John Thornton

  General Notes:

Immigrated abt 1634.
1639: He had 10 acres granted, being in the employ of John COGGESHALL.
1648: Oct 12, one of the twelve members of the First Bapt. Church. The first church(meeting house) was built at 'GreenEnd"; second, 1707, on the Clarke burying-ground, on Tanner St., formerly called "Back St.", and SWof Dr. John Clarke's dwelling; third, 1738, on Bull, now Spring st.,measuring 30x40ft. and which was subsequently enlarged June 1773 to 55x40.(from New Eng. Families Gen. and Memorial: Vol. IV, William RichardCutter, author)
1655: Freeman
1679: Jan. 10 Providence, wrote to Samuel Hubbard at Newport who replied "Please remember by respect unto Mr. Roger Williams" etc.
1679: June 1 - taxed 2s 6 d.
1680: Deputy to the General Assembly
1683: Wrote to Hubbard to tell him of the death of Roger Williams.
1683: May 22, he sold to son Soloman for 33# 6s 8 d, 100 acres & commonage
1686: Apr 22, he and wife Sarah deeded son John 60 acres at NeutaconconutHill, 3 miles from Providence.
1687: Sept 1 - taxed 8s.
1688: ratable estate: 2 oxen, 1 cow, 3 yg. cattle, 3 acres tillage, 50acres woods
1695, Aug 13: He made complaint with his son John, to the Town Council onbehalf of his grandchildren, Zachariah FIELDS' children, that they mightbe bound out to good places and educated.
1692: Mar 7 - he deeded son James "for and in consideration of his and diligence in providing for myself and his aged mother", 62 acres, allright of land appertaining to homestead, together with my house, housing, fencing, meadow ground, orchard, stones and timber, with all appurtenances whatsoever, etc.--provided said James "shall provide sufficient maintenance for myself and my wife during our natural life".The land was bounded partly by James Thornton and partly John ThorntonJrs' land. The grantor put his son James into actual possession,together with the obligation to pay each of my children 2s 6d, and after my decease, and to each grandchild, 1s., and if my wife would outlive grantor, son James was to maintain her at any child's house if she wantedto move.

John married Sarah Thurston about 1659 in Providence, RI. (Sarah Thurston was born in 1638 in Providence, RI and died after 1692.)