Thom Family and Parker Family

Dr. Isaac Thom and Persis (Sergeant) Thom were active citizens of Derry. In 1782 Isaac Thom moved to Derry (from Windham). Isaac was a physician, he also the proprietor of a popular tavern, and was Derry’s first postmaster.
The tavern that Dr. Isaac Thom owned and managed was located on some of the land that was eventually owned by Frederick J. Shepard. The tavern was known as the Thom Willey (This plot is now empty, but it is next to the Alan Bartlett Shepard house.)

The tavern has been called the Thom-Willey Tavern after two of several owners. Thom sold the tavern to Mr. Tucker, then in 1834 Henry Willy became the tavern owner, followed by Nehemiah Choate. By 1855 the building was sold to William H. Shepard who replaced the old structure with a different house in 1863.

One of Isaac and Persis Thom’s children was James Thom. James Thom served in the US armed forces during the War of 1812. James Thom married Harriet Coffin of Gloucester and one of their children was George Thom (born on February 21, 1819).

James Thom built a store [59 Hampstead Road] that was managed by James and his brother Christopher and later by a nephew. In 1864 James’s widow sold the store to Henry B. Humphrey. Later the structure was sold to First Parish and used as a parsonage. 

George Thom student at Pinkerton Academy in 1828. He went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduated in 1839. He served as a member of the Topographical Engineers unit and conduced surveys along the borders of Mexico and Canada.  He served during the Mexican-American War.

During the Civil War he was elevated to the Chief Topographical Engineer of the Departments of the Missouri and Mississippi. He displayed coolness while rallying troops during the battle of Cedar Creek, he also served on the staff of Major General Henry Halleck and compiled a map used during the battle of Shiloh. During the war he received many promotions.Unfortunately, while he served during the Civil War, three of his children died at ages 11, 9, and 1.
Gen. George Thom was one of the highest ranking military men from this area to serve during the Civil War.General George Thom donated the cast iron gates that are part of the entrance to Forest Hill Cemetery.