The HomePlace Blog: Year Round Adventures Await – An Informative Peek into Seamus Heaney HomePlace
An American Founding Father had his Roots in South Derry – Who Knew?
Born in Gorteade near Maghera in 1729, Charles Thomson left Ireland as a boy to venture to the new world in America with his father and brothers. This began the journey of one of the United States founding fathers, although perhaps a bit lesser known.
I first heard of Charles Thomson when I started work at HomePlace a few years ago and I’ve carried out a few google searches out of curiosity I suppose. When I found out that for the current arts programme we were hosting an event dedicated to the man my interest was further piqued.
It’s the sort of story movies and TV mini-series in the 1980s were made about, of the poor orphan arriving on the boat in America (his father passed away on the journey out there), being lucky enough to receive an education and eventually going on to hold a position in the very heart of the birth of the new nation.
He seems to have been respected and trusted by all who met him, not something that can be said of many in political life. He served as the secretary of the Continental Congress; his name appeared on the first published version of the Declaration of Independence in 1776; he was involved in designing the Great Seal of the United Sates; but his main impact seems to have been as a minute taker for all federal government business. He was famed for the accuracy of his note-taking, amassing detailed records of debates, votes and decisions all taken in his own hand.
I am a bit of a history nerd anyway but I find all this fascinating and I see it as a link this little part of Northern Ireland has to the birth of a nation that has now become one of the world’s superpowers.
One of the speakers coming to HomePlace for our event – Charle Thomson: Irish Emigrant, American Founder is Rev. Dr David Latimer. I had a chat with Dr Latimer about Charles Thomson and about what first fuelled his interest in the man:
What started your interest in Charles Thomson?
I was introduced to a man called Don Mullan about two years ago. Don grew up in the Creggan Estate in Derry but now lives in Dublin. During our conversation he enquired if I’d ever heard of a south Derry man called Charles Thompson, a lesser known American Founder.
Do we know if there was anything particularly in Charles’ background that spurred him on to the successes he achieved in the US? Was there something particular to the Ulster/Scots that enabled this drive and success?
Amazingly, a proverb came to be associated with Charles Thompson namely, ‘It’s as good as if Charles Thompson were here.’ Thompson stood out as a diligent man who could be trusted. This enabled him to build bridges with diverse groups and help progress the founding of America.
The Scots-Irish were by nature pioneering. It was that spirit which brought their forbears from Scotland to Ulster and thence to America.
Ulster’s contribution to the founding of the United States of America was in the men, women and young people who left home and kindred to seek a new life in a new land. What they were was infinitely more than the meagre possessions they brought with them.
How are you enjoying your retirement?
I’m relieved to be free of the responsibility of running two Presbyterian churches on either side of the Derry-Donegal border. Happily, however, I’m not idle as I continue to be active in Peace building particularly with young people, once referred to by President Kennedy as a country’s greatest resource and its best hope for the future.
It’s your first time appearing at HomePlace. And I’ve seen previous interviews where you have quoted Seamus Heaney. Are you a fan of his poetry? What draws you to it?
I’m greatly looking forward to being in the Heaney Homeplace mid-February. I have frequently quoted Seamus Heaney’s poetry, both in articles I’ve written and in public speeches. His poetry is, I believe, equivalent to a window where the blind has been lifted to allow light to fill the space. In a world with very few rules I take strength from his final words namely, ‘Noli timere’, meaning ‘Don’t be Afraid.‘
I know I definitely want to hear more about this man Charles Thomson and I hope to achieve this on 12th February with the talk by Dr Latimer and also Courtney McKinney-Whitaker (an award-winning historical author who has written about Thomson in a new book coming out this year). The documentary “The Man Who Told the Truth”, will also be shown. I’ve not seen this yet either but with the author and journalist Bruce Clark at the helm it is sure to provide more of an insight into the man.
