• http://www.geni.com/projects/Old-families-of-Lancashire/17763
• https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/thornton/about/results
• 16 Jan 1574 (marriage) Christopher Thornton & Margeret Waller at St. James the Less in reference to the couple Martin Wildman and Ellen Thornton. also, look at the marriage 8 Nov 1589 Richard Thornton & Agnes Waller
  • the above are two candidate couples for the parents of Ellen Thornton

THORNTON

An English and Scots habitation name from numerous places. From the Old English 'porn' meaning thorn bush + 'tun' meaning enclosure.

note: confirmation needed on parish birthplace of Alice/Ellis/Ellen in Lancashire.

• her son Martin was the husband of the Elizabeth (Tatham) who died in the Lancaster jail (1677) for her apostacy of being Quaker.

• Lancaster Parish Registry Society "These publications contain substantial parts of the registers of over a hundred parishes, printed fairly steadily since 1898. They include editions of more than fifty of the earliest Lancashire registers – in fact all the registers for the 16th century have now been printed. There are four awaiting completion for the 17th century. Transcripts or indexes of many registers made for the Society and waiting publication are available in the Society’s library of transcripts kindly stored for us in Manchester Central Library’s Archives Department."

• History and Origin of ancient Lancaster

The surname "Thornton" is abundant in Tatham during the Tatham Hearth Tax Returns 1664, 1666 and 1673 ... This may be a link to the generation of Alice's children...

Prior generation / Possible Parents

two candidates so far:

1. Marriage of 08-Nov 1589 Thomton, Richard to Waller, Agnes
2. Marriage of 16-Jan 1574 Thornton, Christopher to Waller, Margeret (see sources attached)

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3. 1574 Thornton Christopher married Waller, Margeret (sic) on 16-Jan 1574 remarks: based on the 31 year gap between the next record we can guess that Christopher is the father of John and Ellen = (Ellis) & (Alice?)
4. 1605 Thornton, John married Procter, Anne on 17-Feb 1605 ...remarks: based on Ellen Thornton’s 1609 marriage date we might assume that John is her brother

possible siblings from parish register (baptism)

1. 1578 Feb 26 ; Thomas Thornton filius Christopher
   1. of other interest Agnes filia Agidii Bland 1578 (~•Blands married Wildmans)
   2. and 1578 marriage George Bland mar. Eliz. Walker
2. 1579 Mar 7 ; Elizabeth Thornton filia Christopher
3. 1580 Sep 30 ; Agnes Thornton filia Christopher
4. 1582 Jul 25 ; James Thornton filius Christopher
5. 1582 Oct 20 ; John Thornton filius Christopher
6. 1585 Dec 12 ; Edmond Thornton filius Christopher
7. 1586 May 09 ; William Thornton filius Christopher
8. 1586 Jun 18 ; James Thornton filius Christopher
9. 1603 Nov 14 ; Robert Thornton filius Christopher
   1. it becomes apparent that there seem to be two fathers both named Christopher Thornton

BURIALS
# Ann Thornton filia Christopher BURIED 13 May 1584

1. wife of Thomas Thornton BURIED 17 Dec, 1584
2. James Thornton BURIED 20 March 1585
3. John Thornton BURIED 26 April 1588
4. wife of James Thornton BURIED 10 Jan 1598
5. Christopher Thornton BURIED 27 Aug 1601
6. Robert Thornton BURIED 21 Nov 1691

MARRIAGES

1. 1589 Nov 08 ; Richard Thornton m. Agnes Waller
2. 1602 Nov 02 ; Christopher Thornton m. Jennet Soover (Tatham parish)
3. 1605 Feb 17 ; John Thornton m. Anne Prockter (Tatham parish)

marriages reviewed from another source:
*1589 Thomton Thomton Richard Waller Waller Agnes 08-Nov

• 1602 Thomton Thomton Christopher Seever Seever Jennett 02-Nov
• 1634 Thomton Thomton John Edmondson Edmondson Ellen ww 12-Aug
• 1640 Thomton Thomton Robert Sigswick Sidgeswick Jane 01-Sep
• 1641 Thomton Thomton John Faithet Faithwaite Jane 20-Dec