Thornton Roots

David and Richard Thornton: both are presumed to have been born in South Carolina, then removed to Fayette Alabama. Some suspect they are related to or descend from Thomas Thornton, d. 1762, the Quaker.

• David Thornton, b. abt. 1783 SC, and d. 29 Oct 1867 Fayette, AL.
• Richard Thornton, b. 1790 – 95 SC, and d. between July 1860 and Jan 1868 Fayette, AL.

The last Census Richard Thornton appears in is 1860 (26 July), Walker, AL. Richard, abt. age 70 and born in SC. This is fairly consistent with the 1850 Census in which Richard is born in SC, but b. abt. 1795.

1840 Census, Fayette AL, is quizzical because on page 21, is the Head of Family name Richard Thornton, but there is no age appropriate “tick” mark for a male between 50-59. The two males noted are ages 0-4 and 5-9, however there appears a questionable, very faded “tick” mark for age 20-29. Also, at page 21 is David Thornton, age 50-59.

Another Census, the 1866 AL State Census for Fayette, raises the question, ” Who is A. Thornton?”

• A. Thornton- M 60-69/1797-1806; F 10-19; 2F 20-29; F 60-69; 1 Soldier, died of sickness.

Is the “A” for Agnes? Might it actually be an “R” and Richard hadn’t yet died? Upon the same page, is DF (David Franklin) Thornton and James Thornton, the sons of Richard and Agnes Thornton. And who is the Male age 60-69, and which family member died during the Civil War?

The earliest Patent granted (cash sale) to David Thornton of Marion County AL, was issued on 27 Nov 1822, for 80-11/100 acres of land in Township 14/Range 12, Certificate No. 758. The next two Patents were issued on 28 Nov 1822, to David Thornton of Marion County AL: Certificate No. 880, for 80-7/100 acres, Township 14/Range 11, and Certificate No. 881, for 79-4/100 acres, Township 14/Range 11. Certificate No. 950 was issued on 29 Nov 1822 to David Thornton of Marion AL, for 80 acres, Township 13/Range 11. A couple of land Patents were issued to a David Thornton of Tuscaloosa AL, but I’ve yet to make inquiry as to his identity. [Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Office Records].

There is also a Patent (cash sale) granted to Richard Thornton, No 32069, Issue date 1 Oct 1860, Township 13/Range 10/ Sec 31. At Section 32, is Richards son, David Franklin Thornton, No. 31426.

Are David and Richard Related?

Besides the question as to who their parents are, is whether they are siblings or cousins. There is the opinion that because David had an obvious financial portfolio, he and Richard could not be brothers: wealth disparity. Further, this opinion is alluded to being bolstered by David having loaned Richard $20.

From the estate papers of David Thornton, filed with the court during January 1868, an inventory of debts owed to the estate, “Note on Richard Thornton for $20.00 due 1 January 1854 for $20.00.  Dead”  (at p.311). Probate records v. 2 (p. 1-206) 1875-1877, FHL Film # 007653166, image 499/865 (pgs.307-317).

• $20 in 1868 is modernly equal to $428.35. The average farm hand in Alabama with board earned about $12.41 a month. A dozen eggs cost about 0.27 cents.

So maybe Richard wasn’t flush with money. He did not own the land he lived on in 1850 but in 1860, his real estate was valued at $800 and personal estate at $600. Whether Richard did or did not repay the $20, or that David may not have updated his records or had more money than Richard does not have bearing on the degree of kinship between David and Richard.

Yes, David and Richard are related but to what degree may yet be answered by undiscovered facts/documents and/or the sharing of DNA results.

Whether David and Richard were one time residences of Franklin Georgia.

I’ve been trying to figure out how or why it was conceived that the David who was born in South Carolina and removed to Fayette Alabama, had previously lived in Franklin Georgia. Taking a look at the Property Tax Lists for Franklin, between the years of 1800-1819, there is not only a David Thornton but a Richard, as well as William, Thomas, Reuben, and Elijah Thornton.

The earliest Tax record for David Thornton is 1806. Being that he was born 1783, his age in 1806 would have been about 23 years. Richard appears in the 1818 record, making his age about 27 (if born in 1791). The last record for David and Richard is 1819.

• 1800, Capt. John Barnets Dist, William Thornton.
• 1801, Capt. Roland Cornelius Dist, William Thornton.
• 1802, Capt. John Martin Dist, William Thornton and Thomas Thornton.
• 1803, William Thornton and Thomas Thornton.
• 1805, Capt. Wims Dist, Thomas Thornton, agent for A Molden (Pole tax) and Thomas Thornton.
• 1806, Capt. Hollingsworth Dist, David Thornton, Poll tax.
• 1806, Capt. Griffins Dist, Davis/David Thornton, Poll tax.
• 1806, Capt. Wims Dist, Thomas Thornton.
• 1807, Capt. Pursel Dist, David Thornton, Reuben Thornton and Elijah Thornton for Thomas Thornton, deceased (bounding on land of R Thornton).
• 1808, Capt. Benjamin Hollingsworth Dist, David Thornton.
• 1808, Capt. Yowells Dist, Thomas Thornton.
• 1811, Capt. Purcells Dist, David Thornton.
• 1818. Capt. Morris Dist, David Thornton.
• 1818, Capt. Hayne Dist, Elijah Thornton.
• 1818, Capt. Akins Dist, Richard Thornton.
• 1819, Capt. James Wileys Dist, David Thornton.
• 1819, Capt. Clevelands Dist, Richard Thornton.
• 1819, Capt. Headens Dist, Reuben Thornton.
• 1819, Capt. Haynes Dist, Elijah Thornton and Reuben Thornton.

And a couple of land transactions:

• 22 Nov 1808, John Darden of Elbert to David Thornton of Franklin, 330 ac. FHL Film # 007834377, image 436/544.
• 5 Mar 1808, David Thornton of Franklin to John Echols, 100 ac, conveyed by Rowland Cornelius to David Thornton by deed, 15 Jan “last.” FHL Film # 007834377, image 77/544.

Now there is a basis of facts in which I can see why one would think that David and Richard of Fayette AL, previously resided in Franklin GA. However, an argument could be made against the notion that David and Richard of Franklin GA are the David and Richard Thornton of Fayette AL. That would be by examining the other Thorntons of Franklin: William, Thomas, Reuben and Elijah.

What is known from record is William Thornton appears in 1800. William and Thomas appear together in 1802 and 1803. Thomas in 1805, 1806, and is deceased by 1807. Also in 1807, enters Elijah and Reuben Thornton. A second Thomas enters in 1808.  As a memory refresh, David appears between 1806-1819 and Richard appears 1818-1819.

• 3 Mar 1800, Land survey for William Thornton. FHL Film # 004725698, image 39/572.
• 15 Jan 1805, “where Thomas Thornton now lives.” FHL Film # 005756646, image 292/1002.
• 7 Mar 1806, Thomas Thornton to Mark Hardin, both of Franklin, 176 ac. FHL Film # 007834377, image 247/544.
• 6 Mar 1809, Reuben Thornton, assignment from John Hasey. FHL Film # 005767966, image 136/566.

Is it fair to presume that William, Thomas, Reuben, Elijah, David and Richard are of one family: one, two or three generations? What Thornton branch claims them?

In the book by John Bennett Boddie, Historical Southern Families, Vol. XII, “Thornton of Virginia,” there is mention of Thorntons in Georgia but no reference to the county of Franklin. https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~celticlady/genealogy/thornton/Boddie-Thorntons.htm

• Reuben and Richard (b. abt. 1803), sons of John Thornton (son of Luke and Millicent Ransdell), d. 1781 Orange, VA. Reuben m. Lydia and “probably” moved to Ohio with their sons, William, John, Richard and Elijah Thornton (d. 1882 at age 79).
• William, d. 1800, son of John Thornton (d. 1787 NC, son of Roger and Isabel Thornton), settled in Wilkes GA, prior to June 1785.
• Mark and Thomas, sons of Mark Thornton, moved to Wilkes, GA, where both appear in the tax list of 1785, having both been granted land there. Either Mark Thornton, Jr. or his son, married Sarah McAlpin, daughter of Alexander McAlpin (d. 1790) and wife Mary, who were living in Abbeville District, S.C. in 1785.
• Redman Thornton, younger son of Jesse and Hannah (Redman) Thornton, was born in Richmond Co., Va. about 1765-7, and died in Greene Co. , Ga. in 1826.
• Roger Thornton, third surviving son of Roger and Isabel Thornton, was born in Richmond Co., Va. June 14, 1725, and died in Hancock Co., Ga. in 1800. His will, probated in Hancock Co., Ga. in 1800, mentions his wife, Catherine, children William, John, Linsey and Henry Thornton, and his grandson, Isom Thornton.

From the above excepts, what may assist in learning the background of said Franklin County Thorntons may be by observing naming patterns, perhaps where the name Reuben frequents: Reuben being less commonly used than William or Thomas. Within my Thornton branch (descended from Thomas Thornton the Quaker) there are no known Reubens. Thomas is plentiful, Eli was popular (amongst the Thorntons and Hendersons, whom intermarried), some Williams and Richards.

So far, I still don’t know whether David and Richard of Fayette Alabama are the David and Richard of Franklin Georgia. Since the Fayette Census states that both David and Richard were born in South Carolina, and I have a couple of DNA matches to descendants of David and Richard, it makes sense to check out South Carolina, in areas where my Thorntons once lived.

Appearing in 1800 Edgefield Census, with age appropriate males in the household are John and David Thornton, but I’m putting my focus on David since David likely begat a David.

I became confident that David in Pendleton 1790 is the David in Edgefield 1800 after finding David Thornton of Edgefield selling property located in Pendleton during 1792.

• 24 Jan 1792, David Thornton of the County of Edgefield SC, to David Brag of Pendleton SC, 100 ac, on Keowee River, being part of a tract of land containing 800 ac, granted to Samuel Lofton Jr, 4 May 1789, and conveyed/sold by said Lofton to Dunkin Camron, and from said Camron to the above-mentioned David Thornton. Wit: Wm Anderson, Isaac Lynch, Joseph Bruner. Conveyance books, v. A-D 1789-1799; Film # 007856753, image 293/797 p.92.

Hypothetically- David Thornton Sr. of Edgefield and sons David Jr. and Richard, remove to Franklin GA after August 1800 but before 1806. David Sr. dies, David Jr. and Richard move on to Fayette AL.

Weaving a wee bit of detail into my Hypo, David Sr. is the David of record (Franklin) from 1806-1811. David Jr, begins on record in 1818 as does Richard. That would mean that David Sr. died between say, 1812 and 1817. I kind of like this scenario, that it’s David Sr. in 1806 and not Jr. who was about age 23 at the time.

Next, working in favor of David and Richard having resided in Franklin is David Thornton’s wife is Bathsheba White. She was born abt.1789 in South Carolina and died during July of 1850 in Fayette AL (Federal Census Mortality Schedule). Because her surname is White, my attention was drawn towards, Jeptha White and Abel White.

• Abel White, Fayette AL Census of 1830, age 60-69/1761-70; Fayette AL Patent granted (cash sale), 14S/11W, on 20 Oct 1823.
• Jeptha White, Fayette AL Census of 1840, age 40-49/1791-1800; Fayette AL Patent granted (cash sale), 14S/11W, on 2 Oct 1827.
• Abel White and Jeptha White, Franklin GA Property Tax, 1800-1819.
• 1830 Fayette AL Census, Abel White (60-69) and David Thornton (40-50), each recorded on page 204.
• 1820 Habersham GA- Abel White Sr 45+ (p.120); Abel White Jr 16-18 (p.113); Jeptha White 45+ (p.113).

These Whites: Abel and Jeptha, are mostly in the same local and period as David and Richard. I’d say, the scale is tipping in favor of David and Richard Thornton as being former residents of Franklin Georgia.

Comment regarding same local. I did notice other names from Franklin GA that are common with names in Fayette AL (also, Habersham GA) as well as names being suspect from Pendleton (modernly, Anderson County, SC). I’m using “names” broadly, meaning surname or given name + surname.

At this point it’s more than likely, David and Richard Thornton were residents of Franklin Georgia, prior to residency in Fayette Alabama. But obviously, lingering questions remain such as, where was Richard Thornton in 1820 and 1830? Then there are those pesky “Rabbit Holes” that develop while searching for one thing that leads to another thing. Lingering questions, rabbit holes, all interfere with me trying to figure out when to be “Done and Dusted” a.k.a., stop writing and just publish.

The following is borrowed from Searching for Richard and Agnes Thornton, posted in 2003. The complete version may be found at https://www.algenweb.org/fayette/Thornton.html

As most of you know, the search for Richard and Agnes Thornton runs cold prior to the 1820s — and pretty much disappears completely after 1870.  We know that their son, James Monroe Thornton, was born about 1825 in what was then Jefferson County, AL; we know that Richard and Agnes both show on the 1860 census, and that Agnes only shows on the 1870 census.  We also know that a North Alabama land grant/transfer was made to Richard in 1850.  So far, our search for their burial place has not been successful — but we think it near their last known place of residence, the Dublin Post Office District in northeast Fayette County, AL.

A search in late 2002 of three cemeteries near Richard and Agnes Thornton’s last known residence did not yield any results; a second look at the census record does not provide me with any additional clues.  I am left with the belief that our discovery of the family ancestry of Richard or Agnes will come through a purely serendipitous connection with some other Thornton in our line.  To that end, I have been trying to make the connection between the Richard Thornton family of Fayette County, AL and that of the David Thornton family of Fayette County, AL.  If we can discover the family connection, if any exists, between Richard and David, perhaps we can then learn who Richard’s father, grandfather, etc., are.

As far as I know, the last known documented references to Richard Thornton are in the estate papers of David Thornton.  In a document dated January 1868, which is an inventory of debts owed to the estate of David Thornton, is this entry: “Note on Richard Thornton for $20.00 due 1 January 1854 for $20.00.  Dead.” In April 1868, in another list of “bad and doubtful” debts filed with the court is this entry:    “One on Richard Thornton for $20.00 payable 1 January 1855, dated November 7, 1856”

These references to Richard Thornton are perhaps the last documented evidence we have of his existence — but it is only an assumption that the Richard of the estate papers of David Thornton is our Richard.  But I believe that the Richard of the “bad debt” is our Richard — and, further, I believe that Richard and David Thornton are related — and I believe once we understand the exact nature of the kinship between these two men that we can unravel the mystery of “Who is Richard Thornton.”

An argument for a kinship between David and Richard could be made on the somewhat scarcity of folks with the surname of Thornton.  The odds of two sets of unrelated Thornton families showing up at about the same time in the same county of a rural section of Alabama seem unlikely — especially given the fact that during the period of 1800 to 1900, many families, neighbors, in-laws, and friends migrated together.  It was not at all uncommon for several wagon-loads of kin and neighbors to pull up and to move en masse to a more promising area.  David and Richard and their families show in Alabama at about the same time — about 1820.

It is obvious that the political influence and the political affiliations of the David Thornton and the Richard Thornton families are very different during their years in Fayette County.  David was a wealthy landowner, an owner of mills and farms, and his family large and politically influential.  His grandson, P.W. Thornton, lost an arm in the Civil War fighting for the South and later became an office holder in local politics; his son, Thomas Thornton, although never elected to political office, was considered one of the most influential men in the county.  Richard fades from sight — and his family scatters after the Civil War.  Two of Richard’s sons died while in the service of the North and a third served in the service of the 1st Alabama Calvary, USA.

The fact that David allowed Richard a debt and did not immediately collect on the debt when it was due — the money was payable in the early 1850s and according to the census, Richard was still alive in 1860 — indicates to me that he was “kinfolk” and the debt was not pressed.  In fact, the court inventory has several over-due debts owed by David’s own children which were outstanding at David’s demise.  If David was slow to press for repayment from Richard, it may have been because they were cousins or even that Richard was a younger brother of David.  I don’t believe they were brothers although their birth years are close: David was born about 1783 and Richard was born about 1790.  It is more likely that they were cousins.  A kinship link between the two men is a premise worth validating.

In any event, the search for Richard Thornton took me to the estate papers of David Thornton.  I am grateful for Lori Thornton for providing photocopies of the estate papers. (Blog by Lori Thornton https://familyhistorian.blogspot.com/search?q=thornton)