Person talk:James Tompkins (2)

From James Tompkins (15): Lack of evidence [17 May 2013]

I am doing some cleanup of this family, based on the assumption that 2 or more James Tompkins have been combined into one.

There was:
1) a James Tompkins who had twin children (Thomas and Mary) baptized in Morristown New Jersey in 1744 (baptisms published).
2) a James Tompkins who married Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of Joseph Jackson, and "settled in Virginia", according to the book "Jacksons in Hempstead" and the Jackson Ledger.
3) a James Tompkins who was a founder of the Eaton Church (fork of the Yadkin) in North Carolina in 1772 (source not found).
4) a James Tompkins who was a founder of the Three Forks Baptist Church in Wilkes County (later Watauga County), North Carolina in 1790 and sent to seek union with another church in 1793, according to the book "History of Watauga County, North Carolina".
5) a James Tompkins who was in Wilkes County, North Carolina with minor children between 1784 and 1787 (state census), and again in 1790 (federal census).
6) a James Tompkins who witnessed a deed in Tennessee in 1804

There was also a Mary Tompkins who married Joseph Sewell in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1779 (North Carolina County Marriages at familysearch).

It is reasonable to assume that 4) and 5) were the same person, and not unreasonable to assume that this was the same person as 3) and that the Mary Tompkins who married Joseph Sewell was his daughter. However, the James Tompkins in the 1784-1787 census was under 61, and thus unlikely to be the same as 1) and there appears to be no reason to assume that the Mary Tompkins who married Joseph Sewell is the one who was baptized in 1744.

There is some evidence that James Tompkins of North Carolina was the same person as 2), since William, the brother of Elizabeth Jackson, was in Wilkes County, North Carolina at the same time as 5), and the Jackson Ledger indicates that William Jackson "came south" with his sister and her family.

If 2) is the same person as 3) 4) and 5), then it is unlikely that he is the same person as 1), even though they were both in Morris County, New Jersey (although they may have been related).

I will update records to group them as follows:
A) James Tompkins who had twins baptized in 1744 in Morris County, New Jersey (1)
B) James Tompkins who married Elizabeth Jackson and moved first to Virginia and then to Wilkes County, North Carolina (2, 3, 4 and 5)
C) James Tompkins in Tennessee in 1804 - possibly B, or possibly the son of B (6)

Additionally, since there appears to be no evidence for the origin of any of these James Tompkins, or for his middle name being Edwin, I will unlink A and B from any parents and remove the middle name.--DataAnalyst 10:43, 17 May 2013 (EDT)