James Pryor THOMPSON

                       The marriage of Mary Vaught to James M. Thompson on March 13, 1866, was
    documented in a book entitled, "Early East Tennessee Marriages Vol.2, (976.8
    v2s v.2), by Pamela Walker in October 1994 in the Salt Lake Geneological
    Library.  A second documentation for this marriage was found in, "Records From
    Monroe County, Tennessee 1820-1870," (976.888 v2b v.1).  A third marriage
    information source is film #0024769, "Marriage records Monroe County
    1838-1868".  (Research done by Nona Agnes Gay gave Mar. 15, 1866, as their
    marriage date, but Mar. 13, 1866, was the day they applied for the liscense.)

    Research done by Nona Agnes Gay, indicated that James was buried in the
    Philadelphia Cemetery near Sweetwater, Tennessee.

    In Oct. 1994, I, Pamela Walker, looked up the exact location and county
    of the Philadelphia Cemetery in book 976.878 v3s, "Tombstone Inscriptions Of
    Grundy County, Tennessee."  Pages 78-87 lists those buried in the Philadelphia
    Church Cemetery, but I didn't find James Thompson listed.

    Also, in Oct. 1994, I found this description of the Philadelphia Cemetery.
    "Philadelphia Church Cemetery lies at the mouth of Savage Cove off Route 56
    near Collins Rive and Warren County line--very old and very large.

    In book 976.8 entitled, "Tennessee Tombstone Inscriptions and Manuscripts,"
    I found, "Philadelphia is 13 miles south of McMinnville in Grundy County.
    This church is a primitive Baptist and Methodist."  (p. 152-153)

    In a letter I received on 30 November 1994, from Knox County Public Library, I
    was able to verify the spelling of Glenloch, Tennessee.

    Civil War Pension records received from Sue Fuentez, in November 1994, cleared
    up the question as to whether it was James M. of James P. Thompson.  Also,
    these documents stated that the marriage date for James and Mary was 15 March
    1866, not 13 March 1866, as the marriage records from Monroe County state.  I
    quote Mary, "The mistake was caused by the party applying for the liscense in
    the general racket which usually attends marriages."

    James enlisted in the Civil War on the Union side at the age of 21 years on
    July 1, 1863 in Kentucky in Co. 2. 5th Regiment of Tennessee Infantry.  This was
    two years after the Civil War started. This confirms Nona Thompson's research
    indicating that James was born in 1843.

    James was discharged honorably on June 30, 1865, at or near Nashville,
    Tennessee.  At the time he was discharged he had chronic diarrhea, piles,
    rheumatism, and disease of the heart.

    James was married shortly after being discharged from the Civil War to Mary
    Bethany Vaught on 15 March 1866 near Philadelphia in Monroe County, Tennessee.

    There were other children born prior to Oley and Arthur, but these two were the
    only two under sixteen years of age and still living at home when Mary
    qualified for a widow's pension after James' death.  The application for
    widow's pension gives Oley C. Thompson's birth date as 20 August 1879, and
    Arthur P. Thompson's birth date as 11 April 1885.

    In 1883 James and Mary were residents of Monroe County, Tennessee.

    In 1887 James and Mary were residents of Glenloch, Monroe County.

    In 1890 James and Mary were residents of Sweetwater, Monroe County.

    In 1891 James' address on invalid pension was Philadelphia, Loudon County,
    Tennessee.

    Widow's Pension documents confirm that James died at Sweetwater, Monroe,
    Tennessee, on 13 May 1893.

    On 28 May 1883, James was treated at the Cumberland Hospital for chronic
    diarrhea, right lung problem, and nerve problem.  His physical description at
    the age of 40 years was as follows.

    height:  5 feet 10 inches
    complexion:  fair
    hair:  light
    eyes:  blue
    occupation:  farmer

    On 12 July 1893, Mary still had two children, Oley and Arthur, still at home
    in Rogers, Bell, Texas.  Mary was given $8.00 per month plus $2.00 per child
    which equalled $12.00 per month until the children turned sixteen.

    On 8 Nov 1893, these statements were sealed by a notary.  "James and Mary were
    young folks together, lived and reared in the same community and knew each
    other some years before their marriage."  Mary could not extablish birthdays
    of her children by physician or midwife or church records.  Their birth dates
    are established only by family records.

    On 3 January 1895, Elisha D. Thompson, brother to James P. Thompson, stated
    that neither James P. or Mary B. were previously married.  He also said that
    Mary had no property except household goods and that she lived in a small
    rented house and that she had no means of income except her manual labor.

    Also, on 3 January 1895, John R. Gaines stated that he knew James P. Thompson
    and that he was a hard working man.  He knew them (James and Mary) for 20
    years.  He knew that Mary had no other estate left her and no other income
    except from her manual labor and that she has not remarried since the death of
    her husband.

    4 Aug