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Darn! I forgot about looking for Thomson. I have a book, which I cannot find, and the title of which I cannot remeber; but was something like, 'Black Loyalists in New Brunswick', by, I believe W. A. Spray. It was there that there was the mention of Peter Thompson as being unusual in being granted a tavern license although being of African descent. I can only assume it is the same you refer to as it is unlikely in the extreme that there would be two Black, tavern owners with the same name in pre-1800 Saint John.
Looking at the on-line version of Dan Johnson's abstracts from NB newspapers at the PANB web site, one entry is:
Date February 10 1819
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper City Gazette
Est. Peter THOMSON, man of color of this city; Admin.: Phillis THOMSON, Charles McPHERSON.
Again, the first assumption that comes to mind is that the deceased is a son of as well as namesake of the tavern owner; that 'Phillis' was the deceased's wife; and Charles McPherson the same guarantor you mentioned.
Otherwise, Peter did not die in 1798, as you suggested, but in 1818 (15, rather than 5, years after 1793); and had a wife and time to have a large family. This would include the Thompson's I noted in later years, a well as your William.
Another thought, before I forget it is is that the 104th New Brunswick Fencible Regiment of Foot, in the War of 1812, marched from Fredericton to Quebec in winter. The 104th, although a numbered regiment, was essentially composed of militia units in NB. Participation was compulsory. William would have been of an age where he would essentially be conscripted. Blacks were rarely given full 'membership' in military units, usually relegated to menial positions, working as pioneers or 'servants'. In the American Revolution, the King's American Dragoons had several 'servants' attached to their officers. One of note was:
Henry Cruden, 13, stout boy, (Col. Thomson, KAD). Given to Col. Thomson by Col. Cruden.
which may suggest a source of the surname, Thompson.
I can see a scenario where William ends up in Quebec, is attached to the 8th, and remains there. I can also see a secnario where, conditions being what they were in Saint John, he went to Quebec before the war, was co-opted into the militia there and attached to the 8th. In other words, with Peter having lived longer than 1798, more options seem possible.
Another entry:
Date December 30 1818
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper City Gazette
d. Yesterday, Peter THOMSON, man of color, age 60.
So Peter d. 29DEC1818 and was b. ca. 1758. This is not a younger Peter. The next entry is perplexing:
Date June 24 1829
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper City Gazette
Est. Peter THOMSON, man of color, of (St. John) city.
That it would take 10 years to probate his estate seems unlikely, and I suspect that the newspaper was actually dated 1819. That his estate was even probated seems unusual. I would suggest going to:
http://archives.gnb.ca/Archives/Default.aspx?culture=en-CA
This site is a bit tricky to use. At the top are several headings. If you put your cursor on 'search' (don't click!) you will get a drop-down with several headings that you can click on, especially, at the bottom, the results of Dan's searches. However, on the heading 'Research Tools' (also a drop-down) is 'County Guides'. Click on that, then pick 'Saint John'. It is a PDF file. When open, it indicates microfilms. ('F' for Fredericton and the PANB, 'C' for Canada and tha national archives.) Many are available through interlibrary loan. Many were made by the LDS church, and are available through their family research centres but with different microfilm numbers. If you go down to Probate Court Files, there is an index on film F-10958 (which you may or may not want), 1785-1820 is on F-10924 (which I think you should look at), and, if necessary, 1821-1832 is on F-10925. In Probate Court Books, F-1340 had the years 1818-1840 for Saint John County. If I were you and really keen, that is where I would look. Note the PANB's address, e-mail and stuff, talk to the interlibrary loan department of a larger library, and make sure they have a microfolm reader.
Thomas
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