Henry Thompson

Henry Thomson was born in Holland and shipped when he was 15 years old. Henry served 14 years in the United States Navy and six years in the merchant trade. He was last at sea on a U.S. Naval Vessel as Quartermaster in 1868. Henry’s last residence before entering Sailors Snug Harbor was 15 Hamilton Ave in Brooklyn, New York. He lived there as a Bachelor and had no wife or children.

The New York Public Library. "Brooklyn, Vol. 1, Part of Ward 12, Location: New York Public Library, 1903 - Star indicates where Thomson lived

Henry Thomson entered Sailors’ Snug Harbor on February 3, 1900, and would remain at the Harbor for four years and 25 days. He died and was buried in Sailors’ Snug Harbor Cemetery, Plot 9, Row 6, Grave 23, which gives Henry a grave number of 2434 from the cemetery map.

Henry Thomson asked the Governor of Sailors’ Snug Harbor to dispose of his items after death as a gift to the Destitute Children of Seamen Society. “I hereby request that in the event of my death, any personal effects I may leave be turned over to the Home for Destitute Children of Seamen” ( Henry Thomson’s Registration Page). This society for Destitute Children of Seamen was next to the Sailors” Snug Harbor. It is possible that while staying at Sailors’ Snug Harbor, Henry observed these children at the orphanage and wanted to do something for them.

Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Brooklyn, Vol. 1, Double Page Plate No. 13; Part of Ward 12, Section 2; [Map bounded by Gowanus Canal, Henry St., Bush St.; Including Court St., Hamilton Ave., Smith St.]" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1903 - 1907. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/64b4acd6-f101-4e40-e040-e00a18063442

Thompson, Henry. Register page of Sailors' Snug Harbor resident Henry Thompson from the Register of Inmates C. Inmate number 3339.Date Created: February 3 1900 Place: New York (State)--New York--Staten Island, publisher: The Trustees of Sailors' Snug Harbor. The collection is on permanent loan at the Stephen B. Luce Library of SUNY Maritime College. The. Sailors' Snug Harbor records are the Property of the Trustees of the Sailors’ Snug Harbor, URI:https://maritimedigitalcollections.com/Detail/objects/8522 .

Thompson, Henry. Medium: Photograph - albumen print mounted on cardboard, circa: 1900 to 1904, URI: https://maritimedigitalcollections.com/Detail/objects/4009 .

Note, further research on Henry Thompson's Navy service could be conducted at the National Archives.