- Archibald Thompson, like his brother and father, served in the Revolutionary War, although the records would indicate that perhaps he was an unwilling enlistee. On more than one occasion persons were forced into service under false pretenses. Such may have been the case here?
12 April, 1796..Archibald Thompson vs. Larkin J. Dickinson, Rezin Barnett, Charles Williams, John Johnston, Robert Christian, John Carice, John Mindo, John Collins, Oliver Blackburn, Thomas Harrington, John White.---false imprisonment.
Thompson vs. Gibson, etc.- Dehomine Replegiando writ, 4th May, 1796. Writ to sheriff: you cause to be replevied Archibald Thompson whom Alexander Gibson, Larkin J. Gibson and Reizen Barnett have taken and keep taken unless he was taken for murder, etc., that we may have no more clamor thereuon for want of justice and make return, etc. Agreeable to the within writ to me directed, I have gone to the defendants and demanded the said Thompson. The defendants say that he is legally and lawfully enlisted into the service of the United States of America and that they should not be justifible in delivering him upon any application contrary to the rules and articles of war, but that they will appear when called on and subject themselves to the decision and directions of the proper authority. (signed) James Campbell, D.S.
In any case, Archibald distinguished himself as a soldier and eventually attained the rank of Major.
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