Genealogy Data
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Birth : 3 August 1769 in Orange County, North Carolina
Death : 4 October 1852 in Vermilion County, Illinois
[joan'sfam.FTW]
The following information is from the Kenneth Jacob Thornton Genealogy found in the Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society, Danville, Ill: "1810 US census, Edgefield County, South Carolina, page 38 lists him/spouse and 9 children. 1820 US Census, Franklin County, Union Township, Indiana, lists him and 12 (?) children. 1830 US Vermilion County, IL. lists him and 11 children."
He also has the following information from: "Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia" compiled by Marion Gilroy. On page 533 under Halifax County Grants there is a listing for 1784 for 250 acres of land each for Abraham, Eli and Thomas Thornton in the Halifax-Hants Boundary. In the narrative, Kenneth Thornton states that Eli and Abraham came with their father to Halifax in 1782. They were Loyalists who supported the English during the Revolutionary War - when the war ended they may have been threatened with persecution and fled to Canada. Apparently Eli and Abraham's father died in Canada and their older brother Thomas (who stayed in Virginia) came to bring them back to the states. (Kenneth Thornton also has this legend copied from the "Thornton and Allied Families Collection", State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa. The narrative states " .. these three (the children) came with their parents about the beginning of the Revolutionary War landing at Charleston. Too loyal to fight the King and not wanting to fight neighbors (a Quaker too) he and wife and two younger boys, Abraham and Eli went to Canada. Parents died and Thomas redeemed the boys. (There is some conflicting information here as you can see)
Kenneth Thornton also questions the 10 children of Eli (10 children in 10 years). He conjectures that perhaps they were also taking care of nieces and nephews? There is also some information in the Quaker records that Eli was disciplined by the Quakers for 'misbehavior' (abuse ?). He is not listed in the Quaker Cemetery (Elwood Cemetery) in Vermillion County. (See attached notes, genealogies).
Parents:
Father: Thornton, ThomasFamily:
Marriage: North Carolina
Spouse:Ramsey, Sarah AnnChildren:
Birth : 1 December 1780
Death : 14 September 1846 in Vermilion County, Illinois
Thornton, Nellie
Thornton, Uriah
Birth : 5 November 1798 in South Carolina
Death : January 1846
Thornton, Martha
Birth : 3 February 1800
Thornton, Keturah
Thornton, Abiah
Birth : 1803
Thornton, Thomas
Birth : 10 December 1805
Thornton, Mary
Birth : 12 October 1809
Thornton, Elizabeth
Birth : 1810
Thornton, Eleanor
Birth : 1812
Thornton, Rebecca Anna
There are many interesting stories in the lives of those represented here. Please help me add information, photos, or whatever you feel comfortable with.
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This page has been slightly reformatted and preserved in memory of its creator and my brother.
(aka Bruce Johnson)
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