Henry Thornton

Henry married Margery Laughton about 1573 in Middlesex, England. Margery was born in 1560 in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Henry Thornton was born in 1582 in North End, Fulham, Middlesex, England.
2. George Thornton was born in 1584.
3. Elizabeth Thornton was born in 1590 in London, Middlesex, England.
4. Thomas Thornton was born in 1586.
5. Joane Thornton was born in 1588 in London, Middlesex, England.

Thomas married Agnes E. Page about 1545 in Middlesex, England. Agnes was born in 1522 in Harrowhell, Middlesex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Alice Quarles in 1518 in London, Middlesex, England. Alice was born about 1493 in Massington, Northampton, England; died in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From: www.theyliveagain.com
Captain (USN Retired) Richard Thornton Fox of Portsmouth, Virginia has provided the information for the Thornton Lineage. He states "My work is accurate as best I as I know, but it is not cast in concrete. I am receptive to change, but would request back up data from those who suggest corrections so all the records may match."

Richard Thornton Fox may be reached at 2412 Sterling Point
Drive, Portsmouth, VA 23703.

Please contact him as not all of his exhaustive work has been published on They Live Again at this time and he may be able to provide additional information you are interested in.

CHESHIRE / MIDDLESEX THORNTONS

According to Richard T. Fox, "the Thornton surname is said to have originated when the township of Thornton-le-Moors, near Chester in the county of Cheshire, was granted to Peter le Clerc Secretary to Randle Blundville, Earl of Chester. The grant was made by Richard de Aldford, Lord of the fee, of which Thornton was a part. Exactly why the grant was made is not known. The grant was made prior to 1150.

The name of Peter le Clerc's wife is not recorded. He did have issue. A daughter Agnes and a son Randle, who assumed the name Randle le Roter de Thornton, were both born in Thornton Parish, near Chester. Randle was also godson of Randle, Earl of Chester. Randle Thornton was probably born about 1150 and died before 28 Henry III (1243 A.D.). He had wed Amicia de Kingsley, who survived him.

Randle le Roter de Thornton and his wife Amicia had four children; Sir Peter le Roter de Thornton, Celia, Randle and Richard. Peter was born about 1176 and Cecilia about 1178. The birth dates of Randle and Richard are not known. Peter, as eldest son, succeded to his father's estate. peter did have issue but neither of his sons qualify as our ancestor since one died without grandchild male issue, and the other changed his name to Richard le Roter de Kingsley. Remaining candidates are two ancestors, Randle, who was Rector of Thornton Parish in the 52nd year of the reign of Henry III (1267 A.D.) and his brother Richard. But, since Randle was a Rector (of Roman Faith), it is improbable he ever married and so is not a likely ancestor.

From 1267 to the late 1400's the line of this descent is not known. However, in about 1472 the same family arms (with a different crest) appears in Middlesex, near London, in the person of John Thornton. John was said to have been a servant to Margaret, Countess of Richmond, and mother of King Henry. From that time until the mid-1600's, when Henry Thornton emigrated to Virginia, this lineage is well documented.

Most of the early lineage of the Thorntons is extracted from "The Ancestry of Jane Thornton of Spartanburg, S.C." by Dr. Ariel L. Crowley. Dr. Crowley was meticulous regarding references and research, and I consider his account authoritative for all practical purposes. Dr. Crowley's work carries this Thornton line down to about 1800 in Virginia."

John married Dorothy Chelsham about 1494 in England. Dorothy was born about 1468 in Chelsham, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]