Thornton Roots

John G, Hasting G, Matilda and William S Thornton

John G Thornton, dated his Last Will and Testament, 15 Feb 1865, which was proved on 24 Oct 1868 in Abbeville, SC.¹

• To the surviving children of my deceased brother, Hasting G Thornton, I will and bequeath the sum of Two Hundred and fifty Dollars, to be divided between them equally.

• The residue of my estate, real and personal, I will and bequeath to be equally divided between my niece, Mrs. Elizabeth White, my nephews Henry Reel, Toliver Reel, Albert Reel and the surviving children of my niece Mrs. Mary Langly, deceased. That is to say, I will and bequeath to Elizabeth White, one share. To Henry Reel, one share. To Toliver Reel, one share. To Albert Reel, one share. And to James Henry Langly, Alfred R Langly, Mansfield Langly and Mary Emma Langly, the children of Mary Langly, deceased, one share, or the portion which there mother would have inherited had she been living. In witness, RJ Robinson, William McCain, ER McCain. Executors for the estate, Henry Reel and Albert Reel.

A portion of the Will is crossed out and the presumption is that John G Thornton revoked (cancelled) the following:

• It is my will that my half brother William Thornton shall remain and live upon my farm during his pleasure and receive therefrom a support during his natural life.

William S, Matilda, John G and Hasting G Thornton were all born in Edgefield, South Carolina

John G, never married nor had any known children. Matilda, married Alfred Reel and Hasting G Thornton, removed to Pike Alabama. William S, the “half-brother,” removed to Mississippi.

• William S Thornton, 8 Jan 1792-2 Nov 1878 Heidelberg, Jasper County, MS.
• Matilda Thornton, 10 Apr 1799-3 Sept 1864, Edgefield, SC.
• John G Thornton, 27 July 1803-Oct 1868, Abbeville, SC.
• Hasting G Thornton, abt. 1801-bef. 1865, Pike, AL.

The parents of John G, Matilda, Hasting G, and William S Thornton are not yet proven but they all share the same Thornton father.

William S, is credited as William Stallworth Thornton because his grandfather’s surname is Stallworth. William Stallworth in his Last Will and Testament dated 2 Feb 1806 states,  “Grandson William Thornton.” There are no other grandchildren mentioned.²

While consulting with my crystal ball, it showed that Mr. Thornton married Miss Stallworth and the newlyweds began life together in the district of Edgefield. In January of 1792, the happy couple welcomed into the world their son and named him after her father, William Stallworth. Sometime between 1793 and 1797, William’s mother dies. Mr. Thornton then remarries early in 1798, and Matilda is born during April 1799 to Mr. and the 2^nd Mrs. Thornton. Hasting G and John G followed in 1801 and 1803.

William Stallworth Thornton married Elizabeth Walker and the 1820 census for Edgefield shows two males between the ages of 16 and 18 living in the household with William and Elizabeth. I attribute these two teens as being Williams brothers, Hasting G and John G, but the whereabouts of Matilda at this time is unknown. Since these younger siblings are not at home with their parents, it appears that Mr. and Mrs. 2^nd wife Thornton are deceased.

Matilda and her husband Alfred Reel (d. 12 July 1866) are found in 1830 Edgefield with their children, Henry, Elizabeth “Betsy” and Mary.

The only census fact for Hasting G Thornton is 1840 Pike Alabama, but back in South Carolina, during 1825, Hasting, Jacob, Joseph and Abram Thornton are found in the records for the estate of James Vaughan. Hasting G, died some time before 1865, maybe leaving a wife and likely a daughter born between 1821-25 and at least one daughter and one son born between 1836-40.

• 17 Aug 1825, Hasting Thornton paid $18.25 to the Estate of James Vaughn. James Vaughn died intestate, leaving behind his widow Matilda, and the Letters of Administration were granted on 2 Sept 1824 in Abbeville³.

After the death of his wife Elizabeth and before 1870, William Stallworth Thornton followed his son John Walker Thornton to Jasper County Mississippi.

As mentioned above, when John G Thornton wrote his Will in 1865, he included a Life-Estate for his half-brother William, but before John G died, he crossed out this devise. Since the Will of John G was proved during October of 1868, William S had removed to live with his son in Mississippi between 1865 and 1868.

John G Thornton bequeathed to his niece Mrs. Elizabeth White and nephews Henry, Toliver and Albert Reel.

The children of Matilda Thornton and Alfred Reel:

• Elizabeth “Betsy” (1823-1894), married John M White.
• Henry 1816-1884, married Elizabeth DeLaughter.
• Toliver 1831-15 May 1913 Fresno California. Never married.
• Albert 1835-1924, also never married.
• Mary 1829-1864, married Jacob Foster Langley.

To the surviving children of deceased niece Mrs. Mary Langley; James H Langley, Alfred R Langley, Mansfield Langley and Mary Emma Langley

Mary Reel married Jacob Foster Langley (1829-1906). Their children;

• James Hugh Langley, 1852-1928, married twice, Josephine LNU, and Sarah/Sallie Edwards.
• Alfred Reel Langley, 1855-1927, married Sarah Amanda Baughman.
• Mansfield Langley, 1857-1930, married Sylvester Jane “Bessie” Miller.
• Mary Emma Langley, born about 1864, no further details.

Witness to the Will of John G Thornton

William McCain (1811-1887), one of the subscribing witnesses married Emily (1816-1886), the daughter of William Stallworth Thornton and Elizabeth Walker.

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