John Norton of Bourbon, KY Born 1759 in Goochland, VA

We have established a DNA signature confirming the relationship of this family

Married Sarah Spencer 1784

Polly Norton b. 1787 Fayette, KY
James Norton b. 1788 Fayette, KY
Nancy Norton b. 15 May 1791 Bourbon, KY
Peggy (Margaret) Norton b. 25 Oct 1793 Bourbon, KY
Patsy Norton b. Bourbon, KY
Hiram Norton b. 6 Jun 1795 Bourbon, KY
Catherine Norton b. Bourbon, KY
Sarah Norton b. Bourbon, KY
Betsy Norton b. Bourbon, KY
John Norton b. 1800 Bourbon, KY
Spencer Norton b. Bourbon, KY

Negro Sam Boyd A slave owned by John Norton and willed to his son Hiram Norton in Carlisle, Nicholas County, Kentucky. This link is the oral history taken about 1920? of William Emmons a son of Sam Boyd.

Arrival in Kentucky
James Norton, a brother of John was the first of this family to scout out Kentucky in 1782 after the Revolutionary War. Read more about him here. He returned to Virginia to lead his father and brother back to Kentucky around 1784.

History, Map and Pictures of Paris, Bourbon Co., KY

John Norton marries Sarah Spencer in Albemarle county, VA. This date is inferred because John Norton had taken the Norton family to Lexington, KY area in 1784. In order to be married by Benjamin Burger, they would have to be married before they left. since the Spencer family moved with them, it seems that John and Sarah were married in 1784.

Nimrod Norton says of the Spencers:

The mother of Colonel Norton was the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier and granddaughter of Thomas Spencer, who commanded a brigade of Scotch troops at Culloden, escaped afterward to America, and finally settled in Kentucky.

They were married by Baptist minister Benjamin Burger in the 1780s in VA.

Albemarle County, Virginia Marriages, 1780-1853
John Norton and Sparah Spencer 178-; min-Benjamin Burger, no date given. [Hudson's Register]

1) Whitesides Church and Benjamin Burger are on the south side of Albemarle not far from the border on State Rd 635 where Batesville is today.

2) This fixes the location of the Spencer family. I have a land deed for William Spilser (Spencer) right in the Whitesides Church area. 1786. It borders James Black (Milly married John Black son of James Black.)

3) It also gives us a date for the marriage because the Whitesides church was not established until 1788. So it appears that John did not marry until 1788.

4) It also establishes the Spencers if not John Norton Jr as Baptist.

Lexington, Fayette county
The family first settled near Lexington in Fayette countyin 1784 where John Norton paid taxes in 1787-88. James Norton stayed on the frontier as an Indian fighter till about 1788 before he re-joins the family.

Polly Norton born in Fayette about 1787. (no doumentation for this date)
James Norton born in Fayette about 1788. (no doumentation for this date)

From "Elias B. Poston and his Ancestors"
"John and James Norton came with their father (John Sr.) to Kentucky in 1784; by the Texas account, in 1788, The first date is nearer the truth, The Texas account says they came down the Ohio by boat, landed at Marysville (Limestone) and went to the country near Lexington."   Elias B. Poston and his Ancestors 

Rather than favor one date over another from this history, it is probable that the family continued to travel back and forth between VA and KY. The Norton farm was sold in 1788 in Fluvanna, Va. It's most probable that the famly entered Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap as this is the path favored by Daniel Boone and James Norton is cloely associated with him. In later trips from VA to KY they might have also come by way of the Ohio as the Texas account relates.

David and James locate to Bourbon
About this time David Norton locates to Bourbon County to join his father and brothers. David signs on John's 1st land purchase as a bondsman and will be in and out of the county till he dies in 1814. James also marries in 1788 and joins the family homestead in 1791, but will locate to Greenup county by 1804. Link to map showing the location of John Nortons home in Bourbon KY

Nancy Norton b. 15 May 1791 Bourbon, KY

The move to Bourbon
July 25, 1791, John Norton bought 150 acres on Stoner's Fork of Licking in the newly organized Bourbon County. For his 150 acres, John Norton paid seventy five pounds--or about $250, at the value rate of Virginia currency at that time.

Their old home still stands (in1942 that is), on Levy Pike, between North Middleton and the Levy. It is a two-story house with weather-boarding whether it is of. logs underneath no do not know; but good frame architecture was becoming common in the country around Lexington before 1800. The good stone chimney was built by George T. Hart, the chimney builder." Elias B. Poston and his Ancestors  

1792 TAX records for Bourbon John w/ 6 horses 16 cattle, James w/no cattle horses and David w/1 horse 2 cattle. The date of the tax record indicates they are living close together.

John Norton signs marriage bond of Milly Norton and John Black. Bourbon, KY

1793 Bourbon Tax John w/ 6 horses 12 cattle James w/ 1 horse 3 cattle David w/ ?

Peggy (Margaret) Norton b. 25 Oct 1793 Bourbon, KY

1795 Bourbon Tax John w/ 6 horses 11 cattle 140 acres James w/ 2 horse 2 cattle David w/ 1 horse 11 cattle

Hiram Norton b. 6 Jun 1795 Bourbon, KY

1800 Bourbon Tax John w/ 3 horses, 145 acres 1 Black under 16

John Norton b. 1800 Bourbon, KY

John Norton dies
In March of 1814 a spotted Fever epidemic sweep through Fayette, Kentucky. This epidemic seems to have taken both John Norton and his brother David Norton living in Pendleton/Grant county. Both John Norton in Bourbon Co. and David Norton in Grant Co. die around this time. John Norton  and Sarah Spencer had 4 sons and 7 daughters, but John died at a rather early age in 1814.  We glean a lot of information from his will and estate sale.  

The will of John Norton

"I John Norton of the County of Bourbon and State of Kentucky, being in a weak and low state of health, tho of sound mind and judgment do will and bequeath my Estate in the manner following - my beloved wife Sarah have the choice of four head of horses to be kept on the farm - Also six head of cattle - Also all the sheep that is now on the farm I wish to remain on the place for the use of the family as I have gave to my eldest Daughters Polley and Nancy about the sum of sixty five dollars. I bequeath the same amount of sixty-five dollars to each of my younger Daughters, Viz, Patsey, Peggy, Catharine, Sarah and Betsy - also twenty of the choice of the hogs to be kept on the farm for the use of the family - I also bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah all the household and kitchen furniture and farming utensils belonging to the farm during her natural life - also one negro boy by the name of Sam to remain on the farm until my younger son Spencer becomes of the age of twenty one years, also the farm on which I now live and the above mentioned, negro boy Sam - I bequeath to my three sons Viz, Hiram, John and Spencer to be equally divided among them at the decease of my wife, the balance of the property on the farm not mentioned, to be sold at Publick sale some time in August next, the money arising from the sale is to pay my lawful debts and the ballance to the seport of the family. Also at the death of my wife Sarah I wish a sale to be made of all the property on the farm and the money to be equally divided among all my children. I do hereby name and appoint Robert Scott and Charles Payten to be the Executors of this my Last Will and Testament - In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fourteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
Signed in the presence of us John Norton (seal)
George W. Clendinen
Catharine Nicles
Hennery Kimes"

"Bourbon County April Court 1814 This Last Will and Testament of John Norton deceased was produced into court and proved according to law by the oaths of George W. Clendinen and Henry Kimes subscribing Witnesses thereto and being sworn to be Robert Scott and Charles Peyton the Executors therein named is duly recorded in this Officer.
Attest
Thos. C. P. Smith, DGBC"

August 1814,
Below is a list of who bought property at the estate sale of John Norton

"A list of property sold on the 5th of August 1814 of the Estate of John Norton deceased by Robert Scott and Charles Payton Executors of said estate.

James Boyle flour barrels $.40
John Corrieck loom and jeans $9.10
William Call hogs the whole stock $20.00
Patsey Norton one bay colt $12.00        - Daughter of John and Sarah
Burton Darnielle one sorrel horse $40.25   - His brother, John, married Peggy Norton daugher of John and Sarah
Jonathon Scott one sorrel filly $40.00
Hiram Norton one sprint colt $7.00    - Son of John and Sarah
John Wilmouth one brown horse $22.50
Joseph Douglas one bay filly $15.00
Widow Norton one red Heifer $7.25   -  Sarah Spencer
William Scott two work stears $28.00
John Karr two Pided Stears $25.00
William Scott four Stears $46.25
Thomas Damerous four Stears $32.00
William Moore Four Stears $24.62
Levi Poston one Cow and Calf $18.80  - Related to Elias Poston who married Nancy Norton, daughter of Sarah
Walter W. Summers red Cow and calf $11.24
John Blacks ---------- heifer $5.00  - Married Milly Norton daughter of John and Mary.
John Blacks Pided hiefer $5.00  - Married Milly Norton daughter of John and Mary.
?????? a white faced hiefer $5.00
??? Abbott Pide hiefer $5.15
David Culbercon three calves $8.00
Widow Norton wagon and some gear $25.25  Sarah Spencer
James Campbell three flour barrels $.03 1/2
Thomas Davis one bureau $14
Widow Norton gun and saddle $10.00    Sarah Spencer
????  $11.00