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 Archive, 3. the Daughters of the American Revolution National Archives and Records, 4. Hidden History of Bucks County by Jennifer Rogers, 5. Pennsylvania State Archives: Bucks County Revolutionary War Militia, 6. A History of the Newtown Presbyterian Church 1734-1900, and 7. History of Bucks County by William Davis. 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): Oldest of the four original Thompson brothers, Private, 1st Class, 4th Company, 1st Battalion. They were the children of Hugh and Elizabeth McGraudy Thompson.
Robert Thompson (1722-1804): 2nd oldest of the original Thompson brothers, Private, 3rd Class, 4th Company; he and wife Hannah provided encampment for George Washington’s continental army of 7400 on their farm, including housing young lieutenant and future president James Monroe, at Washington Crossing Bucks County in December 1776, leading up to the Battle of Trenton on Christmas night; ground corn and red wheat for flour to make bread at the farm’s grist mill for the troops; provided lumber and equipment from his farm’s saw mill for repair of Durham boats used for the Crossing. 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).
John Thompson (1726-1799): Youngest of the four original Thompson brothers, Ensign, 1st Company, 5th Battalion, Bucks County Militia, and then Northampton Company, First Battalion, Bucks County Militia, then Northampton Company, 1st Battalion, then Captain Bristol Company, then 1st Lieutenant, fought in the French and Indian War and then the Revolutionary War, one of the earliest in the county to pledge oath of allegiance to Pennsylvania and Colonies; During Revolutionary War, was Bucks County's Wagon Master for George Washington, responsible for securing horses, wagons, supplies for the Continental army and the French troops; became first Commissioned Sheriff of Bucks County.
William Simpson Sr (1710-1817): Private, 1st Class, 4th Company, Buckingham.
Hannah Delaplane Simpson Thompson (1714-1803): Patriot and 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.
Abraham Johnson ( -1799): Ensign, then Lieutenant of the 4th Company, 1st 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 of Bucks County.
Gaun McGraudy (1736-1812): Son of Samuel and Margaret McGraudy, husband of Mary Wilson, nephew of Elizabeth McGraudy Thompson; Private, Warwick Associators of Bucks County.
John McGraudy Sr. ( 1740-1820): Son of Samuel and Margaret McGraudy, nephew of Elizabeth McGraudy Thompson; Ensign.
William Simpson Jr (1741-1825): the former the husband of Isabella Wilson Simpson, active service with Buckingham Associators under Lieutenant John Wilson (brother to Isabella) and later Solebury Company.
Robert Wilson: youngest son of Jennet and John Wilson, a member of the Associated Company of Buckingham and Wrightstown.
William Neely (1742-1818): Captain of the 7th Company, 1st Battalion, Upper Makefield, Bucks County Militia,then Captain of 6th Company, 1st Battalion, Upper Makefield; son-in-law of Robert and Hannah Thompson, husband to Elizabeth Thompson Neely; fought in the August 1776 Battle of Long Island NY that 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 December 1776.
John Wilson (1745-1811): son of John and Jennet Wilson, husband of Mary Simpson Wilson, 1st Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, then 2nd Battalion of Buckingham and Wrightstown Company of Associators 1775; then Sergeant, Bucks County Militia, and later Justice of the Pease.
Thomas Gaine (1751-1820): Husband to Sarah Dougherty, Private, 2nd Battalion, Wrightstown Associators, then with Buckingham Associators, saw active service under Captain Henry Darrah.
John Thompson (1754- ): Captain of 1st Company , 5th Battalion, Bucks Co Militia; son of Hugh and Sarah Thompson; husband of Mary Thompson. Was promoted to Major in the 5th 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 manufactured gun powder on his farm for Continental Army.
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.
Hugh Ramsey (1749-1825): Private with Associated Company of Warwick, husband of Jane Thompson Ramsey (1760-1836).
Thomas Dougherty: husband to Jennet Wilson; soldier, member of the Associated Company of Buckingham.
Abraham Lefferts (1755-1819): husband of Margaret Vanartsdalen and father of Ann Lefferts Thompson, Captain, 7th Company, Northampton Bucks County Militia; then Lieutenant in 3rd Battalion Bucks County Militia.
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 presented John Thompson a `blue plume tipped with red` from his hat. See 'General Lafayette and the Plume' in this website for the rest of the story.
We should not forget the sacrifices and contributions made by spouses. For example a) the four daughters of John Wilson Sr.: Jennett, Mary, Ann, and Isabella, all of whom married Revolutionary War soldiers, b) Hannah Simpson Thompson mentioned above for her care to soldiers at Thompson-Neely Farmstead, and c) others including but not limited to Mary Thompson, Elizabeth Thompson Neely, Mary Praul Thompson, and Sarah Thompson.