Thornton Family Genealogy

    Thornton, 2 John

Birth:     c. 1758, Snyder Co., PA
Death:     Apr/May 1816, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA

Father:    Thornton, 1 John (+1788)

Married    Witmer, Maria Magdalena Thornton (*1766 Manor Twp., Lancaster Co., PA +1847 Green Twp., Summit Co., OH)
           24 Nov 1785, Snyder Co., PA, Sourced, Has note(s)
Children:
    1. Thornton, 3 John (*1787 Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA +1846 Green Twp., Summit Co., OH)
    2. Thornton, George ()
    3. Thornton, 1 Henry ()
    4. Thornton, Peter ()
    5. Thornton, Susan ()
    6. Thornton, 1 Samuel ()



Texts: 

JOHN THORNTON believed to
have been the son of John Thorn,[sic]
ton, mentioned above, was assessed
in Penn Township for the first time
in 1791.  In 1796, when Mahangton
Township was formed, he was as-
sessed there.  He lived in the vicin-
ity of the present village of Dun-
dore in Union Township.  He mar-
ried Magdalene, the daughter of
Peter Witmer, Senior.  John died in
1816, and his wife was appointed
administrator of his estate.  In 1777,
he served as a private in the Penn-
sylvania Artillery Regiment.  In
1790 his family consisted of one
male over and three under 16, and
one female.  A [3] John Thornton and
Jacob Keiser were sureties for the
administrator, Mrs. Thornton.
SOURCE: DR. CHARLES A. FISCHER, Snyder Co. Pioneers, Selinsgrove,
PA, August 22, 1938, p. 93
1777 enlisted as a private in the Pennsylvania Artillery Regiment
(See Pa. Archives, 5th series, Vol.3, page 1027)
SOURCE: ORLENA KLICKMANN, Steese appendix
THE STAGE COACH HOUSE

[1950's photo of brick&frame, two-story house with a carport or
covered walk]

Many venerable hostelries and taverns that once catered to
hoop-skirted women travelers and fishermen in beaver hats still cast
their reflections on the Portage Lakes.

Oldest of these is the White House on Turkeyfoot Channel,
built about 1820 by Adam Rex.  Operator of a mill on the present site
of Dietz' Landing, Rex bought the land in 1816 and built a tavern to
serve the Cleveland-Massillon-Pittsburgh stages that traveled Tur-
keyfoot Lake Road.

Its bricks were shipped from Stark County.  Oaken beams,
notched to save on nails that cost seven cents apiece, were cut nearby.
the floors were fastened with hand-forged, square-headed nails.

There once were fireplaces in every room of the "L" shaped
structure.

But Rex--he gave his name to one of the lakes--went broke
in the 1830's.  John Thornton bought the tavern and 300 acres, turned
it into a farm.

The estate became known as The Plantation.  Samuel Thornton
later tore down the north and west wings of the house to give it its
present look.

At one time the family home was considered haunted.  Parke
H. Thornton of Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links, who was born there,
blames such stories on squirrels that stored nuts in the attic, rolled
them around at night.

The Thorntons haven't lived in the old building since 1905.  It
became a tavern again in 1925, was painted white about 15 years ago.

There was just "too much house" for Parke or his brother and
sisters to live in.  They're glad it's once again being used for its ori-
ginal purpose.
SOURCE: JAY C. STEESE, The Thornton Story, 1840-1959, p. 8


Censuses: 

 1790
Northumberland Co., no twp.
1 male => 16 [2 John]
3 males < 16
1 female [Mag]
0 free
0 slaves
 1800
Moghentongo Twp., Northumberland Co. Tape 185:03
(sometimes written "Mahantango")
 1810
Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA
Roll 1233, Sheet 11A