Role in the American Revolution

Between 1775 and 1783, the American Colonies were in a fight to the finish with Great Britain over the independence of our country. Fortunately, we won the Revolutionary War. Our family was deeply involved in this struggle. Listed below are some of our family Patriots, of whom we can be proud. Sources for this information included the 1. Genealogy of the Wilson-Thompson Families Genealogy 1916, 2. the Sons of the American Revolution histories, 3. the Daughters of the American Revolution documents, 4. History of Bucks County PA 1876, 5. Pennsylvania State Archives: Bucks County Revolutionary War Militia, and 6. A History of the Newtown Presbyterian Church 1734-1900. Because of the service of several first and second generation family members, descendants may be eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution or Sons of the American Revolution.

  • Hugh Thompson (1720-1797): Private, 1st Class, Fourth Company, First Battalion; oldest of the four original Thompson brothers. They were the children of Hugh and Elizabeth McGraudy Thompson.

  • John Thompson (1726-1799): Ensign, First Company, Fifth Battalion, Bucks County Militia, and then Northampton Company, First Battalion, Bucks County Militia; fought in the French and Indian War and then the Revolutionary War; One of earliest in the county to pledge oath of allegiance to Pennsylvania and Colonies; During Revolutionary War, was Wagon Master for George Washington, responsible for securing horses, wagons, supplies for the Colonial and French troops; became first Commissioned Sheriff of Bucks County; youngest of the four original Thompson brothers.

  • Robert Thompson (1722-1804): Although perhaps too old to be member of the Militia, he provided encampment for George Washington’s colonial army of 7400 on his farm, including housing young lieutenant and future president James Monroe, at Washington Crossing Bucks County in December 1776, leading up to victorious Battle of Trenton on Christmas night; also ground corn and wheat for flour to make bread at the farm’s grist mill for the troops; provided lumber and equipment from his farm’s lumber mill for repair of Durham boats used for the Crossing; 2nd oldest of original Thompson brothers. Historian Jennifer Rogers, in her book Hidden History of Bucks County writes "The Thompson-Neely House attained historical significance due to the crucial role it played during the Continental Army's winter encampment" (page 34).

  • Hannah Simpson Thompson (1714-1803): wife of Robert Thompson, cared for sick and wounded soldiers each day at the Thompson-Neely House and Farmstead during the 10-day encampment of Washington's troops December 1776.

  • William Neely (1742-1818): Captain of the 7th Company, First Battalion, Upper Makefield, Bucks County Militia 1777 and then Captain of Sixth Company, First Battalion, Upper Makefield, Bucks County Militia 1780; son-in-law of Robert and Hannah Thompson; fought in the August 1776 Battle of Long Island NY which preceded the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. Lived with father-in-law and mother-in-law at Thompson Neely Farm at Washington Crossing. Helped Washington’s army encampment at Thompson-Neely farm December 1776.

  • Gaun McGraudy (1736-1812): husband of Mary Wilson, private in Warwick Associators of Bucks County.

  • John McGraudy Sr. ( 1740-1820): Ensign, son of Samuel McGraudy, nephew of Elizabeth McGraudy Thompson.

  • Robert Wilson: son of Jennet and John Wilson, a member of the Associated Company of Buckingham.

  • John Thompson (1754- ): Captain of First Company , Fifth Battalion, Bucks Co Militia; son of Hugh and Sarah Thompson; husband of Mary Thompson. Was promoted to Major in the Fifth Battalion of the Bucks Couny Militia on May 24, 1779. Served under Colonel Joseph McIlvain.

  • John Flack (1752-1802): husband of Ann Wilson and member of Warwick Associated Company helped with manufacturing of gun powder by providing a site with water power on his farm.

  • Thomas Huston, Captain 1st Company, 1st Battalion, Newtown PA, brother in-law to first-arrival William Thompson and John Thompson. Father of Charles Huston, Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

  • Abraham Johnson ( -1799): Ensign, then Lieutenant of the Fourth Company, First Battalion, Bucks County Militia.

  • John Praul (1728-1793): Patriot; father of Mary Praul Thompson; father-in-law of Hugh Thompson (1764-1847); Judge of Court of Common Pleas.

  • Hugh Ramsey: Patriot with Associated Company of Warwick, second husband of Jane Ramsey Mearns-Huston ( -1781).

  • Thomas Dougherty: Jennet Wilson’s husband; a soldier in the Revolution and member of the Associated Company of Buckingham.

  • John Wilson (1745-1811): First Lieutenant, First Battalion, then Second Battalion of Buckingham and Wrightstown Company of Associators 1775; Sergeant, Bucks County Militia 1777.

  • Abraham Lefferts (1755-1819): husband of Margaret Vanartsdalen and father of Ann Lefferts Thompson , Captain, Seventh Company, Northampton Bucks County Militia; Lieutenant in 3rd Battalion Bucks County Militia, 1780.

  • William Simpson: husband of Isabella Wilson Simpson, was also in the Warwick Associators under Lieutenant John Wilson (brother to Isabella).

  • John Thompson (1795-1869): son of Hugh and Mary (Praul) Thompson, and grandson of John and Mary Huston Thompson, was Captain of Wrightstown Company of the Bucks County Militia, and with his Company, escorted Marquis de Lafayette across Bucks County from Trenton to Philadelphia in September 1824. Lafayette was returning to the United States to celebrate the country’s 50-year anniversary of independence. In return for his service to Lafayette, the General gave John Thompson a `blue plume tipped with red` from his hat. The plume is believed to be in possession of a family member.