Generation 2: Tennessee, Kentucky

Generation No. 2

2. Robert Benton2 Thornton (William1) was born Abt. 1815 in North Carolina, and died Aft. 1880 in Warren County, KY. He married Elizabeth Smith in Tennessee. She was born October 1814 in Tennessee, and died September 11, 1916 in Simpson County, KY.

Notes for Robert Benton Thornton:
Benton Thornton resided with or near his father and brothers both in North Carolina and Jackson County, TN, (1840 Census). The family group reached Simpson County, KY, in 1849 (Tax List). In 1890 Benton Thornton moved his household 20 miles north to Woodburn, Warren County, KY. In this area just south of Bowling Green, my family would take root, and 115 years later Thorntons and their related families can be found throughout the area, prospering and still gathering each Labor Day weekend for the family reunion (celebrated on Jesse Benton Thornton's birthday).



Notes for Elizabeth Smith:
As an interesting note, it is said that Elizabeth was "very dark complected," and another researcher informed us that she may have been full-blooded Cherokee, which, given the Thornton's original household location in western North Carolina, seems very probable.



More About Elizabeth Smith:
Burial: Black Jack Cemetery, Simpson County, KY
Cause of Death: Malaria

Children of Robert Thornton and Elizabeth Smith are:
6. i. William Frank3 Thornton, b. Abt. 1841, Jackson County, TN; d. 1923, Jackson County, TN.
ii. Elizabeth Thornton, b. Abt. 1843.
iii. Nancy Thornton1, b. Abt. 1845; d. 1850, Simpson County, KY.
iv. James Thornton, b. Abt. 1848; d. July 18, 1926, Warren County, KY.

More About James Thornton:
Burial: Pilot Knob Cemetery, Warren County, KY

7. v. Polly A Thornton, b. Abt. 1849, Jackson County, TN.
8. vi. Margaret Thornton, b. September 01, 1854, Jackson County, TN; d. July 02, 1940, Simpson County, KY.
9. vii. John H Thornton, b. Abt. 1856, Simpson County, KY; d. June 04, 1927, Simpson County, KY.
10. viii. Allen M Thornton, b. March 1857.
ix. Thomas Benton Thornton, b. Abt. 1863, Warren County, KY; d. April 08, 1943, Allen County, KY; m. (1) Jeannetta Watkins; m. (2) Fanny Calvert Cline; b. July 15, 1879; d. November 01, 1950, Allen County, Kentucky.

More About Thomas Benton Thornton:
Burial: Pleasant Ridge Methodist Church Cemetery, Allen County, KY
Census: 1910 Allen County, KY
Census 2: 1920 Hickory Grove, Benton County, Indiana
Census 3: 1930 Allen County, KY
Occupation: Railroad Hand, Farmer

More About Fanny Calvert Cline:
Burial: Pleasant Ridge Methodist Church Cemetery, Allen County, KY

11. x. Robert F Thornton, b. Abt. 1865, Simpson County, KY; d. 1950, Simpson County, KY.


3. Allen Ellis2 Thornton (William1) was born December 10, 1821 in North Carolina, and died April 29, 1899 in Simpson County, KY. He married Mary Polly Ray, daughter of George Ray and Elizabeth Dycus. She was born July 15, 1828 in Jackson County, Tennessee, and died June 16, 1908 in Simpson County, KY.

More About Allen Ellis Thornton:
Burial: Round Pond Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

More About Mary Polly Ray:
Burial: Round Pond Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

Children of Allen Thornton and Mary Ray are:
12. i. Mary Elizabeth3 Thornton, b. November 19, 1848, Simpson County, KY; d. August 26, 1921, Simpson County, KY.
13. ii. Margaret Thornton, b. 1852, Simpson County, KY; d. 1917, Sparta, TN.
iii. Nancy Lucinda Thornton, b. April 01, 1853, Simpson County, KY; d. December 06, 1933, Simpson County, KY; m. John W Williams, November 25, 1875, Simpson County, KY; b. 1853, Allen County, KY.

Notes for Nancy Lucinda Thornton:
Survived by an adopted son, H. D. Plummer.


More About Nancy Lucinda Thornton:
Burial: Mt. Vernon Church Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

iv. James H Thornton, b. 1855, Simpson County, KY; d. 1858, Simpson County, KY.
v. Sarah Thornton, b. March 21, 1857, Simpson County, KY; d. May 02, 1926, Simpson County, KY; m. William H Holland, January 03, 1890; b. February 07, 1851; d. September 18, 1930.

More About Sarah Thornton:
Burial: Greenlawn Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

More About William H Holland:
Burial: Greenlawn Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

14. vi. William Haywood Thornton, b. 1859.
15. vii. Cassandra Thornton, b. March 27, 1861, Simpson County, KY; d. October 26, 1929, Simpson County, KY.
viii. Susan Almira Thornton, b. March 31, 1863, Simpson County, KY; d. July 11, 1949, Simpson County, KY; m. S.P. McReynolds, 1909, Old Thornton House, in the presence of Allen E. Thornton and Minnie McReynolds.

More About Susan Almira Thornton:
Burial: Shady Grove Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

ix. Raleigh Thornton, b. 1865, Simpson County, KY; d. 1942, Simpson County, KY.

More About Raleigh Thornton:
Burial: Shady Grove Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

x. Peter Ray Thornton, b. 1867, Simpson County, KY; d. June 21, 1946, Simpson County, KY; m. Minnie Walton, December 10, 1902, Minnie Walton's mother's house; b. February 22, 1872, Simpson County, KY; d. June 24, 1948, Simpson County, KY.

More About Peter Ray Thornton:
Burial: Shady Grove Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

More About Minnie Walton:
Burial: Shady Grove Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

16. xi. Allen Ellis Thornton, b. 1871, Simpson County, KY; d. January 10, 1956, Simpson County, KY.


4. William Haywood2 Thornton (William1) was born Abt. 1829 in North Carolina, and died Bef. 1900 in Allen County, Kentucky. He married (1) Martha Jane Dinkins September 07, 1854 in Sumner County, TN. She was born 1834. He married (2) Tennessee Garrette Aft. 1880, daughter of Joushaway Garrette and Melvina Cooper. She was born February 1834 in Overton, Tennessee, and died March 23, 1915 in Allen County, KY.

More About Tennessee Garrette:
Burial: Walker's Chapel Cemetery, Allen County, KY

Children of William Thornton and Martha Dinkins are:
i. John W3 Thornton, b. Abt. 1854.
17. ii. William James Thornton, b. January 22, 1861, Simpson County, KY; d. May 10, 1919, Allen County, KY.
18. iii. Mathew Turner Thornton, b. February 23, 1864, Simpson County, KY; d. June 23, 1938, Allen County, KY.
iv. George E Thornton, b. Abt. 1872.
v. Irena B Thornton, b. Abt. 1877.


5. James Allen2 Thornton (William1) was born Abt. 1830 in North Carolina, and died Bef. 1900 in Simpson County, KY. He married Lucy Ann Laney. She was born 1835 in Simpson County, KY, and died Bef. 1900 in Simpson County, KY.

More About James Allen Thornton:
Burial: Blackjack Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

More About Lucy Ann Laney:
AKA (Facts Pg): Fannie
Burial: Blackjack Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

Children of James Thornton and Lucy Laney are:
19. i. William Virgil3 Thornton, b. 1866, Simpson County, KY; d. February 09, 1955, Simpson County, KY.
20. ii. Joe Hershel Thornton, b. October 05, 1878, Simpson County, KY; d. July 04, 1952, Simpson County, KY.
21. iii. Mary Jane Thornton, b. March 03, 1863, Simpson County, KY; d. September 02, 1949, Allen County, Kentucky.
22. iv. James Allen Thornton, b. January 01, 1867, Simpson County, KY; d. January 11, 1951, Simpson County, KY.
v. John W Thornton, b. 1867.
vi. Marshall Thornton, b. 1868, Simpson County, KY; d. 1873, Simpson County, KY.

More About Marshall Thornton:
Burial: Laney Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

vii. Cubby Thornton, b. 1870, Simpson County, KY; d. 1873, Simpson County, KY.

More About Cubby Thornton:
Burial: Laney Cemetery, Simpson County, KY

23. viii. Marguerite Emily Thornton, b. March 26, 1873, Simpson County, KY; d. 1963, Simpson County, KY.
ix. Ella Thornton, b. 1880, Simpson County, KY; m. J H Smith, 1904, Franklin, Simpson County, KY; b. 1879, Butler County, KY.
x. Florence Etta Thornton, b. December 20, 1881, Simpson County, KY; d. June 15, 1952, Logan County, KY; m. ? Smith.

More About Florence Etta Thornton:
Burial: Woodburn Cemetery, Warren County, KY