c. 1850 – 1942
In 1941, the Newark Sunday Call featured Laura Thompkins, a former slave, born in Georgia. Laura lived at 104 West St., Newark, and the article claimed she was 96 years old, having lived in Newark for more than 50 years.
Laura spent her time knitting Bundles for Britain to help soldiers in WWII. She was “convinced that Hitler’s goal is enslavement of the world” and said, “I’ll do my share as long as I am able to stop Hitler.”
In 1900, the census shows Laura as a single mother in Georgia raising 7 children, including Adam and Paul whom she later lived with in Kearny and Newark, and working on a farm. The census shows Laura in Kearny in 1930.
In Newark, Laura’s son Adam was the Minister of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Laura died the year after being featured in the Call: on Jun 3, 1942, at 54 Morton St in Newark. She was listed as 92 years old, and most censuses give her birth date as 1850. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Bibliography
“Former Slave, 96, Knits for Britain” Newark Sunday Call Aug 31, 1941
1900 / 1930 / 1940 census
“Thompkins” Newark News Jun 5, 1942