Notes on William Thornton III
"William the Immigrant" or "William the Elder". On May 11, 1646, William
Thornton was in possession of a paper recorded in York County (including Gloucester) to care for the cattle of John Liptrot until the latter came of age. On
February 16, 1665/66 as "Mr. William Thornton" he had a grant of 164 acres of land in Petworth Parish, Gloucester, adjoining the land where he lived and that of
Richard Barnard. He was vestryman of Petsworth Parish in 1677.
On record in Essex is a power of attorney, dated September 1673, from William Thornton of Gloucester, to James Kay of Rappahannock County concerning
2,000 acres of land in the freshes, a track of land which he had bought from Mott. There is also recorded in Essex in 1701, a deed dated July 16, 1675, from
William Thornton of Gloucester, gentleman, to Francis and Rowland, two of his sons, "conveying 2,000 acres in Rappahannock County, formerly Gloucester, nut
now of Stafford, authorizing the confirmation of said deed." In 1649 he received a land grant of 164 acres in Gloucester County, the grant being awarded for the
transfer of 4 persons from England, this being one of the first patents in Virginia (Virginia Land Patent Book 5, Page 573.) He traded in shipping on Mobjack Bay,
which is across from the present city of Norfolk, near "Weromoco," stomping ground of Chief Powhatan, John Smith and Pocahontas fame. He operated the ship
"Mary Jane" in shipping to Barbados, West Indies.
Possible line:William11 Thornton (William10, William of9 Eastcombe, Francis 'of The Hills'8 Thornton, Robert7, William6, Robert5, William4, Robert3, Thomas of2
Newton, William1 Thornton)
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