Thornton was born 1721 in King George County, Virginia to Anthony Thornton and Winifred Presley, the daughter of Peter Presley. He was upon his maternal grandfather's death made sole heir of the entirety of the Presley estate which included some 3000 acres and a notable house known as 'Northumberland House'. In most historical records he appears as Presley Thornton and was recorded as Presley Thornton in the House of Burgesses. He was elected to represent Northumberland in the House of Burgesses in 1748–1749 returned 1752–1761 and was appointed to the King's Council in 1760. He was voted out of office in 1761 and retired and devoted his remaining years to his plantation. Thornton died in 1769 leaving his estate to his wife and children, following his death his widow removed to England and Northumberland House was inherited by his eldest son Presley Thornton. Thornton's sons served in the British military and his family were staunch loyalists unlike all other branches of the Thornton family. After the premature death of the junior Peter Presley Thornton, Thornton's second son Presley Thornton returned from England and inherited Northumberland House. The younger Thornton was pardoned and restored to full citizenship in 1783 and retained ownership of Northumberland House until 1800 upon which time he sold the entire estate and removed to Genesee, New York.
Marriages & Children
Thornton married twice, both of unknown dates firstly to Elizabeth whose identity is not precisely known. His second wife was Charlotte Belson, the adopted daughter or ward of Colonel John Tayloe of Mt. Airy in Richmond County, Virginia. Belson was reported to have been English and is likely to have come to the Tayloe through relations of Mrs. Tayloe's first marriage to the Bristol merchant Stephen Lyde. As political tensions increased in the colony, Belson removed her family back to England engaging two of her sons in the Army and one in the Navy. Thornton had several children from his two marriages of which about half remained in Virginia and the other remained in England. Children of Presley Thornton & Elizabeth ? :
Elizabeth Thornton
Peter Presley Thornton – died without issue, younger brother inherited his estate
Winifred Thornton
Children of Presley Thornton & Charlotte Belson:
Presley Thornton – married Elizabeth Thornton removed to New York
