Twisted Trees, part one

I previously posted about my Thornton relatives and their land purchases in Polk County, Iowa. Today I'm going to take you back to the beginning of the Thornton family that I have proven.

Thomas Thornton (6th great grandfather) was born about 1709, the son of William Thornton. About 1734 he married Martha  Boykin. Thomas died in 1762 in Northampton, North Carolina. It is believed that Thomas and Martha converted to the Quaker religion, probably converting in Virginia. Before this, they were part of the Puritan sect of the Church of England. They left Virginia and went to North Carolina, among a large Quaker neighborhood, including the Cooks, Wrights, and Wells, all part of my Quaker heritage.

Thomas and Martha had two known children: Thomas A. (b. about 1739, d. before April 1783) and Rebecca Thornton (b. 21 May 1743). Thomas A. was my 5th great-grandfather and Rebecca both a great-aunt and my 5th great grandmother, hence one part of my twisted tree.

Thomas A. Thornton (5th great grandfather) married Elizabeth Williams on 11 May 1760 in Perquimans, North Carolina, and died before April 1783 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. They had four sons, including Thomas J. Thornton (b. 11 Oct 1762, d. 10 November 1834) (fourth great grandfather). Thomas J. was born 11 Oct 1762 in Snow Camp, Orange County, Province of North Carolina, Great Britain Colonies. He married Abigail  Spencer in 1792 in North Carolina, and they had a number of children, including their first-born son Nathan Thornton (3rd great grandfather) 

Rebecca (5th great grandmother and great aunt) married Nathaniel Henderson and among their issue was Kezia Henderson (4th great grandmother),  (b. 1774, d. 1857) who married Thomas Cook (b. 1770, d. 1840). They had a daughter, Charity Cook (b. 1805, d. 1853) (3rd great grandmother) who married Nathan Thornton (b. 1799, d. 1878) (Thomas, Thomas, William, Thomas) (2nd cousins). Charity Cook Thornton was named after her paternal grandmother, Charity (born Wright) Cook, a famous Quaker Minister. (Newlin, Algie I. Charity Cook A Liberated Woman. Friends United Press, 1981)