A man Named (Judge) James Thompson

The 
Rivermen Researcher 

A Man Named
James Thompson 

Life for James Thompson began on a Virginia Plantation. He was the son of a white Virginian and planter. James was among one of thousands of children who were birthed by slave-mothers and their plantation masters . At the time of James birth in 1788, negro servitude in Virginia was less severe.

1769 marked the period of the Charter Plantation Era, a time of transitioning. The planters were positioning their loyalties in advance of the Revolutionary War. For a short period there came a time of emancipation. Some slave holders commenced to cull their holdings. When it came to slaves, they opted to allow numerous slaves to purchase their own freedom, or they could opt to use a portion of their incomes to buy their emancipation. As some slaveholders reached their expiration, they could will their slaves manumission papers out-right giving them emancipation. 

This was the case for James Thompson. However, by the time of the Civil War the slave trade had escalated by “Leaps and £.s”, as the value of a slaves grew, due to volatility in the slave market. Slaves were being recaptured from Canada, the northern states or imported. 

Over400,000 were imported from Africa. Slave catchers were again locating, and in some cases abductinf Blacks from any free states they could. This was the situation for Solomon Northrup. His story has recently become a popular movie titled “12 Years a Slave”

Thompson's appearance in this world was one of mixed procreation. His complexion was that of Negro and Caucasian, which is known as mulatto.

Dr. John Crozier Author of  "My Inner Life"

Theses features were described by Dr. John Crozier in his Autobiography, “My Inner Life :- He was blessed with a forehead that rose above his dusky eyes; steep as a mountain cliff, that frowned o'er it's base like a great  sea wall. He grew tall, and by those who knew him; he was described in this manner. He is as a huge mulatto, who was conspicuous among those who frequented his barber shop. His demeanour is courteous, pensive, spiritual, and generous. He was intelligent and could converse on numerous current events, and debate on many important political issues. So flattered was he by admiration and sweet complements, in which peers heaped upon him, that as he looked down upon the meaner heads of the customers, he was manipulating, he would curl his lip in scorn, and draw to our attention privately to the marked contrast between his own head and theirs, would look over at us and wink most knowingly!”.

Crosier Cottage Galt, Ontario

According to Niagara Regional Archives, he settled in Newark, where he had been a barber. Residing there until the "Great Mosbey Riot". The two had become friends and had come to Solomon Moseby's aid after he heard that his Mosebey's master was planning on extraditing him to Kentucky, The reason, being is he had stole a horse during the escape from the states. The extradition was to be carried out at Newark..

In another extradition case they ruled in favour of the defendant. Therefore, Moseby should have released the horse on the American shore. In the extradition case James Anderson was awarded his freedom because he had left his masters horse on the American side of the Niagara River. Therefore the authorities had no way to save Moseby from extradition. Therefore, James Thompson and a group of negro conspirators devised a plan to assist Solomon Mosbey with an opportunity of escape. In a news report it was recorded that James was amongs't those suspected of being ring leaders It appears that he took an active part inorganizing the uprise. Solomon Moseby's escape was reported far and wide.

This event rapidly spread by word of mouth as far as Balls Falls. Unlike the initial organizers of the event they were not as well published. Eventually, they were listed but no warrant for their arrest was issued.

List of Organizing participants: Harry Garrett, William Primus, Alex Struthers, James Johnson, John Bright, Andrew Jackson, Hope Bullet, William Freeman, William Riley James Munroe, Leonard Hicks, Charles Green, George Washington, John Richardson, Mills, James Thompson (a Barber).

Janet Carnochan Scrap Book Niagara Historical Society Museum :-Notes by Nancy Butler

   Note there was a small Baptist Church attached to the Negro Cemetery in a small area known as Nigger Town  within (Niagara on The Lake)

After Moseby fled Newark, James Thompson, waited several weeks, then arrived in Galt.. He laid low for a time, and when he felt safe he set up a barbershop, within the commercial building built for Absalom Shade on the corner of Main and Water Street. He had kept clear of danger for over 20 years, and when he was confident, he set about organizing a congregation. By this time the negro community had accumulated enough to have enough money to obtain assistance to build a chapel for themselves This was to become the first group of people to form a Baptist Church in Galt.

Their initial building would be constructed of lath and plaster with wooden beams and planks, There were plain glass windows and a central doorway to enter the building. This small frame building was constructed about 20 years after his arrival to Galt. It sat on a small lot about facing the village common just northeast of Shade's Commercial Building. He becomes the residing lay minister and ruling elder. Crozier continues to describe his gleaming intellect “James was a very singular man, and was remarkable, considering his limited education, for his knowledge of the scriptures, for his independence, truth and honesty”.

However, Elder Thompson was not exempt to well timed flares of hostility, especially when it came to the protection of his flock, from pranksters. We were near the chapel where we occasionally sought out what trouble we could get our selves into. Crozier continues, “This event occurred one summer night, as we were hiding behind some stumps. From this vantage point we could observe and listen to the congregation as they singing and praising, with a boisterous gaiety. Their voices lifted and rang throughout the village. as the notes of their Favorited negro spirituals permeated in the night air . From this vantage point we found an opportunity for a little mischief. At the front of the church doors were a couple round ceder logs purposely placed to fashion a make-shift stairway. We decided it would be fun to remove the logs prior to the end of service. As they always exited the building singing a hymn.

As we imagined this would have caused a real ruckus! So we waited to see what would happen. The congregation began to sing,

'When we cross the River to Jordan,

Happy! Happy!

When we cross the River of Jordan

Happy in the Lord!'

At this point in time the congregation began to make there way towards the door. As they stepped over the threshold of the front door, the missing logs were overlooked, and their voices  became muffled, suddenly they stopped singing abruptly, as fell over each another one by one.

After hearing this disturbance, Elder Thompson hurried towards the doorway in search of the pranksters. Yelling as loud as he could, he swore that this outrage would be reported. However, nothing became of the incident ”. Over time, John Crozier and James Thompson would share a special bond of friendship and spirituality.

James had become a close friend to many of the town's leader, businessmen, and the residents. Most everyone remembered him! His name became a household memory for many years to come. He was 75 years old at the time of passing. I was introduced to James while searching throughout early reporter articles then expanded my search. to find his obituary to find he died in his home as he succumed to illness.

I continue to concentrate my research to include more information on James and other interesting people who assisted James in making the Grand River home. Contributions made by other people who enriched social aspects to our cultural, musical or to our navigation history will be highlighted.

Perhaps in time, I will soon include the exact locations of their homes to the  south.

Footnote:
Plantation Charter slaves were predominately from West Virginia and Kentucky. 

The states of Kentucky and West Virginia, had at one point been annexed from original state boundaries of Virginia.

Slaves had been used as common laborers in mining gold, salt, and coal. They also worked in the forestry trades; first as lumber men and and producers of turpentine. Within the states of Carolina, and Georgia., they planted and harvested cotton indigo, sugar, sorghum, , and tobacco,. 

In 1834, the owners of Richmond's Tredgar Iron Works, shifted from free white labour to slave labour. The textile trade all depended on black industrial labour.

Slavers also depended slaves to become Artisans working as Carpenter , Coopers, Black and Silver- Smiths.. The slave trade also took advantage of their inherent navigation skill first inherited along African waterways.

William Wells Brown Black Jack brought many run-a-ways from Buffalo across Lake Erieto Canadian "Ports of Call"

The term “ Black Jack” (colored sailors) identified worked the Mississippi River and it's tributaries. Therefore there is little doubt that they worked on Canadian waterways. The difficulties identifying those who workered from caucasian labour is that they arrived, alias identities were used. They took on new identities to avoid re-capture, There are instances were the census records indicate colored citizens.

Men like William Wells Brown worked aboard steam vessels on the Mississippi River. He was given a generous measure of liberty.  This lasted until his owner discovered he was planning to escape in the company of his mother to Canada. He eventully made his escape, leaveing his family behind. He found employment aboard Canada bound steamboats with numerous Stow-A-Way nestled in and around boilers.   This is but another story destiuned for " The Rivermen Researcher"