Tomson, Henry

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Tomson, Henry Henry Tomson descendents Mary L. (Curtiss) Roberts, center, and Alan T. Wright, right, donate all the known original handwritten poems of Henry Tomson, 1787-1862, to the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri, abt. 1991. Peter Michele, Curator, receives the papers, accompanying books, and wooden box, on behalf of the Society. Mary Roberts transcribed and published Henry Tomson's poetry in two bound volumes, included in the donation. Also included was a Thompson Family genealogy, researched and written by Hilary (Adcock) Dunnaway, and published in 1979. The box was likely constructed by Henry's son, Thomas Arrington Thompson, especially for the purpose, in the 1890s. Family historian, Alan Wright, repaired the box, attached an informational brass plaque, and arranged for the donation and ceremony. Henry Thompson (He changed the spelling of his name late in life to "Tomson.") and his wife, Elizabeth Lee (1791-1857), were born in Maryland, but were pioneers of North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Their remains lie at the preserved Thompson Family Cemetery on the family farm, just north of Brazito, Missouri, in Cole County, Missouri. Several of their descendents later emigrated to adjoining Miller County. Henry's name change created confusion, with some family lines using "Tomson," some "Thomson," and most the original "Thompson."