Willmuth (Unknown) Thornton (abt. 1650 - bef. 1723)

Descendants

Died before 21 Jan 1723 before about age 73 in Isle of Wight, Virginia [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kickemjenny Thornton [send private message]

Biography

Not much is known about Willmuth except what is from the will of her husband John Thornton, signed April 3, 1687^[1]. His “loving” wife is Willmuth, and their two children are William Thornton and Ellinor Thornton whom are not yet of age^[2], and Willmuth had two sons from a previous marriage: Richard Glinn and Robert Glinn.

Comments

The name is Glinn NOT Sims There have been postings that before Willmuth married John Thornton she was married to a James Sims (or Simms/Symes), and her sons Richard and Robert bore the last name, Sims. There has been no supporting facts to the claims of the last name being, Sims, as well as being married to a James Sims.

My suspicion as to why "Sims" developed to be the last name was because, the probate record "extracted from microfilmed copies of the original Will Book"^[3] was transcribed as "Richard and Robert Sims (?)." The question "?" mark being ignored by those of us (I'm guilty) using this certain information.

Granted, the last name of Richard and Robert was not clear in the wiil of John Thornton. But, an indenture on 21 Jan 1723^[4] between Richard Glinn and William Thornton describes a “certain tract or parcel of land in the lower parish of Isle of Wight County being a patent granted unto John Thornton bearing Date the 20th of April 1682 by estimation containing 190 acres given by John Thornton by his last will & testament unto the aforesaid Richard Glinn & Robert Glinn whom the said Richard survived.”

Therefore, John Thornton married the widow Willmuth Glinn who had two sons, Richard and Robert Glinn. Robert Glinn died before 1723.

Examples of Postings

From Ancestry.com. Date/author unknown. The second son, James Symes (Sims) born in 1645, immigrated to Isle of Wight, Virginia in 1669, where he married Elizabeth Willmouth, born in 1652 at Isles Wright, Virginia, in 1670. Their first child, John, was born 1671. They had two other children, Robert born in 1674 and Richard born in 1676. James Sims died in 1687. His wife, Elizabeth, died in February 1729 in Isle of Wight, Virginia.

10 Dec 2018 From (removed for privacy) @ Ancestry.com Richard Sims 1676-1746, isle of wight-orange county va Robert hugh sims 1674- Feb 1729. Isle of wight va – bertie county nc Father, james simms (symes) 1645-1687 Elizabetha willheit/willmuth 1652-1729, schwaigern, heilbron, baden-wuttembert, Germany-isle of wight, va John Thornton 1646-1687, England- nanzemund river, isle of wight va. Wm Thornton 1684- ?, nanzemund river, isle of wight va-? Ellinor Thornton 1686-?, nanzemund riber, isle of wight va - ?

Sources

1. ↑ FHL Film # 007645159; Mixed records, Vol. 2 1661-1719 Mixed records, Vol. 3 1726-1734; image 134/605 (actual page 274). Isle of Wight Circuit Court 17000 Josiah Parker circle Isle of Wight VA USA 23397.
2. ↑ It’s not certain that Willmuth is the mother of William and Ellinor Thornton. They may have been born of a previous marriage by John Thornton.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 1647-1800 [database on-line].
4. ↑ FHL Film 007645141, image 324/492; Deeds and wills Vol. 2(2nd vol.) 1715-1726.