Colonel Francis Thornton was born 4 June 1682 in Stafford Co, VA and died 6 February 1737 in Snow Creek, Frederick, VA.

1736 MIL: Spotsylvania Co, VA, 6 Oct, Francis Thornton, Jr, Maj.

1742 MIL: Spotsylvania Co, VA, 7 Sep, Francis Thornton, Jr, Lt Col.

Francis maintained a summer house at "Fall Hill" in Fredericksburg, VA although his main house was the now vanished "The Falls" located on the lowlands closer to Fredericksburg. He built "Montpelier," near what is now Sperryville, Rappahannock Co, VA, in the late 1700s for his son William, having moved to that area about 1740. The mansion was inherited by William's son, Dr. Philip Thornton, and enlarged in the mid 1800s. It passed out of the family in 1876 with the death of Philip's second wife, Caroline Homassel, in 1876. It was vacant for a while but was renovated in 1973 by James W. Fletcher whose wife is a descendant of Francis Thornton (Virginia Landmarks, pp. 161 and 357)

Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800: DEED BOOK A 1722-1729 (page 88)

Francis Thornton and Mary his wife of Essex Co. and Anthony Thornton and Mary his wife of Stafford Co. to Elizabeth Tapp of Spts. Co. Dated Augt. 24, 1722: Recd. Septr. 4, 1722. 500 lbs. of tobacco. 450 a. of land in Spts. Co. "on ye ridge that lies between ye branches of Massapon-nax and the branches of Mattapony river"—part of a tract granted Fran. and Antho. Thornton by patent April 19, 1720. Witnesses: Fran. Conway and Will. Strother.

 

He married Mary Taliaferro. She was born about 1689 at Powhatan Plantation, Essex Co, VA. She was the daughter of John "The Ranger" Taliaferro and Sarah Smith. View the Taliaferro line here. View the Smith line here.

Their children were:

Francis Thornton (born 1711 in Essex Co, VA)

 

 

previous generation

back to Thomas Lewis

back to the Taylor/Edens page

home