Samuel Thornton (abt. 1724 - bef. 1795)

Born about 1724 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Died before 23 May 1795 before about age 71 in East Fallowfield Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Samuel Thornton was the son of Robert Thornton and Sarah Taylor of West Bradford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. They were married in 1718. Samuel's mother, Sarah Taylor, was disowned by the Bradford Quaker Meeting for marrying a non-Quaker. According to Futhey and Cope, the family worshiped via Methodist Circuit Riders from Maryland.

Although there is no birth record for Samuel Thornton, it is estimated that he was born circa 1722. He begins appearing alongside his father on tax lists in 1738, approximately age 16. He continues to appear on Chester County Tax Rolls through 1768.

Samuel Thornton was married to Deborah, as evidenced by his will, written in 1763 in Bradford Township, Chester County Pennsylvania. A Quaker women's meeting record of 1762 exists for a woman named Deborah Thornton, the wife of Samuel Thornton. There is strong circumstantial evidence that he is the same man.

On 14 July 1772, Samuel Thornton purchased 100 acres in East Fallowfield, Chester County Pennsylvania.

In March of 1778, Samuel Thornton was given a tax discount on his property taxes for his land at East Fallowfield.

Samuel Thornton was named in his father's 1774 will. Robert Thornton bequeathed him "five pounds of lawful Pennsylvania currency in addition to what is his already."

Samuel Thornton's 1763 will was presented in court over thirty years later, in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania on 23 May 1795. His beneficiary was simply his wife Deborah and her children, unnamed. The will was proven in Chester County Pennsylvania on 19 June 1795.

Sources

• Will of Robert Thornton of Chester County Pennsylvania, April 1774. Chester Co Pennsylvania Estate Files.

• Will of Samuel Thornton of Chester County Pennsylvania, May 1795, Chester Co Pennsylvania Estate Files.

• http://www.chesco.org/1728/Tax-Discounts-1785-1865#