Allan Douglas THIGPEN^[1]

• Name	Allan Douglas THIGPEN  [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina Mysterious disappearance topic at genealogical society Posted Wednesday, April 13, 2016 6:00 am Herbert Thigpen, left, disappeared mysteriously on Nov. 22, 1932, in Clarendon County. He was never seen again, and his body was never found. His grandson, Allan Thigpen, began an independent investigation in the late 1980s and will give a presentation on his efforts to uncover the mystery at the April 18 meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society. The public is invited to attend. PHOTO PROVIDED BY IVY MOORE An unsolved family mystery will be the topic for speaker Allan Thigpen's presentation at Monday's meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society at Swan Lake Presbyterian Church, 912 Haynsworth St. He will talk about the 1932 disappearance of his grandfather, Herbert Thigpen, at the 7:30 p.m. meeting. Herbert Thigpen was a Sumter County resident who had a Singer sewing machine business in Olanta, then in Sumter County, Allan Thigpen said. "It's a convoluted story," he said. On the day he disappeared, Nov. 22, 1932, "My grandfather was going around to customers' houses picking up machines to be repaired and delivering parts." Thigpen said his grandfather's car was eventually found parked at someone's house, but no trace has ever been found of him. Although he often asked about his grandfather, that was all Allan knew until the 1980s, when he started investigating the circumstances himself. What he found, he said, was universal resistance to his efforts, which made him even more determined to uncover the facts. Those facts, as Thigpen discovered, suggested a conspiracy, which he will talk about at the meeting. Thigpen is a lifelong resident of Sumter County with genealogical roots dating back to the American Revolution. He is a Thomas Sumter Academy graduate who worked for more than 31 years at Black River Electric Cooperative. Current president of the Sumter County Genealogical Society, Thigpen also served in that office in 2000. He is a past commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, past member of the board of the Sumter County Historical Commission and the author of "Recollections of Potter's Raid." Thigpen also co-authored "Sumter County Postcards" for Arcadia Publishing Co. He is a master Mason with Claremont Lodge 64 in Sumter. The public is invited to attend the Monday meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society at 7:30 p.m. at Swan Lake Presbyterian Church on the corner of Haynsworth Street and Bland Avenue. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. The society meets monthly from September through May. Interested persons can join the society. Membership includes nine monthly newsletters during the year and free use of the Sumter County Genealogical Society Research Center. Annual dues are $30 for an individual membership and $35 for family. Call the Society's Research Center for more information at (803) 774-3901.  [1, 3, 5]
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina Mysterious disappearance topic at genealogical society Posted Wednesday, April 13, 2016 6:00 am Herbert Thigpen, left, disappeared mysteriously on Nov. 22, 1932, in Clarendon County. He was never seen again, and his body was never found. His grandson, Allan Thigpen, began an independent investigation in the late 1980s and will give a presentation on his efforts to uncover the mystery at the April 18 meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society. The public is invited to attend. PHOTO PROVIDED BY IVY MOORE An unsolved family mystery will be the topic for speaker Allan Thigpen's presentation at Monday's meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society at Swan Lake Presbyterian Church, 912 Haynsworth St. He will talk about the 1932 disappearance of his grandfather, Herbert Thigpen, at the 7:30 p.m. meeting. Herbert Thigpen was a Sumter County resident who had a Singer sewing machine business in Olanta, then in Sumter County, Allan Thigpen said. "It's a convoluted story," he said. On the day he disappeared, Nov. 22, 1932, "My grandfather was going around to customers' houses picking up machines to be repaired and delivering parts." Thigpen said his grandfather's car was eventually found parked at someone's house, but no trace has ever been found of him. Although he often asked about his grandfather, that was all Allan knew until the 1980s, when he started investigating the circumstances himself. What he found, he said, was universal resistance to his efforts, which made him even more determined to uncover the facts. Those facts, as Thigpen discovered, suggested a conspiracy, which he will talk about at the meeting. Thigpen is a lifelong resident of Sumter County with genealogical roots dating back to the American Revolution. He is a Thomas Sumter Academy graduate who worked for more than 31 years at Black River Electric Cooperative. Current president of the Sumter County Genealogical Society, Thigpen also served in that office in 2000. He is a past commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, past member of the board of the Sumter County Historical Commission and the author of "Recollections of Potter's Raid." Thigpen also co-authored "Sumter County Postcards" for Arcadia Publishing Co. He is a master Mason with Claremont Lodge 64 in Sumter. The public is invited to attend the Monday meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society at 7:30 p.m. at Swan Lake Presbyterian Church on the corner of Haynsworth Street and Bland Avenue. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. The society meets monthly from September through May. Interested persons can join the society. Membership includes nine monthly newsletters during the year and free use of the Sumter County Genealogical Society Research Center. Annual dues are $30 for an individual membership and $35 for family. Call the Society's Research Center for more information at (803) 774-3901.
  _UID	9F2059A45803448687FEDF43814AE297CC91
  _UID	9F2059A45803448687FEDF43814AE297CC91
  Person ID	I289042	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	29 Jun 2021

  
  

  Father	Edward McSwain THIGPEN,   b. 3 Jul 1929, Sumter County, South Carolina d. 26 Jun 2021, Covenant Place, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina (Age 91 years)
  Mother	Dollie Mae DAVIS,   b. 1930, Lee County, South Carolina d. 29 Aug 2018 (Age 88 years)
  _UID	7986832F2FD046E2A063101075B3BC6241F5
  _UID	7986832F2FD046E2A063101075B3BC6241F5
  Family ID	F205929	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Vickie/Vicky SINCLAIR
  _UID	BE6610D118D044E2A7414BF96DCF50E6B146
  _UID	BE6610D118D044E2A7414BF96DCF50E6B146
  Family ID	F194032	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S28995] Edward McSwain Thigpen. [S20180] Dorothy “Dot” Shoemake Sinclair. [S24502] Friend of Charleston church massacre suspect pleads guilty. [S24948] Jeffrey Thigpen. [S26212] Dollie Mae D. Thigpen.