THOMPSONs in Newland, 1680s onward (and COSTER) (General)

by marshastringer, Monday, December 29, 2008, 05:01 (5881 days ago)

Greetings,

I was verrry excited to review the latest updates to the FOD database this morning and would like to try to confirm two of the new entries:

John/Abigail are our earliest, currently documented via the baptisms of their children in Newland.

Does it really say Residence LONDON?! This would be a very new/exciting clue as to their origins.
1686 Sep 21 Martha TOMPSON d/o John/Abigail, residence London, bap (ID 322100; RegRef: P227 IN 1/2; P 59; Parish: Newland; Notes: Compiled from Latin PRs and BTs)

I suspect the mother is really Abig/Abigail?
1687 Dec 17 John TOMPSON s/o John/Alice, Residence illeg, bap (ID 322164; RegRef: P227 IN 1/2; P 63; Parish: Newland; Notes: Compiled from Latin PRs and BTs

A group of cousins has been researching our THOMPSONs and we know/think we know:
John/Abigail had two sons: 1687 John and 1695 William. Both sons worked for (more likely formen for) the COSTER family copper mills. William can be traced to Bitton,GLS and the Swinford, GLS mills. We're fairly certain that John m. Anne COSTER, 1709 (GLS allegation, but no marriage found)and that he ended up at the mills in Bye Mill/Publow/Pensford, Somerset.

We have several hints of connections between the families, but still lack some key confirmations/details. A few items:

1709, June 15. Gloucestershire Marriage Licence allegations. John THOMPSON aged 22, of Newland, Glos & Anne COSTER aged 22, spinster of Newland, Glos, with consent of friends. Signed 'John TOMPSON'. Cannot place/identify Anne within the COSTER family.

1709 Lease, in Wales Library. From GLS RO reference: 'Industrial History of the Forest of Dean' by Cyril Hart. Pages 104-113: Copper works [Redbrook] 1690-1730 - Upper Redbook cooper works begun before 1691 - "In 1709 John COSTER surrendered his lease for a new one made by Benedict HALL to him and Edward COLSTON merchant of Mortlake, Surrey. The new lease* was for 99 years on the survivorship of either of two of COSTER's sons, Thomas and John, or of John THOMPSON of Redbook." - "Thomas COSTER died that year, 1739, and soon afterwards THOMPSON (the last of the three lives in the lease) also died."
* in the National Library of Wales - Myndd MSS 1923

Worded: " . . .and John Tompson Junr son of John Tompson of Redbrook aforesaid . . ."
[No further explanation. No death for John THOMPSON aft 1739 yet found.]

1739. Per Thomas COSTER will "I give unto John THOMPSON of By Mill forty pounds and to his son John twenty pounds and to William THOMPSON of Swineford twenty pounds to go to them within twelve months next after my decease.

[Pretty sure it's 1787 John in Bye Mill; son 1710 John, bap Newland; 1695 William in Swinford].

Any help/comments/suggestions as to ways to proceed most welcome.

Regards,

Marsha Stringer