Matthew Thornton (1713 - 1803)

Born 17 Mar 1713 in Limerick, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Jun 1803 at age 90 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

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Matthew Thornton participated in the American Revolution. Join: 1776 Project Discuss: 1776

Biography

Matthew Thornton is Notable.

Honorable Matthew Thornton served with American Founding Fathers during the American Revolution.

Matthew Thornton is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A114879.

Dr. Matthew Thornton was a delegate from the State of New Hampshire to the Continental Congress, and a Signer of the Declaration of Independence (three months after the formal signing in August).

Thornton was born in Ireland to James and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Thornton. In 1718 the family immigrated to North America, settling at Brunswick, Maine. When the community was attacked by Native Americans on July 11, 1722, James and Elizabeth Thornton fled from their burning home with Matthew and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts.

Matthew Thornton studied in medicine at Leicester and became a physician, establishing a medical practice in Londonderry, New Hampshire, at age 26. In New Hampshire he was appointed surgeon to the New Hampshire Militia troops in an expedition against Fortress Louisbourg in 1745. He had royal commissions as justice of the peace and colonel of militia.

In 1760 Thornton married Hannah Jack (age 18), and the couple had five children. Four of the five grew to maturity. James, born in 1765, was married to Mary Parker, and one of his sons, James Shepard Thornton, had a distinguished career in the U. S. Navy. The torpedo boat Thornton was named. in his honor. Matthew Thornton, the youngest son married Fanny Curtis of Amherst. He became a prominent lawyer of his native State. Mary Thornton married Hon. Silas Betton of Salem, N.H., and Hannah married John McGaw, of Bedford, N. H

Thornton himself became Londonderry Town Selectman, a representative to, and President of the Provincial Assembly, and a member of the Committee of Safety, drafting New Hampshire's plan of government after dissolution of the royal government, which was the first state constitution adopted after the start of hostilities with England.

He was first President of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and Associate Justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire. He was elected to the Continental Congress after the debates on independence had occurred, but as he did not arrive in Philadelphia until November, 1776, he was granted permission to actually sign the Declaration of Independence three months after the formal signing in August. Although he did not attend law school, he was given duties as an associate justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court in 1777. From 1784 to 1787 Thornton was a member of the New Hampshire State Senate and combined this with the role of State Councilor from 1785 to 1786.

He became a political essayist. He retired from his medical practice and moved to Merrimack, New Hampshire in 1780 where he farmed and operated a ferry at Thornton's Ferry with his family. His wife Hannah died in 1786. Thornton died in Newburyport, Massachusetts, while visiting his daughter. Matthew Thornton is buried in Thornton Cemetery in Merrimack, and his grave reads "An Honest Man."

Mrs. Samuel Clyde, a niece of Matthew Thornton, fled from Indians into the woods with her eight children, one a babe in arms during the Cherry Valley Massacre. She hid for twenty-four hours behind logs, near where Indians were passing. Exhibiting wonderful strength and endurance she finally reached the fort in safety.--American Monthly Magazine

Matthew was born in 1714 in Ireland to James Thornton ____ - 1754 and Elizabeth Jenkins 1690 - 1741.

Immigration

Said to be 1718, so when he was just 4 years old.

Marriage

Spouse: Hannah Jack Thornton (____ - 1786)

:No Source

1790 Merrimac, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Name Matthew Thornton

Page 259

Citing this Record

Children

1. Mary Thornton Betton (____ - 1845
2. Andrew Thornton (____ - 1787
3. James Thornton (1763 - 1817

Siblings

1. Hannah Thornton Wallace (____ - 1814
2. William Thornton (1713 - 1790
3. Matthew Thornton (1714 - 1803
4. Agnes Thornton Wasson (1717 - 1774

Sources

• Biography of Hannah Jack Thornton (http://colonialhall.com/thornton/thorntonHannah.php : accessed 24 May 2014)

• Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire: A Patriot of the American Revolution by Charles Thornton Adams (1903). Retrieved from: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2006/20061013008ma/20061013008ma.pdf

See Also:

• Wikipedia: [[wikipedia:Matthew_Thornton|Matthew Thornton] - accessed 18 Dec 2018
• Wikidata: Item Q1368351, en:Wikipedia
• Irish Who Signed the Declaration of Independence - Irish Amarica
• Matthew Thornton on Find A Grave: Memorial #2813 retrieved 18 Dec 2018

1. Oath of Allegiance New Hampshire
2. Monument photo FindAGrave "Famous"
3. "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKB-WQN : accessed 3 March 2018), Matthew Thornton, Merrimac, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States; citing p. 259, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 5; FHL microfilm 568,145.
4. "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL65-JZHD : 31 October 2017), Matthew Thornton, 01 Sep 1781; citing 01 Sep 1781, New Hampshire, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,327.
5. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994M-Y3XV?i=655&cc=2068326