Captain Thompson Cemetery, Diamond Point  
T30N R2W Section 16 

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Captain Thompson data transcribed and submitted 
by Kelly McKillip September 2001. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.



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CAPTAIN THOMPSON
          DIED 1860

Single gravesite with a wooden cross-surrounded by an iron railing.
Probably this is not the original marker. A photograph at the CCGS in a 
notebook of cemeteries of Diamond Point shows a wooden cross with the 
following inscription: IN MEMORY OF CAP(T) THOMPSON DIED 1860.

DIRECTIONS:
Take Hwy. 101 east from Sequim, Washington, approximately 9 miles to Diamond Pt. Rd.  
Travel about 4 miles to Diamond Shore Rd. N, then to Beach Road, then to Access Road.  
Walk west  (left) on the beach for approximately 1 1/2 miles.  The grave is on your left 
behind some tall grass.  

HISTORY:
There are different versions of the Captain Thompson story.  All agree that he was aboard 
a ship (either What Cheer or Glimpse) that departed from San Francisco in 1859, that he 
bypassed Portland, OR, presumably due to small pox aboard and that he died aboard and was 
buried on the beach west of Diamond Point, WA.  Articles thrown overboard infected the 
local Indian population causing many deaths.

FURTHER READING:
Harriet U. Fish.  FISH TALES OF DIAMOND POINT QUARANTIN STATION. (Inside front cover)
Virginia Keeting, Ed.  DUNGENESS: THE LURE OF A RIVER.  Sequim Bicentennial History Book 
Committee.  1976 Sequim, WA.  36.
Ann Lambert, SMALL POX SHIP.  Jerry Gorsline, ed.  SHADOW OF OUR ANCESTORS. 204-207.
Jefferson County Historical Society, Ed. WITH PRIDE IN HERITAGE HISTORY OF JEFFERSON 
COUNTY.   1966. Port Townsend, WA 98368.   154.
http://www.dungenessrivercenter.org/DRCexhib/Keys/keys.htm Chapter 2.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Clallam County Genealogical and Historical Societies: (360) 417-5000 
www.olypen.com/ccgs. 452-2662.
Sequim Museum and Arts Center www.sequimmuseum.org
North Olympic Library System: http://www.nols.org/Default.htm