James Thompson (1826 - 1909) was born in Kingston, MA. He learned stone carving from Kingston area carvers. Thompson moved to Sandwich in the late 1840's and probably took over the Sturgis stone cutting shop in Sandwich. A few of his gravestones can be found in Falmouth and Barnstable. He also has gravestones in the Kingston area and on Martha's Vineyard. Thompson moved to New Bedford in the late 1850's and later moved to Western New York and later moved to Chatham.

Markers XIX (2002) and Markers XX (2003) published by the Association for Gravestone Studies contain extensive articles by author and gravestone researcher James Blachowicz concerning several 19th century marble gravestone carvers located on Cape Cod. These articles include James Thompson. Many of these 19th century marble gravestone carvers including Thompson were influenced by carver William Sturgis.

Follow the link below to carver William Sturgis for photographs of 19th century marble gravestones in the style of Sturgis and the stone carvers he influenced.