Jesse G. Thompson

A newspaper article about an address made by A.B. Sharpe at an anniversary celebration for the Jesse G Thompson post of G A R

Jesse G. Thompson was born around 1844, in Carlisle Pennsylvania, to parents Benjamin and Mary Thompson. In 1850 he was the youngest child in his household at six years old, with three older siblings named William, Richard, and Jane.1 In 1860 he was sixteen years old and working as a laborer, with two younger siblings named George and Mary.2 Thompson enlisted into Company A of the 32nd U.S.C.T. as a private, on February 17, 1864, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was twenty years old at the time, and according to his company descriptive book, he stood at five feet and five inches with a yellow complexion, and black hair and eyes. He was promoted to corporal on March 18, 1864, reduced back to the ranks on October 22, 1864, and finally promoted back to corporal again on July 1, 1865.3 He was honorably discharged and mustered out with the rest of his company at Hilton Head, South Carolina, on August 22, 1865.4

His life after the Civil War is unknown. He died on September 27, 1868, and is buried in Lincoln Cemetery, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was listed in a newspaper entry among soldiers buried in Lincoln Cemetery in 1884.5 Thompson was the namesake for the Jesse G. Thompson Post 440 G.A.R., and was honored at the first anniversary celebration on July 4, 1885, in a speech by A.B. Sharpe, who also served in Company A as a private.6

  1. 1850 United States Federal Census for Jesse Thompson, 370B.
  2. 1860 United States Federal Census for Jesse Thompson, 133.
  3. Jesse G. Thompson, Co. A, 32 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Descriptive Book.
  4. Jesse G. Thompson, Co. A, 32 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Muster-out Roll, Aug 22, 1865.
  5. “List of soldiers’ graves…” Carlisle Weekly Herald, May 22, 1884.
  6. “A. B. Sharpe’s Address” Carlisle Weekly Herald, Jul 16, 1885.

Bibliography:

1860 United States Federal Census for Jesse Thompson. Ancestry.com. 133. NARA: Washington, 2009. 1860 United States Federal Census - AncestryLibrary.com

1850 United States Federal Census for Jesse Thompson. Ancestry.com. 370B. NARA: Washington, 2009. 1850 United States Federal Census - AncestryLibrary.com

“List of soldiers’ graves…” Carlisle Weekly Herald. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. May 22, 1884. https://www.newspapers.com/image/278854858

“A. B. Sharpe’s Address” The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Jul 6, 1885. https://www.newspapers.com/image/343927276

“A. B. Sharpe’s Address” Carlisle Weekly Herald. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Jul 16, 1885. https://www.newspapers.com/image/292111264

“First Anniversary” The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Jun 24, 1885. https://www.newspapers.com/image/343925127

Jesse G. Thompson, Co. A, 32 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Descriptive Book. https://www.fold3.com/image/260842656

Jesse G. Thompson, Co. A, 32 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Company Muster-out Roll, Aug 22, 1865. https://www.fold3.com/image/260842666

Jesse G. Thompson, Co. A, 32 Regiment, U.S.C.T. Hilton Head, SC, July 8th, 1865, to Maj W.S.M. Burger. https://www.fold3.com/image/260842669

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Regiment

Geographic Connection(s) to Cumberland County

Enlistment Location

Date of Enlistment

02/17/1864

Hometown:

Birthdate

01/01/1844

Date of Death

09/27/1868

Burial Location

Place of Settlement Following War