William A. Thompson
William A. "Bill" Thompson,and wife Sarah Thompson and family, with the Lane Lambert and Mineriva Lambert, and family
William A. "W.A." Thompson was born on July 18, 1843 and died on October 6, 1924. He was the only son of Thomas T. and Julia Ann Goins Thompson. He was born in Bruin, in what was then Carter County.
In 1862 William enlisted for one year in Co. D, 5th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, CSA, and was later promoted to Corporal. He fought at the battles of Middle Creek, Ivy Mountain, and Princeton, VA. After being discharged in 1862 he enlisted in Capt. William Jason Field's Company of Kentucky Partisan Rangers. He was captured near Grayson in Carter County on 5/11/1863. He spent several months in the Union prison at Point Lookout, Maryland. He was released on Jan. 10, 1864, and was allowed to return home. Years later, when he applied for a Confederate pension from the State of Kentucky, he stated he took the oath to "keep from starving and freezing to death".
In 1871 William married Sarah Francis Leedy. Sarah was born on May 12, 1852 and died on October 10, 1921. William built a large home in the area of Stark, which was now Elliott County. The home still stands today.
In 1870 William fathered a child out of wedlock, Anna Laura Thompson (my great grandmother). Her mother was a Parsons, although we are still not sure of her first name. The mother died in 1880 when Anna Laura was 10. She was then taken in and raised by William and Sarah. Sarah is said to have loved her as one of her own.
William and Sarah's children were: Carrie, Lucy, Mary, Charlie, John, Pearl, William E., Myrtle, Gladys, and Lynn. Both William and Sarah are buried in the Thompson Family Cemetery, near the old home, in Stark.
Submitted by: MAJ Vince Barker