This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RThornton6336 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.gleghorn/46.1.2.2.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello Cousin, I have a direct line through Edmond W. Thornton via Genatous, John Fonzo, Waco, Sr (my grandfather, and my father, G.R.) We've been fortunate to find a wealth of information on William Patrick Thornton including photos of him and Annie, their house, a page from a diary, obits and several family photos. You may have the same and even more, but if you like, I am surely willing to email you what we have. I've researched on our family for about seven years or so. My y-DNA testing matches us to the Quaker Thorntons. Fortunately, a database was in its early beginnings at FamilyTreeDNA and one of the participants was Kenneth Jacob Thornton, who'd researched Thorntons for nearly 10 years, given his very thorough research and our 100% DNA match, the genetic genealogy helped validate his research and link us to this Thornton line that goes back from SC, to NC and Virginia and on to England. Even with all that, and there are volumes of research, I'm still trying to validate with the highest degree of accuracy the parents of William S. Thornton, at the very least his father. I am wondering what source you found to validate Needham Matthew Thornton and Sarah Stallworth. I've seen a lot of family trees (i.e Websites: Culpepper, Stallworth, Phillip Cook, Rubye Agnes Robertson, Reba Burrows [Thornton Bible?] and Carol Hardy, researcher at Edgefield Genealogy Society etc) and I have a copy of the original William Stallworth will, but I am not confident of the conclusions. Suffice it to say, I don't believe that "that" William Thornton is our William S. (I wish it was it'd be a closed case!) I am always seeking out other living relatives to share family information and work together to work through this challenge. Here are some thoughts on the Needham Matthew Thornton and Sara Stallworth. This past summer, I did a thorough Edgefield/Abbeville census analysis (1790-1840) of the Thorntons and the family members' proximity to lateral family lines, namely Stallworth and Walker. Let me share with you my thoughts. 1) There was only one Mathew/Matthew. He is listed in the 1810 and (1820) census as Head of Household. He was born approximately 1793-1794. (William S. Thornton was born 1792). Matthew is either a brother, half-brother or cousin of our William. Matthew is not listed in the 1830 census -- he and Sarah died intestate, their heirs and representatives were cited to appear in the Court of Ordinary, 5th October 1835 to show just cause why the head waters of Cuffeetown Creek, waters of the Savannah River should not be sold or divided, allotting to William S. Thornton one half and the other half to Martin Saddler and Jemima Ann Saddler his wife land which they inherited from their father and mother. One can conclude that Jemima was Matthew's sister. 2) Given this event, using just this source, it is possible that the Sarah is a Stallworth and that this Matthew is Needham Matthew, but there exist no valid documentation for this Needham (who was estimated being born in 1771). Add to that, Sarah "Sallie" Stallworth b. 1778 and est died by 1805 - some source has her living many years beyond. This further weakens the possibility that our William was the William in Stallworth's will. Source: Edgefield Deed Book 36, pg 116 that several Stallworths including Sally Stallworth sold to William Thornton by deed 16 Jan 1815 lands whereon Mark Thornton now lives being part of land granted to William Stallworth in his lifetime and willed by him to said William Thornton. This is not our William Thornton 3) Same deed book page 110 you find William S. Thornton to Jeriah Dillard a deed dated 13 Jan 1818 for $800 sold 200 acres on Beaverdam Creek. Elizabeth Thornton, wife of William S Thornton relinquished her dower 21 nov 1818. This is our guy. This is already a long note, so I'll stop here. If you like I'll send you the rest of the argument which I believe suggests the real father of William S and his half brother John G. Thornton Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.