William G Thompson
He married Elizabeth McAuley on 8 March 1831 in Sunderland, Kilchoman, Argyll, Scotland. She is the daughter of Donald and Mary McNiven McAuley,and was born in about 1810 probably in Port Haven, Islay Island, Argyll, Scotland.
He and Elizabeth immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1833 and in 1836 they were converted and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder Orson Hyde. William and his family immigrated to be with the Saints in Missouri, but because of trials and mob violence they moved with the body of Saints to Quincy, Adams, Illinois.
William’s name changed three times over his lifetime. He was given the name of WillIam Thomson when he was born and soon after moving to America, it changed to William Thompson. When he discovered there were many men of the same name, he added the initial “G” to make his different from others.
Many researchers have thought they found proof of his land ownership in Nauvoo and Quincy, Illinois. But from his letters to his family in Scotland, he claims to have only rented land in Quincy, Illinois. The misunderstanding of these records is probably part of the reason he added the initial “G” to his name.
Elizabeth died on 7 October 1845 in Quincy, Adams, Illinois leaving William to care alone for five of their six children. Soon after Elizabeth's death, he left the Nauvoo area with other saints and settled in Garden Grove, Iowa.
William married a widow named Mary Ann Hales in June of 1850 in Garden Grove, Decatur, Iowa. Mary Ann is the daughter of Henry and Hanna Kitney Hales, who was born 11 October 1799 in Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England. He had been acquainted with the Hales family in Canada—the two families were converted and baptized around the same time.
The Thompsons joined the Harry Walton/Garden Grove pioneer company to cross the plains. About 21 families from Garden Grove plus other individuals and 60 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs). They left Kanesville on 17 May 1851. Mary Ann died during their crossing of the plains on 9 August 1851 at Ancient Bluff Ruins, Morrill, Nebraska and was buried there.
William and his children then continued on to Utah arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on 24 September 1851. He settled in the Sessions Settlement or present day Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. William was strong in the Church and bore a faithful testimony of a glorious resurrection.
William never remarried and spent his elderly years living next door to his daughter Maria Thompson Hatch until his death on 5 December 1876 in Bountiful, Davis, Utah.
William G. Thompson cabin
South Bountiful, Utah
Children with Elizabeth: 1. David Thompson born 26 December 1831
2. Daniel Thompson born 25 December 1834
3. William Thompson born 12 January 1836
4. Maria Thompson born 16 August 1838
5. Orvil Thompson born 8 May 1841
6. Louisa Jane Thompson born 8 February 1845
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