THORNTON Family of VA

THORNTON Family of VA

Thornton Family

1. William Thornton, III b. 1627, The Hills, Yorkshire, England, d. 1708, Cod’s Creek, Stafford Co., VA, m. (2) Elizabeth Rowland b. 1627, Rappahannock Co., VA, d. Stafford Co., VA. William was also known as “The Immigrant” and “The Gentleman from the Hills”. He was from Royalty, coming from Yorkshire, England no later than 1646, and settled in Stafford County, VA. His plantation was called Fall Hill, located in Stafford Co., VA., where he was buried. The Thorntons were originally fair-haired Norwegian Vikings. The family has been traced back to Firgot, about 13 generations before Rolla. The Norse spelled Thornton as Thurston. William, The Conqueror, from Normandy, was the great-grandson of Rolla. William, the Conqueror, was crowned King of England in 1066. William Thornton was in York Co., VA by 11 May 1646, when he “obliged himself by a paper recorded in that county which included Gloucester, to care for the cattle of John Liptrot until the latter came of age. William Thornton deeded 2,000 acres of land in Rappahannock Co., VA on 16 Jul 1675, to his sons, William, Francis and Rowland, and also mentions a daughter, Esther. (Deed Book 6, p. 83, Rappahannock Co., VA).
2. Francis Thornton, Col., b. 5 Nov 1651, Fall Hill, Stafford Co., VA, d. 1726, King George Co., VA, m. (1) 13 Apr 1673, Gloucester Co., VA, Alice Savage, b. 1653, Gloucester Co., VA, d. 1695, King George Co., VA, (daughter of Capt. Anthony and Alice (Stafford) Savage, Esq.). Francis was Justice and High Sheriff of Gloucester Co., VA.
3. Francis Thornton, II Col., b. 4 Jan 1682, Fall Hill, Gloucester Co., VA, d. bef 28 Jun 1738, Gloucester Co., VA, m. 1703, Snow Creek, Essex Co., VA, to Mary Taliaferro b. 1686, Powhatan Plantation, Essex Co., VA, d. Snow Creek, Essex Co., VA, (daughter of Col. John and Sarah (Smith) Taliaferro). Francis was the first Justice of Caroline Co., VA. He was also a Justice of Essex County and was a Burgess for Spottsylvania Co., VA in 1723-26. Francis settled at Snow Creek, near the present Fredericksburg about 1703. There is a recorded deed in Essex County, dated Mar 1703/04 from Francis Thornton of Stafford conveying to Francis Thornton, Jr., then of Essex Co., VA, a tract of about 700 acres at Snow Creek. Near the Thornton cemetery in Kenmore is a road sign erected by the Virginia Conservation Commission which reads as follows: “Fall Hill- on the heights one mile to the west, the home of the Thornton’s from about 1736. Francis Thornton 2nd was a Justice, a Burgess 1744-45 and Lieut. Col., of his Majesty’s Militia for Spotsylvania Co. He and two of his brothers three Gregory sisters, {Note: the sign is obviously referring to Francis Thornton, III and not the II], first cousins of George Washington. Fall Hill is still owned (1960) and occupied by direct Thornton descendants.” [Note: Mrs. Lynn W. Franklin, Sr., still lives there as of 1997]. On the way up to Fall Hill, one finds a large old water-worn stone called the “Indian Punch Bowl” and it’s seated on the banks of the Rappahannock River. It was originally carved into the rocks by Indians who used it to brew their poison for the tip of their arrows. Francis Thornton, II found the bowl, cleaned it out and served tasty punch in it during his river parties. The date he carved (1720) and the initials of his guests can still be seen today! There he held a fish fry for his friends every year for forty years. There is a map in my possession, of Fall Hill, depicting the Civil War trench, a school house (1830’s), remains of the old ice house, the various plantings and the story of Katina, a Sioux Indian princess who came to Fall Hill in 1759. She was the beloved governess to three generations of children. The map was designed, lettered and drawn by Kimberley Nichols, Feb 1978. The legend of the old Barbary pirate is included. His tongue had been cut out and Francis Thornton, III took pity on him and offered When the pirate died, Thornton buried him. The gold he reportedly had was never found. The Thornton family was destitute after the Civil War and the cook had a vision in which she saw the gold buried between two oak trees. There are many holes between oak trees at Fall Hill today, but the gold has never been found!
4. Francis Thornton, III Col., b. 7 Apr 1714, Snow Creek, Essex Co., VA, d. 7 Apr 1749, Fall Hill, Spottsylvania Co., VA, m. 3 Sep 1736, Frances Gregory b. ca. 1720, Spottsylvania Co., VA, d. 22 Jan 1790, Fall Hill, Spottsylvania Co., VA, (daughter of Col. Roger and Mildred (Washington) Gregory). Francis played an important part in county affairs, serving as vestryman, member of the House of Burgesses and Colonel of the Militia. His will was written 11 Nov 1748, proved 5 Sep 1749, Spottsylvania Co., VA. In Francis Thornton’s will, his son William was bequeathed all lands at the Great Mountains in Orange County being about 2,600 acres.
5. William Thornton, Col., b. 22 Nov 1742, Fall Hill, Spottsylvania Co., VA, d. 22 May 1818, Montpelier, Rappahannock Co., VA, m. 11 May 1775, Chantilly, King George Co., VA, to Martha Alexander Stuart, b. 10 Oct 1754, St. Paul’s Parish, d. 1812, Montpelier, Rappahannock Co., VA, (daughter of John and Frances (Alexander) Stuart). William’s will was proved 17 Aug 1818, Culpeper Co., VA,
6. Stuart Gibbons Thornton b. ca. 1790/91, Montpelier, Rappahannock Co., VA, d. 27 Aug 1868, Lawnville, Prince William Co., VA, m. (1) 1817, Mary Frances Adeline Stuart b. 25 May 1800 Fairfax Co., VA, d. Aug 1849, Lawnville, Prince William Co., VA, (daughter of Gen. Philip and Mary Fell (Baynes) Stuart). Lawnville was a 500 acre estate purchased by Stuart and Mary, 10 Mar 1818, from Dr. Gustavus R. A. Brown for $15,075.00. Stuart and Mary had 12 children. They were also 1st cousins.
7. William Henry Thornton b. ca. 1823, Lawnville, Prince William Co., VA, d. bef 1900, Hillwood, Fairfax Co., VA, m. (1) 4 Jan 1853, in Alexandria, VA, to Mary Adeline Carter b. 5 Jan 1831, Mountain View, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 12 Apr 1876, Hillwood, Fairfax Co., VA, (daughter of William Fitzhugh and Elizabeth Lucy (Ball) Carter). His will dated 15 Nov 1889, Fairfax Co., VA, names sons Harry Thornton and Lewis Thornton, eldest daughters, Lucy and Addie, and wife, Mary W. Thornton. His wife was named as his executor. (His second wife’s name was, Mary Whedbee, and they married at St. Stephen’s Parish, Prince William Co., VA.
8. Adeline Stuart Thornton b. 7 May 1857, Loudoun Co., VA, d. 11 Oct 1893, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, m. 19 Feb 1879, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville, Fairfax Co., VA, to George Richard Lee Turberville III, b. 22 Sep 1845, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 6 Feb 1921, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, (son of George Richard Lee and Margaret Virginia (DeBell) Turberville). George was a ranger with Mosby during the Civil War. He served as a private in Company A, 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry, and his Nickname was “The Bantam Rooster” due to his small size and agility. George was a lawyer after the war in Centreville.
9. Harriotte Lee Turberville b. 4 Jul 1881, Leeton, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 29 Dec 1962, Arlington, VA, m. 1 Jan 1903, in SC, to Pinckney Lee McWhorter b. 14 Jun 1875, Fairfax Co., VA, d. 19 Aug 1949, Fairfax, VA, (son of William David and Mary Jones (Millan) McWhorter, MD). Pinckney and Harriotte are buried at Leeton, Chantilly, Fairfax Co., VA.
10. George Turberville McWhorter, Sr., b. 11 Aug 1906, St. Elmos, VA, d. 28 Dec 1975, Washington, DC, m. May 1930, Rockville, MD, to Mary Nell Dismukes b. 20 Mar 1908, Cumberland Furnace, TN, d. 28 Dec 1976, Inverness, FL, (daughter of Grover Cleveland and Mary Madeline (Bowers) Dismukes).

Coat of arms drawn by my cousin, Martha Carter from Gainesville, VA.

Below is a photo of Montpeilier, Rappahannock Co., VA. Home of the Thorntons of VA.

Below is a photo of Fall Hall, Gloucester Co., VA.

See picture of Adeline Stuart Thornton below. (My great-great-grandmother).