Genealogies Of
VIRGINIA FAMILIES
From the William and Mary College
Quarterly Historical Magazine
Volume V
Thompson - Yates
(and Appendix)
Indexed by Robert and Catherine Barnes
Baltimore
GENEALOGICAL PUBLISHING CO., INC.
1982
William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2. (Oct., 1895), and Vol. 5, No. 1.
(Jul., 1896).
THE THORNTON FAMILY.
BY W. G. STANARD.
Though there have been in Virginia several different families of this name, the
largest and most prominent has been that which originally settled in Gloucester
county, spread to Stafford, King George, Richmond, Northumberland, Essex,
Caroline, Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper, Madison, Brunswick, and other
counties, and has now representatives in almost every State in the Union.
The first of the name of whom there is any record is said to have come from
Yorkshire. On May 11, 1646, William Thornton obliged himself, by a paper
recorded in York county (including Gloucester), to care for the cattle of John
Liptrot until the latter came of age. On February 16th, 1665-'66, as "Mr. William1
Thornton", he had a grant of 164 acres of land, in Petsworth parish, Gloucester,
adjoining the land where he lived, and that of Mr. Richard Barnard. He was a
vestryman of Petsworth parish in 1677. There is on record in Essex a power of
attorney, dated September, 1673, from William1 Thornton, of Gloucester, to
James Kay, of Rappahannock county, concerning 2,000 acres of land in the
freshes of Rappahannock, on the north side of the river, adjoining the lands of
Andrew Buckner, Col. Wm. Ball, and Mr. Richard Whitehead, and Muddy Creek, a
tract of land which he had bought from Mott. There is also recorded in Essex, in
1708, a deed, dated July 16, 1675, from William Thornton, of Gloucester,
gentleman, to Francis and Rowland, "two of his sons", conveying 2,000 acres in
Rappahannock county, and also a power of attorney, dated 1708, from Wm 1
Thornton, formerly of Gloucester, but now of Stafford, authorizing the
confirmation of said deed. So in his old age Wm. Thornton removed from
Gloucester to Stafford. It is not known whom he married, but he had issue:
1. William2, Jr.; 2. Francis2; 3. Rowland2; was witness to a will in Rappahannock,
1686. There is a deed, Richmond county, 1692, from Rowland Thornton, of
Rappahannock county, planter, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander
Fleming, to Francis Thornton, of the same county, gentleman. Elizabeth
Thornton, daughter of Captain Alexander Fleming, sold land in what was
afterwards King George, in 1699. In May, 1701, the bond of Elizabeth Thornton,
The dates referred to as having been sent by me were abstracts from the State registry
of various grants of land. A grant of 350 acres in Westmoreland county was reissued
December 9, 1562, to Walter Brodhurst, which had been formerly granted, September
14, 1655, to his deceased father, Walter Brodhurst. Anne Pope, alias Washington, was
granted 700 acres in Westmoreland county, Virginia, 13 January, 1661. (O.S., 1662,
N.S.) I have not the full note as to this grant -- R.A. Brock.
1
as administratrix of Rowland Thornton, of Richmond county, deceased, was
recorded. There is no evidence that they had issue.
1. WILLIAM2 THORNTON, JR., of Gloucester county, was born March 27, 1649,
and died February 15, 1727 (Family Bible). He was married three times, viz., on
August 24, 1671; April 11, 1688; and October 20, 1720; but the name of none of
his wives is known. On April 26, 1704, as "William Thornton the younger", he
received a grant of 110 acres of land in Petsworth parish, Gloucester, adjoining
the land of "Mr. William Thornton the elder". He was a vestryman of Petsworth.
Issue (1st m): 4. Elizabeth3, born August 26, 1672; 5. Margaret3, born August 14,
1674; 6. Mary3, born May 11, 1676; 7. Esther3, born January 6, 1677; 8. Sarah3,
born August 17, 1679; 9. Jane3, born August 10, 1681; 10. Judith3, born October
22, 1683; 11. Anna3, born June 15, 1685; 12. William 3, born September 11, 1686;
(2d m.): 13. Susan3, born June 11, 1686; 14. Francis3; 15. Seth3, born October 13,
1694 (vestryman of Petsworth); 16. and 17. William 3 and Prudence3 (twins), born
March 31, 1699; 18. John3, born April 17, 1701; 19. Johanna3, born December 3,
1703.
2. FRANCIS2 THORNTON, born Nov. 5, 1651, settled in Stafford county,
probably before the year 1700. He married first, Alice, daughter of Captain
Anthony Savage, of Gloucester county (who was a justice of Gloucester in 1660,
and had considerable landed estates on the Rappahannock), and secondly Jane,
widow of John Harvey, of Stafford. He had no issue by the second marriage. In
1706 Francis Thornton, of Stafford, and his wife, Jane, widow of John Harvey,
made a deed of 684 acres in Stafford and Westmoreland to Anthony, son of the
said Francis Thornton, with reversion to his other sons, Francis, Rowland, and
William. (Westmoreland and Stafford Records). In 1715-'16, Anthony Thornton,
of Stafford, petitioned the proprietors of the Northern Neck for a regrant of
this land, which he stated had been left to Mrs. Jane Thornton, by her former
husband, in 1700; that the said Jane died without heirs; but being "an imperfect
deed" gave the land to him (A.T.) in 1706. The grant requested was issued. It is
not known when Francis2 Thornton died, unless he was the Francis Thornton
whose will was presented to King George County Court for probate, by his
widow Anne, in 1726. (This appears from the order-book. The will-book
covering this period was carried off by Federal soldiers during the late war.
About ten years ago some person in the State of New York wrote to the
authorities of the county offering to sell them this book. Unfortunately, the
offer was not acted on, and it is not now known where the book is. It is to be
hoped the present possessor will make its existence known, as possibly
arrangements may be made to purchase it).
Issue (first marriage only): 20. Elizabeth3, born January 3, 1674; 21. Margaret3,
born April 2, 1678, married Wm. Strother, who was sheriff of King George in
1726. There is re-corded in King George a deed, dated 1727, from Margaret
Strother, widow, for land deeded by her grandfather, Anthony Savage,
gentleman, to her father, Francis Thornton, and Alice his wife; 22. William 3 (twin
with Sarah); 23. Sarah3, born December 17, 1680 (twin), married Laurence
Taliaferro; 24. Francis3; 25. Rowland3; 26. Annie3, born March 22, 1689; 27.
Anthony3.
It is probable that there were many descendants of the various sons of Wm 3
Thornton, of Gloucester, especially in Gloucester county; but of these we have,
at present, only disconnected notes, which will be given later in this account.
14. FRANCIS3 THORNTON (William2, William1), of Gloucester county, was born
June 7, 1692, and died February 6, 1737. He was a vestryman of Petsworth
parish. He married _____, who died August 1, 1741. Issue: 28. William 4.
22. WILLIAM3 THORNTON, born December 14, 1680; settled in that part of
Richmond county which was afterwards in King George; was sheriff of
Richmond in 1709 and 1717, one of the first justices of King George in 1720,
and member of the House of Burgesses from that county in 1723 and 1726.
(Virginia Historical Register). He married Frances _____, and died in 1742 or
1743. In 1742 they made a deed for land in King George, and in 1743 Frances
Thornton, widow of Francis Thornton, late of King George, gentleman, made a
deed to William Thornton, only son and heir of her husband, Wm. Thornton,
deceased. The will of Wm. Thornton was dated Nov. 3, 1742, and was in the
missing will-book.
Issue: 29, William4. He cannot be identified with any other Wm. Thornton who
made a deed or will in King George between 1750 and 1800. I cannot trace him
further. Perhaps he lived in that portion of King George which was made part of
Stafford. A more complete examination of the records of King George might
show.
24. FRANCIS3 THORNTON, born January 4, 1682; according to a deposition
made in 1733, in relation to the dispute over the boundary of the Northern
Neck (printed in Slaughter's St. Mark's Parish, in the deposition he is styled
"Francis Thornton, of Caroline county, gentleman"), he settled at Snow Creek,
near the present Fredericksburg, about 1703. There is recorded in Essex a deed,
dated March, 1703-'4, from Francis Thornton, of Stafford, conveying to Francis
Thornton, Jr., then of Essex, a tract of about 700 acres at Snow Creek. In May,
1719, Francis Thornton, Jr. and Mary his wife, of St. Mary's parish, Essex,
conveyed to Augustine Smith and John Taliaferro, church wardens, for a
consideration of five shillings, 300 acres in the fork of Snow Creek, for a glebe.
Francis Thornton was one of the first justices of Caroline. There is a deed,
recorded in Spotsylvania, dated 1722, by which Mary and Winifred Thornton
relinquish the right of dower in 400 acres of land sold by Francis and Anthony
Thornton. Francis Thornton, a justice of Essex, was Burgess for Spotsylvania in
1723 and 1726. (Virginia Historical Register). Though I have not been able to
ascertain the fact with absolute certainty, yet I have no doubt that this Francis
Thornton, Jr., who settled at Snow Creek in 1703, was the Francis Thornton who
was Burgess from Spotsylvania, as above stated, and who was the first of what
are generally called, from their seat, the "Fall Hill" Thorntons. The only thing to
cause a doubt is that the Francis3 Thornton here treated of calls himself, in
1733, "of Caroline county". Probably he lived at various times on estates in both
Caroline and Spotsylvania. It will, in this account, be assumed, tentatively, that
he was the first of the "Fall Hill" Thorntons.
Issue: 30. Francis4; 31. Reuben; 32. John.
25. Rowland3 Thornton, of "Crowes", King George county, born August 1, 1685,
died 1748; was vestryman of Hanover parish, King George, 1723, and was
appointed a justice of King George in 1722. He was alive in 1733. Married
Elizabeth (born Sept. 6, 1689, died 1751), daughter of Col. John Catlett, of
Essex. Issue: 33. Francis4; 35. Alice4, married John Fitzhugh, of "Bellair", Stafford
county (and perhaps other issue).
27. ANTHONY3 THORNTON, of St. Paul's Parish, Stafford county, born ___ 27,
1695, died 1757. He was a justice of Stafford, and, having been for a time out of
the commission, was restored in 1733. He married Winifred, daughter and
heiress of Col. Peter Presley (note 1) of "Northumberland House",
Northumberland county. His will was dated January 3d, and proved November
8, 1757, in Stafford county. He gives his son Presley Thornton the several
negroes which he (Presley) had in possession, and which the testator had a title
to in right of his wife, except one negro woman and her children, which he had
before given to his son Francis; to son Anthony Thornton, all the land he (the
testator) had at the mountains; to daughter Winifred Bernard, a tract of land on
Wash Run, in Spotsylvania, containing 650 acres; to son Peter Thornton, a tract
of land on Mattapony River, containing 1313 acres, with all the negroes, cattle,
horses, etc., and all other things on said land; also ten head of young cattle
from the plantation where he (the testator) lived, and four other negroes; to
wife Winifred, a tract of low ground where William Conner then lived, this to go
after her death to his son Anthony; also to his wife four negroes, which are to
go after her death to his son Peter; gives remainder of negroes, not otherwise
disposed of, to his wife, with his stock of horses, cattle, and sheep, and
remainder of estate to be equally divided between wife and son Peter, and
appoints the latter his executor.
Issue: 37. Presley4; 38. Francis4; 39. Peter4; 40. Anthony4; 41. Winifred4, married
_____ Bernard.
-----------------------------------------------------William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 1. (Jul.,
1896), pp. 58-60.
THE THORNTON FAMILY.
By W. G. STANARD.
(Continued from page 157 of Vol. IV).
38. FRANCIS4 THORNTON (Anthony3, Francis2, Wm.1), of "Society Hill," King
George county, was J.P. and Colonel of militia in that county. He married in
1747, Sarah Fitzhugh (Parish Register), and died in 1784, in which year his will
was recorded in King George. From about 1752 Col. Thornton was prominent
on the turf in Virginia and Maryland. The American Turf Register, Vol. VI., p. 57,
in a note, says: "Col. Francis Thornton, of Society Hill, in King George county, a
gentleman of great respectability and proverbial for his great knowledge of
pedigrees."
Issue: 74. Winifred5, married Col. Daniel McCarty, of Pope's Creek,
Westmoreland county; 75. Elizabeth5, married her cousin Presley Thornton; 76.
Lucy5, married John Brooke, of Essex county; 77. Alice5, died November 12,
1811, aged 52; married in 1759 her first cousin Capt. Presley Thornton; 78.
John5, of King George county, d. s. p. in 1800; 79. William 5.
39. PETER4 THORNTON (Anthony3, Francis2, Wm.1) of "Rose Hill", Caroline
county, married Ellen Bankhead. Issue: 80. James Bankhead5; 81. Peter5; 82.
Winifred5, married Sterling Thornton; 83. Elizabeth5, married Joseph Pollard.
40. ANTHONY4 THORTON (Anthony3, Francis2, Wm1), of "Ormesby", Caroline
county. This estate was acquired by Anthony Thornton, the elder, who it is
stated, about 1715 built the oldest portion of the present house, and gave the
estate to his son Anthony. He was sheriff of Caroline in 1767, and was alive in
1778. He married, first, Sarah Taliafero, and secondly, in 1764 (Parish Register)
Susannah Fitzhugh.
Issue (1st m.), 84. Anthony5; 85. Peter5; 86. Charles5, 87. Page 59. George5; 88.
Reuben5; 89. Presley5; 90. Judith Presley5, married Aylett Buckner, and had issue,
Col. Thornton Buckner, Richard Buckner, M.C., from Ky., James Buckner,
Elizabeth, who married Mr. Taylor, of Ky., and Louisa, married Tho. Buckner;
(2d m.) 91. Henry5; 92. Thomas Griffin5; 93. John5.
54. PETER5 PRESLEY THORNTON (Wm 4, Francis3, Wm.2, Wm1), born November
12, 1765 in Brunswick county, died August 6, 1856; married March 9, 1792,
Elizabeth McCulloch (born February 25, 1771, in Amherst county, died
September 19, 1851).
Issue 94. Elizabeth Horsley6, born March 7, 1793, died June 24, 1842; 95. Wm.
Sterling6, born November 9, 1794, died February, 1805; 96. Roderick McCulloch6,
born August 28, 1796, died June 24, 1842; 97. Jane Clark6, born August 24,
1798, died June 1, 1863; 98. Isabella McCullough6, born November 9, 1800, died
unmarried September 11, 1823; 100. Peter Presley6, born February 28, 1805,
died July 3, 1836; 101. James Francis, born October 24, 1807, died about 1880;
102. Robert Horsley6; 103. Belinda Ann6, born November 23, 1811, married
Francis E. Quarles, of King and Queen county, and died July 20, 1835.
55. FRANCIS5 THORNTON (Francis4, Francis3, Francis2, Wm.1) of "Fall Hill,"
Spotsylvania county, married in 1759 Ann, daughter of Rev. John Thompson, by
his wife Butler Brayne, widow of Governor Spotswood. The will of Francis
Thornton was dated Feb. 13, 1794, and proved in Spotsylvania April 8, 1795;
gives his wife Ann all of his negroes, horses, cattle, sheep, household furniture,
&c., and 200 acres of land for her life; to son Francis the remainder of his land
where he lived, and the reversion of estate left his wife to daughters Elizabeth
Gregory Thornton, Mary Thornton and Dorothea Thornton £500 each in specie;
to daughter Francs Buckner a mourning ring; daughter Mildred Washington
Maury £100 in specie.
Issue: 104. Francis6; 105. Elizabeth Gregory6, married Robert Dunbar, a Scotch
merchant, of Falmouth, Va.; 106. Mary6, married Dr. Voss, of Madison county;
107. Frances6, married Dr. Horace Buckner, of Culpeper county (she probably
married 2d. Strother Jones); 108. Mildred Washington6 married Col. Abraham
Maury, of Madison county; 109. Dorothea married Samuel Washington, of
Culpeper county.
56. GEORGE THORNTON5, (Francis4, Francis3, Francis2, William1) was left an
estate in Orange county. He was a member of the Convention of 1776 from
Spotsylvania, and of the House of Delegates in 1777, and perhaps other years.
He is said to have been a Major in the Continental Line (though I can find no
record of it) and to have died in service April 30, 1781. He married Mary,
daughter of John Alexander. Information in regard to this Geo. Thornton is
conflicting, and there may possibly be error in this account.
Issue: 110. Lucy F.6, married Captain John Posey (and was doubtless mother of
Col. Thornton A. Posey, of the U.S. Army); 111. Reuben6; 112. George
Washington6.
57. Col. William5 Thornton (Francis4, Francis3, Francis2, William1) of "Montpelier",
in that portion of Orange which is now Rappahannock; married Mary or Martha,
daughter of John Stuart.
Issue: 113. John6, who is stated to have married Mrs. Susan Gordon,
granddaughter of Charles Lee; but Dr. Edmund J. Lee's "Lee Family" shows no
such person; 114. Frances married Dr. Aylett Hawes; 115. William 6; 116.
George6; 117. Philip6; 118. Stuart6, married Adelaide Stuart, of Fairfax county,
and had many children, one of whom married Dr. Horace Ashton, of King
George county; 119. Howard6, married Charlotte Norris, of Charlestown,
Jefferson county (West Virginia), and had Frances7, who married Isaac Tyson, of
Baltimore, and Jane7; 120. Martha6 married Thos. Fitzhugh, of Fauquier county;
121. Maria6 married Charles Stuart; 122. Lucy6 married Philip Rootes Thompson.
[To be continued]
58. John5 Thornton (Francis4, Francis3, Francis2, William1), of “Thornton Hill,”
Madison county, was born ___, and died in 1822. At the beginning of the
Revolution he commanded a company of minute men from Culpeper county;
was commissioned captain in third Virginia regiment, Continental Line,
February 12, 1776; major of Grayson’s additional Continental regiment March
20, 1777; lieutenant-colonel November 15, 1778; retired April 2, 1779;
commanded a regiment of Virginia militia at Yorktown. Between 1833 and 1855
the State of Virginia issued to his heirs land-bounty warrants for 7,666 2/3
acres for his services. The names of his children are given in the warrants. He
married Jane, daughter of Augustine Washington, and niece of President
Washington.
Issue: 123. Mary,6 married. Dr. James (or Isaac) Winston; 124. Jane W.,6 married
Rev. Francis Thornton; 125. Frances Gregory,6 married George Thornton; 126.
Caroline R.,6 married ___ Thompson; 127. George w.,6 married Mildred, daughter
of Aris Buckner, of Prince William county, and had an only child, Jane
Washington6 Thornton, who married James B. Beck, U. S. Senator from
Kentucky; 128. Augustine,6 said to have died s.p., not named among his father's
heirs.
65. William5 Thornton (Francis,4 Rowland,3 Francis,2 Wil1), of “Crowes,” King
George county, married, in 1757, Elizabeth Fitzhugh (Parish Register), and died
in 1779, when his will was proved in King George:
Issue: 129. Susannah6, married ___ Courts; 130. Francis6; 131. Elizabeth6; 132.
Anne.6; Francis6 Thornton may have left issue, but I have no information
concerning him.
Peter Presley5 Thornton (Presley4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1), of
“Northumberland House,” Northumberland county, was born in St. Stephen’s
parish, Northumberland, August 10, 1750 (Parish Register); member of the
House of Burgesses for that county in 1772 and. 1774, and of conventions of
July and December, 1775; appointed colonel of a regiment of minute men in
1775, but afterwards resigned, to accept a position as aide-de-camp to General
Washington (Virginia Gazette), to which position he was appointed September 6,
1777. (Ford's Writings of Washington, XIV., 433.) On August 5, 1777, General
Washington wrote from Germantown to John A. Washington: “I have taken Col.
P. P. Thornton into my family as an extra aid. This, I dare say, his own merit, as
well as the great worth of his father, well entitles him to.” (Ford.) P. P. Thornton
married, in 1771, Sally Throckmorton, of Gloucester county. (Virginia Gazette.)
She was the daughter of Major Robert Throckmorton. It is believed that Peter
Presley Thornton died before 1781. The records of Northumberland county will
probably show whether he left issue. It is probable that he did not.
Presley5 Thornton (Presley4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1) was born March 2,
1760, in St. Stephen’s parish, Northumberland county (Parish Register), and was
taken to England in boyhood by his mother. Judge John Tayloe Lomax, son-inlaw of Captain Presley Thornton, said, in a letter dated October 1, 1858, writing
of Mrs. Thornton and her sons: "Not many years after Colonel Thornton’s death
in 1769, the loyalty of this lady to her king at ‘home’ was much disturbed at the
signs of the times, foreboding the political change in the relations between the
colonies and the English government. She, in consequence thereof, shortly
before the war, left this country and removed. to England with all her children,
and among them her three sons, Presley Thornton, John Tayloe, and Charles
Wade Thornton. This lady’s loyalty was very favorably remunerated after her
arrival in England, for she was allowed by the king a pension, and her sons
Presley and Wade were, while very young, placed in the army, and Tayloe in the
navy. It seems there was an understanding that they should not be employed in
service against the colonies. They all three distinguished themselves in the
British service. Presley was wounded at the siege of Gibraltar, where he
displayed, much gallantry.” (DeBow's Review, XXVI.) He returned to Virginia
immediately after the Revolution, and, under an act passed October, 1783, was
restored to all rights as a citizen of Virginia, on condition of taking the oaths of
allegiance. When an army was raised in 1798-’99, in view of expected war with
France, Washington wrote, March 31, 1799, to Major-General C.C. Pinckney: “I
have very little more knowledge of the captains in the Virginia Line, as arranged
by us at Philadelphia, than what was derive from the source of information then
laid before us. I have no hesitation, however, in mentioning the name of a
gentleman (conditionally) to whom, under my present view of them, I should
give a decided preference. It is Presley Thornton, son of one of the most
respectable gentlemen, now deceased, of the same name in this State. He is
thirty or thereabouts, amiable in his character. He was a British officer during
our Revolution, but would not fight against his country, and therefore went to
Gibraltar, and was in Garrison there during the siege by the Spaniards, where, it
is said, he distinguished himself by his gallant behaviour.” He also says that he
will probably appoint Mr. Thornton one of his staff. (Ford’s Writings of
Washington.) Presley Thornton was captain in the 8th U. S. Infantry in 1799, and
was honorably discharged June 15, 1800. About this time he sold his
Northumberland estate, “Northumberland House,” and removed to Genesee,
New York, where he died in 1807. He married, soon after his return to Virginia,
his cousin Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Francis Thornton, of “Society Hill.” Issue:
133. Charlotte6, married, July 25, 1805, at “Mannsfield,” Spotsylvania county,
Judge John Taloe Lomax, of Caroline county; 134. Arthur Witham 6; 135. Presley6,
died unmarried.
72. Sir Charles Wade5 Thornton (Presley4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1), born in
Northumberland county June1, 1764 (Parish Register), died unmarried April 6,
1854. A notice in The Gentleman's Magazine gives an account of the death, on
the date named, at his apartments in St. James' Palace, London, of LieutenantGeneral Sir Charles Wade Thornton, Knight, K.C.H., and Lieutenant-Governor of
Hull; appointed second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1779, first lieutenant
in 1782; in March, 1782, accompanied the Guards to Holland; was wounded at
the battle of Famars; was at the siege of Valenciennes, and lost his right arm at
the taking of Lannoy; captain, November, 1793; lieutenant-governor of Hull,
1816; equerry to the Duke of Cumberland, July 24, 1813; had the friendship of
George IV. and William IV.; lieutenant-colonel, 1811; colonel, 1825; knighted,
1831; received the Royal Hanoverian Order and was commissioned majorgeneral in 1837, and lieutenant-general in 1846. It is stated that during the
Walcheren expedition he saved the life of the Duke of York. (DeBow.) The name
of Sir Charles Wade Thornton frequently appears in The Gentleman's Magazine
as a participant in coronations and royal funerals.
73. John Tayloe5 Thornton (Presley4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1) was born in
Northumberland county on February 19, 1766. He was taken to England with
his brothers, and received an appointment to the English navy. Judge Lomax
says, in the letter before quoted: “Tahoe was desperately wounded in one of the
most desperate naval battles ever fought, between an English and a French
frigate. In this engagement the action ceased, by the mutual destruction of both
ships, and all the men on both sides would have been lost but for the timely
intervention of an approaching English vessel, which rescued from drowning
the survivors, among whom was Midshipman J. T. Thornton. He returned to
Virginia in 1783, and died about 1797, at ‘Kennersly,' Northumberland county.
He was, doubtless, the John Thornton who was member of the House of
Delegates from Northumberland in 1784, 1785, and 1786. He married Susan
Kenner.”
Issue: 136. Charles Wade6; 137. John Tayloe6.
Addenda.– It should have been stated on page 164, Volume IV., that Charlotte 5,
daughter of Col. Presley Thornton, of the council, married Philip Fitzhugh, of
“Marmion,” King George county.
[To be Continued]
Page 39
79. William5 Thornton (Francis4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1), of “Society Hill,”
King George county, born ____, died 1800, the year in which his will was proved
in King George Co. He was a member of the House of Delegates in 1784, 1785,
and 1786, and of the Convention of 1788. He married Elizabeth, second
daughter of George Mason, of “Gunston,” the distinguished statesman. Issue:
137. George Francis6, died, unmarried, in Alexandria, in 1824. In September,
1818, he sold to Henry Lee, guardian of Elisabeth McCarty, the “Society Hill”
estate, 700 acres; and. on July 29, 1822, when a resident of Washington city, he
sold to John Stith, of King George, a tract of land in that county called “The
Cottage.” His will, dated September 1, 1823, and proved in King George July l,
1824, gave his whole estate to his "friend William Herbert, of Shooter’s Hill." Mr.
Herbert qualified as executor, giving bond in $20,000. 138. William Mason6,
died, unmarried, at Princeton College.
In October last, the compiler of this genealogy, being in King George, paid a
visit to “Society Hill” The house is reputed to be (and it bears every evidence of
the truth of the belief) the oldest house in the county. It was probably built by
Anthony3 or Francis2 Thornton. The house stands on a high hill near the
“Brickhouse Landing" on Potomac Creek, and commands a beautiful view of the
river. The thick walls, heavy chimneys, and narrow windows, all show its age.
No signs of its former occupation by a family of wealth and standing exist
around it, except traces of terraces on the steep hillside in front. The building
itself, with the exception of the walls and chimneys, is a mere wreck. Most of
the doors have disappeared, and the vacant places have been supplied by
planks nailed to the door-frames. The first floor, four or five feet from the
ground, was originally reached by semi-circular stone steps; but these have
been broken down, and entrance can now be obtained on one side only, by a
pile of fragments. The interior, which is in such wretched condition that one
feels surprise at finding a family poor enough to occupy it, yet retains
evidences that it was once a costly and handsome house The walls of the highpitched rooms on this floor are panelled to the ceiling; the windows are closed
with solid inside shutters; and the corner fireplaces retained until lately hooks,
which showed that they had once been surrounded by tiles. Several steps have
fallen away from the staircase leading to the second story, and, with a gap in
the floor, open to the cellar, make the ascent difficult to any but a boy or a cat.
In the second story are several rooms of good size, but in some of them the
floors have fallen, and in all it is dangerous to walk. From this story stairs
ascend to a large garret, which formerly derived its light from circular windows
at each end, but now receives rain as well as sunshine through broken places in
the roof. From the garret a shaky ladder leads to an opening in the roof, from
which there is a most striking view of the surrounding country, the wide
Potomac, and the Maryland shore.
80. James Bankhead5 Thornton (Peter4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1), of “Mount
Zephyr,” Caroline county, born 1770, died March 29, 1843. He was justice of the
peace for Caroline from 1802. He married Mildred Rootes, daughter of Colonel
Anthony Thornton, of “Ormsby.” In 1845, Anthony, Peter R, James B., Charles
W., and R, B. Thornton advertised for sale “Mt. Zephyr,” “the seat of the late
James B. Thornton, and of the family for several generations.” Issue: 139.
Anthony6; 140. Ellen6, married Thomas Rowe; 141. Peter6; 142. James Bankhead6;
143. Dr. Rootes6, according to one account, died unmarried; according to
another, married Miss Buckner; 144. Charles6; 145. Mary Rootes6, died young;
146. Mildred6, died young.
81. Peter5 Thornton (Peter4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1), of “Rose Hill,” Caroline
county, born 1774; died September, 1833. He married ____ Taylor. Issue: 147.
Edmund; 148. Taylor.
84. Anthony5 Thornton (Anthony4, Anthony3, Francis2, William1), of “Ormsby,”
Caroline county, born February 1, 1748; died December 1, 1828. He was a
member of the Caroline county committee of safety, 1775 – ’76; was appointed
lieutenant-colonel of the militia in that county in 1777, and county lieutenant in
1779 or 1780. He held the latter office until 1789, or later, sad rendered,
throughout the Revolution, useful and efficient service. The Calendar of
Virginia State Papers contains several letters to and from him, as follows: (1.)
“Hanover Town, January 16, 1781. Col. Anthony Thornton informs the
Governor he has been ordered by Genl. Nelson to march his troops back to
Caroline, and hold them in readiness until further orders. He judges from this
he will be sent to Potomack, and begs to be supplied with two hundred and fifty
muskets, as he can do nothing without arms.” (2.) “August 21, 1781. Col.
Anthony Thornton informs Col. Davies of the condition of the Militia, &c., in his
county. He has so arranged the Muster Rolls as to get rid of useless men, and to
keep at least one-fourth of his force always in the field. Mr. Higgins has sixtyfive stand of arms repaired, and can have no more done without Salt. He has
always sent the six-months men to the field, and the county now has only these
and the men who have served their time in the service. The clothing has been
collected, and delivered to Major Nelson.” (3.) “Col: Anthony Thornton, Jun: to
Col. Davies. Caroline Co., Sept. 6, 1781. Regretting his inability to give correct
returns of the number of men remaining in the County, owing to the fact that
the entire Militia and Officers capable of making returns were in the field. At
the time of the Semi-Annual report required, he was too ill to attend to
business. The entire force of the County, 644 men. On this account, the
demands upon them have been ‘exceeding burthensome,’ compared. with those
of other Counties. Instead of one-fourth, one-half are required to go to the field
at once. He is determined, however, to meet the wants of the Service by Keeping
the full quota on duty." (4.) Governor Nelson to Colonel Anthony Thornton, Jr.,
Caroline county; “Williamsburg, Sept. 19, 1781. Sir: A large Body of Troops
being expected in a few Days down the Bay, under his Excellency Genl:
Washington, which will probably land, in Gloucester, I beg that you will have all
the Flour you can procure at Port Royal, or in any part of Caroline or the
adjacent Country; sent in Vessels round into Piankatank with all possible
Dispatch. I have the Liberty of giving you this Trouble from a conviction that
your zeal for your Country’s Good will incline you to undertake a Business so
serviceable to it, & that your Influence will enable you to execute it with the
greatest success.” Colonel Thornton commanded the Caroline militia during the
siege of Yorktown, and his force took part in the attack on Gloucester Point.
The following letter was written from that place: (5.) "Col. Anth. Thornton to
Governor Nelson. Gloucester, Oct. 21st, 1781.” On his way to that place he was
taken ill, and consequently did not arrive until Wednesday evening. Has been
for two days trying to see Governor Nelson, but “the French General positively
forbid my crossing over to York, tho' I informed him I had particular business
with you.” Bequests directions as to his proceeding “to collecting the Grain,
Fother, & Hay; &c.”; concludes, “Permit me to congratulate Your Excellency on
the happy end of the Siege, & believe me to be, with the greatest Esteem.” (6.)
“Col. A. Thornton to Col. Wm. Davies. Caroline Co., Dec. 24, 1781." His letter in
regard to the British prisoners, said to be hiring themselves out in this county,
has been received. He ears of not more than six or eight in that neighborhood,
but learns that they are scattered about in almost all the counties "between this
and the ridge." He will at once order his officers "to attend to this matter, and
dispose of them as directed." (7.) "Caroline Co., May 1st, 1782." Colonel
Anthony Thornton informs Col. Davies that the clothing due from that county
has been ready at the Bowling Green for some months. He adds: "I sincerely
lament with you the languor of every measure attempted to be taken; but
unless the Legislature will make Salutary Laws, it is impracticable for them to
be effectually executed." (8.) " Col. Anth. Thornton to Governor Beverley
Randolph. Caroline County, May 14,1789. Not having received a single shilling
for the Militia fines, thought it unnecessary to make any report about it, until
urged to do so by a notice yesterday from the Solicitor that a motion would be
made against me for neglect of duty." He hopes that the executive will direct
the solicitor to waive the intended motion. "Nothing but the present deranged
state of the Militia, and my great wish to see them in better order, would keep
me a single day in commission," etc.
Late in life Col. Thornton removed to Kentucky with all of his children except
his son Philip. Col. Thornton married, May 8, 1772, Mary, daughter of Philip
Rootes, of "Rosewall," King and Queen county, and his wife, Mildred Reade, of
Gloucester county. Mrs. Thornton died December 21, 1828. Col. Thornton and
his wife were involved in lengthy litigation in attempting to recover a legacy left
to her by her father. The case came twice before the Court of Appeals.
Issue: 149. Mildred Rootes, born _____; died _____; married James B. Thornton;
150. Katherine Taliaferro, died young; 151. Anthony; 152. Philip; 153. Charles
Taliaferro; 154. Mary Reade, married Judge Benjamin Mills, of the Circuit Court
of Kentucky; 155. Lucy, died single at an advanced age; 156. Elizabeth
Edmondson, died young; 157. Judith Presley, born June 28, 1788; died
December 29, 1851; married, September 6, 1808, her cousin, William Thornton
(son of Sterling and "Winifred Thornton), who was born January 17, 1789, and
died May 7, 1871. They lived at various times in Bourbon and Montgomery
counties, Kentucky, and removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1834. They
had issue: (a). Mildred R., married Rev. Duly Whitney; (b). Emma D., married
John B. Duryee, of Strathan, Logan. county, Ill.; (c), William, married, January 1,
1888, Roxanna Lyman, and died January 11, 1838; (d), Eliza W., unmarried; (e),
Lucy D., married, 1st, Francis Conway Thornton, and had two children; she
married, 2ndly, William K. Hardee, of Virden, Ill. William Thornton served in
the war of 1812 as a lieutenant in the Kentucky troops. 158. J. Rootes; 159.
Lewis; 160. Walker.
NOTE BY THE EDITOR.
Among the papers preserved in the Virginia Historical Society is a very old
manuscript, certainly not later than the year 1700, which may serve to indicate
the origin of the Thornton family of Virginia. It was, perhaps, once in
possession of some member thereof. It reads as follows:
"In the Cemetery of St. Giles in the fields, Inscription on a Tombstone:
" 'Johannes Thornton, in Memoriam clarissimse Uxoria Margaritee, filise Georgij
Collins, jujus parochise Sancti Agidii in Campis, hoe monumantum posuit.
" 'Under this sad Marble Sleeps
She for whom ev'n Marble weeps;
Her praise liveth still, tho' here she lyes,
Seeming Dead that never dyes;
Religion, Love in suffering breast,
Her Charity, Mildness, and the rest,
Have crowned her soul; all mourn with flame
Her husband's loss and Midwifes blame.
She dyed in Childbed, 70 times blest & seven,
Her Child & she delivered both in Heaven.
Ob: 8 .Jan: 1611.'
"Bound ye Margent of the Stone these 'Words:
" 'Full south this Stone 4 feet doth lye
His ffather John & grandfather Henry
Thornton, of Thornton, in Yorkshire bred,
Where lives the flame of Thornton, being dead.' "
Page 44
86. CHARLES5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), of "North
Garden," Caroline county, Va., and of Kentucky, commonly called "Captain"
Charles Thornton (doubtless from his holding that rank in the militia), married,
1st, Mary, daughter and heiress of Wm. Jones, of Essex, and also heiress of her
uncle, John Jones, of Essex. She had no issue. He married, 2ndly, Sarah,
daughter of John Fitzhugh, of "Bellair," Stafford county, Va. Captain Thornton
removed to Oldham county, Ky., about 1812.
Issue: 161, Fitzhugh, 6 married Caroline Fitzhugh, and died in Henry county,
Mo., in 1864; all of his children died without issue, except Sarah Ann, 7 who
married James Todd, of Henry county, Ky.; 162, Alice,6 died unmarried; 163,
Henrietta,6 married Frank Taliaferro, of Orange county, Va.; 164, Katherine
Presley,6 married Cole Fitzhugh, and had a daughter, Ann,7 who married Richard
F. Taylor, and lives near "Windsor, Henry county, Mo.; 165, Elizabeth, 6 married
Richard Meriwether, of Shelby, Ky., and had one son, Richard, who died without
issue; 166, Dr. Charles, 6 married Mary Taliaferro, and had a large family, and
has many descendants ; all of his children are dead, except Reuben T.7 Thornton, of Nevada, Vernon county, Mo.; 167, Dr. John Henry Fitzhugh, 6 married,
1st, Mary Symmes, daughter of President William Henry Harrison, and had
issue: (a), "Wm. Henry Harrison,7 of Ellettsville, Monroe county, Indiana;
unmarried; (b), Charles,7 surgeon in the United States army; died unmarried; (c),
Anna Harrison,7 died January 17, 1883; married Lee Mason Fitzhugh, of "Fern
Bank," Ohio; (d), Alice Elizabeth,7 married John C. Lewis, of Chicago; (e), Lucy
Harrison,7 died young; (f), John Fitzhugh,7 of "Fern Bank," married Lela Morgan
West, and had Charles West8; died young. Dr. John Thornton married, 2ndly,
Sarah Fitzhugh, and had Susan Fitzhugh7 and George Fitzhugh.7 168, Daniel
McCarty,6 purser United States Navy, married, 1st, Susan, daughter of Hay
Taliaferro; 2ndly, Mary, daughter of General Lawrence T. Dade, and had issue:
first marriage: (a), Charles Hay,7 served in Confederate States army; married
Betty Johnson, and had issue: Charles Hay,8 Virginia Susan,8 and Nathaniel8; (b),
Henry,7 served in the Richmond Howitzers, C. S. A.; married Betty Conway, and
had Henry8 and Marian8; (c), Virginia,7 married Dr. Frederick Roddy, of
Richmond; (d), Emma,7 married, first, Nathaniel Norfleet, and secondly. Col.
Wm. E. Cutshaw, C. S. A., of Richmond; (second marriage): (e), Lawrence7; (f),
Baylor,7 married; (g), Foxhall A. Parker,7 married; (h), Hay,7 married; (i), McCarty,'
married; (j), Arthur Conway7; (k), Iiucy,7 married Catlett Conway ; (l), Mary,7
married Catlett Conway; 169, Henry,6 married a Miss Curry, and left an only
son, Charles Henry Thornton, who married twice, leaving, by his first marriage,
a daughter, Sallie, and by the second (Mrs. Belle Thornton, who survives, and is
living at Los Angeles, California), two children; 170, Francis, 6 married Anne
Rose Thornton, and died near Jacksonville, Ill, leaving a number of children;
171, 'William Tucker. 6
87. GEORGE5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), born in Caroline
county, Virginia, November 18, 1752; died August 30, 1853, aged nearly 101
years; married, June 9, 1774, Margaret Stanley. He served in the Revolution as a
private in Capt. Wm. Buckner's and other companies of militia, and later
received a pension; the papers in regard to it have been preserved. About 1784
he removed to what is now Greene county, Va. Issue: 172, Catherine Taliaferro, 6
born August 18, 1775; 173, Ann,6 born December 25, 1776; married Edward
Eastham; 174, Peter,6 born March 5, 1779; lived in Madison county, Va.; 176,
Mary P.,6 born September 20, 1781; married Willis Kirtley, and removed to Kentucky ; 176, Charles,6 born December 12, 1783; removed to Muhlenberg county,
Ky., and had a son, Edward7; 177, George,6 born March 3, 1786; 178, Lucy
Buckner6 (twin), born March 3, 1786; married ___ Smoot, Madison county, Va.;
179, Thomas S.,6 married Mary Herndon, and had George,7 Varinda,7 and Lucy7;
180, Anthony6; 181, John,6 born October 31, 1792; removed to Muhlenberg
county, Ky.
88. REUBEN5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), of Caroline
county (and also, probably, of Spotsylvania and Hanover), was justice of the
peace for Spotsylvania in 1805; married Mildred, daughter of Benjamin and
Priscilla (Rootes) Grymes. Mrs. Mildred Thornton married, secondly, Peter
Dudley. In her will, dated March 16,1822, and proved in Spotsylvania in
September, 1822, she made bequests to her son, Anthony R. Thornton, and his
wife, Mildred B., and his daughter, Mildred Ann Grymes Thornton; to Mary H.,
wife of her son Benjamin G. Thornton; to Ann, wife of her son Wm. F. Thornton;
to Maria, wife of her son Reuben Thornton; to Susan, wife of her son Nicholas C.
Thornton; to Lucy B., wife of her son Charles T. Thornton; and to her nephew
John A., son of Wm. Wedderburn.
Page 46
Lucy Rootes Grymes made a will dated April 18, 1812, and proved in
Spotsylvania November 8, 1817, in which she made bequests to her nephews
Benj. Grymes Thornton, Reuben Thornton, Anthony Thornton, Wm. Fitzhugh
Thornton, and Chas. Taliaferro Thornton; and to her sister, Mildred Dudley.
Issue: 182, Anthony R.,6 married Mildred B. Walker; 183, Benjamin Grymes,6
married Mary H. North; 184, William. Fitzhugh6; 185, Reuben,6 married Maria
____; 186, Ann6; 187, Nicholas Cabell,6 married Susan ___; 188, Charles
Taliaferro,6 married Lucy B. ___.
89. PRESLEY5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), born 1760; died
in Kentucky November 5, 1811. He was commissioned cornet in the Third
Continental Dragoons February 21, 1777; was promoted to lieutenant and
captain, and served till 1783. On June 17, 1783, a warrant was issued to him
for 4,000 acres of bounty land for three years' service; and on March 30,. 1796,
a warrant for 666  acres more for his seventh year's service. When the first
warrant was issued, the following certificate was filed: "I do certify that Captain
Presley Thornton was appointed a Cornet in the 3d Regiment of Light Dragoons
the 17th of March, 1777; he was promoted to the rank of second Lieut. the 27 th
of May, 1778; also to the rank of first Lieut. the 15th of November, 1778; and to
a Captaincy the 10th of May, 1780, which commission he resigned the 25th of
March, 1781
GEORGE BAYLOR,
"Colo. of the 1st Begiment of Cavalry."
Captain Thornton subsequently reentered the army, and served to the end of
the war. He married Alice, daughter of Col. Francis Thornton, of "Society Hill."
Issue: 189, Francis Anthony6; 190, Sally Fitzhugh,6 died aged eighteen months;
191, McCarty,6 died in New Orleans, aged twenty-two years; 192, Presley,6 died
aged one year; 193, Elizabeth Presley,6 married Dr. Avery Gwin, of Kentucky.
91. DR. HENRY5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), born July 14,
1765; married Ann Rose, daughter of John Fitzhugh, of "Bellair." Issue: 194,
Anthony,6 born July 29, 1796; 195, John6; 196, Maria,6 married Edward Fitzhugh;
197, Susan,6 married ____ Meriwether; 198, Harriett,6 married John Conway; 199,
Ann,6 married Anthony Thornton; 200, Dr. Henry, Jr., died unmarried; 201,
Eliza.6
Page 47
92. THOMAS GRIFFIN5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), of
Caroline county (he bought "Ormsby" from his brother Anthony), was born June
11, 1776. He was a justice and sheriff of Caroline, and, while holding the latter
office, he was murdered by a man against whom he had a writ. Mr. Thornton
was, in his day, noted as a fox-hunter; and The American Turf .Register and
Sporting Magazine contains anecdotes illustrative of the great excellence of his
hounds. He married, October 19, 1796, Ann H., daughter of William and Sarah
(Digges) Fitzhugh, of Fauquier county. Issue: 202, Susan6; 203, William6; 204,
Sarah,6 married Lewis Battaile; 205, Harriet,6 married Charles Jesse; 206,
Gordon6; 207, Thomas Griffin6; 208, Mary Digges,6 married Chas. Jesse (another);
209, Ellen,6 married ___ Catlett.
93. JOHN5 THORNTON (Anthony,4 Anthony, 3 Francis, 2 William1), of "Fairfield," near
Guiney's station, Caroline county (the place where General Jackson died), and
afterwards of "Ormsby," was born March. 4, 1775 [so given in a copy from the
family Bible, but evidently erroneous, as his brother T. G. is given as born on
June 11 of the same year]; married, first, September 17, 1795, Sarah, daughter
of George and Mary (Digges) Fitzhugh, of Fauquier county; married, secondly,
Mildred Washington Dade; married, thirdly, October 22, 1812, Jane Laughlin; no
issue except by first marriage. Issue: 210, Susan,6 married Captain Royston.;
211, George Fitzhugh,6 John6; 212, Mary Ann,6 married Wm. Royston; 213,
Edward Digges6; 214, William Fitzhugh6; 216, Addison F. 6; 216, Elinor.6
102. ROBERT HORSLEY6 THORNTON (Peter Presley,5 William,4 Francis,3 William,2
William1), born October 16, 1809; married, January 27, 1853, Louisa, daughter of
Rev. Charles Wingfield, of Albemarle county. Issue: 217, Charles Presley,7 born
March 15, 1854; 218, Mary Cary,7 born September 3, 1855; 219, Camilla Jane,7
born May 10, 1857; 220, Robert Horsley,7 born June 3. 1859; 221, Marie Rosalie,7
born August 4, 1861, and died May 24, 1863.
104. FRANCIS6 THORNTON (Francis,5 Francis,4 Francis, 3 Francis, 2 William1), of "Fall
Hill," Spotsylvania county, born 1760; died ___; was appointed justice of the
peace for Spotsylvania in 1790; married Sally, daughter of Judge Harry Innes, of
Kentucky, and niece of James Innes, colonel in the Revolution, and attorneygeneral of Virginia. Issue: 222, Elizabeth,7 born December 22, 1793; married J.
H. Fitzgerald, of Fredericksburg; 223, Francis7; 224, Harry Innes7; 225, Sally
Innes,7 born January 11, 1799, married Murray Forbes, of Falmouth, Virginia;
226, James Innes7; 227, Robert Callaway,7 born 1802; died unmarried; 228,
Catherine,7 born 1804; married Thomas Marshall, of "Happy Creek," Fauquier
county, Va.; 229, Butler Brayne,7 born 1806; died 1833.
(To be continued.')
Page 48
111. REUBEN6 THORNTON (George,5 Francis,4 Francis, 3 Francis, 2 William1). Accounts
as to his line of descent differ. One gives it, as it has just been stated, making
George5 Thornton, who married Mary Alexander, brother of Francis 5 Thornton,
of "Fall Hill," while another states that the George Thornton who married Mary
Alexander was the son of Col. Wm. Thornton, of " Mountpelier." Whatever the
descent may have been (which it is hoped some reader will give correctly), this
Reuben Thornton lived at "Greenwood," near Germanna. Married in 1810 Anna
M., daughter of George A. Washington, and had issue: (1), Churchill Jones; (2),
Charles Augustine, of Enfield, N. C.
112. GEORGE WASHINGTON THORNTON was the brother of the preceding, and of
course, there, is the same doubt as to his line of descent. He lived at "Rumford,"
and died December, 1816, when a resident of Orange county. Married, in 1805,
Mary, daughter of Henry Randolph, of Warwick, Chesterfield county. Issue: (1),
Henry Randolph, of Livingston, Mobile county, Ala., born February 28, 1807,
died November 21, 1862; married, first, in 1829, Maria Agnes Bradford;
secondly, in 1848, Ellen, daughter of Geo. Slaughter Thom, Culpeper county,
Va.; (2), Lucy Ward, born March 21, 1811, died July, 1840; married Richard
Adams, of Richmond; (3), Mary Goode, born 1813, married, first, Lieutenant
Alex. C. Maury, United States Navy; secondly, Rev. J. Jackson Scott, Pensacola;
(4), Seth Brett, born May 25, 1815, captain United States Army; killed in front of
the city of Mexico, August 18, 1847; a gallant and distinguished officer.
Henry Randolph Thornton (above) had issue by first marriage: (1), George, born
1830, married in 1860, Fanny Reed, and had issue: Bradford, Maria Agnes, Kate
Garrison and Henry Williams; (2), Alex. Cunningham; (3), Samuel Bradford, died
young. By second marriage: (4), Reuben Thom, of Birmingham, Ala.; (5),
Hortense; (6), Henry Ward, of Chicago; (7), Margaret Virginia, married John S.
Johnston; (8), Lucy Cobbs; (9), Seth Brett, died young.
115. WILLIAM6 THORNTON (William,5 Francis,4 Francis, 3 Francis, 2 William1) married
Eleanor, daughter of Philip Rootes Thompson, member of Congress, and had
issue: (1), Dr. ___ Thornton, married Charlotte, daughter of George Hamilton, of
Spotsylvania; (2), Susanna Thompson, born July 6, 1804, died October 18, 1836;
married February 1, 1825, Andrew Glassell, Jr., of Culpeper county; (3),
Daughter, married Charles Gibbs; (4), Philip Rootes, married Sarah Hamilton.
116. GEORGE6 THORNTON (brother of proceeding), is, as has been stated, not
positively distinguished from 56, George5 Thornton. But an account, which is
probably correct, states that George,6 son of Col. William Thornton, of
"Montpelier," married Frances Gregory, daughter of John Thornton, of
"Thornton Hill," Rappahannock county, and had issue: (1), Franklin, died young;
(2), Matilda, married John Thompson, of Kanawha county; (3), Alfred Augustine,
married Delia S., daughter of Murray Forbes, of Falmouth, Va., and had issue,
Sally Innes, George Alexander, Caroline Hounselle, Delia Forbes, Robert
Augustine, Catherine Forbes, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Anne Dunbar, Frances
Gregory and Virginia Lee; Caroline Homoselle married Thompson, of Kanawha
county, and had a number of children; (5), Aylett Hawes, married Miss Hudson,
and died without issue from an accidental wound during the war; (6), George
Warner married Margaret Hamilton, of Spotsylvania county, and had issue,
Robert S., Margaret Hamilton, and Frances Gregory.
117, DR. PHILIP6 THORNTON, of "Montpelier," Rappahannock county, member of
the House of Delegates, 1832, 1833, 1834, and probably other years. He
married first, Ellen, daughter of Dr. James Bankhead, who, Mr. Hayden says
(Virginia Genealogies) died without issue; but another account states that there
were children by this marriage, whose descendants live in Tennessee. Married
secondly, Caroline Homoselle, of Philadelphia, and had issue: (1), Martha C.,
who married, in 1841, Frederick G. Skinner, of Maryland; (2), Mary, married
Robert S. Voss, of Baltimore (formerly of Culpeper county, Va.)
134, ARTHUR6 WITHAM THORNTON (Presley,5 Presley,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2 William1)
entered the United States Army as an ensign in 1808, commissioned captain in
1835, and died November 2, 1836, at Pensacola, Fla. He married Marcella
(Gonzales) Brent, widow, and had two sons, who are stated to have been both
officers in Confederate States Army, and killed in battle.
136, PHILIP WADE6 THORNTON (John Tayloe,5 Presley,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2 William1),
of " Chatterton," King George county; married Lucy, daughter of Champe
Brockenbrough, of Port Royal, Caroline county, and his descendants resided
there.
137, JOHN TAYLOE6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), inherited "Kennerley,"
Northumberland county, but in 1829 was living in Orange county. He married
Ann ___.
139, ANTHONY6 THORNTON (J. B.,5 Peter,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2 William1), married
Ann, daughter of Dr. Henry Thornton, and had issue: (1), Elizabeth Presley,
married Rev. Robert Ryland,2 D. D., President of Richmond College; (2), Henry;
(3), James.
140, PETER6 THORNTON (brother of preceding) of Caroline county, married ___
Rowe, and had issue: (1), Sally Tunstall (Thornton); (2), Mary Rootes (Thornton);
(3), Thomas; (4), Callender; (5), Read.
142, DR. JAMES BANKHEAD6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), of Caroline county,
member of State Senate, 1839-'43, etc.; married first, Marianna Tabb, daughter
of Dr. Gustavus B. Horner, of Warrenton; secondly Susan Thornton; removed to
Memphis, Tenn., where he became a very prominent physician. Issue: (1), Mary
Mildred; (2), Albert; (3), Dr. James B., a distinguished physician of Memphis; (4),
Dr. Gustavus B., now President of the Memphis Board of Health.
Page 51
144, CHARLES6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), married Sally Catlett, of Caroline
county, and had issue.
147, EDMUND6 THORNTON (Peter,5 Peter,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2 William1), married, and
had no issue.
151. JUDGE ANTHONY6 THORNTON (Anthony,5 Anthony,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2
William1), of Kentucky, married Mary Towles, and was probably the father of
Thomas Towles Thornton, member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from Bourbon county, 1837. There were probably other children.
152. PHILIP6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), born April 28, 177-, died May 29,
1829. Member of the House of Delegates of Virginia from Spotsylvania county,
in 1828. Married Sarah Taliaferro, daughter of Capt. Francis Conway, of Port
Conway, King George county. Issue: (1), Elizabeth Fitzhugh, born August 8,
1801, died March 6, 1806; (2), Sarah Taliaferro, born August 6, 1804, died Oct.
4, 1890; married John Champe Stanard, of "Roxbury," Spotsylvania county; (3),
Rowland Conway, born April 6, 1808; (4), Francis Fitzhugh Conway, born
September 6, 1810, (6), Elizabeth Fitzhugh, born April 9, 1813, died July 4,
1814; (6), Col. Lewis Bedford, born May 28, 1815, removed to Tuscumbia, Ala.;
was several times in the Legislature of that State. Married twice, and left
children; (7), Philip Anthony, born May 28, 1818, was lost at sea in the North
Pacific; (8), Charles Walker, born December 4, 1819, died May 25, 1822; (9),
Thomas Jefferson, born January 24, 1822, married in Louisiana; moved to
Oregon, where he died September 17, 1877, leaving children.
153, DR. CHARLES TALIAFERRO6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), married Anne
Buckner.
158, JOHN ROOTES6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), born November 4, 1786,
removed to Bourbon county, Ky., where he became a prominent lawyer, and was
member of the Kentucky House of Representatives 1844, and State Senate
1829-'33, 1833-'37; married Elizabeth M. Owings, and died December 4, 1873.
160, WALKER6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), removed to the West; married
Sally Caldwell, and left children.
159, LEWIS6 THORNTON (brother of preceding), married, first, Anne Bedford;
second, Eliza Caldwell; third, Ann Curry.
171, DR. WILLIAM TUCKER THORNTON (Charles,5 Anthony,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2
William1), born May 1, 1808, and removed with his father to Oldham county,
Ky., about 1812; married, March, 1833, Caroline Jefferson Taylor, daughter of
Major William Taylor (of the Virginia Revolutionary army), and died in this
place, 1874. Issue: (1), Louisa, died in childhood; (2), Virginia, died in childhood;
(3), Anna, died in childhood; (3), Paul Fitzhugh, judge of court of Vernon
county, Texas, 1872-'82, served in Confederate States army as captain,
surrendering at Shreveport, La., June, 1865, now resides at Austin, Texas,
married, January 11, 1872, Medora M. Rogers, of Clinton, Mo., and has several
children; (4), William Taylor, served Confederate States army, member of State
Legislature of Missouri, was, in 1896, etc., governor of the Territory of New
Mexico, married, June 30, 1868, Henel Maltby, of Sedalia, Mo., no issue; (5),
James Jameson, married December 24, 1872, Sue Horton, Lafayette county, Mo.,
and has one daughter, Carrie Weaver Thornton; (6), Caroline Virginia, married
first, on March 15, 1868, W. S. Stone; married, second. Horner C. Wilson, Waco,
Texas.
180, ANTHONY6 THORNTON (George,5 Anthony,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2 William1), born
October 14, 1790, was for many years justice of the peace and captain of militia
in Green county, Va., and died February 4, 1855. He married May 27, 1816,
Nancy Twyman, and had issue: (1), Dr. George A., born November 19, 1817,
lived at Buckersville, Greene county, died unmarried February 1, 1860; (2),
Samuel; (3), Francis, born January 4, 1820, married E. L. Walker, Madison
county; (4), Jackson L., of Greene county, born September 22, 1868, married
first, Sarah A. Buckner (issue died in infancy), and second, Mary Mansfield, and
had issue: William P., married Lizzie Pendleton; Leila, married J. C. Gentry,
Baltimore; Clarence, Cecil Devol, and Kenneth.
184, GENERAL WILLIAM FITZHUGH6 THORNTON (Reuben,5 Anthony,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2
William1), born October 4, 1789, in Hanover county, removed first to Kentucky
and afterwards to Illinois, where he was a prominent citizen, married Anne
McClenahan, of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and had issue: (1), Mildred Eliza
Ann; (2), Margaret Mary, married M. M. Berge; (3), Anne Grymes; (4), Maria
Louisa, married ___ Holloway; (5), Mildred Eliza Antonia; (6), William
Wedderburn, Shelbyville, Ill.; (7), Thomas McClenahan, Shelbyville, Ill.
189, FRANCIS ANTHONY6 THORNTON (Presley,5 Anthony,4 Anthony,3 Francis,2
William1), entered U. S. N. in 1812 as purser, and served until his death,
February, 1862. He married Sallie Donaldson, daughter of Dr. Heap, of
Shippensburg, Pa., and sister of Dr. Heap, U. S. Consul in Turkey, and had issue:
(1), Margaret Donaldson, married Commodore John B. Marchand, U. S. N.; (2),
Frances Antonia, married Admiral Geo. F. Emmons, U. S. N.; and had, with other
issue, a son, Lieutenant Geo. Thornton Emmons, U. S. N.; (3), Elizabeth Presley,
married Admiral Thornton A. Jenkins, U. S. N.; (4), Virginia; (5), Alice Presley;
(6), Burwell Bassett, died in infancy; (7), Francis, died unmarried.
223, Rev. FRANCIS7 THORNTON (Francis,6 Francis,5 Francis,4 Francis,3 Francis,2
William1), of "Fall Hill," born September 12, 1796, died. 1881; was a minister in
Kentucky, and a soldier in the war of 1812; married first, Jane W., daughter of
Col. John Thornton, of "Thornton Hill"; second, Susan "Wormeley, issue: (1),
Mary, married ___ Clinton, Louisville, Ky.; (2), Mary, married first, ___ Grant,
Louisville, and second, ___ Slaughter: (3), Doctor Francis of Louisville, surgeon
Confederate States army, killed at Chattanooga in 1863.
224, HARRY INNES7 THORNTON (brother of the preceding), born April 3, 1797, died
1867, judge of the Supreme Court of Alabama, and of the Court of Claims, San
Francisco, married Lucy, sister of John J. Crittenden, United States Senator.
Issue: (1), Margaret, born 1828, married first, in 1841, H. M. Judge, and second,
in 1859, J. C. Fall; (2), Sarah, born 1825, married Judge James D. Thornton, of
the Supreme Court of California, a native of Virginia, and had issue: Crittenden,
married Helen Collin; Lizzie, married Captain J. C. Watson, United States navy;
Ann Mary, married Lieutenant Chapman Todd; William; Gertrude, married Commander Henry Glass, United States navy; Harry I.: Margaret, married Abbot
Kinney; John T.; Virginia J.; (3), Gertrude, 1827-'53, married David Creswell; (4),
Colonel Harry I., married his first-cousin, K. M. Thornton, and died without
issue; (5), Elizabeth, married B. R. Nesbett.
226, JAMES INNES7 THORNTON (brother of preceding), born October, 1800, died
September, 1877; Secretary of State of Alabama, and held other prominent
offices; married first, Mary Glover, and second, Ann Smith. Issue (first
marriage): (1), Mary, married ___ McIntyre; (second marriage): (2), George F.; (3),
Kate M., married Col. Harry I. Thornton; (4), Innes, married Col. Brown; (5),
Butler, married Murry Taylor; (6), Harry I., married Mrs. Sarah (Gould) Goudy.
As this Thornton pedigree has run out to an unexpected length, it has been
necessary to conclude it with this installment, in which it has also been
necessary to condense as much as possible, and to omit the detail given in the
former numbers. The compiler expects, in the future, to reprint in book form
the account of the Thorntons, and urgently requests that corrections of errors
in the published genealogy may be sent to him, as well as such additional data
as will enable him to make the republication as complete as possible. Full
accounts, to the present day, are desired of all lines which have not been traced
in these articles, with all possible dates, accounts of civil or military offices
held, etc. Corrections of errors will be printed in the QUARTERLY.
W. G. STANARD
314 W. Cary Street, Richmond, Va.
ALICE THORNTON.—"Daughter of Col. Francis Thornton, of Snow Greek, Caroline
county, Va. Mr. Stanard, in his account of the Thornton family, does not state
the fact that the above-named Alice was first wife of James Taylor, of Orange,
eldest son of James Taylor and his wife Martha Thompson. The proof is as
follows: James Taylor, the nephew of Reuben Thornton, was also his executor
and one of his legatees. He was the son of James Taylor, of Orange, and was the
well-known Col. James Taylor, of Midway, Caroline county. He was the father of
Gen. James Taylor, of Newport, Kentucky. See Taylor MSS. Gen. James Taylor
was well known as a most accurate and conscientious man. In his MSS. account
of the Taylor family and of his own life he states that his grandmother was
Alice Thornton. Many years ago this Gen. James Taylor, Gen. Memican Hunt,
and Hon. Mr. Robert Taylor, of Orange, met by appointment at Washington
(probably when Mr. Robert Taylor was in Congress), in order to make an
accurate chart of the Taylor family, and each one kept a copy of the chart they
made out. I have a chart made out from Mr. Robert Taylor's chart, with
additions to it. This copy was made in 1848, and carefully compared with
original. The chart proves that the wife of James Taylor, of Orange, born in
1707, was Alice Thornton, and their daughter, Alice Thornton Taylor, married
Anthony Winston, and the Winston records agree with the Taylor's. Beyond all
doubt a man like Gen. James Taylor, of Newport) Ky., who took great interest in
his family history and left a lengthy MSS., a large part of which is about his
family, knew his own grandmother's name.
Page 55
The Merriwether book proves the marriages of the two Merriwethers to the
Misses Thornton. Gen. Memican Hunt's copy of the Taylor chart, lost for many
years, has recently been recovered from a junk shop in New Orleans, and this
corresponds in the Alice Thornton matter with the chart the writer has."—A. G.
Grinnan, M.D., P. O. Madison Mills, Va.
STOPPED HERE
THORNTON, p. 157.*-" In Mr. Stanard's article on this family it may properly be
inferred from Reuben Thornton's will, son of Col. Francis Thornton, of Caroline,
that Reuben Thornton's niece married Dr. Thomas Walker, and this is true, for
it is well known, that Thornton Washington was son of Samuel Washington and
Mildred Thornton, and this Mildred was daughter of Col. John Thornton, who
died in 1777, and not the daughter of Col. Francis, of Caroline. Reuben
Thornton's sister Mildred, who married Nicholas Merriwether, (see Merriwether
book), married, secondly, Dr. Thomas Walker, of Albemarle. The Francis Sermes
(page 60) in the Thornton article should have been Homnes. The act of
Legislature, authorizing a ferry from Falmouth to Francis Thorn-ion's, opposite
Falmouth, shows that he lived at the falls, opposite Falmouth, not at Fall Hill, a
mile vest of Falmouth. Indeed, it is stated by a well-informed member of the
Thornton family that the first Francis Thornton, of Spotsylvania, not only lived
at {he falls, but died there, and that his grave may be seen there."—A. G.
Grinnan, M.D., P. O. Madison Mills, Va.
THOENTOK.—" On page sixty of WIEIJAM AMD MAS? QUABTEKLT it is said that Lucy
Frances Thornton, who married Capt. John Posey, was doubtless mother of Col.
Thornton A. Posey, V. S. A. This is a mistake. She was his half-sister, and her
husband was his half-brother. General Thomas Posey, of the Revolution,
married (1), —— Matthews, daughter of Samson Matthews, of Augusta county,
and they had one child, John, whose mother died during {he Eevolution. After
the Eevolution he married Mary Alexander, widow of Major Geo. Thornton, ' a
zealous partisan officer.' As her mother was Imoy Thornton, she was akin to
her first husband. General Posey's son by his first wife married Mrs. Thornton's
daughter by her first husband after the General and Mrs. Thornton married.
Col. Thornton Alexander Posey, TJ. S. A., was son. of General Thos. Posey and
his second wife, Mary A. Thornton." —George Wtlson, £exin,ffton, Missouri.
For pp. 157 and 60 see pp. 24 and 84, this volume.
Page 56
The Merriwether boob proves the marriages of the two Merriweth-era to the
Misses Thornton. Gen. Memican Hunt's copy of the Taylor chart, lost for many
years, has recently been recovered from a junk shop in New Orleans, and this
corresponds in {he Alice Thornton matter with the chart the writer has."—A ff.
ffrinnan, M. 2?., P. 0. Madison H/HUB- Va.
TaoBMroiir, p. 157.*-'* In Mr. Sianard's article on this family it may properly be
inferred from Eenben Thornton'a will, son of Ool. Francis Thornton, of Caroline,
that Eeuteen Thornton's niece married Dr. Thomas Walker, and this is true, for
it is well known, that Thornton 'Washington was son of Samuel Washington and
Mildred Thornton, and this Mildred was daughter of Col. John Thornton, who
died in 1777, and not the daughter of Ool. Francis, of Caroline. Beuben
Thornton's sister Mildred, who married Nicholas Merriwether, (see Merriwether
book), married, secondly, Dr. Thomas 'Walker, of Albemarle. The Francis Sermes
(page 60) in the Thornton article should have been Homnes. The act of
Legislature, authorizing a ferry from Falmouth to Francis Thorn-ion's, opposite
Falmouth, shows that he lived at the falls, opposite Falmouth, not at Fall Hill, a
mile vest of Falmouth. Indeed, it is stated by a well-informed member of the
Thornton family that the first Francis Thornton, of Spoteylvania, not only lived
at {he falls, but died there, and that his grave may be seen there."— A. 0.
Grinnan, M. !>., Madison Milts, Madison County, Va.
THOENTOK.—" On page sixty of WIEIJAM AMD MAS? QUABTEKLT it is said that Lucy
Frances Thornton, who married Capt. John Posey, was doubtless mother of Col.
Thornton A. Posey, V. S. A. This is a mistake. She was his half-sister, and her
husband was his half-brother. General Thomas Posey, of the Revolution,
married (1), —— Matthews, daughter of Samson Matthews, of Augusta county,
and they had one child, John, whose mother died during {he Eevolution. After
the Eevolution he married Mary Alexander, widow of Major Geo. Thornton, ' a
zealous partisan officer.' As her mother was Imoy Thornton, she was akin to
her first husband. General Posey's son by his first wife married Mrs. Thornton's
daughter by her first husband after the General and Mrs. Thornton married.
Col. Thornton Alexander Posey, TJ. S. A., was son. of General Thos. Posey and
his second wife, Mary A. Thornton." —George Wtlson, £exin,ffton, Missouri.
•For pp. 157 and 60 see pp. 24 and 84, this volume.
55
»
THOBXTI'OH.—"I note on page sixty of th.e'WrtLiAM AUD MA.BT Coir
VBsa QOABTEBLS for July, 1896, in tea. article on "The Thornton family," by W. Q.
Stanard, third from last line, "120 Martha" married. Tho. Pitzh.ugh, of Pauquier
county." It should read that Martha Stuart Thornton, bom —————, married
Dr. wilimm Deadnam fitzhugh, of Pauquier oounty, for his second wife. Issue:
three sons and one daughter. 121 Maria married Dr. Chiu-lea Stuart, of Prince
William county, her first cousin. He •was the son of Philip Stuart, brother to
Martha Stuart, who was the daughter of John Stuart. Martha Stuart Thornton
was my grandmother, with whom I lived some years. She died December
19,1861. Dr. William D. fitzhugh was a very dexterous surgeon in his day. Dr.
Charles Stuart practiced medicine for many years in Prince William county, and
died about 1883."—J7'., Amesbury, Mass.
« PosET.—See pages 60, 14:1. Bev. Dr. Douglas T. Porreat, of
Clarksburg, W. Va., sends the following note which gives an intermarriage of
Captain John Posey: " William Harrison, of Stafford and Westmoreland counties,
married Sarah Hawley and had issue:
Sarah, William, Alexander, George, and Sybil; of these George Harrison married
Martha Price. She married secondly, Captain John Posey, son of Major-General
Thomas Posey, afterwards Governor of Illinois. John's step-mother was Mrs.
Mary Thornton, wi.iow of George Thornton and daughter of John Alexander and
Imoy Thornton. Who was Sarah Hawley T"
Goes. Posar—THOBNTON—ADAMS, ssa.—VoL IV., pp. 212-'18, Eev. Forest says that
William Harrison, of Stafford and Westmoreland counties, married Sarah
Hawley, and thai their son George married Martha Price, who, as his widow,
married Oapfc John Posey, son. of Gen. ThoB. Posey; and that John's stepmother was Mary, daughter of John Alexander and Imcy Thornton, Mary being
Geo. Thornton's widow when General Posey married her. On pp. 34-35, Life of
£«o. Archibald Alexander, by his son, Bev. James, we read: "At the early age of
seventeen, Archibald Alexander left his father's house to become a private tutor
in the family of Gen. John Posey, of the Wilderness, in the county of
Spotsylvania. The family residence was in a very retired situation, where a few
persons of wealth had valuable estates. Among these, visits were frequent, but
few other
*For pp. 60 and 141 see pp. 84 and 55, this volume.
Page 57
persons came into the neighborhood. Gen. Posey had done service in the
Revolution as a commander of riflemen in Morgan's famous corps, in which he
finally rose to be OoloneL He was a man of noble appearance and courtly
manners. Mrs. Posey, who had been a beauty in her youth, was now, at the age
of forty, a fine and stately person. She was addicted to the pleasures of society,
but generally took the side of religion, in a day when it was frequently
impugned, and seemed to be vacillating between duty and the world. Though
somewhat decayed in wealth, the Poseya maintained much of the style which
belonged to old Virginia families. The pupils were John Posey and George and
Beuben Thorn-ton; a daughter Lucy came in for occasional lessons."
It is unfortunate that a boob so widely circulated calls General Posey "John"
instead of Thomas, hia right name. He was born July 9,1750. His first wife was
the daughter of Samson Matthews, a leading man of Augusta county in the
Revolution, -whose brother George became Governor of Georgia. (See Peyton.)
She died during the Revolution, leaving the one child John. (By the way, Gen.
Posey never had any wealth to "decay," except what he got with his wife, who
had wealth from the Alexanders and Thorntons.) Gen. Posey married
Thornton's widow after the Revolution. Archibald Alexander was born in 1772,
so he was tutor in 1789. General Posey married his first wife about 1775. TTip
son was about fourteen when Alexander taught him. By these dates Mr. Forest
will doubtless see his mistake. Furthermore, General Fogey's son John never
had any wife but the above Imoy Thorn-ton, his step-sister, and she never had
any husband but John Posey. Her name was Lucy Frances, for her two
grandmothers, Irticy Thornton and Frances Gregory, one the wife of John Alexander, and the other the wi(e of Francis Thornton. Frances Gregory was
daughter of Mildred Washington, the aunt and godmother of the President. One
of the easiest things to remember in the tangled web of Virginia genealogy is
the three brothers, John, Beuben, and Francis Thornton, who married the three
sisters, Mildred, Elizabeth, and Frances Gregory. Major George Thornton, Mrs.
Gen. Posey's first husband, was son of Francis and Frances. He died from
drinking cold water on a forced march in the Revolution. John Posey and Lucy
Frances Thornton had a son, John Francis, much over six feet in height, and
called " the big captain." Part of this I have from the widow of Churchill Jones
Thornton, who lately died. Her name was Lucy Maria, and
57
she was a daughter of Wm. Beverley, of King George county. Her mother, Sarah
Ann, youngest daughter of ©en. Posey, was raised by her childless aunt, Mrs.
Wm. ITitzhugh, of King George (born Alexander). C. J. Thornton was son of
Beuben (Dr. Alexander's pupil) and Anna Maria Washington, granddaughter of
Charles, the President's brother. 0. J. Thornton's widow had Beuben's and Anna
Maria's Bible with their handwriting in it. She had a miniature of Gen. Posey, by
James Peale, 1795, the same year he made a like one of Washington. (See
Oustis.) It is not only an art work of rare beauty, but confirms Alexander's
statement thai Gen. Posey was a man " of noble appearance." A full-length, lifesize portrait of Washington, in oil colors, presented to Gen. Posey by
Washington nunaol-^ was lost in the burning of the old home of John Posey and
Lucy francos Thornton, in. Kentucky, some years ago; and in the same fire the
pair of silver-mounted, flintlock pistols given up to Gen. Posey by the British
commander at Stony Point, where Posey led the assaulting column, were lost.
On p. 162: "Eichard, born 1800, son of Samuel Griffin Adams and Catherine
Innes, married a daughter of Col. Miles Selden, and secondly, Imcy W.
Thornton." From the lately-deceased Mrs. 0. J. Thornton, above mentioned, I
have it that the other one of Alexander's pupils (whose name was George W.)
had a daughter Lucy, who married an Adams. George W. bad eldest son Henry i
daughter Mary Goode; and son Seth Brett, killed at Ohapultepeo. Seth's sword
and epaulettes are in the Smithsonian Institution. John Washington, the
immigrant, married a widow Brett as one of his wives. Mrs. Mary Goode
Thornton Scott lives at Pensacola. One of General Posey's sons by his second
wife was Washington Adams G-laaseU. Gen. Posey was never Governor of
Illinois, but of Indiana.
The names of Price and Hawley, given by Mr. Forest, are absolutely strange to
the family of Gen. Thos. Posey, nor has his kinship with any other Poseys but
his descendants, nor, indeed, with any one else, ever been shown. All of Gen.
Thomas Posey's descendants axe now akin by blood to the following
descendants of the Washingtons and Balls, to-wit: all of Charles Washington's
descendants through his wife Mildred Thornton, sister of Major George, above
named, whose wife was daughter of Imcy Thornton; all of Samuel Washington's
by another Mildred Thornton;
all of the Balls descended from a Mildred Thornton; and all of those of
Augustine, the President's half-brother, whose wife, Ann Aylett, was daughter
of Ann Ashton. John Alexander was son of Philip Alexander and Sarah Hooe;
Philip, the son of Philip and Sarah Ashton, daughter of Captain Peter. (See
Hayden.) Peter Ashton was the associate of John Washington, the immigrant.
Welles gives twelfth-century documents in which the name is written
"Wessyngton vel Ashton." The Ashtons were lords of Mid-dieton, among the
most distinguished North English nobility. 'Welles also gives the manors of
Wessyngton and Ashton as cornering on each other.
den. Posey is buried at Shawneetown, Illinois, which may be why it was thought
that he was Governor of that State. His inscription is on a stone three by six
feet. (He was six feet two inches high; had light-brown hair and blue eyes; was
powerfully built, and lolled several men with his own sword in battles.) The
inscription reads: "Here Lies the Body of Thomas Posey. In the American
Republic he was Colonel in the Bevolution of '76; Gen'l in the Legion of the '0'.
S. Army; laent. Governor of Kentucky, Senator in Congress, and Governor of
Indiana. He died as he had lived, a pious Christian, on the 18th of March, 1818,
in the Sixty-eighth year of his age. This man's character could never be stained
by the malignant breath of envy or malice. He left a fond and aged wife and
many affectionate children and worthy friends to deplore his loss." Tfia son
Alexander wrote it.
A test of Washington's estimation of his trust-worthiness and soldierly ability is
seen in his putting him between Valley forge and the enemy in Philadelphia, in
command of Morgan's regiment at Radnor, that gloomy winter.
His son, General Alexander Posey, by a movement of his troops ended the battle
of Bad Axe, in Wisconsin, and with it the Black Hawk War. (See frost's Indian,
Wars.) His grandson. General Camot Posey, of Louisiana, was a brigadier-general
in Picbeit's division at Gettysburg; was hilled soon after in "Virginia. He left two
sons, John and Camot; murdered by negroes in Mississippi, for which a mob
killed five negroes.—Gao. WHSOM, Iiexington, Mo.
Page 60
THORNTON FAMILY.*
•Jc
In QUARTERLY IV., 90, Mr. Stanard quoting the Family Bible, states that William
Thornton, Jr., of Gloucester County, had the following sons: (i) William, who
died early; (2) Francis, born June 7, 1692, and died February 6, 1737. He was
vestryman of Petsworth Parish; (3) Seth, born Oct. 13, 1694, vestryman of
Petsworth Parish, Gloucester County; (4) William, born March 31, 1699. He had
a twin in a sister Prudence; (5) John, born April 17, 1701.
In Gloucester County a slab used as a door step at the house of an old
gentleman named Henry H. Hibble once covered the grave of 4 William
Thornton. It bears the following inscription:
Here lyeth the Body of Mr. Win. Thornton who married the youngest daughter
of Mr. Jno. Meiuc, by whom he had eight children, two of them lyeth on his left
hand, the others are as Follows, Elizabeth, Ann, William, Meux, Richard and
John. He was a loving Husband a Tender Father and kind Neighbor He dyed May
y" 3d., i74S Aged 46 years.
1
An extended account of this family by W. G. Stanard appeared in the back
numbers of this magazine. *Page 20, this volume.
60
William Thornton married Miss Meux. She was probably Anne Meux, daughter
of Richard Meux and Elizabeth Lightfoot, daughter of Major Sherwood Lightfoot
of New Kent (See Meux Family, QUARTERLY XVI.)
They had issue surviving: Elizabeth, Ann, William, living in 1761 when he kept
the Ferry at Cappahosic, Meux who married Anne Jones, daughter of Richard
Jones and Anne Simmons, Richard and John. Meux Thornton, living in 1787 was
probably son of Meux Thornton and Anne Jones.
2. Francis Thornton (born June 7, 1692; died February 6, 1737), had issue (i)
William, and probably (2) John, of North Carolina, who in 1751 sold lands in
Brunswick to Sterling Thornton (3) probably Sterling, living in 1751 in
Brunswick County.
William Thornton, son of Francis, married Jane Clack (born January 9, 1721)
daughter of James Clack, of Brunswick County and Mary, his wife, and had
issue:1 (i) Francis, died early;
(2) James, born July n, 1743. In 1765 he made a deed in Brunswick County to
John Jones, and in 1762 he married Elizabeth Jones (marriage bond at Oxford,
Granville County, N. C.) (3) John, born Sept. 13, 1744; (4) Elizabeth, (5) Francis,
born January 22, 1747; (6) Mary, (7) William, born April 14, 1751, married Sarah
Goodrich, daughter of Edward Goodrich (marriage bond in Brunswick, dated
Feb. 16,1774), (8) Sterling Clack, born Aug. 12, 1753, (p) Reuben, born March 28,
1756; (10) Ann Sterling, (n) Mary, (12) Jane, (13) Peter Presley, whose descendants are given by Mr. Stanard. William Thornton's will was proved in
Brunswick Co., Nov. 2'3,1790. It names wife Jane and makes sons Francis,
Sterling Clack and Peter Presley Thornton executors; he speaks of his surviving
children and excepts his son James out of the devise. Sterling Thornton, son of
Francis, was probably the first husband of Jane Boswell, who married 2'dly John
Seawell, and father of Sterling Thornton, who married Anne Cary, of Matthews
County, and made his will March 28,1790. This second Sterling Thornton had a
son John, a minor, who survived him, and a brother Frauds, who had issue:
James,
'QUARTERLY, IV., 158. *See Volume III of this work, p. 668.
61
Elizabeth, Ann and Francis living in 1790. It is probable that Francis Thornton
(born June 17, 1692) married a daughter of Rev. James Clack, and hence the
name "Sterling" which appears also in the Clack family.
In Stafford County John Thornton made his will Aug. 15, 1788, and codicil Feb.
23, 1789, which was proved April 10, 1789. It names wife, Catherine (she was
Catherine Yates, daughter of Rev. Robert Yates) to whom he gives his chariot
and four horses;
sons Anthony, Benjamin Berryman and Wm. Thornton, the last named in codicil
as just born. Directs his property in Gloucester to be sold, and makes "his
friend Seth Thornton, of Caroline, John Taliaferro, of Hayes, in King George
County, Samuel Triplett and Samuel Love'in the County of Loudoun," executors
of his will. His widow married Jan., 1781, Dr. Robert Welford.
A Major John Thornton was a vestryman of Blissland parish, New Kent Co., and
died in 1730. (Blissland Parish Vestry Book.)
A John Thornton was the fourth husband of Anna Maria Jones, daughter of Rev.
Rowland Jones. She died in 1760, and in her will proved in York County, left
.£400 to her husband John Thornton. This John Thornton was probably the
youngest son of William Thornton, Jr.
62
THORNTON ADDENDA By W. G. STANARD.
(See V., 200; VI., 240.)"
Philip Wade Thornton married Lucy Brockenbrough and had issue:
1. Champe Brockenbrough, married Elizabeth Grammer of Washington.
2. John Tayloe, married Ann ————, 3. Wade Augustine; 4. Charles Presley.
Issue of Champe B Thornton5 and Elizabeth Grammer, was:
"Champe B. Thornton, Jr. m. Laura Stettenious (issue—Champe B III, Heber
Leslie Thornton, Grayson Lomax Thornton, and Mattie Roselie Thornton m.
Leiand Conness.
"Chas. Presley Thornton (Champe5)—m. Miss Champe Fitzhugh (no issue).
'Grammar Thornton (Champe5) died unmarried.
"Rosena Thornton—m. David Bernard Powers (issue—David Bernard7 Jr.,
Elizabeth Grammer7—m. R. H. Seward; Rosena Gertrude7—m. W. T. Holloway;
James Thomas7; Frances Brockenbrough—m. C. A. Holloway (issue—Frances
Powers8) ; Chas. Presley7; Jennie Taylor7; and William Thorn-ton7.
"Julius Fitzhugh Thornton (Champe8)—m. Miss Florence War-ner of Baltimore
(issue—Julia7—m. Rev. Ziegler; Charles Wade7; Elizabeth Grammer7; Mary
Warner7).
"John Tayloe Thornton (Champe5)—m. Miss Louise Disney (issue—Elizabeth
Grammer7; Louise Beatrice7).
'Tillie Grammer Thornton (Champe8) m.
*Pages 88 and 50, this volume.
63
•Arthur Presley Thornton (Champe")—m. ist Miss Leslee Thompson (issue—
Arthur Leslie) ; 2nd Miss Elizabeth New-man (issue—Barbour, Frances).
•Chas. Wade Thornton (Champe5) died unmarried.
Issue of Philip Wade Thornton* and Lucy Brockenbrough T., in addition to four
sons above mentioned, two daughters.
(") Charlotte Belson Tho^ntonl'-^-m. Richard Ball Mitchell of Northumberland
County (issue—Arthur Spicer"—m. Elizabeth Carter Snead; Joseph Dowman"—
m. Louise Morrison of Gate City, Va.; Richard Ball"—m. Miss Daisy Peters of
Bristol, Tenn.; Austin Brockenbrough'—m. Miss Bessie Aylett, d. of Col. Win.
Aylett of King William County.
OLucy Austin Thornton" (P. W. T.*).
THORNTON-TALIAFERRO.—On page 92, Vol. IV, of QUARTERLY, is an account of
Francis Thornton, Jr. (born January 4, 1682), and Mary his wife.* It does not
seem that there can be any doubt that the wife was Mary Taliaferro, daughter of
John Taliaferro and Sarah Smith, his wife. John Taliaferro mentions his
daughter Mary in his will, dated June i, 1715. The children of Francis Thornton
and Mary, his wife, were Francis, Reuben, John, Sarah, who married Slaughter,
and Alice, who married James Taylor (see Virginia Genealogies, p. 675 and see
will of Reuben Thornton, QUARTERLY, IV., 160). Mrs. Elizabeth Ward Doremus, of
New York, writes as follows: "My great-grandfather, Gen. James Taylor, knew
that Mary Thornton was the daughter of John Taliaferro, and spoke of it to my
mother and others, but in his Journal where he speaks of Alice Thornton as
having married his ancestor James Taylor, he did not go back into the Thornton
line giving Alice's parents. I knew many of my Thornton and Taliaferro cousins
in Kentucky as a child when I lived with my great-grandmother, Mrs. James
Taylor (nee Keturah Moss), wife of Gen. James Taylor, of Newport, Kentucky.
She was ninety-six when she died and I remember her well."
*'For pp. 92 and 160 see pp. 22 and 27, this volume. 64
EXOCIISTJB—THOENTON.
Below is given a careful copy of a Bible-leaf in possession of the family of Dr.
Van F. Qarrett, of WiUiamBburg. Around 3, 4, and 5, are drawn the words in the
margin, "All these -were the children of Anne Bickerton"; so that the
interpretation should be as follows:
Thomas Thornton (born 1714, died 174—) and Anne, his wife, subsequently
Anne Biokerton (born 1709, died 1st September, 1775), had issue:
1, Anne, born September 11, 1789, died February 28, 1763; 2, William, born
October 16, 1741, and died the 5th day of November, 17—; John, born March I",
1743.
Anne Thornton married Samuel Timson, and had issue: Anna Thornton Timson
(born June 22, 1762) married Samuel Major. Issue: 1, Samuel, d. B. p.; 2, Mary, d.
s. p.; 3, Anne, married Eichard Garrett, Senior.
'William Thornton, Sr., and Susannah Thornton, mentioned in the register, were
probably the parents of Thomas Thornton. William Thornton, Sr., was probably
William Thornton', son of William Thornton', son of William Thornton', of Mr.
Stanard's pedigree in my October number.
EBOM FAMTLT BIKLB.
1. William Thornton, Senior, Departed this life The 5th Day of January, 1741.
2. Susanna Thornton Departed This life the 29th Day of August, in the year of
our Iiord 1744.
3. Ann Thornton was Bom September y" 11th Day, on Tuesday, 1739, about 3
o'clock In the afternoon.
4. William Thornton, born October the 16, 1741, & Died The 6"' Day of
November, 17—.
6. John Thornton was Born March y° 1" Day, 1743, on Tuesday Night, about 10
o'clock at Night.
6. Thomas Thornton Departed This life the 2'"' Day of January, 174—.
7. Thomas Thornton was Bom September 24, 1714, on Friday, about an hour
within night.
8. Ann Timson, Daughter of Tho" & Ann Thornton, Departed This Life the 28 th
of February, 1763.
9. Ann Thornton Timson, daughter of Samuell and Ann Timson, was born June
the 22"'1, 1762, And married to Samuel Major, March the 2, 1777.
65
Mary Major, Daughter of Samuel and Ami Major, -was born January {he BO"',
1779, & died the 28th of May, 1812.
*™ Major, Daughter of Samuel and Ann, -was born September the 10"', 1786.
10. Ann Bic&erton Departed this Life 1" of September, 1776, in the 66 th year of
her age.
11. Mary Major departed this life on Thursday, the 32"* of August, 1776, at 25
minutes after 11 O'clock.
12. Samuel Major was born the 26°' of April, 176A.
13. Samuel Major Departed this life January 291'11, 1785.
14. Bicbard Garrett married to Ann Major April the 18"', 1807.
66