Thomson family

The Thomson family, whose relatives include the Hallowells, the Jones, and the Hills, were a pioneer family from Georgia that settled along the Brazos River in Eastern Texas. Alexander Thomson, patriarch 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, and 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 settlers who fled towards the Sabine River after the Alamo was taken by Santa Anna’s army. She sold land and slaves and relied on Native Americans in the absence of her husband and any men to assist her in settling in her temporary residence along the Sabine.

From the guide to the Thomson family of Texas papers MS 288., 1832-1898, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)