1900 - David & Agnes Thompson and Children

July 21, 1900

Quzhou, Zhejiang

David & Agnes Thompson.

The city of Quzhou is located in western Zhejiang Province, approximately 62 miles (100 km) from the border with Jiangxi. The China Inland Mission commenced work there in 1875, and at the start of the 20th century a small church had been established. In 1900 Quzhou was home to three single female missionaries plus the Thompson family—consisting of David and Agnes Thompson and their two sons, Edwin (six) and Sidney (two). When news of the Boxer atrocities in other parts of China reached Quzhou, the missionaries considered fleeing for the coast, but in the end they decided it was safer to remain where they were. On July 20th—the day before his death—David Thompson wrote:

“I know not what to say or think; everything up here is growing worse. There are thousands of people taking refuge in the city, and the rebels are gathering now in a body…. We hear all kinds of evil reports, which make us fear, but by His grace we are able to rise above all, and take hold of our God and Saviour. As yet we do not see our way clear to move, for if we leave without a very strong escort we shall be robbed; so we will just ‘stand still and see the salvation of God.’ Pray for us…. Now I will close; and God, our Father, take care of us, or take us. His Will be done.”[1]

The local magistrate, a man named Wu, assured the missionaries he would protect them. This was a sincere offer, but on July 21st a mob of enraged locals seized the magistrate, along with his family members and servants, and slaughtered them—31 people in all.

David Thompson was born in Scotland in 1854. He met Christ at the age of 19 and sailed for China when he was 26. In 1885 he married Agnes Dowman and they moved to Quzhou in Zhejiang Province, where they operated medical dispensary and preached the gospel to thousands of people. Every patient received a gospel tract, and anyone who wanted to know more about Christianity was followed up by one of Thompson’s evangelists. After six years of hard work and perseverance the Thompsons had baptized 62 new believers.

Agnes Thompson was busy raising her two boys, but she also led a ladies meeting attended by 80 women twice a week. After Henrietta Soltau visited Quzhou in 1898 she observed that

“Mr. Thompson was a man who bought up his opportunities. he understood the people, adapted himself to them, and met them in such a genial way that it was no small interest to me to go about the city with him…. The work was hard, the people proud and unyielding, yet they were sowing in hope of a glorious harvest.”[2]

In the morning of July 21, 1900, the Thompsons’ home was attacked by a mob that looted all their possessions. The Thompsons escaped, but when they raced to the military official’s residence for help they were turned away and told, “We cannot be troubled about your affairs now.” With all their hopes dashed

“they turned away, sick at heart, to face the cruel mob awaiting them. These, taking their cue from the officials, at once rushed upon Mr. Thompson, dragged him out on the street…and stabbed him to death with knives and tridents, his body being covered with wounds. One of the children was then killed in the same way, and the mother pleaded in vain for the life of her second child. The response of the mob was to dash the child on the hard stones, and stab him to death before her eyes, and then she herself was cruelly murdered.”[3]

1. “The Day Before the Massacre at Kiu-chau Fu,” China’s Millions (November 1900), 150.
2. Broomhall, Martyred Missionaries of the China Inland Mission, 186-187.
3. Forsyth, The China Martyrs of 1900, 92.