46. Thornton Family
       
           From Yorkshire, England came the first ancestor to America; the descendant of William who died 1600 and is said to be of noble ancestry.

      WILLIAM THORNTON, known as "Gentleman of the Hills,"  born in Yorkshire, died, York Co., VA, came to Virginia in 1641 and settled in Petsworth Parish in what is now Gloucester Co. and later moved to Stafford Co.  By 1646 he had moved to York Co. , VA.
      His son:

      Francis Thornton, born 1651 Stafford Co., VA, married Alice Savage, the daughter of Capt. Anthony Savage.
      Children:

        Rowland, married Elizabeth Catlett
        FRANCIS        , born 1690
        Anthony, born 1695, died 1757
      FRANCIS THORNTON JR., born 1690, of Fredericksberg, VA, Burgess of Spottsylvania Co., VA, married Mary Taliaferro, the daughter of Col. John Taliaferro who died 1744.
      (See Taliaferro Family Addendum)
      Children:
        ELIZABETH, born 1714
        Mildred, married Samuel Washington, the brother of the President.
        John (Col.)
      ELIZABETH THORNTON, born 1714 Fredericksberg, VA, died 1756, married Thomas Meriwether (1714-1756) of "Cloverfields ".
      (See Meriwether Family Addendum)

      Ref: (1 v 7), (20), (62), (79 f).