Person Page - 918

     Jimmie Tompkins was born on 16 October 1902.¹ She was the daughter of William Alexander Tompkins and Mattie Sue Coleman. Jimmie Tompkins married Frank Wiliamson.¹ Jimmie Tompkins died in February 1983 at age 80.¹

     Joel was born on 12 November 1847 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of James M. Tompkins and Eliza Ann King. He married Mary E. Lord, , on 13 October 1872 at Washington Co., Georgia.² Joel died on 21 August 1908 at Washington Co., Georgia, at age 60. His body was buried at Tanner Community Cemetery, Washington Co., Georgia.³

     John was born circa 1875 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of Henry C. Tompkins and Lucy (--?--).

     John was born circa 1835 at Stewart Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of John W. Tompkins and Mary (--?--).

     John was born circa 1771. He was the son of Samuel Tompkins and Elizabeth Partin. He married Mary Parsons, daughter of John Parsons, circa 1790. John died in January 1840 at Jefferson Co., Georgia.¹
     
Biography of John Tompkins:

John Tompkins of Jefferson Co. Georgia has been included in this genealogy because we believe he is related to the Tompkins of Washington County Georgia. More information on John Tompkins of Jefferson Co. is contained in Louise Tompkins Wynn and Charles Arthur[ Wynn, Jr. thoroughly researched book A Family History of the Tompkins and Keas of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.CIT:]515;[:CIT].

     John was born circa 1886 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of Edmund W. Tompkins and Annie (--?--).

     John was born circa 1690. He married Mary (--?--), , circa 1715.¹ John died after 1751 at Anson Co., North Carolina.
     
Biography of John Tompkins:

The South Carolina Record

The earliest records we have found concerning Tompkins in the area of Craven County South Carolina are as follows:

On 12 Feb. 1738 William Denkins marries Sarah Tompkins in Prince Frederick Parish, Craven County, South Carolina.² Prince Frederick Parish was formed in 1734 from Prince George's Parish and covered the upper and western area of Craven County between the Pee Dee and the Santee Rivers.

On 2 May 1741 Gabriel Johnston, North Carolina Royal Governor for the Crown granted Thomas Tompkins 400 acres in Bladen County, North Carolina on the S, W. side of the Pee Dee River, joining William Dinkins and the said river.³

On 22 May 1741 Gabriel Johnston, Royal Governor for the Crown granted William Dinkins 640 acres in Bladen County, North Carolina on the S. W. side of Pee Dee river joining Thomas Tomkins and the river.⁴ This William Denkins is likely the same William Denkins who married Sarah Tompkins 12 Feb 1738 in St. Frederick Parish of South Carolina.⁵

On 19 April 1744 John Cromby marries Mary Tompkins in Prince Frederick Parish. Craven County, South Carolina.. ⁶

John Tompkins witnessed the following deed on 8 Aug. 1747: Thomas Tomkins, planter and Mary 'his wife Spinster' of Bladen Co. deeds to Matthew Creed of Craven Co. SC, carpenter, for L 100 of SC money, 200 a., half of a 400 a. grant to sd. Tomkins 2 May 1741, on Pee Dee adj. William Denkins land ... /s/ Thomas Tomkins, Mary (X) Tomkins. Wit: Francis Awbrey, John Loyd, William Denkins. (Plat included in deed).⁷

On 25 Mar. 1749, Thomas Tomkins of "Hanson" Co., planter, for L 300 money of SC deeds to William Forbes of same, planter, 200 a. on S. side of Pee Dee between William Dinkins and John Williams ... granted to Tomkins 22 Mar. 1741. /s/ Thomas Tomkins. Mary (X) Tomkins. Wit: Patrick Sheals, Frances (f) Chappel.⁸

In 1750 William Denkins of Anson, planter, deeds to John Tomkins of same, planter, 240 a. of land on SW side of Pee Dee, part of a 640 a. grant to said Denkins 22 May 1741. Wit: Thomas Tomkins, John Jenkins, James (X) Babore.⁹ This is the only record we have found indicating John Tompkins as a land owner.

John Tompkins and his son, Thomas witnessed the following deed on 21 August 1750: Samuel Goodman of Bertie Co. NC deeds to John Jenkins of Anson Co, for L32 Va. money... 200 A on W side Pee Dee, adj. John Hornbacks...Samuel Goodman (Seal), Wit: John Tomkins, Thomas Tomkins. ¹⁰

John Tompkina winessed the following deed on 13 March 1751: John Westfield of Craven Co. , S. C. Blacksmith, deeds to John Kimbrough of Anson Co., for L500 money of S., C., 640 A on W side Great Pee Dee... below Long Island... adj. lower corner of John King... patent dated 22 May 1741...John Westfield (Seal), Sarah Westfield (Seal), Wit: William Bedingfield, John Tomkins, John Jones (X). ¹¹

This was the last mention of John Tomkins that we have found suggesting that he died sometime after March, 1751.

On 7 January 1780, Stephen Tomkins and his mother Mary of Anson Co. Prov. of NC deeds to William Peagues of Craven Co. SC, for L24000 SC money ... 240 a. on SW side of Peedee River, part of 640 a. granted to William Denkins by Gov. Johnson, adi. John Wright ... /s/ Stephen Tomkins, Mary (X) Tomkins. Wit: Claudius Peagues Jr., B. Hicks. Proved 2 Feb. 1784.¹²

Bladen County, North Carolina (which was formed in 1734) and Anson County (which was formed from Bladen in 1750) bordered Craven County, South Carolina. Before 1772, all the land described in the deeds and patents listed above were believed to be in Bladen/Anson County, North Carolina. In 1735, North and South Carolina had agreed that their border would be the 35th parallel. However, a survey error in 1737 placed the 35th parallel at the point where it crosses the Pee Dee River about 12 miles south of where the 35 parallel actually was. This error was discovered in a 1767 resurvey and finally corrected in 1772 when the border was officially moved about 12 miles north. Thus by 1772 all this land was in South Carolina rather than North Carolina and the Tompkins and Dinkins families living on this land became residents of South Carolina.

The Family of John Tompkins

The above deeds and marriage records suggest the following:

We believe the progenitor of the Tompkins in Craven County, South Carolina is John Tompkins of this biography. Our rationale for this is based primarily on the above 1750 and 1780 deeds for 280 acres. Stephen Tompkins and his mother Mary are the son and widow of Thomas Tompkins who had died in 1777. (see biography of Thomas Tompkins) In order for the son and widow of Thomas Tompkins to sell the 280 acres of land in 1780 that John Tompkins had bought from William Dinkins in 1750, Thomas must have inherited it from John Tompkins clearly suggesting that Thomas was a son of John Tompkins. If Thomas had acquired that land by deed, that deed would have been recorded or mentioned in the 1780 deed. Instead, it had to be common knowledge that Thomas was a son of John and thus the rightful owner of that land so there was not need to prove Thomas was the rightful owner. In addition, John Tompkins signed first and Thomas Tompkins signed second when they witnessed the 21 August 1750 deed between Wesfield and Kimbrough which further supports a father son relationship.

The two marriages of Sarah Tompkins to William Dinkins and Mary Tompkins to John Cromby suggest that Sarah and Mary are the daughters of John Tompkins. Clearly William Dinkins recieved a grant in Anson County at the same time as Thomas Tompkins with suggests that Sarah Tompkins is Thomas's sister. Also Prince Frederick Parish in Winyaw where Sarah and Mary Tompkins married covered tlhe western area of Craven County clearly suggesting that Sarah and Mary's parents lived in Western Cravern County at that time as where else but the home parish of the bride would the marriages take place.

We estimate that John Tompkins was born about 1690 and died after 1751 in Anson Co. North Carolina, now Chesterfield Co. South Carolina.

     John was born circa 1850 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of Francis Young Tompkins and Sarah Sheppard. He married Martha Holton, daughter of Teletha Holton and Frances (--?--), circa 1865 at Washington Co., Georgia.²

     John was born circa 1854 at Lowndes Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of Benjamin Tompkins and Martha Hardie. He married Sarah Jane (--?--), , circa 1873 at Florida. John died on 14 December 1919 at Suwannee Co., Florida.²
     John's occupation: Farmer.

     John was born circa 1873 at Washington Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of William A. Tompkins and Emma M. (--?--).