Dear List, There are a number of sources that have Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin's son, William, as William Riley Thornton, Sr. (b. 8 Feb 1820; d. 29 May 1896). William Riley Thornton, Sr. married 1st Lucinda McBride on 28 Jul 1841 in LCT; and 2nd Elizabeth Rebecca Mitchell about 1877. HOWEVER: 1) William Riley Thornton, Sr. is in Lincoln Co., TN in 1850 (listed twice): Subdivision #1, HH 1315 William Thornton 30 M TENNESSEE Lucinda 28 F Ala John Thos. 7 M Tenn Elizabeth 5 F Ga Mordica 2 M Tenn Subdivision #1, HH 1498 Wm. Thornton 30 M TENNESSEE Lucinda 29 F Ala John 8 M Tenn Elizabeth 6 F Tenn Mordica 2 M Tenn 2. In Giles Co., TN in 1850 are the following households: District #1, HH 605 John Thornton 24 M VA Wm. 20 M VIRGINIA L. H. Boyce 24 M Tenn Lucy A. 29 F VA Fletcher 1 M Tenn District #1, HH 677 Reuben Thornton 50 M VA Mary 47 F VA Robert 19 M VA Henry 17 M VA Benj. F. 15 M Tenn Francis M. 13 M Tenn 3. In the 1860 Lincoln Co., TN census is the following household: District #17, HH 14 William Thornton 40 M TENNESSEE Lucinda 37 F Ala John 17 M Tenn Elizabeth 15 F Georgia Mordica 11 M Tenn Margaret 7 F Tenn Martha 5 F Tenn William 3 M Tenn 4. In the 1860 Giles Co., TN census is the following household: Elkmont Springs, HH 903 (Family 886) Reuben Thornton 62 M Virginia Mary 64 F Virginia (Family 887) William A. Thornton 28 M VIRGINIA Mary T. 24 F Tenn James M. 9 M Tenn Robert L. 7 M Tenn Mary J. 2 F Tenn The fact that William A. Thornton (b. Abt. 1830-1832) is living with John Madison Thornton and his sister, Lucy A. Thornton--children of Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin--and brother-in-law L. H. Boyce in Giles Co. in 1850; AND the fact that William A. Thornton is living within the SAME DWELLING as Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin in Giles Co. in 1860; AND the fact that William A. Thornton was born in VIRGINIA; AND the fact that Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin married on 10 Dec 1819 in Pittsylvania Co., VA while William Riley Thornton, Sr. was born two months later on 8 Feb 1820 in TENNESSEE; AND the fact that except for Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin's youngest two children (Benjamin F. and Francis M. Thorton), all of the other children were born in VIRGINIA; Leads me to believe that it is William A. Thornton who is the son of Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin and not William Riley Thornton, Sr. If anyone has any specific document(s) that conclusively identifies William Riley Thornton, Sr. as the son of Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin, I would love to hear from you. I concede that it is possible that William A. Thornton is a nephew of Reuben Thornton & Mary Tiffin. But the circumstantial evidence outlined above seems overwhelming to me that William A. Thornton is the real son. James L. Danley Vista, CA jldanley@sbcglobal.net