompkins - 100 acres of land - no slaves - 1 fwm age 21-50 y (born 1749 to 1778)

Jas Thompkins - no land - no slaves - 1 fwm 21 - 50 y (born 1749 to 1778)

Joseph Thompkins - 40 acres of land - no slaves - 4 fwm 21 - 50 y (born 1749 to 1778)

1800 - US CENSUS - census schedules were lost for the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Source: Ancestry.com

1804 - Carter County, Tennessee Deed Book

August 11, 1804 roll 116, Book A, Page 490 and 491

William Tompkins sold about 50 acres of land to Reuben Thornton for $200.00 witnesses were: James Tompkins, Joseph Tompkins Junr and Mary M. Tompkins.

1810 - US CENSUS - census schedules were lost for the state of Tennessee. Source: Ancestry.com

1813 - another bit of controversy - Kentucky - who is this?

ROLL OF CAPT JOHN C MORRISON'S COMPANY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY OF THE KENTUCKY MILITIA, DETACHED - COMMANDED BY LT COL WILLIAM DUDLY
William Tompkins March 9, 1813 September 9, 1813 Source: ancestry.com

1817 - Early History of Carter County Tenn 1760-1861 by Frank Merritt

Page 185 - appointed magistrate in Carter County, Tenn (for a term of 2 years) - William Tompkins

1820 - US CENSUS - "Partial losses included roughly 20 eastern Tennessee counties supervised by the Federal Court District out of Knoxville." Source: Ancestry.com

1828 - Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County, Illinois by Milton W. Mathews and Lewis A. McLean

Page 112 - Wm. Tompkins who built his cabin on the creek near where Halberstadt's mill is, afterwards in 1828, entering the land which he sold to Isaac Busy in 1830. (He settled about the Big Gove in Urbana and Somer Townships, Champaign County, Illinois - then it was Vermillion County, Illinois.)

1831 - Champaign County, Illinois - land patent June 13, 1831

Volume 37, Page 417 Certificate #2412

William Tompkins

West 1/2 of the North East 1/4 of Section 17 in Twp 19 North of Range 9 East, 80 acres in Urbana Twp, (where Urbana, Illinois now stands)

1831 From History of Bureau County by H.C. Bradsby, Editor. Pub chicago, World Publishing Company 1885

page 177

"In the summer of 1831, William Tompkins, Sampson and John Cole made claims on the east side of Spring Creek, and for some time they were the only permanent settlers in the east part of the county.

1832 - Champaign County, Illinois -Land Deed

July 26, 1832

William and Elizabeth Tompkins sold the West 1/2 of the North East 1/4 of Section No. 17 in Two. 19 North of Range 9 East 80 acres in Urbana Twp (where Urbana, Illinois now stands).

By deed to Isaac Busey for $300.00.

1832 - History of Bureau County, Illinois by H.C. Bradsby, Editor. Pub chicago, World Publishing Company 1885

Page 125 - In the fall of 1832, after the Black Hawk War was over the people began to return back to their deserted homes. Those who were the ones who had fled and were the first to return to their homes were the families of .... Hall Township, Bureau County, Illinois. Williams Tompkins and Sampson Cole.

1834 - History of Bureau County, Illinois by H.C. Bradsby, Editor. Pub chicago, World Publishing Company 1885

Page 487 - In 1834, while returning to this county from Tennessee, William Tompkins died in Champaign County, Illinois.

1836 - Putnam County, Illinois - Land Deed

September 5, 1836 Page 422 - 424

The heirs of Williams Tompkins (Samson and Vinah Cole, Benjamin and Rebecca Cole, Susanna Tompkins, John and Jane Cole, Allen Tompkins, Alexander and Elizabeth Holbrook, Martin and Patience Tompkins, Claudius Tompkins, Alfred Tompkins and Elijah Tompkins) with their right of dower sold the land in Putnam County, Illinois to Henry L. Kinney for $2,125.00.

E. half of the north west quarter of section number one (1) in township number fifteen north of range number eleven (11) east undivided twelfth parts of one equal undivided half of one other certain lot described as being the south east quarter of section number thirty-six in township number sixteen (16) north range number eleven east containing ninety-two and 60/100 acres.

The heirs of William Tompkins sold the above real property to Henry L. Kinney.

I had been sent two typed transcriptions of the land sale to Henry L. Kinney. There were enough minor differences between the two transcriptions, that I decided to post a scanned image of each to this site.

Version #1 - page 422

Version #2 - page 422 and page 423

I have received from two different researchers (Jan Cerbin and Lynn Kappelman) scanned images of the original document. It solves the question about Martin. It does NOT list his middle name as Van Buren. There is no middle name. I have changed my database on Martin accordingly.

From Biographical Sketches of Bureau County, page 487

"(John Cole's) was one of the early marriages of Bureau County, as he was married September 30, 1832 to Jane Tompkins, who was born in Carter County, east Tenn., September 19, 1817. She is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Owens) Tompkins. William Tompkins was born November 20, 1772. He settled in Champaign County, Ill., in 1829 and entered land where Urbana now stands. In 1831 he removed to Bureau County. In 1834, while returning to this county from Tennessee, he died in Champaign County. Of his family of thirteen children but four are now (sic - 1896) living, viz: Martin, born July 3, 1809, now of Mineral, Ill.; Elizabeth Holbrook, born February 19, 1814, now resides near Tiskilwa; Mrs Cole, and Elijah Tompkins of Clarke County, Iowa, born October 30, 1822...."

Excerpt from Champaign County, Illinois, First White Settlers:

"The honor of being the first white resident of the country now comprised within the limits of Champaign County, belongs of right to Runnel Fielder, though some have been inclined to ascribe it to William Tompkins................

William Tompkins, in 1828, settled in Urbana on the creek, and built a cabin and opened a small farm, which later came into the possession of Isaac Busey, and was the scene of the first Circuit Court held in the county."

TOMPKINS SQUATS ON SITE OF URBANA

Soon after the coming of the Fielders to Big Grove, William TOMPKINS
settled on the site of Urbana. He built a cabin of unhewn logs twenty feet
square near the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of Section 8,
which was known, after the platting of Urbana, as Lot No. 7 of Hooper &
Parks' Addition. The site of the Tompkins home was a patch of hazel brush and small timber, also upon the bank of Salt Creek. The cabin was standing
as late as 1855, in the heart of Urbana, and was then pointed out as the
oldest house in town. The locality was of special historic interest also,
because it marked a well known camping ground of the Kickapoos and
Pottawattamies, and the remains of old corn fields were plainly visible for several years after the locality commenced to be well settled.

"Tompkins," says Judge Cunningham, "like other early settlers of the
county, must have occupied this land as a squatter, for the records show no
entry of lands by him until February 5, 1830, when he entered the
eighty-acre tract where he lived, which embraced all the territory in
Urbana bounded on the north by the city limits, east by Vine Street, south by the alley north of Main Street and west by a line running north from the
stone bridge. On November 1, 1830, he also entered the eighty-acre tract
lying immediately south of that tract, bounded on the north by the first
entry, east by Vine Street, south by the city limits and west by the alley
next west of Race Street. Before this last entry Tompkins had improved and fenced about twenty acres which lay mostly south of Main Street."

THE COURIER CAFE 111 N Race Street, Urbana, Illinois. This cafe sits on the land that was first settled by William Tompkins and later sold to Isaac Busey. The history of the land under the cafe is printed on the front of the 1999 menu of the Courier Cafe.

Land Patent Purchases

06/13/1831 Document # 2412, Champaign County (description in file)
08/01/1838 Document # 254, Bureau County w/Allen Tompkins (description in file)
05/20/1841 Document # 255, Bureau County (description in file, matches Real Estate in will)

1820 US CENSUS, Overton County TN - most researchers believe this to be the right William Tompkins. However, the oldest female is between 16 and 26.

Page 134

TOMPKINS, William

Males 2 2 0 2 0 1

Females 4 1 1 0 0

1820 US CENSUS, Paoli, Cumberland County KY (this one has the oldest female between 26 and 45)

Page 152

TOMKINS, WILLIAM

Males 2 2 0 1 0 1

Females 4 1 0 1 0

Please see Cumberland County Kentucky Specific Name Extracts . He is enumerated three households from Samuel Cole (father of Celia Cole who married William's son Joseph). Arthur Pierce is next door on the other side of Samuel Cole. This is believed to be the son in law of William who married Nancy Tompkins. Isaac Denton, who helped found the Wolf River Baptist Church in Overton County in 1821 is enumerated on page 151 of the Cumberland County census.

Of the other 1821 first members of Wolf River Baptist Church (Overton County TN), William Brown on page 153 of the KY census above; Maximillan Mayberry on page 153 of the KY census above; David and Caty Cabbard - David Gabbard's parents were Michael Gabbard and Elizabeth Brown. They were in Paoli, Cumberland County KY in 1820 census; Stephen, Ann and Peggy Sewell - not in KY census above; Reuben and Sarah Clavenger - on page 152 of the KY census above in between William Tompkins and Samuel Cole; Jean Gilley - in between William Tompkins and Samuel Cole; Isaac Crouch, there is an Isaac Crouch on page 252 1820 Overton County TN;Thos, Mildred and Richard Rabourn - not found in KY, but there is a Thos Raeburn on page 250 of Overton County TN; Polly Jones and Elizabeth Cowan not found in KY census above or TN; Viny Cole is more than likely the wife of Sampson Cole (Lavinah Tompkins below)

1830 US CENSUS, Vermillion County, Illinois page 108 (copy in file):

TOMPKINS, William

Males ---0-1-0-1-2-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0

Females 2-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0

Most sources agree that William Tompkins came to Illinois from Overton County, Tennessee around 1828 or 1829. And most agree that prior to Overton County, Tennessee, William Tompkins and his family were in Carter County, Tennessee. The 1820 Cumberland County Kentucky Census above raises the question about whether that might be our William Tompkins. We are 99% sure that Samuel Cole listed in the 1820 KY census is the family of Celia Cole who married Joseph Tompkins. And to add a preponderance of evidence to this is the fact that we think William Tompkins' son in law and daughter, Arthur and Nancy Pierce, are in KY as well; along with several others of the original members of Wolf River Baptist Church in 1821 in Overton County TN. And Isaac Denton (1768 to 1848) who was moderator for the 1821 Overton church and the pastor instrumental in the founding of this church, had lived in Cumberland County since 1798 (he was born and reared in North Carolina), and died in Kentucky after serving more than forty five years as the pastor of the Clear Fork Baptist Church in Cumberland County KY. I am attempting to locate early church lists for that Church but have found reference that Samuel Cole joined in 1807.

It is believed that William Tompkins arrived in Carter County, Tennessee in 1794, after leaving Wilkes County, North Carolina.

My note: This corresponds with the first dismissal from the Three Forks Baptist Church.

There is a William Tompkins listed in the Three Forks Baptist Church records in Wilkes County, North Carolina, having joined the church by letter in 1791 and left in 1794. And there is a William Tompkins listed in 1798 as joining the Wilkes County Three Forks Baptist Church by letter. I believe "by letter" means that the new member was a member in another church when he came to the Three Forks Baptist Church. You can link to these church records directly here, or from the main Tompkins page. And it should be noted that there were Cole family members, other Tompkins, and Owens in Wilkes County, NC church records.

My note: It is believed that James Tompkins and Jonathan Tompkins at least were members of the Jersey Settlement in what is now Watauga County, NC. Our William Tompkins would have been 19 years old (approx) in 1791 and by law then, not an adult. Would he have been the first William Tompkins who joined the church in 1791 and was dismissed in 1794? Or could an older William Tompkins, perhaps the Capt. William Tompkins listed in our Early Tompkins of Wilkes County NC, be the gentleman who joined in 1791, transferring from another church and dismissed in 1794?

Then, that would open up the possibility that the William Tompkins who joined by letter in 1798 was our William Tompkins at age (approx) 26. Did our William actually get married in Wilkes County NC rather than TN?

When the Wolf River Baptist Church in Overton County, TN was formed on May 5, 1821, there is a William Tompkins on the list of charter members, along with an Elizabeth Tompkins.

We have a tentative marriage date of 1796 in Tennessee which is from Family Tree Maker CD #403, Selected US/International Marriage Records. They show the following information:

William Tompkins - born 1772 NC

Elizabeth Owens - born 1778 VA

Marriage - 1796 TN

Source #2955.019

It should be noted that I have not seen the proof of this tentative marriage date.

• Joseph Tompkins - April 09, 1798 - Tennessee - see separate page updated 05-30-04

There is a Joseph Tompkins listed in the Wolf River Baptist Church records in 1821 in Overton County, TN, but it is not believed to be this Joseph Tompkins. It is believed that the Joseph Tompkins listed was the one married to Mary Jenkins, and they are the Joseph and Mary Tompkins listed in the Church records. You can view these records here.

• Nancy Tompkins - March 08, 1800 - Tennessee

Died - July 4, 1824

Married - Arthur A Pierce, born about 1774 in NC, son of Hardy. Died 1854. His name may have been William Arthur Pierce. Supposedly he married ; 1) Mary Fitzgerald, abt 1796; 2) Nancy Tompkins 21 Aug 1817; 3)Mary Ann Marbrey, abt 1826. (Could this be Mayberry?) and 4) Rebecca Myers, m abt 1836. Arthur died 1854. (Information on Rebecca Meyers from Rex Bertram rex@digginbones.com

Members of Wolf River Baptist Church, Carter County, TN when it was formed in 1821. You can view these records here, or from the Tompkins page.

1820 US CENSUS, Paoli, Cumberland County KY page 47/152 (next door to Samuel Cole and very near William Tomkins).

PIERCE, Arthur

0 0 0 1 0 0

2 0 1 0 0

Children: Believed to be Sarah, Mary, Arthur H. and William B. However, Arthur Pierce had children from most or all of his wives. So caution should be used in identifying which children belong to which wife.

• Thomas Tompkins - August 27, 1801 - Tennessee

Died - October 08, 1824 Source: Death date listed on various gedcoms, but no other information.

There is a Thomas Tompkins listed in the Charter Members of Wolf River Baptist Church in 1821 in Carter County, TN. You can view these records here, or from the Tompkins page.

• Vinah Tompkins - August 08, 1805 - Tennessee updated 05-30-04

Married - Sampson Cole before 1827

Died - July 10, 1889, in Santa Ana, Orange County, California

Buried with husband in Santa Ana Cemetery, Santa Ana, Orange County, California

• Alfred Tompkins - February 22, 1807 updated 5-31-04

Married - Nancy Jane C. McCaslin on 9 February 1837 in Putnam, Illinois

Died - August 5, 1852 near Dime Box, Lee County (then Burleson County) Texas

Buried Cole Cemetery near Dime Box, Lee County (then Burleson County, Texas

• Martin Tompkins - born July 03, 1809 updated 12-7-02

Died - May 02, 1891 - Mineral, Bureau County, Illinois

Married (1) Patience (unknown) before 1831

Married (2) Jane Riley - after 1831

Married (3) Mary Ann Riley - on March 21, 1839 in Bureau County, Illinois

• Claudius L. Tompkins - born August 03, 1810 Updated 05-31-04

Died - January 22, 1881 in Mineral, Mineral, Bureau County, Illinois

Buried in Mineral Cemetery, Mineral, Bureau County, Illinois

• Allen Tompkins - born August 30, 1812 updated 12-7-02

Married - Sarah Ann Loughrey on October 25, 1838 in Bureau County, Illinois

Died - February 1882 - Marysville, Nodaway County, Missouri

• Elizabeth Tompkins - born February 19, 1814 updated 12-7-02

Married - Alexander (Sr) Holbrook

Died February 24, 1892 - Tiskilwa, Bureau County, ILL

• Rebecca Tompkins - December 16, 1815 new 05-31-04

Married Benjamin Cole on March 17, 1830 in Vermillion County, ILL

Died - between 1851 and 1860, probably in Arkansas

• Jane Tompkins - born September 19, 1817 updated 12-7-02

Married - Rev. John Cole on September 30, 1832 in Illinois

Died - ??

• Susan (Susannah) Tompkins - born June 10, 1819

Married - Ozias Simmons on July 4, 1840 in Bureau County, Illinois Source: Illinois Marriage Index online

Census:

1850 US CENSUS, Bureau County IL
Page 293 Enum 18 Dec 1850
Household 898/953

SIMMONS, Ozias 31 M farmer $6900 PA
Susanna 30 F TN
Ellen 8 F IL
William 6 M IL
Nancy 5 F IL
Elizabeth 2 F IL

1860 US CENSUS, Tiskilwa, Indiantown Twp, Bureau County IL
Page 236 Enum 11 July 1860
Household 1654/1685

SIMMONS, Ozias 41 M farmer $15000/$1000 PA
Susanna 40 F TN
Ellen 18 F IL
William 16 M farmer IL
Nancy 14 F IL
Elizabeth 13? F IL
HOEN, Frank 25 M farm labor Ire

Cannot locate any of them after 1860!

• Elijah Tompkins - born October 30, 1822 updated 12-7-02

Married - Mary Pierce on October 12, 1845 in Illinois

Died February 01, 1907