Thomas Thompson (songwriter)

Thomas Thompson was born in 1773 in (or close to) Bishop Auckland, County Durham, the son of an officer who was already suffering from (what would turn out to be, a terminal) fever at the time of Thomas’ birth. He finished his education at Durham and then moved to Newcastle upon Tyne c 1790. Already a well-known and respected business man, and with the threat of war with, and invasion from, France, Thomas joined up in the Newcastle Light Horse as acting quartermaster, with a quick promotion following to rank of Captain.

Thomas Thompson was married and had (at least one) a son Robert born c1812. He built and lived in Cotfield House,[1] Windmill Hills, Gateshead. Thompson became a successful merchant trader with offices in the Broad Chare, Skinners Burn, Forth Banks. In 1796 he had connections with a woollen draper, Mr D Bell, and in 1801 was trading as a general merchant trading as Armstrong, Thompson & Co. He was also known for his voluntary work in the area. He died on 9 January 1816 aged 42 at his home from exertion, cold and fatigue & similar, after trying to protect his property after an instance of the River Tyne flooding. He was buried at Old St Johns.

His songs include:

• The New Keel Row
• Canny Newcastle
• Newcastle election song 1812
• Jemmy Joneson’s Whurry

• Geordie dialect words
• William Purvis (Blind Willie)

• FARNE Folk Archive Resource North East
• Marshall’s Collection of songs chiefly in the Newcastle dialect'
• Palmer’s The Tyne and its tributaries