Tompkins
of Laurel
County
by Casey Meshbesher
An article from The Sentinel Echo, London , Laurel Co. KY Weds. Sept 9, 1987, sec A-10: Traces of Laurel, edited by Geneva Pope
The Tompkins Family in Laurel Co.
Eli Thompkins first appears in Laurel County in the 1840 census. The family came from Virginia before that time. When this research was done no one had learned Beaty's maiden name. Eli and wife, Beaty, are listed in the 30-40 age group. One son is under age 5, a son and daughter are 5-10. All were born in Virginia so apparently the family migrated after 1835. Daughter Nancy married Joseph Morgan, son of Daniel Morgan of Cane Creek (located in the west side of Laurel Co.) In Book AA, page 44, is recorded Joseph Morgan obtained license to marry Nancy W. Tompkins, January 24, 1846, Eli Tompkins parent. Executed and returned this 25th day of January 1846.
In the 1850 census Eli is located as widower, living with sons B. H. and Charles Storm Tompkins. His first wife Beaty had died probably with the birth of William, who was born circa 1848. On August 4, 1851, Eli married Mary Jane Godsey age 23, he was about 48 years of age.
In May 1857, attorney James Sparks helped Eli to retain land he had bought from James E. Logan. Tompkins had not recorded his deed of the land, Logan sold it again to John Shotwell. Evidently Eli had the deed and had witness, Benjamin Catching, and on May 25, 1857, the deed was cleared and signed by James E. Morgan, witnessed by J. M Smith. Oon the same day Eli deeded the land to John W. Shotwell.
In the 1860 Eli is listed as 59 years old, Mary Jane is 32 years of age and born in Kentucky. Two children of the first marriage are living with them, William age 12 born in Kentucky and Pheby age 15 also born in Kentucky. Children by Mary Jane are Emily M., age 8; Elias B.., age 7; Ammon, age 5; George W., age 2, and Stephen, age 1.
Recorded on March 12, 1866, license obtained to by Wilburn Turner, age 23, to marry Burnette Thompkins to be married by James Gumm at the home of Elizabeth Tompkins. Her relationship to Eli is not known at this time (1). Surety was Robert Johnson whose land joined Eli’s.
In the 1870 census Eli and Mary Jane are listed as 67 and 43 respectively. According to previous listing Elias B. should be 17, Ammon G., 15, George W., 13, Stephen is 11, Sarah B., age 9, Daniel, age 7, Rosey E., 5, Malisie, age 3, and David R., age 1. The next household is that of Mary Tompkins, age 40, and has Andrew age 20, Charles age 15, and Malinda age 5 (2.)
In the 1880 census Mary Jane is listed as living alone with two children, Malinda C., age 14 and Jarvis J., age 8 (3.) Eli had died Oct 10, 1872 and was buried on his farm where Beaty had no doubt been buried. This site became the Tompkins Cemetery (sometimes referred to as Cassidy) but was never protected by a deed and was destroyed by later owners and markers dug up. Mary Jane was buried here later as was Nancy Tompkins Morgan but no markers remain. Eli’s stone remained until recent years, engraved Eli Tompkins, July 4, 1803, October 10, 1872.
Nancy Tompkins Morgan, age 52, a widow, is listed as a farmer and lives alone except for sister, Melica C. who is housekeeping.
Eliza Tompkins, age 7, is listed in the household of Bolin Farmer as niece. Wife Lavina, age 65, is listed as born in Virginia and parents born in Virginia. Was Lavina’s maiden name Tompkins (4)?
Andy Tompkins, age 30, living in the area of the Eli Tompkins farm, has wife Charita age 27, son Charles R., age 5, daughter Martha E., and son John F. age 2. Is he son or grandson of Eli (5)? Riece Tompkins, age 15, is living and working in the household of Elly Godsey (6) in Raccoon Precinct. He is not listed as her grandson but possibly he is. Elly could be the mother of Mary Jane Godsey Tompkins. Eli certainly had a son Reece and the age is the same. Reece married twice, to Martha Jones, 9-17-1885 Laurel Co. Marriage Book I Section K, and (2nd) to Maggie Taylor, 10-15,1929, Book 49, page 4, Laurel County Marriages. Both are buried in Wiggington Cemetery, that is Reece and Martha. Reece born 1865 died 1938. Martha born 1870 died 1927.
Tompkins/ Thompkins marriages in Laurel County:
Nancy W. Tompkins (7) to Joseph Morgan, 1-24-1846, Bk. AA, pg. 44.
W. W. Tompkins to Julia Groves, 12-24-1860 Bk. B, pg. 265.
Andrew W. Tompkins (8) to Charity A. Barton, 11-27-1873, Bk. F, pg. 51
D. Huston Tompkins (9) to Clarie Graybeal 8-7-1883, Bk. I, Section T.
Eli Tompkins to Jane Godsey, 8-4-1851, Bk. AA pg. 78
R. E. (Reece) Tompkins (10) to Martha Jones, 9-17-1885, Bk. 1.
Willie Tompkins (11) to Maude Moore, 9-20-1908, Bk. Y, pg 39.
Pearl Tompkins to Linda Taylor, 2-1-1913, Bk. 28, pg. 173.
James S. Tompkins to Hattie Reams, 9-12-1916, Bk. 32, pg. 71.
J. M. Tompkins (12) to Cordelia Goforth, 8-21-1920, Bk. 39, pg. 110.
Lank Tompkins (13) to Mary Lawson, 5-19-1921, Bk. 39, pg. 110.
Leonard Tompkins to Pauline Jones, 6-4-1930, Bk. 49, pg. 152.
R. E. to Maggie Taylor, 10-15-1929, Bk. 49, pg. 4.
Delbert Tompkins (14) to Mary Johnson, 2-23-1925, Bk. 43, pg. 15.
E. B. Tompkins (15) to Chlor Smith, 3-30-1921, Bk. 39, pg. 81.
Burnett Tompkins (16) to Wilbur Turner, 3-12-1866.
The preceding
information was sent to:
Doris Robertson, 627 Cottage Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind., 46203
(17), who is a descendant of Eli Tompkins and Beaty Tompkins, her
gr-gr-gr grandparents. She has donated family group sheets to
LCHS.
Casey’s footnotes
to the
Sentinel Echo article:
(1) Elizabeth Tompkins is the mother of Burnetta Tompkins.
(2) Mary J. Tompkins of the 1870 next door household is probably the daughter of Eli and Elizabeth. Andrew is William Andrew son of Eli and Martha Beatty, but who Charles and Malinda are remains unclear. See notes above in the overview, Part 1. Also of note in this 1870 census: The household next door to Mary J, Andrew, et al is that of Pheby D. Godsey and James Storms.
(3)See full discussion of this 1880 household above in Part 1.
(4)The answer is that she was Lavina Godsey Farmer, Mary Jane’s sister and therefore maternal aunt to Eliza Tompkins.
(5)He is Eli’s son or grandson, William Andrew Tompkins, see discussion in Part 1 above.
(6)Reece is living with his uncle Elly Godsey, brother of Mary Jane Godsey Tompkins. The author is mistaken when referring to Elly as a woman. Elly is Ellison, the brother mentioned in the will of Mary Jane as the guardian for her minor children.
(7) Daughter of Elizabeth Wilborn and Eli Tompkins.
(8) Same as 5.
(9) Son of Mary Jane Godsey and Eli Tompkins.
(10) Reece Ellis Tompkins, son of Mary Jane and Eli
(11) William Howard Tompkins, son of Daniel Huseton Tompkins and Clara Graybeal.
(12) Jesse Morgan Tompkins, son of Huseton and Clara.
(14) Son of Martha Jones and Reece Tompkins.
(15) E. B. is Eli Bony, son of Reece and Martha Jones, this has elsewhere been assumed to be Elias B. son of Eli and Mary Jane Godsey, this is incorrect. Eli Bony married Chloe Smith and migrated to Indiana and later Oregon.
(16) Daughter of Elizabeth Wilborn and Eli Tompkins.
(17) I have checked and Doris is no longer listed at that address.