William Hardin, son of Samuel Harding of Brunswick County, Va.

Sons of Samuel Hardin (will 1732), Brunswick County, Va.
William Hardin, born before 1730

William Hardin, born roughly about 1725

CAUTION This page includes speculation for discussion among reseasrchers of this family. It is not finished genealogy tied up in a ribbon for harvesting. Corrections and better explanations are requested. Contact Travis Hardin at ke3y at comcast dot net.

In the will of Samuel Hardin, Sr., probated in October 1732, William Hardin was given the home place on Fountains Creek after the life estate of his mother. The implication is that he was young, because a child not yet born was to share the legacy with him, if the unborn child had been a boy. It could have happened that William's mother died in childbirth with William or a surrounding child, and that Samuel remarried Elizabeth whose children we don't know. We don't know which mother was William's.

In the will Samuel provides a guardian for his children, the plural indicating the existence of at least two minors, William Hardin and the expected child, and possibly a girl child or two who did not inherit. It seems reasonable that William Hardin was not among "my three eldest sons" who received a bequest of land in North Carolina. The lodging house robbery hearing record points to Samuel Jr. and Gabriel as two of the eldest sons. The third I believe to be Thomas Hardin.

With gratitude I acknowledge Susan Hardin Austin and Gwen Hardin, along with others such as Jon Harden, for making a case that Samuel Hardin is the main ancestor of the I1a family as we now know it, and again Susan and Gwen for the insight that William was not among the eldest sons and may have been a half-brother to the three eldest brothers.

Timeline of William Hardin

See also samuel-jr.htm for other mentions of William Hardin.

1732 October. William Hardin's father died and left him the Fountain's Creek, Brunswick County,
Va. farm after his mother's life estate.

1748 Dec 18. William was age about 23 by my reckoning and lived in Granville County, NC when he promised to pay John Lynch of the same county £50 for 130 acres on the north side of Fountains Creek in Virginia. Fountain Creek does not extent into North Carolina. The purchase was probably near William's mother's home.

Indenture made 18 December 1748, between John Linch of Granvill [sic] County, North Carolina, and WILLIAM HARDIN of same, £50, on North side of Fountains Creek, 130a. Signed William Linch (bhm). Witnesses: John Carrill, Edward Crews, George Person (bhm). Court June 1, 1749, Indenture & Memorandum proved by oaths of John Carrel & John Person. Court September 29, 1749, further proved by oaths of Edward Crews. Deed Book 3, Page 563.

1750 June 27. Indenture made 27 June 1750, between William Hardin of Brunswick County, and William Powell of same, £20, on N side of Fountains Creek, 130a, being the Land and Plantation formerly in the possession and occupation of John Lynch and by Deed dated 18 October 1748, conveyed by the said Lynch to the said Hardin.
Signed William Hardin (bhm). Wit: John Peterson, James Powell,Tobias Moor, James Smith (bhm). Court 25 September 1750, Indenture proved by the oaths of James Powell, Tobias Moore, and James Smith. Deed Book 4, Page 183.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vabrunsw/deeds/brundb4.htm

Above we see that William Hardin, now living in Brunswick County (likely on the land he sold) sold the same 130 acres to William Powell for £20. William Powell had bought 150 acres of Samuel Hardin on Aug 3, 1743.

1760 Nov 19. William Hardin bought an unknown amount of land in Brunswick County. On 1760 Dec 15 William Hardin witnessed with his mark a sale on the north side of Peahill Creek. The deed was proved in Brunswick County.

Indenture made the 19th day of November, 1760, between Edward CREWS, Planter, and WILLIAM HARDIN, for _____ pounds, conveying ____________. Brunswick Co. Deed Book 6, page 468.

Indenture made the 15th day of December, 1760, between William LEE of North Carolina, and James REED, for 12 pounds, conveying 203 acres on North side of Peahill Creek. Signed by William LEE (his mark). Witnesses were William HALLOWAY (his mark), WILLIAM HARDIN (his mark), John PEERSON (his mark), and William MOSELEY, Junr. Indenture was proved in Court on January 26, 1761, by the oaths of William HALLOWAY and WILLIAM HARDIN, and on July 27 following was further proved by the oath of William MOSELEY, Junr. Deed Book 6, page 574.
Brunswick County USGenWeb archive, abstracted by Carol A. Morrison, Fayetteville, NC (http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/

Sometime before March 1763 William Hardin sold a plantation in Brunswick County to Edward Clanton.

1763 March, Brunswick County, VA, Will of Edward Clanton (excerpt)
Item: My brother Thomas Clanton to have a negro Jack.
Item: To Edward, son of Thomas, his plantation, bought of WILLIAM HARDIN,
lying and being in Brunswick.
--Brunswick County, VA - Will Book 4 ,P. 325-326, March 1763. (http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/)

William Hardin Moved to Lunenburg County (later Mecklenburg County), Virginia

New from Scott Wright 2024, showing William in southern Mecklenburg County after his half-brother Gabriel left for Moore County, NC

2/27/2024: Your Hardin website is a goldmine for researchers. Though I don’t have any known Hardin ancestors, I ran across your website tracking my ancestors John Lynch and Ellis Carroll. There is a Lynch, Carroll, and Hardin connection through many decades in both Virginia and North Carolina.

I have traced my ancestor, John Lynch, from 1715 in Surry County, Virginia, to Granville County, North Carolina where he died in 1757. Along the way, he has Hardin connections- which you have documented at the Hardin genealogy page.

I live in Mecklenburg County, Virginia- formed from Lunenburg County in 1765- and have researched extensively in Brunswick, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg Counties. An unexpected fact is there were two Great Creeks in Lunenburg County during its earliest history. As it happens, Hardins settled on both creeks. Thomas Hardin bought land from Stephen Caudle in 1761. His land was on the Great Creek which flowed southeast from Lunenburg County to the Meherrin River in Brunswick County. Gabriel and William Hardin settled on Great Creek in the southern part of Lunenburg County that flowed south into the Roanoke River.

As early as 1749, Gabriel Hardin, is found on a tithable list for Lunenburg County. [See online Sunlight on the Southside for early Lunenburg Tithable Lists]. In 1751, William Hardin is found on the list as well. From the assessor’s districts, we know Gabriel and William were living in the southern part of Lunenburg County. In all likelihood, they were living on the lands they were granted in 1761 and 1763. It took years for the administrative work for land grants to be completed- sometimes as much as a decade was required. People lived on their lands long before the grants were given.

In 1765, the southern portion of Lunenburg County was cut off to form Mecklenburg County. From that time on, Gabriel and William would have been found in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, records. I have two deeds related to William in my notes. These were of interest to me because I am descended from Elice (Ellis) Carroll mentioned in the 1768 deed. They are:

Mecklenburg Deed Book 1, page 25, 12 May 1765, [abstract]

William Hardin to John Douglass, both of Mecklenburg County, for £33, on both sides of the fork of Great Creek, on Gabriel Hardin's line, William Murphy's line, about 400 acres.

wit: David Douglass, Abram Ellis, Alexander Donald

signed: William (X) Hardin

recorded: 13 May 1765

Mecklenburg Deed Book 2, page 55, Mar 21, 1768 [abstract]

William Harden to James Durnen, for £8 a certain tract of land which he, the said William Harden had formerly sold to Elice Carrell which sale became void. The tract contains about 100 acres taken from the tract whereon the said Hardin now lives, and bounded by the Black Branch, Douglass. Signed - William Harden. Wit - Nicholas Durnen, Jeremiah Russell, William Jones. Recorded June 13, 1768

These two deeds only account for 500 acres of the more than 800 acres William was granted. I did a quick look at the index for deeds in Mecklenburg County and cannot find any evidence of additional land transactions for William, nor did I find anything for Gabriel selling his land. That’s certainly puzzling. Deeds were not always recorded, and sometimes deeds were not required when land passed from family member to family member. Occasionally, and rarely, deeds were recorded in a different county than where the land was found. Tracking the sale of Durnen’s land, it may be possible to discover who later owned Gabriel’s land as a shared land boundary to Durnen.

A thorough look at the Court Order Books for Mecklenburg County may give some information about William and Gabriel. These are most easily accessed at the Library of Virginia; but may be available near you.

It’s worth noting, William Hardin of Lunenburg County (modern Mecklenburg County) bought land in 1760 in Brunswick County and sold the same land in 1762. [Brunswick Deed Book 6, p. 468 and Brunswick Deed Book 7, p. 117].

I hope this is of some benefit to you. I will certainly forward any additional information I may find.

Scott Wright

plantmanscott80@gmail.com

2/27/2024:

The url for the tithables lists for Lunenburg County is http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/lunenburg/census/sun001.txt I found it best to navigate the pages by manually changing the /sun001.txt to /sun002.text, etc.

As mentioned, by Hardin interest is related to John Lynch who died in Granville County, NC, in 1757. In 1733, he sold land in Brunswick County (modern-day Greensville County) and Elizabeth Harden was one of the witnesses [Brunswick Deed/Will Book 1, page 176]. She had bought 130 acres from Robert Morgan on Fountain Creek in 1732 [Brunswick Deed/Will Book 1, p. 134]- the same year her husband died. I find this a little curious and wonder if there was more involved than a straight-up land purchase. This becomes more curious to me when fifteen years later, in 1748, William Harding bought 130 acres from John Lynch. It was land on the north side of Fountain Creek, where his mother had bought 130 acres. Was this the same land his mother had bought earlier? Or were both pieces of land part of some sort of land division in an estate settlement? I don't know. As well, I don't know what happened to this tract of land. You may have some insight related to this. John Lynch had made a move in 1744 to Edgecombe County which a few years later became Granville County, NC (present-day Franklin County). As you point out, several Hardin men came to own land on Lynch's Creek, near John Lynch. We know by 1751, William Hardin was in Lunenburg County (present-day Mecklenburg County) yet in 1760, he bought land in Brunswick County, Virginia, near John Lynch's sons who remained on the Brunswick and North Carolina line.. Then, in 1762, William sold the land he bought there.

I have to believe there was a Lynch/Hardin connection that was more than just neighbors. I haven't found any evidence to make a guess as to what that relationship may have been.

3/12/2024: I traveled to Oxford, in Granville County, NC, to spend some time in their NC collections and genealogy research room. They have wonderful resources for the entire state there. My goal was to find where William Hardin may have lived in NC in 1748 when he bought land from John Lynch. I did not find anything to help me with that. I strongly suspect he lived on the North Carolina line south of Brunswick County, Virginia, near the Lynch and Carroll families who owned land there. Deeds that William and Gabriel witnessed, and deeds they made themselves were with individuals who lived in that area; namely William Crews, Alexander Donald, James Reed, James Durnen and probably others.

Saturday was a terribly rainy day here and I had the opportunity to look through Mecklenburg Order Books at FamilySearch.org for Hardin related entries. I happened to find several interesting entries which curiously are not indexed.

William Harding was charged with living in adultery with Ann Rottenberry. The Rottenberrys were a family that lived near the Hardins on Great Creek in Mecklenburg County. As well, he was charged with hog stealing.

A later entry (also not indexed) showed charged dismissed against William as he had run away.

from mecklenburg order book 1765-1768

Deedmapper showing Gabriel and William Hardin near southern border of Mecklenburg County, NC, on Great Creek, whick flows south into the Roanoke River. The Hardins' land is marked in the lower right of the deed map.

4/1/2024:

I don't think I sent the references to William Harding building a mill on Great Creek. They are:

Lunenburg County, Virginia, Order Book 8, 8 April 1762: "Wm Harding granted leave to build mill on the Great Crk below the fork; Sherif [sic] to summon jury to determine damages."

Lunenburg County, Virginia, Order Book 8, 2 June 1762: "Inquisition of Wm Hardings mill recorded."

Searching for Hardin information has opened up some new information about my own ancestral lines. The Hardins were very connected to Carroll and Lynch families from whom I am descended and I've made some very insightful and interesting discoveries.
National Map showing Great Creek, where Gabriel and William had land, flowing into the Roanoke.

(This ends the contribution by Scott Wright, and what follows is my previous work, which will be edited.)

The below reference reveals that William Hardin received a land grant on Great Creek in 1763, the same creek on which Gabriel Hardin, his brother, received a grant in 1761.

1763 Jul 7. William Heardin, 817 acres Lunenburg/both sides of the Great Creek. (Source: “The Edward Pleasant Valentine Papers: Abstracts of Records in the Local and General Archives of Virginia.” Ancestry.com database)

(A 16-year unknown period passes until two men named William Hardin show up on the 1779 Cumberland County, NC tax list in Duckworth's District.)

1763 Nov 28 Thomas Hardin owned adjacent land before this date, and on Nov. 28, 1763 witnessed a deed on Great Creek. I believe he is a Tuckahoo Creek Hardin. More at tuckaho.htm.

typ deed
ref LUDB9p434-436
dat 28 Nov 1763
frm Stephen Caudle
to William Gallemore, both of Lun
con £100
re 200a Lunenburg/ Great Cr,
!adj. Thos. Harding, Matthew Laffoon, Nathl. Laffoon;
!Wit: Nathal. Laffoon, Matthew Laffoon, Thomas Harding;
!Sig: Stephen (S) Caudle, Mary (+) Caudle
!Rec: 12 Apr 1764
from http://www.directlinesoftware.com/pool.htm, to be replaced by deed.
This might be the same Thomas Hardin (unrelated) who, in a like manner to a John Hardin, was granted land by Randolph in Amelia County, Va. See the John Hardin page here and tuckaho.htm for mentions of unrelated John Hardins.

William Hardin in Cumberland / Moore County

"Junior" explained. The title "junior" as used in the colonial and revolutionary periods does not nceessarily signify "son of," as it is usually interpreted today. In this early period the term "junior" conveyed the thought of the "younger" of two men, but it does not signify that the man styled "junior" was the son of the man styled "senior." (George H.S. King in Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. 21, 1939-1940, p 280. quoted in Colonial Surry by John Bennett Boddie, reprinted by Southern Historical Press from a 1948 edition.)

1784 Nov 16. Gabriel Harding left Lunenburg County about 1767 for Cumberland County, North Carolina. Perhaps his brother William left at about the same time. The year 1779 marks the first appearance of two William Hardins on a Moore County tax list. One of them seems to be the younger brother of Gabriel and the other his son. On Nov. 16, 1784, William Hardin, using the nickname "Buck," was appointed Constable in Capt. Hunnicutt's District in Moore County, NC. "Monday, Feb. 21, 1785 William Hardin (Buck) was sworn to attend the grand jury this term." The year 1784 marks the second appearance of William Hardin, probable brother of Gabriel Harding, in the same North Carorlina county (then called Moore County) as Gabriel since leaving Lunenburg County, Virginia. If this William Hardin is the younger brother of Gabriel, we need to find his whereabouts during the 16 years preceeding 1779. Where did he go after leaving Lunenburg County?

Tuesday May 22nd 1787. A bill of sale from Joseph McGee to WILLIAM HARDEN SENR. Please see the Gabriel Harding page, "Hardin Names in Moore County Court Records" section.

1786. William Hardin, Jr. Implied by 1786-87 mention of William Hardin, Senior, probably "Buck." William Hardin Jr. was security for the marriage of David Williams and Tabitha Hardin in 1786 in Moore County. David Williams was an administrator, with James Hardin, of the intestate Gabriel Hardin in Randolph. I guess William Hardin, Jr.was born roughly 1747-1757, making him a little younger than William, son of Gabriel Hardin.

Summary and clarification: One William Hardin (nicknamed Chubby in the Stepp genealogy) is a son of Gabriel Harding. He was born about 1753, probably in Granville County, NC. In Sue Step's genealogy of William "Chubby" Hardin, he had no son William Hardin, Jr. A second William Hardin (nicknamed Buck) is probably the brother of Gabriel (he who inherited old Samuel's farm in Brunswick County, Virginia after the widow's estate). William was born there roughly 1725. Both men lived in Moore County, NC at the same time.

1787 May - William Harden, Sr. sold 200 Acres along Deep River to Joseph McGee for £360 and held the mortgage. Shown below, the document recorded was a mortgage agreement that if the 12 notes were not paid by McGee to Hardin, the land would revert to Hardin.

May Term 1787
A mortgage Joseph McGee to William Harden Senr. Know all men by these presents that I Joseph McGee of Chatham County and State of North Carolina for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and sixty pounds __ have bargained sold and delivered ... unto Wm Harden Senr. of Moore County and State aforesaid a certain tract or tracts of land situate lying and being in the said Moore County on Deep River containing by estimation two hundred acres it being the tract of land I purchased of from the the said Hardin and I hereby Warrant and defend the said parcel of land unto the said William Harden ... Provided nevertheless that the above obligation shall be void and of no effect after my discharging twelve notes of hand bearing the date hereof given by me unto the said William Harden Senr. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of October 1786.
Joseph McGee (his mark)
Witness
John Carrell, Joseph Robson

Source: Moore County NC Wills, Bonds, and Inventories -Inventories and Sales section-original p. 311-image 171 of 221 at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-20062-25480-30?cc=1867501&wc=10922528

1789 20 Nov William Hardin land grant. Entered 1787, issued 1789. "No. 227. Know ye that we have granted unto William Hardin two hundred acres of land in Moore County on the south side of deep river." Adjacent England and along the river. (nclandgrants.com, where the written grant is viewable).

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Samuel Harding 1741	Samuel Harding of St. Andrews Parish, Brunswick Co. from Hohn—(X)—Steed of same Parish, £5: curr. 100 acres adjoining Samuel Harding's land. Dec. 2, 1741. D. B. 2, p. 241.
Samuel Harding 1743	3 Aug 1743. Samuel Harding to William Powell 150 acres. Deed Book B. 2, p. 319. 1 May 1749. Thomas Powell to William Powell 100 acres adjoining Thomas Powell and Sam. Hardin. Deed Book 3 p. 562. Lucas, The Powell families of Virginia and the South, 2000: Southeren Historical Press. A more direct reference should be found.
Samuel and Mary Hardin 1747	Indenture made 1 October 1747, between SAMUEL HARDIN & MARY his wife of Brunswick County, St. Andrews Parish, and Adam Sims of same, £40, on North side of Maherrin it being part of a Patent obtained by John Jackson February 22, 1724 for 200a and the land sold by SAMUEL HARDIN & MARY HIS WIFE to Adam Sims is by Estimation 100a. Signed SAMUEL HARDIN (bhm), MARY HARDIN. Witnesses: John Douglas, Linton Hales, Rebecca Jackson (bhm). Court October 1, 1747, Indenture & Memorandum acknowledged by Samuel Hardin and Mary his wife previous to which she was privily examined. Deed Book 3, Page 349. USGenWeb archives, abstracted by Carol A. Morrison of Fayetteville, NC
william hardin 1748	Indenture made 18 December 1748, between John Linch of Granvill [sic] County, North Carolina, and WILLIAM HARDIN of same, £50, on North side of Fountains Creek, 130a. Signed William Linch (bhm). Witnesses: John Carrill, Edward Crews, George Person (bhm). Court June 1, 1749, Indenture & Memorandum proved by oaths of John Carrel & John Person. Court September 29, 1749, further proved by oaths of Edward Crews. Deed Book 3, Page 563.
SAMUEL hardin 1748	1746 Jan 6, Joseph King to SAMUEL HARDIN for 10 pds. , 300 acres in Granville County on South side and North side of Tarr River, which was granted to said Joseph King. Witnesses: Wm. Eaves, THOS. HARDIN, Mary Eaves --"Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County, North Carolina 1746-1765," Deed book B, p. 1, by Zae Hargett Gwynn. Pub. by Joseph W. Watson, Rocky Mount, NC 1974.
samuel hardin 1749	1 May 1749. Thomas Powell to William Powell 100 acres adjoining Thomas Powell and Sam. Hardin. Deed Book 3, p. 562 Lucas, The Powell families of Virginia and the South, 2000: Southeren Historical Press. A more direct reference should be found. Considering that Samuel Hardin the younger bought land on the Tar River in Granville County on 6 Jan 1746, the above "adjoining Samuel Hardin" probably means the life estate of Mrs. Samuel Hardin on Fountain Creek, with the land still referred to by her husband's name.
william hardin 1750	William Hardin of Brunswick Co. to William Powell of same Co. £20: 130 acres on north side of Fountains Creek in Brunswick Co. being the plantation formerly in the possession of John Lynch and by Deed 18th Oct. 1748 conveyed by sd. Lynch to sd. Hearden. June 27, 1750. D. B,. 4, p. 183.(Valentine p. 601) Discussion on William Hardin. The above records concerning William Hardin proves he resided in Granville County, North Carolina on 18 December 1748 when he bought 130 acres near the ancestral home on Fountain Creek in Brunswick County. The resale in 1750 of the 130 acres by William Hardin makes it clear that William Hardin bought from John Lynch. However it was not until June 27, 1750 that Lynch actually conveyed the property to Hardin, who the same day immediately resold it to William Powell. On that date in 1750 William Hardin lived in Brunswick County, Va. It could be that William Hardin encountered some legal requirement. Or perhaps Lynch had crops he wanted to keep. It's all guesswork. Since a John Lynch was the land owner, it does not immediately appear clear that the above 130 acres was Elizabeth's life estate that was to go the son William on her death. What is clear is that William Hardin never took possession of the 130 acres he bought from Lynch, but sold to William Powell as soon as it as conveyed to him.
samuel hardin 1752	Deed book _ p. 121 - 123 - June 1, 1752 - JOSEPH KING of Craven Co., S.C. and SAMUEL HEARDING (HARDIN) of Granville Co. to THOMAS SMITH of Edgecombe Co., N.C. for 12 pds. 300 acres on Tar River in Granville Co., N.C. Wts: Wm. Smith, Saml. Jordan, John Burt. --"Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County, North Carolina 1746-1765," Deed book B p. 121-123, by Zae Hargett Gwynn. Pub. by Joseph W. Watson, Rocky Mount, NC 1974. The Tar River flows east through Granville County, which in 1752 encompassed its original territory (except for a vertical slice of Orange it lost) which included the modern Franklin, Vance, and Warren counties, and the defunct Bute County.
thomas hardin 1760	Indenture made the XXIV day of December, 1760, between William SPEARS and William SINGLETON of Gloucester County, for 50 pounds, conveying 278 acres on both side of the Little Creek. Witnesses were Robert Campbell, John Flood EDMUNDS, and THOMAS HARDIN. Deed Book 6, page 628. Brunswick County USGenWeb archive, abstracted by Carol A. Morrison, Fayetteville, NC. Gloucester was east of James City, and this person was of another family.
william hardin 1760	Indenture made the 19th day of November, 1760, between Edward CREWS, Planter, and WILLIAM HARDIN, for _____ pounds, conveying ____________. Brunswick Co. Deed Book 6, page 468. Indenture made the 15th day of December, 1760, between William LEE of North Carolina, and James REED, for 12 pounds, conveying 203 acres on North side of Peahill Creek. Signed by William LEE (his mark). Witnesses were William HALLOWAY (his mark), WILLIAM HARDIN (his mark), John PEERSON (his mark), and William MOSELEY, Junr. Indenture was proved in Court on January 26, 1761, by the oaths of William HALLOWAY and WILLIAM HARDIN, and on July 27 following was further proved by the oath of William MOSELEY, Junr. Deed Book 6, page 574. Brunswick County USGenWeb archive, abstracted by Carol A. Morrison, Fayetteville, NC (http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/)
william hardin 1779	Harden, William: He served as colonel of the Upper Granville County Regiment of Militia of Foot during 1779 and 1780. In addition, he supplied beef for Continental and militia use during 1781 and 1782. (Believed not in our I1 family)
william thornton 1758-9; sterling thornton 1790	Mentions of THORNTON that may prove pertinent in investigations of Thornton and Sterling Hardin of Granville Co. NC. Indenture made the 27th day of June, 1758, between William THORNTON and China TATUM, for good will and natural affection, conveying 100 acres to China TATUM and Margaret TATUM, his wife. No witnesses given. Court for June 27, 1758. Deed Book 6, page 274. 27 Aug 1759 WILLIAM THORNTON was among those bound for 600 pounds for the performance of a sheriff of Brunswick County, St. Andrews Parish. And again for 120 pounds on 27 August1759; and for 500 pounds for the performance of a sheriff in Maherrin Parish on 27 August. Brunswick Co. Deed book 6, p. 400, 401, 402. Brunswick County USGenWeb archive, abstracted by Carol A. Morrison, Fayetteville, NC. (http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/brunswick/deeds/) The name STERLING C. THORNTON, sec[urity] is found in a marriage record of 17 Feb 1790 of Richard Clough to Jane Thornton. (Marriage Records of Brunswick County Virginia, Fothergill.)