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Submitted: 7/11/13 • Approved: 7/12/13 • Last Updated: 4/13/18 • R741701-G0-S3
Feb. 5, 1829 Ellerton, Yorkshire, England
Dec. 9, 1870
William Pexton, the second son and fifth child of Nathaniel Pexton and Fanny Dales, was born 5 Feb 1829 in Ellerton, Yorkshire, England and was christened 1 Mar 1829 in Ellerton By Bubwith. He grew up in Ellerton and learned the trade of blacksmith from his father.
William was the first of the Pexton siblings to emigrate to America. According to family records of Hawley Arnold, "W Pexton & Isaac Wilkinson left Ellerton for America on 9th of February 1849." The two young men made their way to the Syracuse, NY area and were recorded together in the 1850 census in Geddes, Onondaga Co, NY: "Wm. Pexton, 21, Blacksmith, $300 in property, born England; Isaac Wilkinson, 28, Farmer, born England."
Father Nathaniel Pexton died in 1851, and William returned to England for a time. While there he found himself in trouble with the law. If he didn't repay money he owed, he was going to jail. To avoid this, William left England with his widowed mother Fanny, youngest sister Sarah, and youngest brother Frances and sailed to America.
On 4 Dec 1855 William and Elizabeth E. Pexton of Fond du Lac Co, WI sold William's Camillus, Onondaga Co, NY land to older brother Thomas Pexton for $650. This record is the last record of William as William Pexton. He changed his name to William Thompson.
The 1860 census recorded William Thompson, blacksmith, and wife Emily in Neosho Tp of Newton Co, MO. In 1870 he was recorded as William Tomson, saw miller, with wife Mary. William's mother and sister, Sarah Pexton Raby (wife of George), also settled in Newton Co, MO.
Hawley Arnold is in possession of a letter Sarah Pexton Raby wrote to her brother and sisters on 10 Dec 1870, the day William Pexton/Thompson was buried. This letter describes his tragic death:
"It is my painful duty to inform you of the death of our beloved Brother Willey, for such he was to us. He was killed instantly at one oclock last Friday by the bursting of the boiler. I think I told you he was running a saw mill. He had just gone from his dinner. He was looking on when it happened. He was badly bruised but nevertheless he looked natural and butiful even in death. Dear Mother it is a severe blow to her and us all. George Raby feels deeply. They have been dear Brothers since we came here. Mother feels very feeble. I think she will scarce get over it. She is so distressed. We buried him on the today. Oh my dear brother Willey. Is it possibly he has left us so sudden. Please to send this to sister Martha. I cannot write to you both now. I hope you are all well. Ho what a stroke to me, can I even forget him, he was so kind to me. Ho my Willey." Bio by M Coursey
Contributed on 7/11/13 by tslundberg
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Record #: 741701