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The Norton Family of Fluvanna, Virginia
snorton@nortonfamily.net


Chapter 1
The first Norton or Norden

This Norton family came out of Fluvanna, Virginia and emigrated into the counties of Bourbon, Pendleton and Greenup Kentucky about 1784. There were five brothers who fought in the Revolutionary War. Thomas, John, James, David and William. One brother, Thomas, died just after the Battle of Yorktown. At least three of the remaining four brothers emigrated to Kentucky.

The search for the first Norton of this line to emigrate to Colonial America has been actively going on for 150 years. It was thought that his name was John Norton and that he might have lived near Alexandria, Virginia as well as Fluvanna, Virginia. In the course of researching, we have from time to time identified our first Norton as Capt William Norton, brother of Fletcher Norton in England. This was wrong. Then because the only Norton in Fluvanna was Christopher Norton we tried to tie into a sailor named Christopher Norton who was was tied up at Norfolk, Virginia in 1760. This was very promising, but he died at sea and was buried in Halifax. Along the way we found references to John Norton in Orange county Virginia and while we haven't definititively identified these, they appear to belong to the John Hatley Norton family of York county. Finally one big source of mis-information comes from the "History of Marion County South Caroloina" by WW Sellers. It seems one of our ancestors named Nimrod Norton and a John W. Norton of Marion, South Carolina met up at Richmond in 1864 towards the end of the Civil War and compared notes on their family history. They evidently decided they were from the same family and John W Norton went home to contribute a family history to the Sellers work that included "After the Revolution, the old man and two of his Sons James and John went to Kentucky..." which is the only accurate part of his history that applies to our family. All the rest of it refers to the SC family. I've done up a page on the Sellers history here.

I started www.NortonFamily.net in 1998 to aggregate all of the storys and research that I had picked up. Over the years we lost some relatives we thought we had and gained others. Let's salute the hundreds of relatives and researchers who have peered at musty old records and passed down family storys to give us clues to our heritage. While I am writing this history, many, many people have contributed.

DNA research gave us the clue to the identity of our first Norton. Or perhaps first Norden. It seems that the only family in the world that matches our Norton family DNA are the decendants of Robert Norden. (explaination ofDNA research)

In 1714, a small group of early Baptists in Virignia petitioned the Baptist Convention in England for a minister. Robert Norden was chosen as the first Baptist minister in Virginia and the first Baptist minister sent from England to the colonies. He traveled to Virginia in 1714 with the Matthew Marks family and lived on the Marks plantation in the county of Ille of Wight, Virginia roughly near Richmond on the south side of the James River and there established a small congregation at a place called Burliegh which was probably near the Marks plantation.

The Church of England was the official church of Virginia. This meant that all Virginians were taxed to support the ministers and everyone was expected to attend.

"The first nine Acts of 1661 provided for the support of the State Church; in each parish a church edifice was to be built out of the public treasury, together with a parsonage house and the purchase of a globe for the minister's use. He was to receive a salary of ,80 sterling, a provision subsequently changed to 16,000 pounds of tobacco, to be levied on the parish and collected like other taxes. Each minister must be ordained by a Bishop in England, all other preachers were to be banished; every person who wilfully avoided attendance on the parish Church for one Sunday was to be fined fifty pounds of tobacco; every Non-conformist was to be fined ,20 for a month's absence, and if he failed to attend for a year he must be apprehended and give security for his good behavior, or remain in prison till he was willing to attend Church." source

In 1691 this little group of Baptists were called before a magistrate to expain why they weren't at church.

"At a court held at Westopher, 22nd June 1691. Jno Moore, Mathew Markes, Tho Potts, Sam Easly, and Rich'd Was then presented by the grand jury upon information of Capt. Nicho Wyat for not coming to church. Sheriff to summon said delinquents to next court to answer."

Source: Benjamin B Weisiger III, compiler, Charles City County, Virginia, Court Orders 1687-1695: With a Fragment of a Court Order Book for the Year 1680 (Richmond, Virginia: Weisiger, 1980).

"Some English Baptists must have begun moving into southeastern Virginia in the early 1700s and they communicated with the Kentish Baptist Association to send a minister. The Kentish Baptists chose two men-Robert Norden and Thomas White.

In May 1714 the General Assembly of the General Baptist churches in England "appointed and approved" the two men to go to Virginia to "propogate the Gospell of truth". They wanted them to go with all "Conveniant Speed". They were sent as "messengers" but in effect they were "missionaries" and even "church planters." Virginia was viewed as a mission field.

Thomas White served a church at Bessels Green, Kent, which viewed the experiment as "the great work of gathering and settling churches in gospel order in Virginia". After some debate over White's possible departure, the church agreed to spare him for a time to perform "this good and great work." White died on the ocean journey, but Norden arrived and gathered Baptists into what traditionally is held to be the first Baptist church in Virginia, Burleigh in the Prince George and Isle of Wight area.

The churches of the General Assembly sent some financial support for the Virginia mission. In his report to the Kentish Baptists, Norden told of promising prospect to plant the Gospel and reported that he in a little time baptized and settled 18 persons in Gospel order. He described great meetings which attracted people from many miles to hear. Three more missionaries were sent to Virginia in 1715. On the pages of one early church record book from Kent was a notation beside the names of numerous members: Gone to America.

The information about these pioneers was gleaned from time spent by this columnist in the Angus Library of Regent's Park College in Oxford." Heritage Column for August 18, 2005 By Fred Anderson

Official permission was required to follow a different religion and eventually they got permission to have a preacher. But Robert Norden was required to appear in court and swear allegience to the King of England.

"I , Robert Norden do sincerely promise and Solemnly Declare before God and the World that I will be true and faithful to his Majesty King George, and I do Solemnly promise and Declare, that I do from my heart abhor,detest and renounce as Impious and Hereticall that Damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or Murthered by their subjects or any other whatsoever, and I do Declare that no foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate hath or ought to have any power, Jurisdiction Superiority, Preheminence or Authority , Ecclesiasticall or Spiritual withen his Realm. .

"I Robert Norden Profess faith in God the Father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son, the true God and in the Holy Spirit, one God Blessed for ever more, and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration." ....Robert Norden

Source :Att a Court held for the County of Prince George on Tuesday the fourteenth of June Anno Dom. 1715

The church was established at Burleigh, Ille of Wight county, Virginia. Map The location is on the Mill Swamp road and closest town was Smithfild There is still a Baptist church on this sight.

Robert Norden was born about 1650 probably in East Sussex, England, England. At the time he was called to Virginia he was residing at Warbleton, Sussex England. His call to Virginia was a "messenger"

As has been said, he went to Virginia in 1714 and stayed on the plantation of Matthew Marks. When Marks died in 1719, he willed the use of his plantation to Norden until his death. Robert Norden built up several churches in the Richmond area particularly a church in Surry and the Burleighy church. The congregation continued until 1742 when many emigrated to Kehukee, in Halifax county and formed the first Baptist Association in South Carolina.

Robert Norden brought at least two of his children with him to Virginia. We have references for Charles Norden and Francis Norden asa well as grandchildren Sarah, Robert, Elizabeth and Melchezidec. It appears that all of the Norden, Nordan and Nordin families south of Virginia and Kentucky are his descendants. Here is a research page for his descendants. http://www.nortonfamily.net/norden-robert

We haven't as yet found the direct link between Christopher Norton and Robert Norden. But it was probably one of Robert Norden's sons that stayed in England that gave us Christopher Norden who appears to be the first of our line in America. I have started a research page for the Nordens of East Sussex, England.

Chapter 2
The sources

We have collected four historys that have been passed down about our Norton family.

The first we call the Texas history and it comes from Nimrod Norton born 1831, a great grandson of Christopher Norden through his son John. Nimrod also indirectly produced a second history. Nimrod's history is retold in a book called, "Elias B. Poston and his Ancestors" by Elias Olan James & Glenna James copyright 1942. Nimrod had a colorful career as a Colonel in the Confederate Army and ended up in Texas. We'll have to look at Nimrod's career in detail later, but before he died in 1903 he dictated what he knew of our family's history to his nephew Dr. Charles Norton. This history sat in Charles desk until he died in 1941 just at the Poston history was being researched. Here's what he said as retold by the Poston researchers.

"...a Commodore Norton resigned from the British Navy and settled either in Virginia or on the shore of Albemarle Sound, N. Carolina, "shortly before" the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

"...that he had five sons, all of whom served in Virginia units under George Washington; that one son, David, was taken prisoner and died on a British prison ship in Charleston harbor; that after the Revolution, the two older sons, William and Thomas (or--one account says--Solomon, not Thomas settled in South Carolina; and the two younger sons, John and James, came to Kentucky with their father, and settled near Lexington." source" Poston History

A second source is a history direct from Nimrod himself. Recently we have found another source for Nimrod's history as told by him directly in a book called Confederate Military History published in 1899 while Nimrod was still alive.

"His (Nimrod's) grandfather was John Norton son of a retired British Naval officer who had settled in Virginia before the Revolution, and gave five sons to the Continental army." source Nimrod Norton

Our third source we call the Illinois history and is from a decendant of Margaret Norton who was Christopher's granddaughter also through his son John. She married John Darneille in 1814 and moved to Sangamon County, Illinois. The decendant who wrote the history leved in Springfield, Illinois. This history also came to the Poston researchers within weeks of finding the Texas history. Although the families had been separated since 1814, the storys matched with few exceptions. source" Poston History

The forth source we call the "Pirate Story". It was written by Eliza Trimble living at Ballard, Washington in 1906. source Eliza is a great granddaughter of Christopher Norden through his daughter Elizabeth Norton who married William Benefiel. It's significant to note that Christphers wife, Mary lived with Elizabeth until her death about 1819. Eliza Benefiel Trimble was born in 1816 and had direct access to family storys.

"My grandmother, Elizabeth (Norton) Benefiel, as the daughter of John Norton and was born May 1, 1769. Her father, John Norton, was born in England in the time of trouble with sea pirates. He went to sea at the age of twelve and was 40 years on the sea. There was one noted pirate that did such havoc to the merchant vessels that England fitted out a vessel expressly to capture him. My grandfather Norton was on the English vessel that followed the pirate five years and finally came on it in a heavy fog in speaking distance. When spoken to they hoisted a black flag. The pirates had two vessels - one very small and tams - the idea was with the English that they would cripple the small vessel first. They shot into it and it sank like a lump of lead. They then attacked the other vessel and had a hard fight with them - finally overpowered them and took them to England. But most all the treasure was on the little vessel. Grandfather said that the money that was on the big vessel was divided among the men and there was a hatful to each man. All treasure was on the little vessel. I did know the names of the two captives and of both the English and pirate vessels which I have often heard my grandfather relate. I don’t doubt it is in the libraries as England fitted out the vessel expressly for the capture of the noted pirate, the event would no doubt be on record.

Grandfather Norton lived to be old and died in Virginia. I think Grandmother Norton died in Kentucky at the age of 104 years." source:

note: Eliza Trimble identifies John Norton as the father of Elizabeth. We think she confused John Norton the older brother of Elizabeth because he was so prominent in the family in Bourbon, KY. The father of Elizabeth died abt 1787, 32 years before Mary Norton, the mother died.

A confusing history is referred to by W. W. Sellers "History of Marion County, South Carolina". This history is mixed up with a non-related Norton history from South Carolina and has been the source of a great deal of confusion. I'll print the history and then expalin it.

"The first of this family came from England to New England, at a very remote period in the past, about the first of the seventeenth century; that his name was John; that he or one of his descendants, named John, afterwards came down to Virginia and settled near what is now Alexandria, Va. This Virginia John had five sons, all of whom were soldiers in the Revolutionary War; one of them, James, served in Washington's guard as a Sergeant; another one of then was taken prisoner and died in a prison ship, in Charleston harbor, in 1780 or 1781.

Their names were William, James, John, David and Solomon. After the Revolution, the old man and two of his Sons James and John went to Kentucky; two others of then came to South Carolina. William went to Georgetown, and the other went to Beaufort." source

This obviously refers to our family history but is mixed up with the Marion SC Norton history. DNA research determined that this Norton line from Horry and Marion counties in South Carolina is not related to our family. source Don't even try to sort out what is our family and what is the Marion, SC family. There's just a little of both in every line.

The author of this work was William Sellers. As it turns out, his daughter was the wife of the promient Congressman from Marion County, James Norton. His source for the Norton history was the father of James, John W. Norton who was a celebrated veteran of the Civil War. So how did John W. Norton of Marion, SC get his family history mixed up with ours?

This is where Nimrod Norton comes in. Nimrod's father, Hiram Norton was one of the wealthiest men in Kentucky. Nimrod was sent to two military schools and when the Civil War broke out he was living in Missouri. There he raised the first regiment for the Confederacy. Later he was elected to the Confederate Congress in 1864 at Richmond, Virginia.

John W. Norton and his three sons were among the first to join the Confederacy and were sent to Virginia to serve with Robert E. Lee and the Army of Virgina until the war ended. In 1864 they were engaged in defending Richmond and were in close proximity with Nimrod Norton for several months. They must have met and compared family history. Both came from Virginia. both had five brothers that fought in the Revolution and both had a brother who died in battle. The names of the brothers were even similar. William, James, John, David and Solomon. Except that in Nimrod's family the name was Thomas, not Solomon.

John W. Norton knew his ancestor was William in South Carolina, but was real fuzzy on relationships and names. Nimrod must have filled in the blanks. After the Civil War John W Norton went back to Marion county South Carolina and contributed a family history to the Sellers book that had a little bit of Nimrod's history and a rather fuzzy selection of his own. It took DNA to sort things out, but with know with great certainty that these families are not connected.

Chapter 3
Lets tell the Story

We know that Christopher Norden is father of this family. (Here is a page with documentation) He would be a grandson of Robert Norden the Baptist minister and was born in England. Christopher probably had a career at sea including some time in the Royal Navy. If the Trimble History is correct, he went to sea at 12 possibly with a commission as a midshipman in the Royal Navy. We estimate he was born in 1720 and was 27 when he shows up in Norfolk, Virginia in 1747. By this time he had resigned his commission in the Royal Navy after a 15 year career. He married Mary Emmerson near Richmond about 1752 and soon after 1756 they began using Norton rather than Norden.

The first evidence of Christopher Norden is a lawsuit filed in 1747 at James Cittie that names Charles Friend, mariner v. Christopher Norden. source This helps establish him as a mariner, possibly a Captain of a merchant ship because Friend was a master of a ship.. If the "Historys" are correct, he began his career in the Royal Navy as a midshipman at the age of 12. The area of Warbleton, England where his grandfather Robert Norden lived before he came to Virginia is the principal foundry for English naval cannons and is very near the major naval ports suggesting a connection with the Royal Navy. source A mystery that needs to be solved is, how does a family associated with the Baptist religion get a commission in the Royal Navy? England was still imprisoning and executing Baptists in the first half of the 1600's. It was only under the reign of William and Mary that "non-conformists" to the Church of England were given the right to exist. Perhaps a son of Robert Norden who stayed in England was not a Baptist and had connections to get his son a commission. Robert Norden died 1725 in Virginia. We think Christopher went to sea in 1732, seven years after Robert died.

The "Pirate Story" says Christopher spent 40 years at sea. source Not all of these were necesarily with the Royal Navy. We think he was born about 1720source and went to sea in 1732. After ten years in the Royal Navy his career had not advanced and he resigned his commission to settle near Norden relatives in Virginia. He seems to have continued as a mariner until the Revolution made commerce too dangerous in 1777. This is when we have records of him associated with land deeds in Fluvanna. There is also a reference to Robert Norden in a lawsuit filed at Richmond in 1753. This Robert Norden is a grandson Robert Norden the Baptist minister and is the ancestor of all the Nordans in North Carolina.

Christopher Norden and Mary Emmerson married about 1752 in the county of Goochland in Virginia. source Mary Emmerson was born in 1735 and was 17 when she married. Her father, Thomas Emmerson had land just on the borders of Goochland, Fluvanna and Louisa counties along the Three Notched Road. Her father's will names Mary Norton in 1790 and leaves her 5 shillings. source Mary Norton is well established as the mother our Norton line and the wife of Christopher Norton. It appears that they began using Norton over Norden soon after their marriage. Mary Norton witnesses a deed in Albemarle near Nortonsville in 1762 source and in 1785 is recorded as the wife of Christopher Norton on a rather special land grant from Virginia giving ownership to the Nortons for the land they had been farming in Fluvanna since at least 1777. source Mary also gives permission for her daughter Milly Norton to marry in 1792. source

Chapter 4
The Norton Family

Chapter 5
Nortonsville, Boonesville and the Shenandoah

Nortonsville is a hamlet located on the border of present day Albemarle and Green counties Virginia. There are several records and events that tie our Norton family to this little hamlet and it's possible this is the area that our Norton family came to settle after Christopher and Mary married in 1752. It is possible Christopher Norton aquired this land from a headright for transporting people to Virginia. There are several nearby examples of this but there is no direct evidence.
Link to a map of land owners around Nortonsville circa 1760

The buildings of Nortonsville are very old. An expert who examined them said some of the buildings were made of recycled earlier materials including ship timbers. The main house consists of three sections built at different times. In fact one (the oldest) was supposed to have been moved there from another spot nearby. The land contains the old general store, a cottage, a farmhouse, “a smithy, grist mill, dairy, barn, cemetery and two schools - one for white children and the other for black children,” Some of the wood beams in the farmhouse appear to be recycled from a circa-1600s building and, before that, a ship.
link to a picture of Nortonsville.
notes

In 1761 Mary Norton witnessed a deed for a property just 7 miles from Nortonsville. (see map below) source Why is Mary Norton witnessing this deed? As it turns out, three of Mary's brothers own about 1,000 acres bordering or very close to this deed. Further evidence that the Mary's brothers were active in this area is a record of her brother Henry Emmerson being baptized by Benjamin Burger, the same minister who married one of Mary's children. The other witnesses on the deed are David and Caty Thompson. The Thompsons are a significant family in Albemarle and Fluvanna owning many thousands of acres. George Thompson posted marriage bonds for James Norton in 1788. The owner of the property under Nortonsville was originally Roger Thompson who's actual plantation is thought to be at Boonesville. (note on this map it's called Boonesboro, but on recent maps it is Boonesville.) There is a significant connection between the Nortons and Thompsons, but we have not been able to identify the source. (It may be through the Emmerson family who owned land next to David Thomson in Lousia county.)

An important note is that Mary Norton witnessed the deed and not Christopher Norton. We consistantly find that Christopher Norton is missing from important documents suggesting that he is away from the family and perhpas at sea.

Additional links to Nortonsville are the marriages in 1775 of two of Christopher and Mary's children.

William Norton married Mildred Taylor in January of 1775. She is the daughter of Erasmus Taylor and Jane Moore of Orange County and have land situated not far from Nortonsville. Mildred Taylor was a 2nd cousin of President James Madison. Mildred's uncle also produced another president, Zachary Taylor.

Christopher and Mary's oldest daughter, Sarah married William Farney of Orange county Virginia in November of 1775. William Farney is really Fearneyhough and the Fearneyhough land is located just 2 miles from Nortonsville over the border in present day Green county. (Orange county included Green county in 1774). The Fearneyhough also appear to be a wealthy family. When Sarah's husband died just after the Battle of Yorktown their estate was valued at 30,000 pounds Sterling. These marriages give us some insight into the status of the Norton family at this time. Christopher's former commission in the Royal Navy and position in maritine must have established him in society. Mary's family is also well placed.

While we haven't been able to determine when Nortonsville got it's name it is included on the earliest maps we can find. Nortonsville is missing from "The Roads of Albmarle County" which records the building of the roads through Nortonsville in 1743. (source)

Christopher Norton .1718 England
Mary Emmerson b.1735 Goochland, VA
...Thomas Norton b1753 Goochland, VA
...William Norton b1754 Goochland, VA
...Martha Norton b1756 Goochland, VA
...Sarah Norton b1757 Goochland, VA
...John Norton b1759 , VA
......Hiram b.1795 Bourbon, KY
.........Nimrod b.1831 Nicholas, KY
...James Norton b1761 , VA
...David Norton b1763 Fluvanna, VA
......David Jr b.1795, Pendleton, VA
...Elizabeth Norton b. 1 May 1769 Fluvanna, VA
...Milly Norton b1774 Fluvanna, VA

Early Photos
Pleasant Norton b.1801
James Baker Norton b.1831
John Wesley Norton b. 1820
James W Norton b.1822
Nimrod Norton b.1831

Index
Chapter 1
The first Norton or Norden
Chapter 2
The sources
Chapter 3
Let's tell the story
Chapter 4
The Norton Family
Chapter 5
Nortonsville, Boonesville and the Shenandoah
Chapter 6
The Revolution of 1776

Timeline

• 1717 Robert Norden emigrates to Virginia be establish Baptist congregation in Ille of Wigh county.
• 1725 Robert Norden dies in Virginia.
• 1747 lawsuit filed in 1747 at James Cittie that names Charles Friend, mariner v. Christopher Norden,
• 1752 Christopher Norden and Mary Emmerson married in Goochland, VA
• 1753 Thomas Norton born.
• 1754 William Norton born Goochland, VA
• 1756 Martha Norton born Goochland, VA
• 1757 Sarah Norton born VA
• 1759 John Norton born VA
• 1761 James Norton born VA
• 1762 Mary Norton witness deed in Albemarle, VA
• 1763 David Norton born Fluvanna, VA
• 1769 Elizabeth Norton born Fluvanna, Virginia
• 1769 Elizabeth Norton born Fluvanna, Virginia
• 1774 Milly Norton born Fluvanna, Virginia
• 1775 Marriage of William Norton and Mildred Taylor
• 1775 Marriage of Sarah Norton to William Farney both of Orange, VA
• 1777 First mention of Christopher Norton in Fluvanna deed books.
• 1778 Thoams Norton purchases land in Rockingham, VA
• 1779 Christopher Norton witnesses deed in Fluvanna, VA
• 1779 James Norton serves his 1st Tour from April to September 1779. in Fluvanna County, Virginia. James 2nd Tour in Sept 1779 in Albermarle County his 3 month tour was up in December 1779.
• 1780 May, David Norton enlists in Virginia Line.
• 1780 James serves 3rd Tour from Albemarle, VA.
• 1780 Thomas Norton captured at Charleston, SC
• June 1781 the "British Legion" commanded by Banastre Tarelton attack Charlottesville, VA going through Norton plantation.
• 1781 Estate of Thomas Norton settled.
• 1781 Oct 18 Yorktown surrenders. James and John Norton are documented as being there.
• Nov 26 1781 John Norton executor of William Farney estate in Rockingham.
• August 19, 1782 James at the "Battle of Blue Licks" in Kentucky.
• September 10, 1782 Christopher Norton received a Land Office Treasury Warrant from Patrick Henry, the Gov. of Virgnia. He and his wife "Mary" sold that land to a man named John Furbush in September 1788.
  Link to map of Norton land in Fluvanna with history of neighbors
• 1784 John Norton marries Sarah Spencer in Albemarle. Married by Benj. Burger a Baptist minister.

The history of Boonesville is lost. We have only echos, but Daniel Boone often came through these parts. He was captured in Charlottesville, Albemarle county by the British in 1781 as he was attending the Continental Congress. After he was released he was joined by James Norton, a son of Christopher and Mary, on his return trip to Lexington, Kentucky. James Norton and Daniel Boone were side by side at the 'Battle of Blue Licks" fought in Kentucky 1782. It's from James that we get an eye witness account of Daniel's son Israel's death during the battle.

The Revolution changed everything for the Norton family. Maritine commerce was choaked off in Virginia by January of 1777 ruining Christopher's marintime business. This is the time we find Christopher Norton mentioned on land deeds in Fluvanna. Also in 1778 the Norton sons began buying land in Rockingham, Virginia.

The route from Nortonsville to Rockingham was through Brown's Cove. Thomas Norton purchased 300 acres on a branch of the North Mill Creek commonly known as "Wolfs Place" in south-east Rockingham, VA in 1778. Thomas brother John also purchased land in the area. When Sarah Norton married William Farney they also purchased land in Rockingham. Nortonsville may have been sold to purchase land in Rockingham because from this point we find references to Norton land in Fluvanna and Rockingham and not in Albemarle. We know that the land in Fluvanna was not purchased, but was eventually granted to Christopher Norton in 1785 by the Patrick Henry, the governor of Virginia.

Chapter 6
The Revolution of 1776
In March of 1775 Patrick Henry made his famous speech uttering "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" In April 1775 Paul Revere made his midnight ride before the Minute Men battled the British at Lexington and Concord. In June of 1775, George Washington was named Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

Thomas Norton and William Norton along with Sarah's husband, William Farney possibly joined with the 7th Virginia Regiment organized in Ablemarle county between February and May of 1776. Thomas Norton would have been 23 and William Norton 22. A third brother John was 17 at this time, but it appears he stayed at home to help manage the plantation.

Here is a link to the history of the 7th Virginia during the Revolutionary War as constituted in Albemarle, Virginia. You have to be careful becasue the 7th was combined with other regiments and another regiment named the 7th.

The 7th Virginia first defended the Chesapeake Bay during 1775. They were on the line at New York when the British routed the Continentals and forced a retreat across New Jersey to Pennsylvania in November of 1776. the 7th was with Washington on Christmas Day, 1776, when he crossed the Delaware River and attacked a garrison of 1600 Hessian troops at Trenton, NJ. They were forced out of Philadelphia by the British and settled in at Valley Forge.

The 7th Virginia regiment entered Valley Forge in the winter of 1777 with 427 assigned and only 46 fit for duty. When they left the following Spring of 1778 they had 376 with 226 fit for duty.

The oldest son, Thomas Norton was a Corporal in the Virginia Continental Line.

There is a strong family tradition that says that James Norton served as an orderly sergant in George Washington's guard. James never mentioned this service in any of his War Pension applications, but I believe the family tradition is correct. James married Jean Bybee whose brother served as an "Aide de Camp" for Washington. The Bybee's had seven sons who served with Washington in important postitions. In addition, George Thompson who posted bonds for James marriage to jean Bybee served in positions close to Washington. William Norton married Mildred Taylor who was a 2nd cousin of President James Madison. The Nortons were well connected at the time of the Revolution and there was ample opportunity for James Norton to be associated with Washington's guard. However since he never mentioned it in hispension applications, I rather suspect he was a young orderly since he was only 15 in 1776.

The Norton family in 1778-1779 consisted of Christopher and Mary about 53 and 46 years old, Thomas 24 (married to Elisabeth Hawke?), William 23 (married to Mildred Taylor), Martha 21, Sarah 20 (married to William Farney), John 19, James 17, David 15, Elizabeth 11 and Milly 4.

It appears that the Norton brother's enlistment was up in the early in the Spring of 1778. In May of 1778 Thomas Norton purchased 300 acres on a branch of the North Mill Creek commonly known as "Wolf's Place" in southeast Rockingham, Virginia. Close by is William Farney who was married to Thomas' sister Sarah. This land is only 40 miles from the family farm in Fluvanna County but just over the Blue Ridge Mountains and served as a "safe" place when the British moved through Albemarle and Fluvanna in 1780. It is apparent that the Norton family located there for safety from the British from the war record of James Norton.

James Norton the 4th son served two tours of duty in the Virginia Militia during 1779. James pension record states he served his 1st Tour from April to September 1779. He joined under Col. George Thompson, Capt William Smith, Leuftenant Ben Smith in Fluvanna County, Virginia. (James 1st Pension app said he started from Rockingham, but his 2nd says he was wrong and started from Fluvanna) He marched from Fluvanna to Albermarle barracks. Then to Richmond and Petersburg. From there to Portsmouth and Norfolk. From Norfolk he returned to Albermarle County til his tour of 6 months was fulfilled. James 2nd Tour was for 3 months starting in Sept 1779 in Albermarle County under Col. Hamilton and Capt Lamb. He marched to barracks in Winchester and conveyed prisoners there. He then returned to Albemarle county till his 3 month tour was up in December 1779.

James Norton substituted for John Shannon beginning March 12 1780 from Albemarle, Virginia which constituted his 3rd tour. John Shannon furnished him with suitable clothes and everything except a gun which he drew from the Gochland Court House. This was a rifle company. Several of his company were killed during action on Chesapeake Bay and the south branch of the Potomac in Hampshire County. This tour saw considerable sickness in his camp. From the mouth of the James River he marched to Camel Court House through Pittsylvania County VA and here received his discharge about September 1780.

David Norton begins his service about May of 1780. His Revolutionary War record says he served for a year and a half which takes him to the surrender at Yorktown. It also mentions he recieved a scar on his left cheek.

We know that John Norton was also at Yorktown from brother-in-law, John Black's war pension records, but we have no details.

We have no record of where William Norton served or where. Only his pay picked up in 1783.

Thomas Norton must have died shortly after Yorktown because his children are bound out in Rockingham court just 5 weeks after Yorktown surrendered. Sarah Norton's husband is also deceased and the Rockingham court handles her case the same day which suggests that William Farney also died at Yorktown.

Nimrod Norton's history says that one of the brothers was a prisoner on a prison hulk in Charleston harbor and died there. It's known that he mixed history with the Nortons of Marion county, South Carolina. The only brother that died was Thomas and it appears that he died at Yorktown. The prison ship may refer to the Marion, SC Norton history.

The British invade Fluvanna 1781
For Christopher Norton the War for Independance must have been a personal battle. As a former British naval officer with decades of service, he was trained for command and had already lived a life of action at sea. He knew what to expect from the British.

British forces led by turncoat Benedict Arnold and Lord Cornwallis entered the Virginia interior in January of 1781 and Virginia was powerless to defend itself. Most of the Virginia Line and militia had been captured at Charleston, South Carolina.. Only a disorganized and inexperienced force remained to fight for the home cause. Thus, the British arrived unchecked at Richmond, and considerable damage was done to the area.

In June 1781 the "British Legion" commanded by Banastre Tarelton called "The Butcher" for his actions at Charleston was at the very door of the Norton plantation in Fluvanna. In a forced march, Tarelton came right through the Norton plantation in Fluvanna to suprise Charlottesville, almost capturing Thomas Jefferson at Montecello. Jefferson was warned of the attack just in time just in time, and was able to disperse family and visitors to various shelters. He himself fled to safety just as the approaching British arrived within sight.

During this time there are indications that the Norton family had moved to Thomas Norton's land in Rockingham county in the Shenendoah Valley safely away from the British. It appears that all five Norton sons join the Virginia Militia for the final battle at Yorktown. It is possible Thomas Norton and William Farney died at Yorktown.

From James Norton's pension record we learn some of the details.

In July or August James Norton was marched down within a few miles from Richmond and connected with Maj. Bunting and General Layfette. where the Americans had just left.

The only event in particular he now remembers of was during the siege of York and Glocester. One morning about four October, the British broke out and overtook a little battery where the French troops were posted. And the battery repulsed at length with some loss on both sides but the American side suffered most.

This was after as he now remembers Vandenberg, the fight of Pigeon Hill which also took place during the siege. He states that he was not stationed on the York side where the most of the Virginia troops were until the day preceeding the surrender.

He states that he was on the north of York River on the night the British attempted to escape but was punished by the fury of the water. (a storm came up to foil the English escape) He was at Gloucester upon York where the British gave up having crossed over to the other side. This last service he was commanded mostly by French commanders whose names he has mostly forgotten. Gen. Chois, a frenchman, took the command of the Virginia army. This just before the surrender. (On the 3d of October the Sieur de Choisy marched to block up Gloucester, and take a position at three miles distance from that place.) Gen. Chois commanded one division during the siege that he was in.

He was not out on furlough for one day after the British gave up. He went with the Militia and some prisoners to Winchester, he remained till the last of December 1781 and was discharged & received his discharge from Patrick Shannon who was in the barracks.

Our Colonel was authorized to call out men whenever necessary. Being what were called "Minute Men" as we had to be always in readiness so that we could go at less than one hours notice. James Norton remains with the army guarding prisoners until December of 1781.

Sadly the end of 1781 brought the business of taking care of the families and estates of Thomas Norton and William Farney who died just after the Battle of Yorktown. Thomas' brother John Norton was appointed executor of William Farneys estate posting a bond for 30,000 pounds Sterling. He was also appointed guardian of their only son, John Farney.

The children of Thomas Norton are also bound out to wards of the court.

1781, Nov 26 Rockingham
John Norton is appointed executor of William Farney's estate in Rockingham, VA valued 30,000 pounds. John will also be appointed guardian of John Farney. William Farney is the husband of Sarah Norton, John's sister. This appears to be John Norton later of Bourbon, KY. He signs with an "x".
"From Abstracts of Executor, Administrator and
Guardian Bonds of Rockingham Co., VA 1778-1864 by Marguerite B. Priode John Norton the administrator of the estate of William Furnay on Nov. 26, 1781 of 30,000 pounds sterling. The bondsman was Robert Harrison."

November 26, 1781 Thomas Norton Deceased
"On the motion of Peter Vaneman that the church wardens bind out Sarah Norton daughter of Thomas Norton who has left his wife & family destitute of the means of subsistance to Peter Vaneman until she comes of age being now 4 1/2 years of age." Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, 1778-1792 Part I 1778-1786.

Sources:

1 James City County, Mariner, Charles Friend v. Christopher Norden Judgment 1747
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whatwehave/local/burned/locality-ip.asp

Israel Friend had many family members who followed him to the Potomac area, including two siblings. Charles Friend (1699-1751) lived in the area that is now Williamsport, Washington Co., Md.(24) Mary Friend had
been married in1727 in Cecil Co., Maryland to Robert Turner, who is found in Frederick Co., Md. deed records as late as 1769.(25)
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvclay/israel.htm

Israel's sons had followed their father's example, and had movedto the leading edges of the frontier to find their fortunes. Eldest son Jonas Friend was born circa 1725. He had lived at Friend's Fort, now Elkins, Randolph Co., West Virginia, where he died 15 Nov. 1807.(30) He had married by 1754 to Sarah Skidmore in RockinghamCo., Va., and they had five children. Second son Jacob Friend was born circa 1727. He lived inRockingham, later Pendleton, Co., Va. He died in 1818.(31) He hadmarried in 1756 to Elizabeth Skidmore, sister of Sarah, and they had atleast nine children. It has been said that Jonas and Jacob met their brides inRockingham Co., Va. However Joseph Skidmore (their father) is found inFrederick County, Maryland in 1750.(32) He is also found on the 1766list of debts owing to merchant James Dixon of Frederick, Md. (33) The youngest son Charles Friend was born circa 1730, and died in1816 in Monroe County, (West) Virginia.(34), leaving at least four children.

More records on Friend
Friend, Wm. -- merchant -- 1678, SR 05762c, p. 24
Friend, zzz -- master of ship: Cartwright -- 1744, SR 00900, p. 1 These refer to Capt Friend of the ship Cartwright
Friend, zzz -- master of ship: Cartwright -- 1744, SR 14692, p. 1

The Friend family were Quakers and the reference to Capt Friend of the ship Cartwright is for carrying letters to Virginia of London Friends meetings.

2

3 Wm. Douglas Register of marriages in Goochland- Fluvanna, VA.
"Christopher Norden & Mary Emmerson a son named William born Jun 13.1754
[Baptized] 1756 June 26. p. 49" [p. 261 in the Douglas Registry book]

THE DOUGLAS REGISTER, by W. Jones (1928). "Being a detailed record of births, marriages and deaths with other interesting notes as kept by the Rev. Douglas, from
1750 1797." A Goochland Co. Will Index is also included. According to the book, The reverend William Douglas came to St. James northam parish in goochland county, VA, Dover church, on the 12th of October 1750. A memorandum in the register shows that he had charge of St. James northam parish for 27 years: Maniken town (king William parish) for 19 years and ministered to a charge in Buckingham County for 4 years.

"This book is known as the Douglas register for the reason that it not only contains a record of births, christenings, marriages and deaths and funerals in St. James Northam parish and the county of Goochland but in many instances in adjacent counties and other more remote. the record also is not only for the period he was in charge of St. James Northam parish but continues after he left that parish on the 5th of Sept 1777 and went to live in the Louisa County. In fact he kept up the entries in the register until 1797 and thus it covers a period of 92 years.

4 Albemarle Deed Book 3, p. 211
20 Dec 1761 HENRY TILLEY JR. & wife JEAN (JANE) to PHILLIP THURMAN (This is the fellow who is said to have changed spelling to THURMOND) for L30, 294 acres adj. Rich Meadow; CAPT. JOS. MARTIN, HENRY BUNCH. Wit: DAVID THOMSON, CATY THOMSON, MARY NORTON.

5 Christopher Norton received a Land Office Treasury Warrant from Patrick Henry, the Gov. of the Commonwealth on September 10, 1782. He and his wife "Mary" sold that land to a man named John Furbush in September 1788. This grant was unusual for not being assiciated with land bountys granted Revolutionary War vetrans. It seems to be a special grant giving the Nortons ownership of land that they had been farming since at least 1777 when Christopher Norton land is mentioned on deeds bordering it. Several other parcels bordering this land in Fluvanna changed hands at the end of the Revolution suggesting that a Loyalist previously owned the land. Most were purchased in pounds sterling. "Real" money was scarce after the Revolution and paying in pounds sterling was unusual.

6 Christopher Nordens birth may be as early at 1710 and as late as 1725. He married Mary Emmerson in 1754 when she was 19. If he was born in 1725 he would be 29. This age difference is not unusual for a man with a career in the Royal Navy. However if he was born in 1715 and was 39, it begs our imagination to allow it. Also his last child was born in 1774. He was 49 if he was born in 1725 and 59 if he was born in 1715.

Another way of measuring his age is from his naval references. The "Pirate Story" says he was 12 when he went to sea and spent 40 years at sea. 12 years old is the common age for a commission as a midshipman in the Royal Navy. If we count back 40 years from 1777 when we have references for Norton land in Fluvanna and add 12 more we get 1725. It could be that Christopher served the Revolution as a mariner and that could add a few more years to his birth date.

7 Cast of characters associated with the deed Mary Norton witnessed.

Albemarle Deed Book 3, p. 211
20 Dec 1761 HENRY TILLEY JR. & wife JEAN (JANE) to PHILLIP THURMAN (This is the fellow who is said to have changed spelling to THURMOND) for L30, 294 acres adj. Rich Meadow; CAPT. JOS. MARTIN, HENRY BUNCH. Wit: DAVID THOMSON, CATY THOMSON, MARY NORTON.

==================
Richard Meadows listed as "rich meadow". -a location
Capt Joseph Martin - location
Henry Bunch -location
vid Caty Thomson - witness
Mary Norton - witness
Phillip Thurmond - purchaser
Henry Tilly - owner

1) First of all I found the location of the deed.

It's just below Free Union, VA. This deed is right on the road south of Free Union at the joining of Moremans and Mechams creeks. You can see it on the map. It's 7.5 miles from Nortonsville south on the main road.

2) (witness) There is a John Thomson one property east (1759). I have 7 other Thomson properties without a locator to plot them. Any of these could be next to the witness property. William Thomson has land on Moremans creek and close to Woods gap.

3) (location) Rich Meadow west of deed.

4) (location) Joseph Martins land adjoins (barely) north. 1745

5) (location) Henry Bunch adjoins southish. William Bunch has land 1/2 mile from Nortonsville 1739.

6) (seller) Henry Tilley has several properties on the survey I am using but none real close to this property. The records are far from complete.

7) I didn't find any Emmersons in Albemarle, but I misspelled it "Jemmerson" and hit the jackpot.

Adjoing the deed or very near by are 1000 acres owned by the 3 oldest brothers of Mary Emmerson Norton.

Samuel Jemmerson and John Jemmerson (several spellings) have 1000 acres going up the north side of Moreman's creek. This is within 1/4 mile of the witnessed property. The deed dates are 1741-1751. I think Jemmerson is a problem transcribing "J. Emmerson" or combining "Je" for a Capital E. At least they were consistant. I find no Jemmersons on other counties.

There is also a Henry Emmerson in the area but more towards Fluvanna border and of course Thomas Emmerson (deed 1773) within 1/4 mile of Christopher Norton. Thomas Emmerson also has land further down the 3 notched road 1763.
Emmerson is also used as "Thomas Eme'son's". Thomas Emmersons land is mentioned

9) Adjoining Thomas Emmersons property in Christopher/Fluvanna is John Thurmond, Glasby, Joseph Walker, Samuel Davis,Francis Baker, Jno Stranges, John Bybe.

10) Thomas Emmersons other Fluvanna Property dates from 1747. 1/4 mile away is David Walker 1739, John Walker Jun. 1739 and Joseph Walker 1750. Thomas Walker also witnessed a deed 1728.

11) Goochland. It turns out that Thomas Emmersons land in Goochland (240 acres) adjoins his land in Fluvanna. The Goochland deed dates from 1763. Next door is John Walkers land (400 acres) dating from 1735. Joseph Walker
is next to John 1735.

8 this land transaction is close to Boonesville and is the location of Gentry church. In 1785, James Gentry, from Louisa County, purchased 400 acres of land in northern Albemarle County near the county line with Orange County. The land was purchased from Thomson and Sarah Walton for 40 pounds of current Virginia money. In 1810, James Gentry purchased 400 acres of land from John Huckstep and his wife, Aggy, just across the Albemarle County line into Orange County. The 400 acres was located on the Lyne (Lynch) River and is now located in Greene County (see map, Figure 2a).

9 A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS By Thomas Armitage THE AMERICAN BAPTISTS
The first nine Acts of 1661 provided for the support of the State Church; in each parish a church edifice was to be built out of the public treasury, together with a parsonage house and the purchase of a globe for the minister's use. He was to receive a salary of ,80 sterling, a provision subsequently changed to 16,000 pounds of tobacco, to be levied on the parish and collected like other taxes. Each minister must be ordained by a Bishop in England, all other preachers were to be banished; every person who wilfully avoided attendance on the parish Church for one Sunday was to be fined fifty pounds of tobacco; every Non-conformist was to be fined ,20 for a month's absence, and if he failed to attend for a year he must be apprehended and give security for his good behavior, or remain in prison till he was willing to attend Church. Much pretense has been made, that because the early settlers of the colony were cavaliers, they were less austere, more polished and of gentler blood than the Puritans of Massachusetts. But the brutal intolerance of the English Court was faithfully copied by them, and no darker or more bloody pages stain English or Massachusetts history than those that defile the early records of Virginia. White tells us of a band of men who were driven from Virginia 'for their religious opinions' in 1634. [Annals of Annapolis, p. 23] Bulk records the revolting barbarities inflicted on Stevenson Reek for the same cause in 1640. He 'stood in the pillory two hours with a label on his back, paid a fine of ,50, and was imprisoned at the pleasure of the Governor,' for simply saying, in a jocular manner, that his majesty was at confession with my lord of Canterbury.' [ Ecc. Hist. of Va., ii, pp. 51-67] Holmes details, at length, that in 1648 four missionaries were sent from Massachusetts to Virginia, Messrs. James, Knollys, Thompson and Harrison. They held a few meetings there in private, but their little congregations were violently broken up and the missionaries banished, while many of their hearers were imprisoned.' [Annals, 289] James Ryland, a member of the House of Burgesses from the Isle of Wight County, prepared a Catechism which was pronounced 'blasphemous' for which he was expelled in 1652; and for some other trivial religious offense a member from Norfolk was expelled in 1663. Virginia had adhered to the king against Cromwell and the Commonwealth, and Dr. Hawks, the eloquent Episcopal historian of Virginia, tells of four of Cromwell's soldiers who were 'rudely hung, as a warning to the remainder' in 1680, for their religions opinions, under the pretense that 'their assemblages' were 'perverted from religious to treasonable purposes', 'these religious assemblages themselves being regarded as a subversion of the government.' [Hist. of Episcopacy in Va., pp. 71-72]

Hening states that the 111th Act of the Grand Assembly of 1661-62 declared that, 'Whereas, Many schismatical persons, out of their averseness to the orthodox established religion, or out of the new-fangled conceits of their own heretical inventions, refuse to have their children baptized; Be it therefore enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that all persons that in contempt of the divine sacrament of baptism, shall refuse when they may carry their child to a lawful minister in that county, to have them baptized, shall be amersed two thousand pounds of tobacco; half to the informer, half to the public.' [Statutes at large, ii, pp. 165-166]

This was a blow dealt at the Quakers, as there seem to have been no Baptists in the colony at that time. Several Acts of the Assembly in 1659, 1662 and 1693 made it a crime for parents to refuse the baptism of their children. Jefferson writes: 'If no execution took place here, as in New England, it was not owing to the moderation of the Church or the spirit of the Legislature, as may be inferred from the law itself, but to historical circumstances which have not been handed down to us.'

When William and Mary came to the throne, in 1689, their accession was signalized by that enactment of Parliament called the ACT OF TOLERATION. Even this, as Dr. Woolsey remarks, 'removed only the harshest restrictions upon Protestant religious worship, and was arbitrary, unequal and unsystematic in its provisions.' Still, it was the entering wedge to religious freedom, and while the Baptists of England gladly availed themselves of it and organized under it in London as a great Association for new work, a hundred and seventeen Churches being represented, the authorities of Virginia thought it inoperative in their colony. It was not until a score of years after the passage of this Act that the colonial Legislature gave to the colonists the meager liberties which it granted to the British subject. When, however, news of this Act reached Virginia, the few individual Baptists then scattered abroad there resolved on their full liberty as British subjects under its provisions. They entreated the London Meeting to send them ministers, an entreaty which was followed by a correspondence running through many years. In 1714 Robert Nordin and Thomas White were sent as ordained ministers to the colony, but White died upon the voyage. Up to this time there seems to have been no organized body of Baptists in Virginia, although there are traces of individuals in North Carolina as early as 1696, who had fled from Virginia to escape her intolerance. Semple finds the first Baptist Church of Virginia organized in association with the labors of Nordin at Burleigh, Isle of Wight County, in 1714, on the south side of the river and opposite Jamestown. Howell thinks that before the coming of Nordin there had been a gathering of citizens there, joined by others from Surry County for consultation, and that they had petitioned the London Baptists to send them help. Be this as it may, Nordin was soon followed by two other ministers, Messrs. Jones and Mintz, and under the labors of these men of God the first Church was formed in that year, and soon after one at Brandon, in the County of Surry. The first is now known as Mill Swamp; it is thought that the Otterdams Church is the second. These were General Baptists, but in a few years they embraced Calvinistic sentiments, and Nordin labored in that region till he died, in 1725. While this movement was in progress in the southern part of Virginia, the influence of the Welsh Baptists, in Pennsylvania and Delaware, began to be felt in Berkeley, London and Rockingham Counties, which were visited by their ministers. Semple thinks that these laborers first readied the colony through Edward Hays and Thomas Yates, members of the Saters Baptist Church, in Maryland, and that Revs. Loveall, Heaton and Gerard soon followed them. Churches were then gathered at Opecon, Mill Creek, Ketocton and other points in rapid succession, which became members of the Philadelphia Association, from which they received the counsel and aid of David Thomas, John Gano and James Miller, which accounts in part for the rapid spread of Baptist principles in North Virginia. They were soon strengthened, also, by the labors of two men of great power, formerly of other denominations, who became Baptists. Shubael Steams, a native of Boston, Mass., was converted under the preaching of George Whitefield, and united himself with the revival party of the Congregationalists, called New Lights, in 1745. He continued with them for six years, when lie became convinced, from an examination of the Scriptures, that infant baptism was a human institution and that it was his duty to confess Christ on his faith.

10 Albemarle County Will Book No. 3 1785-1798, pg. 101 reads, "I will and bequeath to my daughter Mary Morton five shillings...."

However, the Albemarle Wills microfiche (#30212) of the handwritten will clearly reads "Mary Norton": especially when you compare the handwritten "M" in "Mary" to the "N" in "Norton."

11 "Although from this time orders proliferated for roads within present Louisa County, the
next order falling within our area of interest occurs in the fall on 10 October 1743 O.S. This
order called for a road from the road in Orange that extends to the dividing line between this
County and Orange on Linches river to the upper north fork of Buck Mountain creek along the
track that leads to Robert Thomson.? Greene County was separated in 1838 from Orange
County, created in 1734, so that the area in question lies on Lynch?s River along that boundary.
Although it is not known where Robert Thomson lived, the upper north fork of Buck mountain
creek would appear to be those branches of the stream in the Boonesville area, and the road
Route 810 from the hollow north of Browns Cove down through the present Boonesville and
Nortonsville to Lynchs River and ?the road in Orange County that extends to the dividing line."
ALBEMARLE COUNTY ROADS 1725-1816 By Nathaniel Mason Pawlett

The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1807 and Albemarle County, Virginia 1748-1763 by The Rev. Bailey Fulton David, Page 208 13 Aug 1762 DAVID THOMPSON & wife CATY to DAVID MILLS for [pound symbol] 55: 524 acres-250 acres of it pat. 16 Aug 1756; 274 acres pat 10 Aug 1759, Lynch River branches. Wit: NICHL. MERIWETHER, JNO. LEIS JR. (LEWIS) [V Note: Caty is Elizabeth “Caty Ann” Lewis.]

Baptist church in Albemarle near Nortonsville. 1773 Chestnut Grove Baptist church. (formerly Buck Mt. church) George Gentry a member in 1799.

William H Nordan b. 1876 Black River, Harnett, NC d.1930