|
||
|
|
|
|
Report dead links. Email Kathy |
THE ALBERT THORNTON FAMILY OF WEST ZORRA TOWNSHIP, OXFORD COUNTY ONT. Submitted by Robert G. Moore 77 Metcalfe Street St Thomas Ontario N5R 3K6 Email Moore@wwdc.com Tel 519-631-6065 May 2001 ALBERT THORNTON PARENTS unknown BORN about 1800 (1) in the U.S.A (1) likely Vermont MARRIED Rachel Williams likely about 1822 likely Ontario perhaps West Zorra Township, Oxford County Ontario DIED after 1861 census of West Zorra Township but before 1871 (ref #1 and 31) BURIED unknown CHILDREN * denotes Separate chapters for each child and their descendants all children likely born in West Zorra #2.1.1 * Priscilla Thornton born 1823, married February 1842 in West Zorra Township to Peter Kerns, 5 children. She died 26 December 1901 at Woodstock Ont. #2.1.2 * Chauncy J. Thornton born about 1825, married June 1847 to Julia Ann Sawyer, 2 children He died February 1900 at Marion Township near Deckerville Sanilac County Michigan. #2.1.3 * Silas William Thornton born 1829. Married May 1852 to Caroline Moore, the daughter of James Moore and Rachel Holder. 9 children, He died 24 August 1903 at Harrisville Mich. See the Caroline Amelia Moore Branch #2.5.9 of the MOORE FAMILY #2.1.4 * Lyman L. (Lawrence ?) Thornton born 10 July 1832 (Ref D.D.) married first to Electra Spencer November 1855, 1 child married secondly to Ann Ennest, November 1867, 8 children (at least) He died 26 April 1915 at Kalamazoo Mich
#2.1.5 * Truman J. (James ?) Thornton born 11 March 1836. Married Susan Maria Moore about 1855-6 in West Zorra Township, the daughter of James Moore and Rachel Holder. (Sister of Caroline Moore who married Silas). 8 children He died 11 April 1911 at Au Sable Township Iosco County Mich. See the Susan Maria Moore Branch #2.5.11 of the MOORE FAMILY
It is not known when Albert Thornton came to Ontario but it is surmised that he was part of the wave of immigration from the United States in the early 1820's as the 1851 West Zorra Township census lists Priscilla, Chauncy and Silas as having been born in Ontario. (Ref 10) Apparently Albert was assessed in North Oxford Township in 1823-4 and in Zorra in 1826 (purple tid bit book of County of Oxford Local History Dept (further investigation is required as only Thornton listed by Oxford County OGS is for Abel Thornton at Lot 22 Concession 1 North Oxford for 1825.) When Albert's son Silas married for the second time on 7 Oct 1897 in Harrisville Mich., he gave his mother's maiden name as Rachel Williams and his father' name as Albert Thornton. (It is surmised she may have been a sister of Silas Williams an early Settler of Oxford County) Albert Thornton is listed in the 1828, First Regiment of Oxford County Militia in Capt R Always Company. His age given as 28.It appears that this company was composed of residents of ZORRA Twp (Ref Men of Upper Canada, Militia Nominal Rolls 1828-9 Pub Ont Genealogical Society 1995 ) In March 1837 Rachel Thornton, Albert's wife purchased 7 acres of the south part of Lot 5 Concession 5 West Zorra (Registered as # 3295). In August 1837 she purchased a further 17 1/4 acres of the same lot (Registered as #3744). In October 1842 Albert along with his wife Rachel sold the 24 1/4 acre parcel of Lot 5 Concession 5 West Zorra. (Registered as #5500). After 1842 Albert went to Blanshard Township in Perth County. The 1843-7 tax assessment Rolls of Blanshard Township show Albert as occupying Lots 3 and 4 (100 acres each) in the Concession "West Of the Mitchell Road". In the book "Canada Company" (Ref #30), page 193 Albert is shown in Concession 13 (or West Of the Mitchell Road). In 1843 he had 2 oxen, 3 milch cows and 6 horned cattle and was assessed for 20 pounds, In 1844 he had 10 acres cleared on Lot 4 The population returns lists 5 males, 2 over 16 in 1843 and 3 over in 1844 and one female each year (Which would be consistent with his family above (Priscilla having married prior to the move to Blanshard and remained in West Zorra). The population return for 1845 list 4 males which would indicate that son Chauncey was elsewhere. Their religion was given as Closed Communion Baptist. There are no Thorntons listed in the 1851 Blanshard or Downie Township census. Although Albert is not listed in the 1851 West Zorra Township census, his sons Chauncy and Silas were and were living near Peter Karn (West 1/2 of Lot 4 Concession 5) There is no 1851 North Oxford Township Census so we do not know if he was across the line! However by 1861 Albert is again listed in the West Zorra census, age 61 married, born U. S. A., religion Baptist and living with him, is Rachel, age 28 female. (likely an error for 68, This would be consistent with the 1871 census in which Rachel's age was given as 77) {1861 census was age on next birthday as of 14 January 1861 and in 1871 census was age as of 2 April 1871} (I RGM have not found any reference to a daughter Rachel in the family) In the census, the family is shown as one male, one female and married. They were living in a log house. Living in a separate log house next to Albert was his son Truman, Truman's wife Susan (Moore) and Truman's children Lyman and Albert. It appears from their position in the census that they were living in the area of Lot 4 or 5 in Concession 5, Zorra although no land ownership records have been found for Albert after the sale in 1842. Thus one would surmise that both Albert and Truman were living on Peter Karn's land. Neither Albert or Truman are shown in the 1861 West Zorra Township agricultural census although Peter Karn is shown as owning 100 acres of Lot 4 Concession 5 with 30 acres of it under cultivation. Rachel is shown living with the family of Peter Karn (her son-in law) in the West Zorra 1871 census as age 77 (that is born about 1794) and a widow. Thus if the age is correct she would be about 6 years older than Albert. Her religion is given as regular Baptist It is not known when or where either Rachel or Albert died, but it appears that Albert died between 1861 and 1871 and Rachel after 1871, but before 1881 as she has not been found in the 1881 census. Perhaps they were in Sanilac County with one of their sons but no death records for them have been found in Michigan. If she was buried in her son-in-law Peter Karn's plot in the Woodstock Baptist Cemetery, her name is not on a Grave stone) {The only Rachel Thornton listed in the Sanilac County death records died 13 March 1913 age 83 years, 6 months and 7 days, was born in England and was the daughter of Robert Maynard and Hannah Green. STRAYS There were a number of other Thornton families living in West Zorra at the same time as Albert, including the families of Bleeker Thornton, Remember Thornton, Calvin Thornton and Able Thornton. but till now (June/99) no relationship between Albert and any of them has been established although all seem to have come from the United States ABLE THORNTON It is believed (Jun/99) that the Able Thornton born about 1827 (age 25 in 1851 West Zorra census)(age next birthday as of January 1852) is not a member of the Albert Thornton Family as no positive info has been found to prove he was a member of the Albert Thornton family. It appears that he was not in Blanshard Township in 1843 with Albert. The naming pattern of his (Able's) children does not follow the naming pattern of the 4 sons of Albert. It is possible was this "Able" was a brother of Arial Thornton and thus a son of Calvin Thornton and Betsy Aldrich (see after.) This "Able" was married by Rev. George Turner of the Episcopal Methodist Church in West Zorra 11 April 1848 to Jean Larson the family were listed in the 1851 West Zorra census as Able Thornton age 25, laborer, Jean 22, Wallace age 3 In the 1860 census of Forester Township, Sanilac County household #875 Arial Thornton was household #878 Post Office Cherry Creek, is listed an "Abel" Thornton age 33, Laborer, born Canada, Jane age 28 born England, Mahala (female) age 11 born Canada (attends school), Christopher age 8 born Canada, attends school In 1870 census of Minden Township Sanilac county is listed an "Abel" Thornton age 42 born Canada West, June age 44 housewife Willard age 21 born Canada West, Christopher age 19 born Canada West 5 September 1881 Richmondville fire Forester Township Sanilac County death records Page #107 #150,151 and 152 death by fire on 5 September 1881 Abel Thornton age 53 white married farmer Residence Forester Township (#150) Margaret Thornton, female housewife, married age 50 born in Ontario (#152) Christopher Thornton age 22 son of Abel and Margaret (#151) -------------------- In the 1876 Sanilac County atlas An "A." Thornton owned 80 acres of Section #7 of Forester Township -------------------------- A "Jane N. Thornton" is listed as age 25 Residence Forester Circuit 30 July 1861 of Port Huron district Methodist Church Records -------------------- Mary Lou Bacon of Grand Blanc Mich. reports that Margaret Able's (1881 fire) Maiden name was Perrine
Whether the above Abel Thorntons are one and the same is not known and assistance is required HELP! HELP! PLEASE ---------------------------------- On 17 July 1829 an" Able Thornton" sold the North West 1/4 (50 acres) to Cornelius Ennest (Registered as #1484). His relationship to Albert is unknown. Could he have been a brother ? The relationship of the others to Albert is unknown, other than most came from the U. S. Arial Thornton born 17 June 1823 (wife Catherine Vanatter) who died 22 July 1902 in Lexington Township Sanilac County was the son of Calvin Thornton and Betsy Aldrich. Arial was buried Section E Downing Cemetery at Deckerville Sanilac County. NO other markers in plot verse "As a husband devoted As a father affectionate as a friend ever kind and true" June/98 via M.L.Bacon Montmorency Co Marriage Records Volume 1 1881-1974 LAS-965,77 Page 2 #25 Feb 21 1889 Augustus Thornton 23, white resident of Atlanta born Sanilac County farmer son of Real Thornton and Catherine Vanatter married Gertie Verbeck 16 white of Briley Mich born Cleo Mich unk parents married 4 Nov 1889 at Big Rock by Peter Boner J.P. witnesses Bort Verbeck, of Atlanta and Eva Heory, of Atlanta. A "Calvin Thornton" was in West Zorra and was assessed for land in 1817. This Calvin may have been a brother of an "Able" Thornton who also had a son Calvin Thornton who married Elizabeth Ennest in Zorra about 1834 (see Ennest Family history by RGM) Sanilac County Death Records page 46 #6717-8 119 Oct 1914 Baby Thornton Female white Infant o days Stillborn Forester Twp, Willard Thornton and Gertrude McTaggart Donna Davis of Naples Fl and formerly of Deckerville Sanilac County Mich advises Dec/98 that a Ruth Ann Thornton born 2 March 1797 died 27 July 1855 at Bedford Mich. She was a daughter of Michael Thornton and Thankful Jewell She married Silas Nichols The greatest difficulty in writing a family history involving the THORNTONS arises because each member of the family used the same name for his children as his brother did, often at nearly the same time. VERY CONFUSING ! Thus GOOD READER PLEASE! examine all information very carefully and PLEASE BRING ALL ERRORS OR EVEN POSSIBLE ERRORS TO MY ATTENTION. THANK YOU!
______________________________________________________________ |
|
