Herod Thornton Sr. (abt. 1742 - 1821)

Born about 1742 in Duplin, Province of North Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Phereby (Unknown) Thornton — married about 1761 in Duplin County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1821 at about age 79 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Herod Thornton Sr. performed Patriotic Service in the American Revolution.

Herod Thornton Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A114842.

Herod Thornton was born in 1738 in Duplin, North Carolina. His father was Thomas Thornton and his mother was Martha Kenning

Dec 11, 1750 He bought land in Duplin Co., North Carolina, wittnesses: Jacob Bush and Thomas Thornton. July 13, 1759, John Teele sold 150 acers of land to Herod Thornton; Wit: Thomas Thornton, Daniel McClain.^[1] By 4 Apr 1765 Herod had moved back to Johnson Co, NC and sold it to his brother Thomas Thornton Jr. 4 Apr 1768^[2]

He married Pherebe/ Feraby/ Phereby/ Phebe (multiple spellings on documents) in abt. 1761 In Duplin Co., North Carolina, at the age of 23. They had seven children.

1. Eldread Thornton
2. Noel Thornton (1762-1802)
3. Owen Thornton (1763-1796)
4. Richard Thornton (1774-1807)
5. Herod james Thornton
6. Zillah Pherabe Thornton (1778-1839)
7. John Thornton (1782-1856)

On October 28, 1765 He aquires 110 acres in a Land Grant on a Prong of Great Cohera Called Nickson’s Branch.^[3]

In the year 1800, Herod is in Oglethorpe Co., Georgia on a Georgia Territorial Census.^[4]

They all lived around Goose Pond Creek, Oglethorpe Co., GA.. Eldred, Noel and Owen lived in the Mack Creek area. Noel had land on Rocky Comfort creek. In the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery, HEROD THORNTON SR was given serial #800, RICHARD THORNTON serial #802, HEROD THORNTON JR. # 803 and OWEN THORNTON S orphan’s serial #807

Herod served in the Revolutionary war under Captain Simon Turner of the regiment of Johnston Co. NC .^[5] Herod Thornton(Hillsborough District) Until 1782, Georgia was overrun and occupied by the British. The government was disorganized and the necessary official machinery for surveying and granting land was never perfected and, as a result, the two acts, June 7, 1777, and Sept. 16, 1777, relating to the granting of land became ineffectual. Only a few surveys were ever made under these acts and the first grant of land based on such surveys was not signed and issued until Oct. 22, 1783. One feature of both of the first acts was followed in every subsequent act; that a man would be entitled to 200 acres as his own Head right plus an additional 50 acres for his wife, each child and each slave, but that in no event could the total grant exceed 1000 ac.

From 1777 to 1782 he served on Jury's. Dec 1777, Wake Co., Court minutes, have HARROD THORNTON, Grand Juror; p. 38 - Harrod Thornton came into Court and took the Oath of Allegiance to the State, and obtained a Certificate of his having complied with the Law in that respect. ^[6] In Mar 1783 he was on the Road Jury, to lay off road from Wake Court House to Orange Co. Line.^[7]

The first effective land act of Feb. 17, 1783, titled act for opening the land office recognized the rights of persons who had previously received warrants and survey were ratified, and they were declared to be entitled to land occupied by them. The applicant would appear before the land court of the county in which he desired land , and after making oath as to the size of his family , including slaves, would obtain a warrant of survey. Then after living on the land a year he would apply to the Governor‘s office for a grant. The grant would then be issued and recorded.

His wife Feraby passed away in 1805 in Oglethorpe, Georgia, at the age of 65. They had been married 44 years.

He died on November 8, 1821, in Oglethorpe, Georgia, at the age of 83 years, and was buried there.

It is estimated that Herod Thornton was born before 1741 in Duplin County, North Carolina or elsewhere if his father immigrated in 1747. His date of birth is estimated assuming that Herod Thornton was at least 18 when he purchased land on 21 Feb 1759 from John Teele (Sampson-Duplin County, DB 3, Pg. 40). His parents were Thomas & Martha Thornton.

About 1762 in Duplin County, North Carolina, Herod wed Ferebe/Phereby (Last name unknown). Some people believe she was a Lee, Blackman, or Hampton, but I have found no documentation to prove this.

Together, they had 7 known children.

1. Owen Thornton
2. Noel Thornton
3. Eldred Thornton
4. Richard Thornton
5. John Thornton
6. Zillah Thornton
7. Herod James "Wood" Thornton

By 10 Feb 1794, Herod & Phereby have relocated to Oglethorpe County, Georgia with their family and it is here that he died sometime after 1821 with his wife passing before him in 1805.^[8][9]

Note: Two Herod Thornton's went to Georgia. This Herod went to Oglethorpe County, Georgia while his nephew (son of John) went to Fayette County, Georgia.

Notes

• Sampson-Duplin County, North Carolina, Deed Book 3, Page 40. John Teele (Teile) to Herod Thornton Dated: 21 February 1759 Trans: 35 pounds for 150 acres "On the East side of One of the Branches of Coheary it Being the Plantation whereon the said Teele now liveth." Land was "part of a tract of land granted to Thomas Thornton by a Deed from Mark Phillips and from the said Thomas Thornton to the aforesaid John Teele by a Deed bearing date the 11th Day of August 1756." Witnesses: Thomas Thornton and Daniel McClam.

• Sampson-Duplin County, North Carolina, Deed Book 1, Page 78. Herod Thornton to Thomas Thornton Dated: 23 March 1765 Trans: 40 pounds for 150 acres "on the east side of one of the branches of Cohery," Land was part of a tract granted to Mark Phillips 4 April 1750 and conveyed to Thomas Thornton and from said Thornton to John Teel and from said Teel to Herod Thornton by deed dated 21 February 1759. Herod Thornton had moved from Duplin County to Johnston County (where he resided at the time of this deed) and was selling his former home. Witnesses: Isaac Rush and Thomas Thornton, Sr.

• Sampson/Duplin County Deeds, Book 5, Page 229. Harrod Thornton (of Johnston County) to Thomas Thornton Dated: 3 March 1769 Trans: 10 pounds for 110 acres "On a Prong of great Cohary called Nixon's Branch Beginning On the East side of aforesaid Nixons Branch at his old Corner pine." Witnesses: John Thornton and Nathaniel Thornton.

• Oglethorpe County, Georgia Deeds Grantee: Thornton Herod (Jr) Grantor: Harod & Feraby Thornton (etal) Date of Instrument: 2 10 1794 (10 Feb 1794) Description: Tract of Land on Goosepond Creek.

• Oglethorpe County, Georgia Deeds Grantee: Thornton, John Grantor: Thornton, Harod & Feraby (etal) Date of Instrument: 2 10 1794 (10 Feb 1794) Description: Tract of Land on Goosepond Creek
  

• "Historical Southern Families", Volume XII. Copyright 1968 by Mrs. John Bennett Boddie. Pages 1-89. 975 D2b. "Herod Thornton appears first in 1765, indicating that he was the eldest son and born about 1742-4...wife Feraby." (Marcine's Note: If Herod is a son of Thomas Thornton that died in 1777, he can't be the oldest son as Thomas Thornton's Estate Inventory indicates that Thomas Thornton, Jr. was the eldest son.)

Sources

1. ↑ Duplin co., N. C., Deed Book 3, p. 40.(no Date)
2. ↑ 1758 Apr 4, Duplin Co., N. C., Deed Book 1, p. 78.
3. ↑ North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960; Certificate Number Range: 928-1534; Description: Duplin 928-1534; Ancestry's North Carolina, land Grant Files Ancestry Record 60621 #47306
4. ↑ Georgia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890; Database: GA 1800 Territorial Census (Oglethorpe Co.; Ancestry's Georgia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index Ancestry Record 3542 #3742890
5. ↑ 1781 June 19 revolutionary war voucher #408, Wake Co. NC.
6. ↑ 1777 Dec., Wake Co., court Minutes, CR 099.301.1 - p.34
7. ↑ 1783 mar., Wake co. court Minutes, CR 099.301.1 - p. 248.
8. ↑ Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Tax Records: Herod Thornton appears on the 1821 Georgia tax records but not the 1822 or later tax records. It is "assumed" that he died by this time.
9. ↑ 1820 USA Federal Census (Washington, DC, Bureau of the Census), National Archives and Records Administration, 1820 Oglethorpe County, Georgia Census; Roll: M33_7

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 11May 2022), "Record of Herod Thornton", Ancestor # A114842.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to George Berthelson for creating WikiTree profile Thorton-44 through the import of Katie McManus.ged on Mar 11, 2013.

Thank you to Bobbie Fay (Mohler) Thornton for her research of the “Thornton Family” from interviews to courthouse documents for her book.