Molly may have been born in England, rather than Scotland. Note: Regarding birth/death dates. Her tombstone, as shown here, states that she was born in 1754 and died in 1850, at the approximate age of 95 or 96 years old. Multiple family journals have previously recorded her birth year as 1747 or 1749 (I have never seen 1754 listed in any of these journals), and her death date as 1849, stating that she was either 100 or 102 years old. As a note, there is an "M. Thompson," aged 95, widow, listed on the 1850 Mortality Schedule of the U.S. Census in District 28 of Benton County, Alabama (this region of Benton County later became Cleburne County), as having passed away in Jan 1850 from "old age." It is presumed by some that this is indeed Molly. The tombstone shown here may have been made several years, or even decades, after Molly's passing, and this record may have very well been used for the dates shown. Therefore, I am not changing the dates shown on her memorial to reflect those on the tombstone. I will decline any edits to change these dates without substantial source documentation to support the edit. Please send such source documentation to me via the edit tab ("suggest other corrections").

Also, regarding the tombstone (many, many thanks to contributor jenleidris (48553776) for this beautiful photo of Molly's grave marker), she describes the location of the marker as follows:
"[Her] marker is out in the field on the far left of the church where there are several other very old markers." I have personally walked this area of older markers several times in the past, and I have never seen this marker. Perhaps it was buried or illegible (it looks as if it has been cleaned very well and very recently), or perhaps it was made more recently and placed there, again using the Mortality Schedule record as the only source for the years inscribed. I tend to lean towards the latter. (1754 is simply not recorded in the multiple family journals and genealogical profiles that exist - the old ones that were compiled prior to computers.) As a final note, there have been several Thompson families, not related to each other, who settled in this area of Cleburne County during the 1800s. For me, I need something more concrete to confirm that the "M. Thompson" on the 1850 Mortality Schedule is indeed my ancestor, Molly. (See these 1850 Mortality Schedule source listings at the bottom of this bio.)

Molly was the wife of Joseph Patrick Thompson, son of Moses & Jane (Wallace) Thompson. According to family legend, they met on a ship when immigrating to the soon-to-be United States of America. This has since been brought into question by several distant cousins.

JOSEPH PATRICK THOMPSON was born in 1747 and died in the Pendleton District, SC, between 9 Oct. 1810 and 25 Feb 1811, dates of his will and its probate. [Will Book A, p. 118, Anderson Co., S.C.]

Acccording to Stennett, he married in January 1769, Sarah "Sally" Jolly, b. 1754. [Thompson Gen. Journal says wife named in his will was Molly Jolly, b. 1747, which is correct]

Joseph Patrick Thompson served as a Lt. in the First or Southern Batallion of Militia of Orange County, North Carolina, under the command of Col. Albrose Ramsey, Major Hugh Tinnian, and Captain William Williams. According to family tradition, Molly Jolly Thompson had to hide her children in a cave for two days while her husband was away in the Militia, because there was a price on her head for carrying information to the Americans during the Revolution. After the Revolution, either Joseph or his son by the same name filed Revolutionary claims for land in South Carolina.

Their children:
1. Robert Thompson, b. 1776, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. aft 1850, Carroll Co., GA
2. Ransom T. Thompson, b. 1778, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 3 Jul 1843, Carroll Co., GA
3. Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson, b. 1780, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 1849, Haralson, GA; m. Thomas Garner.
4. Nancy Thompson, b. 1781, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. abt. 1870, Cleburne Co., AL; m. 1) Isham Green, II; m. 2) Laudwick Orr.
5. William Thompson, b. abt. 1787, Pendleton, Anderson, SC
6. Zachariah T. Thompson, b. 1788, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 23 Sep 1868, Jasper Co., MS
7. Joseph R. Thompson, b. May 1791, Pendleton, Anderson, SC; d. abt. 1880, Forsyth, GA
8. Rebecca Jane Thompson, b. 8 Sep 1793, Pendleton, Anderson, SC; d. 31 Oct 1884, Cleburne Co., AL; m. John L. Hunnicut
9. John David Thompson, b. 5 Feb 1795, Pendleton, Anderson, SC
10. Mary Jane "Polly" Thompson, b. 5 Feb 1803, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 28 Feb 1883, Covington Co., MS; m. Zabud F. Duckworth, Sr.

Joseph died in 1810 in the Pendleton District of South Carolina, and he is buried there; however, his exact burial location is unknown. Molly moved with her son, Ransom, and his family to Muscadine, Cleburne County, Alabama, where she died in 1849 at the age of 102. She was originally buried here, but her body was moved later, when land was reclaimed for a pond.

Will of Joseph Patrick Thompson, 9 October 1810, Pendleton District, South Carolina:

"In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Thompson of the state of South Carolina and the District of Pendleton being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory to make and order this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give my soul into the hand of All Mighty God that gave it never doubting that I shall relive the same at the General resurrection my body and I recommend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors and as touching such wrly (sic) estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and devise and bequeth in the following manner that is to say I give Robert Thompson five shillings, Random Thompson five shillings, Nancy Green five shillings, Betsy Garner five shillings, Zachariah Thompson five shillings and Joseph Thompson five shillings each the rest after my debts is paid I leave to Molly Thompson my lawful wife to possess during life, then to be equally divided between by three younger children Rebecca, John, Polly Thompson. I leave Robert Thompson and Molly Thompson my true exetur (sic) and executrix and I do utterly revoke and ... all former wills bequests...and declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness where unto I set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-fifth day of February one thousand eight hundred and ten. I leave Molly Thompson my lawful executrix to make rights to Robert Thompson for ninity (sic) six acres of land which he bough from me and has had no rights through neglect."

Joseph Thompson (seal)

Witness: Zachariah Thompson
Randsom Thompson
Joseph Thompson

U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880
Surname: M. Thompson
Year: 1850
County: Benton CO.
State: AL
Age: 95
Gender: F (Female)
Month of Death: Jan
State of Birth: Ng
ID#: 47_2617
Occupation: NONE LISTED
Cause of Death: OLD AGE

U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885
Name: M Thompson
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Widowed
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1755
Age: 95
Death Date: Jan 1850
Cause of Death: Old Age
Census year: 1850
Census Place: District 28, Benton, Alabama, USA
Line: 7

Molly may have been born in England, rather than Scotland. Note: Regarding birth/death dates. Her tombstone, as shown here, states that she was born in 1754 and died in 1850, at the approximate age of 95 or 96 years old. Multiple family journals have previously recorded her birth year as 1747 or 1749 (I have never seen 1754 listed in any of these journals), and her death date as 1849, stating that she was either 100 or 102 years old. As a note, there is an "M. Thompson," aged 95, widow, listed on the 1850 Mortality Schedule of the U.S. Census in District 28 of Benton County, Alabama (this region of Benton County later became Cleburne County), as having passed away in Jan 1850 from "old age." It is presumed by some that this is indeed Molly. The tombstone shown here may have been made several years, or even decades, after Molly's passing, and this record may have very well been used for the dates shown. Therefore, I am not changing the dates shown on her memorial to reflect those on the tombstone. I will decline any edits to change these dates without substantial source documentation to support the edit. Please send such source documentation to me via the edit tab ("suggest other corrections").

Also, regarding the tombstone (many, many thanks to contributor jenleidris (48553776) for this beautiful photo of Molly's grave marker), she describes the location of the marker as follows:
"[Her] marker is out in the field on the far left of the church where there are several other very old markers." I have personally walked this area of older markers several times in the past, and I have never seen this marker. Perhaps it was buried or illegible (it looks as if it has been cleaned very well and very recently), or perhaps it was made more recently and placed there, again using the Mortality Schedule record as the only source for the years inscribed. I tend to lean towards the latter. (1754 is simply not recorded in the multiple family journals and genealogical profiles that exist - the old ones that were compiled prior to computers.) As a final note, there have been several Thompson families, not related to each other, who settled in this area of Cleburne County during the 1800s. For me, I need something more concrete to confirm that the "M. Thompson" on the 1850 Mortality Schedule is indeed my ancestor, Molly. (See these 1850 Mortality Schedule source listings at the bottom of this bio.)

Molly was the wife of Joseph Patrick Thompson, son of Moses & Jane (Wallace) Thompson. According to family legend, they met on a ship when immigrating to the soon-to-be United States of America. This has since been brought into question by several distant cousins.

JOSEPH PATRICK THOMPSON was born in 1747 and died in the Pendleton District, SC, between 9 Oct. 1810 and 25 Feb 1811, dates of his will and its probate. [Will Book A, p. 118, Anderson Co., S.C.]

Acccording to Stennett, he married in January 1769, Sarah "Sally" Jolly, b. 1754. [Thompson Gen. Journal says wife named in his will was Molly Jolly, b. 1747, which is correct]

Joseph Patrick Thompson served as a Lt. in the First or Southern Batallion of Militia of Orange County, North Carolina, under the command of Col. Albrose Ramsey, Major Hugh Tinnian, and Captain William Williams. According to family tradition, Molly Jolly Thompson had to hide her children in a cave for two days while her husband was away in the Militia, because there was a price on her head for carrying information to the Americans during the Revolution. After the Revolution, either Joseph or his son by the same name filed Revolutionary claims for land in South Carolina.

Their children:
1. Robert Thompson, b. 1776, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. aft 1850, Carroll Co., GA
2. Ransom T. Thompson, b. 1778, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 3 Jul 1843, Carroll Co., GA
3. Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson, b. 1780, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 1849, Haralson, GA; m. Thomas Garner.
4. Nancy Thompson, b. 1781, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. abt. 1870, Cleburne Co., AL; m. 1) Isham Green, II; m. 2) Laudwick Orr.
5. William Thompson, b. abt. 1787, Pendleton, Anderson, SC
6. Zachariah T. Thompson, b. 1788, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 23 Sep 1868, Jasper Co., MS
7. Joseph R. Thompson, b. May 1791, Pendleton, Anderson, SC; d. abt. 1880, Forsyth, GA
8. Rebecca Jane Thompson, b. 8 Sep 1793, Pendleton, Anderson, SC; d. 31 Oct 1884, Cleburne Co., AL; m. John L. Hunnicut
9. John David Thompson, b. 5 Feb 1795, Pendleton, Anderson, SC
10. Mary Jane "Polly" Thompson, b. 5 Feb 1803, Pendleton, Anderson, SC, d. 28 Feb 1883, Covington Co., MS; m. Zabud F. Duckworth, Sr.

Joseph died in 1810 in the Pendleton District of South Carolina, and he is buried there; however, his exact burial location is unknown. Molly moved with her son, Ransom, and his family to Muscadine, Cleburne County, Alabama, where she died in 1849 at the age of 102. She was originally buried here, but her body was moved later, when land was reclaimed for a pond.

Will of Joseph Patrick Thompson, 9 October 1810, Pendleton District, South Carolina:

"In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Thompson of the state of South Carolina and the District of Pendleton being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory to make and order this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give my soul into the hand of All Mighty God that gave it never doubting that I shall relive the same at the General resurrection my body and I recommend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors and as touching such wrly (sic) estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and devise and bequeth in the following manner that is to say I give Robert Thompson five shillings, Random Thompson five shillings, Nancy Green five shillings, Betsy Garner five shillings, Zachariah Thompson five shillings and Joseph Thompson five shillings each the rest after my debts is paid I leave to Molly Thompson my lawful wife to possess during life, then to be equally divided between by three younger children Rebecca, John, Polly Thompson. I leave Robert Thompson and Molly Thompson my true exetur (sic) and executrix and I do utterly revoke and ... all former wills bequests...and declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness where unto I set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-fifth day of February one thousand eight hundred and ten. I leave Molly Thompson my lawful executrix to make rights to Robert Thompson for ninity (sic) six acres of land which he bough from me and has had no rights through neglect."

Joseph Thompson (seal)

Witness: Zachariah Thompson
Randsom Thompson
Joseph Thompson

U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880
Surname: M. Thompson
Year: 1850
County: Benton CO.
State: AL
Age: 95
Gender: F (Female)
Month of Death: Jan
State of Birth: Ng
ID#: 47_2617
Occupation: NONE LISTED
Cause of Death: OLD AGE

U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885
Name: M Thompson
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Widowed
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1755
Age: 95
Death Date: Jan 1850
Cause of Death: Old Age
Census year: 1850
Census Place: District 28, Benton, Alabama, USA
Line: 7