Son of John Thistle & Margaret Phillips. Born in Londonderry, Ireland. Immigrated 1785. Found a conflicting report that Sampson was brought from Scotland to America in 1781 when he was a few months old. The bio below says he was born in MD. Married to Susanna Tomlinson 23 Oct 1806 at Tomlinson's Farm, Allegany Co, MD. He and Susanna donated part of their land at Steelton for development of New Martinsville, WV. The family cemetery was moved to the Williams Cemetery in the 1950's. Helped form St. Anne's Episcopal Church in New Martinsville. Met with Abraham Lincoln. Died at the farmstead. 11 kids. Owned one 5-year-old female slave on 1860.

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History of Wetzel County, West Virginia

By John C. McEldowney

Published 1901

SAMPSON THISTLE.

Sampson Thistle was born in Allegheny county, Maryland, in the year of 1781, June 27th. He came to Tyler county, Virginia, now Wetzel county, West Virginia, in the year of 1805. In the year of 1806 he was married to Susana Tomlinson, at the home of the bride in Cumberland, Maryland, in a brick house, which is still standing, and in excellent condition. After the close of the usual festivities incident to such occasions in those days, they started on horseback to their future home near New Martinsville, where they maintained a comfortable and hospitable home the remainder of their days. He was a prominent and prosperous citizen, being deferred to by his neighbors and becoming the owner of much land. This worthy couple raised a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all of whom attained maturity, were married and left the parental roof before their parents died. Sampson Thistle lived to the age of seventy-five years, and was buried in the family burying-ground on his farm, whither the body of his faithful wife was borne a few years later at nearly the same age. Of their large family only one is now living. He was a "Whig" in politics, in religion a Methodist. The land upon which he lived is situated ten miles north of the town of New Martinsville, comprising nearly 900 acres, and is now owned by his grandchildren.