Contributed by: Frank Hooks Thompson, great-great grandson.
William Thompson was born November 15, 1797 to Hardy and Nancy (nee: Mooring) Thompson in Wayne County near Stoney Creek near what is today Goldsboro. In 1818, at the age of 21, he along with his brothers, Tarlton Thompson, Waitman Thompson and sister Nancy Hardy Thompson inherited land from their father Hardy Thompson on Stoney Creek. On January 19, 1820 he married Celia Applewhite, daughter of Isaac Applewhite. Their son Henry Mooring Thompson lived and farmed in the Stantonsburg Community. Their son Ervin Atkinson Thompson studied Law at Randolf-Macon College, and on obtaining his license, settled in Goldsboro. He was Clerk and Master in Equity in 1852, Member of the House of Commons from 1855-1858, County Solicitor in 1862 and was Wayne County's delegate to the Succession Convention. He practiced law in Goldsboro, Beaufort, Winston-Salem and in Baltimore, Maryland. William Thompson was Sheriff of Wayne County from 1831 to 1841, riding his horse from his home near Stantonsburg to Waynesborough each day. From 1850 until 1851 he served in the North Carolina Senate, filling the unexpired term of John Exum. He was concerned with the quality of the local educational facilities and served on early school boards in Wayne County and in 1841 was one of the incorporators of Hopewell Academy in Stantonsburg. He lived a long and full life and died on July 16, 1881, aged eighty-five, at the home of his son in Stantonsburg. Elisha Applewhite will of 1835 Elisha Applewhite Last will and Testament Recorded May 1835 In the name of God, Amen. I Elisha Applewhite of the State of North Carolina and County of Wayne being sick and weak of body but of a sound mind and memory thanks be given unto god calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give recommend my soul into the hands of almighty god that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian Buriel at the discretion of my Ext. nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall recieve the same again by the mighty power of god and as touching such worldy Estate wherewith it has pleased god to Bless me with in this life I give and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner to wit: I lend my wife Elizabeth during her widowhood ten acres of land including all the houses and buildings where I now live I also lend her during her natural life one negro man by the name of Ishmael I also lend her during her widowhood two negroes Avy & Narcissa also I give her my black mare and three cows and calves and two sows and pigs and one feather bed and stead and furniture and my loom and gear and two woolen wheels and one flax wheel and two pair of cards one painted chest and formerly called her own and six setting chairs all my kitchen furniture including the pot iron pewter and earthen ware and eight head of sheep her choice and all the gees and poultery and one years provision to be alloted her by my executors and one other respectable person and farming tools sufficient for her farm. Item I lend my daughter Smithey Deanes two negroes by the name of Aberdeen and Abram during her natural life and provided she ever has an heir begotten of her body to live to the age of twenty one years the right and title to remane in her forever but if she dies without issue the said negros to be sold and the money divided between all my children then living. Item I give my son John Applewhite two negroes by the names of Dick and Feriba; also I give my son Peter Applewhite one negro woman Anzy and all the children she has with her and one boy by the name of Henderson; also I lend my daughter Dorotha Daniel during her natural life one negro woman by the name of Sarah and if she is taken out of the house from doing the said Dorotha business and put in the cornfield with out her consent it is my wish that my son Peter take the negro Sarah and higher [sic-hirer] her out or keep her himself and pay the said Dorotha the worth of her labour and after the descas [sic-decease] of my daughter Dorotha I give the negro Sarah to my Grandson Elisha Daniel him and his heirs forever. Also I give my son Robert Applewhite two negroes by the names of John and Imigin also I give my daughter Martha two negroes by the names of Rose and Hannah they and there increase her and her heirs forever. also I give my son Lewis Applewhite two negroes Killis and Cilvy also I give my son Jesse Applewhite four negroes by the names of Jacob Chaney Eceline and Crisa also I give my daughter Elizabeth one negro boy by the name of David. I also give her after the widowhood of my wife Avy and all her increase and after the death of my wife I give her my negro man Ishmail and one feather bed and furniture one woolen wheel and one pair of cards. I give to my son Jesse all my land on the west side of Ballards Mill Swamp and two hundred and fifty acres where I now live lyin next to Westly Howells including the buildings where I now live the exception above named one sorrel horse also I give my daughter Elizabeth my gray horse and one cow and calf also I give my son Jesse one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf the ballance of my land not given a way in legisses to be equally divided between my two sons Robert and Jesse and the ballance of my Estate not given away in legisses to be sold and all my just debts to be paid lastly I nominate and appoint my friend Zadock Peacock and my son Robert Applewhite hole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament this the 21st of February 1835. signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us Elisha Applewhite Raiford Hooks B W Vail Wayne County May term 1835 Then was the within will of Elisha Applewhite produced in open court and offered for probate and duly proved in open court by the oath of Raiford Hooks & Binnin W Vail subscribing witnesses thereto. At the same time Robert Applewhite Executor therein named appeared and qualified as Exr thereto ordered that the same be recorded & let letters testamentary issue. Whereupon Elizabeth Applwhite widow of said decd came into court and entered her dissent to said will & prayed the provisions prescribed by Law. Jno A. Green clerk I hereby certify the forgoing will of Elisha applewhite to be a true copy from the records in my office this the 18th of Sept 1837. Jno A. Green clk Wayne Co. wills CR.103.801.1
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