Southport Magazine

The article in last months issue called “Ghostly Tales” was based directly on the information in the book “Cape Fear’s Haunting Women” by Emily and Joseph Toone. The historic tale has been altered over time and we wanted to set the record straight with information from a direct relative of one of the women mentioned in the article.

Letter to the Editor: The information that you used in your October 2017 edition entitled “Ghostly Tales” regarding the Thomas Mann Thompson, Jr. house and family was not correct. I feel it is important to correct this information for the sake of history. The Thompsons are my relatives. Thomas Mann Thompson, Jr. was a successful river pilot and famous blockade runner. He was never married to a Theresa Morse. He married Mary Elizabeth Mintz (Mary Eliza) of Shallotte before the Civil War ended and they had around 13 children nine of who lived to adulthood – Sally, Lily, Mamie, Emma, Thomas III, Lettie, Annie, Jimmie, and Laurence. His son, Jimmie, built the house on the corner of E. Bay Street and Howe Street that Jim and Margaret Harper purchased from his widow, Anna, in the 1950’s. Thomas Mann Thompson, Jr. built the red roof house with the widow’s walk in around 1868. Mary died in 1881 and he married Sarah Amelia Willard who helped raise his children. Thomas Mann Thompson, Jr. was born in 183, died in 1907, and is buried in the Old Smithville Burying Grounds. He was never lost at sea. His sister, Rebecca Thompson Gause, was my great-great grandmother.
Thank you, Katherine Gause Hufham, Southport