My apologies for the delay in replying.
My interest in Minto/Thompson comes from my 3xgreat grandfather, John Minto (Thompson), who - as John Minto - married Elizabeth Towsey/Tewsey, nee Rowe in 1819 in Falmouth.
John and Elizabeth had 4 children, amongst them my 2x great grandmother, Ann, born 1820.
Another "cousin" with whom I have been in contact for a number of years is also descended from this line, and has in his possession a silver cup presented to John Thompson in 1815 following a voyage to the Leeward Islands. In October 1814 John Thompson was appointed temporary captain of the brig “Grace”, which was on charter to the Falmouth Packet Service to deliver the mails to the Leeward Islands. He apparently distinguished himself in an encounter with an American privateer, and on his return to Falmouth was awarded a silver cup, suitably engraved, to commemorate the incident. The engraving has apparently been changed from Thompson to Minto. We have no idea why he might have changed his name!
Yet another researcher suggested that John MInto Thompson was the son of George Minto, pitman, and Ann Thompson of Netherwitton, Northumberland. The names make sense, but I have not been able to find anything to link this John with the sea or with Falmouth, so it remains speculative! I have done some tracking of the Minto/Thompson line in Netherwitton and Rothbury, and would be very willing to share this, but it is the link with "my" John that seems impossible to prove.
Perhaps you have some information ....!!!
