Rev. 1 March 1994, Gen. 300

 

DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS GREEVES AND SARAH ANN ------

OF WASHINGTON, DC

 

 

GENERATION 1

 

Thomas Greeves (1) was born 28 Feb. 1784, died 20 May 1851 in Washington, DC, and was buried 18 May 1852 in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC (2nd burial). He was a tailor.

His obituary read: " Death. On Tuesday evening, after a painful illness, which he bore with Christian resignation, Thomas Greeves, in the 68th year of his age. Truly, his end was peace.

His friends are invited to attend his funeral this evening, at 4 o'clock, from his late residence on Fifth street, between M and N streets."

He married Sarah Ann ------ by 1810. She was born about 1787 in MD, died 14 March 1871 in Washington, DC, and was buried 16 March 1871 in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC. All their children were born and died in Washington, DC, and were all reburied in Oak Hill Cem. (R-1)

Children - Greeves

2. Sarah Rebecca Greeves, b. 12 July 1811, d. 20 April 1853. Bur. 8 Aug. 1853.

+3. John Greeves, b. 6 Oct. 1813, m. Amanda Boyd, 11 Feb. 1840, d. 13 July 1853.

4. Elizabeth Greeves, b.c. 1815, d.c. 1828. Bur. 8 Aug. 1853.

 

 

GENERATION 2

 

CHILDREN OF THOMAS GREEVES (1) AND SARAH ANN ------

John Greeves (3) was born 6 Oct. 1813, died 13 July 1853, and was reburied 8 Aug. 1853 in Oak Hill Cem., all in Washington, DC. He married Amanda Boyd, daughter of Robert Boyd and Elizabeth Bailey, on 11 Feb. 1840 in Washington, DC. She was born 18 Sept. 1816, died 16 Jan. 1851, and was reburied 18 May 1852 in Oak Hill Cem., all in Washington, DC. It is not known where they were originally buried.

All births, marriages, deaths and burials of their children were in Washington, DC, except that Marion died in Longport, NJ, and the place of death and burial for Thomas is not known. (R-1)

Children - Greeves

5. John Greeves, Jr., b. 18 Sept. 1841, d. 24 Jan. 1845. Bur. 8 Aug. 1853, Oak Hill Cem. (2nd bur.).

+6. Marion Virginia Greeves, b. 9 Nov. 1842, m. Joseph Ford Thompson, 15 Oct. 1860, d. 17 Aug. 1905.

7. Sarah Anna Greeves, b. 20 Jan. 1845, d. 24 Jan. 1861. Bur. 26 Feb. 1861, Oak Hill Cem.

8. Thomas Greeves, b.c. 1849.

9. Nancy Julia Greeves, b. 22 Aug. 1850, d. 10 Jan. 1851. Bur. 18 May 1852, Oak Hill Cem. (2nd bur.).

 

 

GENERATION 3

 

CHILDREN OF JOHN GREEVES (3) AND AMANDA BOYD

Marion Virginia Greeves (6) was born 9 Nov. 1842 in Washington, DC, died 17 Aug. 1905 in Longport, Atlantic Co., NJ, and was buried in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC. She married Joseph Ford Thompson, son of Charles Thompson and Ann Eliza Yates, on 16 Oct. 1860 in Washington, DC. He was born 20 March 1837 in St. Mary's Co., MD, died 1 Feb. 1917 in Washington, DC, and was buried 3 Feb. 1917 in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC.

The following obituary of Marion V. Thompson was in The Evening Star, Washington, DC, Aug. 18, 1905, p. 5, col. 7.

" Mrs. J. Ford Thompson Dead

Wife of Washington Physician Expires After Brief Illness

Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Marion V. Thompson, wife of Dr. J. Ford Thompson of 804 17th Street northwest yesterday in her cottage at Longport, N.J., where she and her husband were spending the summer. Death was the result of cardiac trouble, and her illness was brief, beginning only a few hours before she died.

Mrs. Thompson leaves her husband and three children, Mrs. Robert Waddell of Westchester, Pa. and Mrs. Thomas E. McArdle and Ford Thompson of the city. She belonged to the board of lady managers of Garfield Hospital and of George Washington University Hospital. For many years she had been a member of the Church of the Ascension, Protestant Episcopal.

The funeral services, which will be private, will be held at the residence at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Rev. William Tayloe Snyder of the Church of the Incarnation will officiate. Interment will be made at Oak Hill cemetery.

Mrs. Thompson was born in this city in 1843, being the daughter of John and Virginia Greeves. She was educated in this city and at Wesleyan College, Wilmington, Del., of which institution she was a graduate. She was married in 1860 at the age of seventeen years to Dr. Thompson, the couple making their home in this city. For many years past Dr. and Mrs. Thompson had spent the summer in Longport, N.J., where they had a beautiful home."

The obituary of J. Ford Thompson was in The Washington Post, Washington, DC, Feb. 2, 1917, p. 12.

" J. Ford Thompson, Surgeon, is Dead

Physician to Presidents and Long a Practitioner in Washington Hospitals

Dr. J. Ford Thompson, 79 years old, one of the best known surgeons in this city, died yesterday morning at 7 o'clock at George Washington University Hospital, after an illness of more than a year.

Dr. Thompson was connected with a number of hospitals here. He was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, March 20, 1837, and would have celebrated his eightieth anniversary of his birth next March. He was educated in public and private schools in St. Mary's Co. and at the Rittenhouse Academy of this city.

He began his practice in Washington in partnership with Dr. M. V. B. Bogan, after his graduation in medicine. He was at one time acting assistant surgeon in the United States Army and was also connected with the University of Maryland. Dr. Thompson was surgeon to Providence, Columbia Hospital for Women, Emergency Children's, George Washington University and Garfield Memorial hospitals.

During the Civil War he served both the military hospitals in the city and in the field. He was professor of anatomy in Columbian Medical College and afterward served for more than twenty years as professor of surgery at that college. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the American Surgeon Association, and president of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia in 1881-82. At the time of his death he was emeritus professor of George Washington University.

During his period of active practice in the city Dr. Thompson attended many prominent men. He was called upon when President Garfield was shot, and was family physician for a number of cabinet members at that time.

Dr. Thompson was one of the first physicians to realize the value of specialization in medical practice and early in his career gave up all his practice except that of surgery. He also was one of the first men in this country to receive the degree of doctor of medicine from the University of Stockholm.

About ten years ago he underwent a serious operation for stomach trouble in London, from which he never fully recovered. It was shortly after his return to this country that he retired from active practice.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the home of his nephew, Dr. J. Lawn Thompson, 1404 M street northwest. The Rev. W. T. Snyder, pastor of the Church of the Incarnation, will officiate. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

The pallbearers will be Drs. C. W. Franzoni, John R. Wellington, F. S. Adams, I. S. Stone, Arthur Snyder, Frank Leech, G. Wythe Cook, all of Washington, and Dr. Edward Anderson of Rockville.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. R. I. Waddell of West Chester, Pa., and Mrs. T. E. McArdle of this city, one son, J. Ford Thompson Jr., and a nephew, Dr. J. L. Thompson."

All their children were born in Washington, DC. (R-1)

Children - Thompson

+10. Ann Naomi Thompson, b. 1862, m(1) William Spalding, m(2) Robert I. Waddell.

+11. Marion Virginia Thompson, b. 14 March 1864, m. Thomas Eugene McArdle, 14 June 1888, d. 27 Jan. 1942.

12. Sarah Greeves Thompson, b. 21 Nov. 1865, d. 7 Aug. 1866 (Washington, DC). Bur. 8 Aug. 1866, Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC.

13. Maude Eliza Thompson, b. 6 Nov. 1867, d. 6 Dec. 1868 (Washington, DC). Bur. 7 Dec. 1868, Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC.

+14. Joseph Ford Thompson, Jr., b. Jan. 1870, m. Florence Conrad.

15. Gilbert Thornton Thompson, b. 6 May 1876, d. 7 May 1876 (Washington, DC). Bur. 8 May 1876, Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC.

 

 

GENERATION 4

 

CHILDREN OF MARION V. GREEVES (6) AND J. FORD THOMPSON

Ann Naomi Thompson (10) was born in 1862 in Washington, DC. She lived in Washington, DC and Westchester, PA. She first married William Spalding. He was born in Washington, DC. They were divorced. She secondly married Robert I. Waddell. (R-1)

Children - Spalding

16. Naomi Spalding, b. April 1886 (Washington, DC).

 

Marion Virginia Thompson (11) was born 14 March 1864 in Washington, DC, died 27 Jan. 1942, and was buried 29 Jan. 1942 in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC. She married Thomas Eugene McArdle, son of Owen McArdle and Ann Toumey, on 14 June 1888 in Washington, DC. He was born 12 April 1852, died 16 Dec. 1926, and was buried 18 Dec. 1926 in Oak Hill Cem., all in Washington, DC. He was a physician. All their children were born and died in Washington, DC, and were buried in Oak Hill Cem. (R-1)

Children - McArdle

+17. Joseph Ford Thompson McArdle, b. 12 Sept. 1889, m. ------, d. 17 Jan. 1934.

18. Owen McArdle, b. June 1891, d. Sept. 1892. Bur. 28 Sept. 1892.

+19. Magnien C. McArdle, b. 22 Feb. 1893, m(1) Virginia Early, m(2) Nell Sims, d. 19 June 1967.

 

Joseph Ford Thompson, Jr. (14) was born in Jan. 1870 in Washington, DC, died 11 Aug. 1920 in Emmitsburg, Frederick Co., MD, and was buried 17 Aug. 1920 in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC. He served in the Signal Corps in the Spanish American War. He married Florence Conrad. She lived in Washington, DC and Paris, France. They divorced.

The following newspaper articles were in The Sunday Morning Star, Washington, DC, Aug. 15, 1920, p. 1, col. 5.

" Doubts Girl Shot Self in Suicide Pact, Says Huff

Physician Thinks Thompson May Have Killed Miss Sneeringer, Then Self

Special Dispatch to The Star

Emmitsburg, Md., Aug. 14

That J. Ford Thompson, fifty-two years old, artist and globe trotter, of Washington, shot Mary Anna Sneeringer, sixteen years old, a hotel waitress of this city, with whom he was madly in love, and fired a bullet into his own brain, is the opinion expressed by Dr. W. O. Huff who with Magistrate Shuff was called in when the bodies were found Thursday on the bank of Flat run, a mile from here.

An examination of the bodies by Shuff, who acted in the capacity of coroner, and Dr. Huff, disclosed circumstances which led them to doubt whether the girl killed herself. Dr. Huff stated today that there was no reasonable doubt that Thompson ended his own life, but, because of the position of the girl's revolver, doubt existed whether she killed herself. The death certificate stated 'that J. Ford Thompson came to his death by a bullet fired by himself, and the cause of the death of Mary Sneeringer is doubtful.'

Find Circumstantial Evidence

The first evidence found that led the authorities to believe Miss Sneeringer was murdered was the fact that although the girl was shot in the right temple, her revolver was found on her left side, about an inch below her left hand.

A thorough examination of the girl's face failed to disclose powder marks either in her hair or around the wound. Her hair was not burned or scorched, which, it is declared, indicates that the gun was held some distance from her head. In addition to the absence of powder marks and the position of the revolver, a peculiar circumstance was noted about the weapon itself. Examination showed that there were two empty shells, from all appearances recently fired. All of these facts lead many to think that Thompson shot the girl with her own gun and after placing it under her hand, ended his own life.

No doubt exists that Miss Sneeringer went to the lonely spot where they were found with an idea of ending her life. Her letters to Thompson and her statements to her aunt and friends all tended to show that she contemplated killing herself if Thompson did not marry her.

It is thought that when the girl arrived at the lonely spot her nerve failed her, and Thompson realizing the hopelessness of their love and being determined to die himself, killed her first. Thompson was said to have been in constant fear that some one would kill him and at times maintained a highly paid bodyguard.

 

Body of Artist Who Took His Own Life Reaches Here

The body of J. Ford Thompson arrived in Washington yesterday and was taken to the undertaking establishment of J. Gawler's Sons to await burial.

Interment will be in Oak Hill cemetery and the services will be attended only by a few relatives and intimate friends. The arrangements are as yet incomplete.

Mr. Thompson had a large circle of acquaintances in this city, but during recent years had drawn away from his friends, and while here on short visits practically lived the life of a recluse. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Thomas E. McArdle, wife of Dr. McArdle of this city, and Mrs. Robert Waddell of Westchester, Pa., and a cousin, Dr. J. Lawn Thompson of Washington." (R-1)

Children - Thompson

20. son

 

 

GENERATION 5

 

CHILDREN OF MARION V. THOMPSON (11) AND THOMAS E. McARDLE

Joseph Ford Thompson McArdle (17) was born 12 Sept. 1889, died 17 Jan. 1934, and was buried in Oak Hill Cem., all in Washington, DC. He married ------. The following newspaper article appeared in The Washington Post, Washington, DC, Jan. 18, 1934, sect. 2, p. 1.

" McArdle Declared Suicide by Poison

Acting coroner A. Magruder MacDonald yesterday issued a verdict of suicide by poison in the death of J. Ford Thompson McArdle, Stoneleigh Court Apartments.

Police and Dr. MacDonald were not informed of McArdle's death until yesterday. It was understood by officers that a private physician was summoned when McArdle's body was found in his bedroom Tuesday.

Officials at the apartment said they understood McArdle was retired. He leaves his wife." (R-1)

 

Magnien C. McArdle (19) was born 22 Feb. 1893, died 19 June 1967, and was buried 22 June 1967 in Oak Hill Cem., all in Washington, DC. He was a lawyer. He first married Virginia Early, daughter of Ida V. ------. She was born 11 March 1896, died 13 Sept. 1959 in Washington, DC, and was buried 15 Sept. 1959 in Oak Hill Cem., Washington, DC. He secondly married Nell Sims. (R-1)

Children - McArdle, by Virginia Early

21. Adrianne McArdle, b. Washington, DC, m. J. P. de Rio Blanco.

 

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