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Thomson family of Texas papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0288
Finding aid note: Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

This collection is bound into an 8”x11” spiral binder, and contains typed transcripts of letters prepared by Ana Gardner Thomson. It includes letters and recollections of various members of the Thomson family, describing family business, moves to Texas, general health of Texas colonists, the Mier Expedition, the Texan war for independence. Some accounts are first hand descriptions of participation, such as James Monroe Hill’s account of the Battle of San Jacinto.

Dates

  • 1832 - 1898

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish material from the Thomson family papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical Sketch

The Thomson family, whose relatives include the Hallowells, the Jones, and the Hills, were a family from Georgia that settled along the Brazos River in Eastern Texas. Alexander Thomson, founder of the family, was the first member of the family to move to Texas and begin a new life there. J.N.M Thomson and William Thomson are the two eldest sons of Alexander Thomson, William had to be convinced to move to Texas after several failed business ventures in the Unites States of America. J.N.M. Thompson was a member of the ill-fated Mier Expedition into Matamoros, Mexico, an expedition with the intent of shaking Mexico’s hold on the Texas Territory. He repeatedly wrote to both his father, Alexander Thomson, and his brother, William Thomson, in order to secure payment for his release from prison in Mexico. James Monroe Hill, the great nephew of Alexander Thomson, was present at the Battle of San Jacinto and fought alongside General Sam Houston and the Army of the Republic of Texas in their fight against the Presidency of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. James Monroe Hill also was one of the various guards who was in charge of detaining Santa Anna and was present during the first meeting between Santa Anna and General Sam Houston. Jane Hallowell Hill was the wife of James Monroe Hill and the great niece of Alexander Thomson. She was among the many people who fled towards the Sabine River after the Alamo was taken by Santa Anna’s army. She enslaved people, and sold the people she had enslaved and land and relied on the aid of Native Americans in the absence of her husband to assist her in settling in her temporary residence along the Sabine.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet ( (1 bound vol.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

This collection is bound into an 8”x11” spiral binder, and contains typed transcripts of letters and recollections of various members of the Thomson family, describing family business, moves to Texas, general health of Texas colonists, the Mier Expedition, the Texan war for independence. Some accounts are first hand descriptions of participation, such as James Monroe Hill’s account of the Battle of San Jacinto.

Acquisition Information

This collection was a gift donated by Jim Glass, 1980.

Processing Information

This finding aid was reviewed for harmful, offensive, and aggrandizing language in July 2021. Published titles and names of organizations with this language are not edited. Legacy finding aids are available by request. If you have suggestions, please email woodson@rice.edu.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Thomson family of Texas papers, 1832-1898
Status
Completed
Author
Tyler Kruse
Date
2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892