Rachel (Phillips) Thornhill (abt. 1795 - aft. 1870)

Born about 1795 in Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Bryant Thornhill — married about Sep 1818 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, USA

Died after 1870 after about age 75 in Missouri, USA

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Biography

Rachel Phillips was born about 1795 in Virginia.

She married Bryant Thornhill in Sept 1818 in Rockingham Co., Virginia. The marriage was recorded in Rockingham County on 12 Sept 1818. ^[1]

1820 census -- Rockingham County, Virginia, USA

Name: Bryant Thornhill

Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Rockingham, Virginia

Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820

Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1 (Bryant)

Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1 (Rachel)

Number of Persons - Engaged in Manufactures: 1

Total Free White Persons: 2

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 2^[2]

1830 census - Burlington Twnp., Licking Co., Ohio, USA

Name Bryant Thornhill

Home in 1830 Burlington, Licking, Ohio

Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 1 (John P?)

Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 1 (Reuben?)

Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 1 (Bryant)

Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 1 (Maria?)

Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 1 (Catherine?)

Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 1 (Rachel)

Free White Persons - Under 20 4

Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 2

Total Free White Persons 6

Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) 6^[3]

Bryant and his wife Rachel were mentioned in an 1846 petition, Abraham Philips Adm vs Elizabeth Philips et al., filed by Charles Condit, Administrator of Abraham Phillip's estate. The petition appears to list the Phillips' siblings and children.^[4]

1860 census -- Milford Twnp., Knox Co., Ohio, USA

Rachel Thornhill, age 65, female, , born Ohio, cannot read/write^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Rockingham document record https://rockinghamva-recorder.tylertech.com/recorder/eagleweb/viewDoc.jsp?node=DOCCACS-2744548
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHLZ-Y14 : accessed 22 Jul 2013), Bryant Thornhill, 1820.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHGK-XC3 : accessed 22 Jul 2013), Bryant Thornhill, 1830.
4. ↑ Court records, 1809-1811, 1816-1854 Licking County, Ohio, Chancery record v. Q 1844-1846, www.familysearch.org, p 648
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHZQ-M6K : 14 December 2017), Rachel Thornhill in entry for Jno Daniel, 1860.

"United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHTC-951 : accessed 22 Jul 2013), Bryant Thornhill, 1840.

"United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXQJ-2KD : accessed 22 Jul 2013), Rachel Shemkile in entry for Bryant Shemkile, 1850.

Virginia Chancery Court Case(1820)

1820-03 Rockingham County Chauncery Causes: Rachel Thornhill vs. Bryan Thornhill by etc. Other Surnames: Phillips 6/1820

To the worshipful Court of Rockingham County in Chancery setting your Oratrix Rachel Thornhill by John Phillips her next friend humblely complaining showeth to your worship that on the ___ day of the year ____ she was lawfully married to Bryant Thornhill, whom she prays may be made a Defendant to this suit. Your Oratrix regrets to state, that she has been married but a short time, before she discovered that the connexion she had formed was an unfortunate one, and that from her marriage misery only would +++++. She worked with ++++ on the prospect that lay before her, yet was +++++++ determined, that nothing should be wanting on her part, to ensure, if not a state of comparative happiness, at least of ++++++ ++++++++. All her efforts proved ineffectual. Your orator states that such is the waywardness of the Defendant’s temper, that no plan that she would adopt either to soothe or regulate, would control the +++++++ and severity of his disposition. The Defendant indulges often ++++++ in the use of spirits, but whether drunk or sober, his ++++++ to ++++++ was harsh and unkind and cruel. Your oratrix states that when her husband first +++++ his +++++ of ill treatment, prompted by +++++ that bring to her in language, she visited the wrongs that were +++++ upon her. Finding that he was not to be +++++ by the ++++ ++++ of warmth, she attempted to reason in his errors. This too was unproductive of any good result. She tried what ++++ would effect, and in the moments of his wrath, would not +++++ dare to +++++, it was all in vain. If she reasoned with him, she was ++++++; if she replied in warmth, he struck her, and if she remained silent, he +++ her for not talking. Neither resistance in language, or ++++++ of any kind, would tame the ferocity of his temper. Often without provocation, he has beaten her, and he would add fresh marks to those (which had not yet disappeared); produced by acts in form of violence, your oratrix states that from the reported outrages committed by the Defendant on her person she has become fearful for her life. At a time, when but +++ are unkind, and when she was as yet ++++++, after giving birth to a child which lived but a little time, he employed towards her language so threatening ++++ alarming, that fearful of consequences, she ++++ from her +++++ almost +++ and in this situation

exposed herself for a time, without a roof to shelter her. Notwithstanding all this she was reluctant to leave her house or to abandon him whom she made her husband well knowing that such is the condition of the female, that her ++++++ is more or less effected by a separation, even though that separation should be ++++ by +++++ ++++++. Further efforts were made to try if it were ++++ to live in house with the Defendant, these efforts were discontinued after she was compelled to fly for safety from personal abuse and threatened danger. Reduced to this condition and believing that she was perpetually in danger of personal injury she appealed to the laws for protection. On ++++ of your oratrix the Court of Rockingham decided that Defendant should give ++++ to keep ++++ +++++ -- to this judgment of the Court of Rockingham the complainant ++++ and prays it may be taken as part of this Bill. The complainant brings this driven from her home is now +++++++ -- The Defendant owns for his lifetime, which belonged to her +++++ to her marriage +++ which was valued at $2500 in the division of her father’s estate. He also owns other property. For as much ++++ therefore is your oratrix ++++++ ++++ in a Court of Equity she prays that Defendant Bryan Thornhill be compelled to answer the ++++++ as fully as if the same ++++ have again perpetually +++ ++++ -- your oratrix prays that alimony be awarded to her to be paid by the Defendant Bryan Thornhill or that he be compelled to surrender up the land which belonged to your oratrix before her intermarriage with him. Your oratrix prays for ++++ other and further as in equity she may be instructed to & she will ++++ as in equity bound be. ________ 62 Thornhill vs Thornhill

Thornhill vs Thornhill Bill in Chancery Bill filed 2nd May 1820

Thornhill v B Thornhill Paper G Char 1820 June ++++ agree

The Commonwealth of Virginia, to the Sheriff of Rockingham County, GREETING: YOU are hereby commanded to summons Bryan Thornhill to appear before the Justices of our Court of Rockingham County on the first Monday in June next, to answer a bill in Chancery exhibited against him by Rachel Thornhill by John Philips her best friend and this he shall in no way omit under the penalty of £100. And have then there this Writ. Witness Henry J Gambill, Clerk of our said County at the Court-House the 16th day of May 1820 and in the 44 year of the Commonwealth. HJ Gambill

Executed J Hall (initials), W Davis (initials) Thornhill v Thornhill