William Thompson was born in Lesmahaga, Lanark England in 1797.  He joined the British Army on November 12, 1812 at the age of 15.  Thompson was a member of the 2nd Regiment York Militia, Corp of Colours under the command of Captain Samuel Ryckman. 

Thompson received a land grant in Oxford and brought his family from England including  his wife Elizabeth.  On the 1851 census Thompson is listed as a blacksmith. Three of their children, William, John and Thomas were born in England and the last three, Isaac, Darius and Mary were born in Canada.  Thompson lived to be a remarkable 99 years of age and is buried in the Mount Pleasant Pioneer Cemetery.