John W. Thompson was born in Tennessee about 1834. He was the fourth-born child of B. J. Thompson (born in South Carolina) and Nancy W. Thompson, (born in Tennessee).

By the 1850 Census the family had increased to eight children and they were then living in Murray County, Georgia. That Census lists the household:

B. J. Thompson, age 46; Nancy W. Thompson, age 47; Samuel Thompson, age 25; Robert P. Thompson, age 20; Nancy A. Thompson, age 18; John W. Thompson, age 16; James K. Thompson, age 14; Arminda Thompson, age 12; Mary N. Thompson, age 9; and Leander N. Thompson, age 3.

The Census of 1860 showed some major changes to the family composition. John Thompson, age 26, was listed as head of household. That matches John W., who had been age 16 when the 1850 Census was taken. John's siblings from earlier Census, James K., Araminta, Nancy, and Leander were shown still in the household. Two new names, John T. Thompson, age 11 and James Johnson, age 5, could be siblings born since the 1850 Census but the family already had members with names John and James.

Confederate Army records indicate that J. W. Thompson, enlisted as a Private in Company E, 60th Georgia Brigade (Lawtons) in September 1861. His unit participated in the following military engagements: McGaheysville, Va., April 27, 1862; Strasburg, Va., May 20, 1862; Winchester, Va., May 25, 1862; Hanover Court House, Va., May 27, 1862; Culpepper Court House, Va., Aug. 1862; Warrenton, Va., Aug. 18, 1862; 2nd Manassas, Va. (Also called Bull Run), Aug. 28-30, 1862; Gordonsville, Va., Aug. 29, 1862; Harper's Ferry, West Va., Sep. 15-16, 1862; Antietam (also called Sharpsburg) Md., Sep. 17, 1862; Shepherdstown, West Va., Sep. 19-20, 1862; and Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 11-13, 1862.

After surviving the fighting at Antietam (Sharpsburg), often called the bloodiest day of the Civil War, Pvt. John W. Thompson, was killed in fighting at Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, on December 13, 1862. The fighting continued there through December 15.

Murray County Families