Needham was born about 1790, likely in Ballston Springs or Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, New York per direct family oral history accounts and the publication History of Johnson County, Indiana. His parents are believed to be Robert Thompson, a Revolutionary War veteran of the Connecticut Line, Continental Army, of Stafford, Connecticut, and Hannah Needham of Wales, Massachusetts (married 4 Sept 1783 in Stafford.)

Needham's father Robert's three year enlistment, discharge and monthly muster rolls are well documented but post-war pension and land bounty claims have not been found. Of note, Robert's muster roll reports reveal he was held in captivity and later released back to his Company. This aligns with published and family history accounts that claim he was severely wounded, captured and later paroled during the war. The publication Fire Cake and Water The Connecticut Infantry at the Valley Forge Encampment also documents his capture and release from captivity. An analysis of muster rolls reveal Private Jacob Ward, who served with Robert in the same Company, was on detachment away from camp (Valley Forge) with Robert and also captured and released at same time. Jacob's war pension record of 1818 claims he was wounded and captured on 19 February 1778 at Whitestown, Pennsylvania and later released from captivity about 1 July 1778. This account approximately aligns with muster roll reports. Subsequent research reveals historical accounts of a surprise Loyalist Militia raid on Whitestown, an important mill site for textile production for the soldiers at Valley Forge, on 19 February 1778 of which all of the Patriot Militia and Continental soldiers at this post were killed, wounded or captured, the captured marched back to British occupied Philadelphia as prisoners of war. Robert and Hannah Thompson could be the family living in Northumberland, Saratoga, New York in the 1800 Census and oral history accounts say they moved on to Canada where they died. Family oral history accounts from two grandchildren claim that Robert never asked for a war pension from his government. War pension claims did not exist until 1818 so it could be surmised that Robert was still living at this time, or perhaps living in Canada where a pension claim could be problematic. Robert was the son of Henry Thompson and Mary Ann White of Stafford, Connecticut. Hannah was the daughter of Jasper Needham and Deborah Fuller of Wales, Massachusetts.

The History of Johnson County, Indiana (pg 843-44) publication lists Needham's siblings as Jasper, Robert, Crowell, Eleanor, Harmer and Mary Anne. Harmer could be either Alfred or Henry as the siblings appear to be named after grandparents and an Alfred Thompson served in the very same 55th Regiment during the War of 1812 (Alfred's War of 1812 pension claim states he served in same unit as brother Robert). Needham served in the War of 1812 as a Drum Major Musician with Col Clark Allen's 55th Regiment of New York Militia of the Ellisburg, New York area. His brothers Crowell (or Croel), Alfred and Robert served in the same Regiment as well as brother-in-law Levi Bemis. Their service dates coincide with the Regiment's participation in the Battle of Big Sandy Creek against the British and carrying of the "Big Rope" for the USS Superior at Sackett's Harbor.

Needham is listed on the 1820 US Census of Ellisburg but his wife Sally (Holly) was a widow in the 1830 US Census of Ellisburg. His son William Needham was born in Ellisburg in 1828, so Needham's death is approximate to 1828 as no documentation can be found. He is likely buried in Ellisburg.

Needham married Sally Holly of Westmoreland, New York on 30 Jan 1812, likely in either Ellisburg or Westmoreland. Children:

1) Alvira Adeline Thompson, 1813-1854, m. Horace "Harry" Burr 1833.

2) Alzina Emeline Thompson, 1815-1917, m. Orville L. Arnold 1836. It is her original family tree document still in the family drafted about 1900 that much family history of this line is recorded.

3) Owen Thompson, 1817-?, was living in Louisville, Kentucky in 1843 as evidenced by family letters but died of Yellow Fever during a multi-year whaling voyage with his brother William. His sister Alzina Emeline records his burial on banks of Big Sunflower River, Mississippi.

4) Cynthia Thompson, 1819-1909, m.Jedediah Sherman 1841, m. George Washington Riggs 1852.

5) William Holly Thompson, 1822-1822, died as an infant.

6) Sally Ann Thompson, 1823-1908, m. Richard DeWitt 1840.

7) Ora L. Thompson, 1826-1862, m. Celinda Waterman 1849. Died in the Civil War in Virginia during the Peninsula Campaign while serving as a Private with 65th New York Infantry Regiment. Sister Alzina Emeline written records say he was "buried at war".

8) William Needham Thompson, 1828-1905. Civil War Veteran of three separate enlistments with the 7th Ohio and 193rd Ohio Infantry Regiments, as well as the Navy on the Ironclad USS Benton. Served in the Navy before the war and was on the same whaling voyage in which is brother Owen died. Buried at Dayton National Cemetery after a stay at the Soldier's Home.