Origins of Norton's in Fayette-Bourbon,KY

A History of Marion County, South Carolina
From the earliest times to the present, 1901.
By W.W. Sellers, Esq. of the Marion Bar
(comments on this source)

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

The move to Bourbon In 1787 John Norton married Sarah Spencer in Bourbon county and on 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. Again, in April, 1794, he bought 22.5 acres, also on Licking, from Lewis Craig. It is said that he also owned land in Nicholas County. John and Sarah Norton deeded land to their oldest son, Hiram, who lived in Nicolas county. From the provisions of John Norton's will he would seem to have been a practical farmer, not overly rich, not poor.

David and James locate to Bourbon About this time David Norton locates to Bourbon County to join his father and brothers. He 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

The death of John, David and the "Commodore"
In 1814 there seems to have been an epidemic sweep through Kentucky. Both John Norton in Bourbon Co. and David Norton in Grant Co. die around this time. The "Commodore" seems to have died sometime after the Census of 1810.  There are 2 men over 45 years on that census in John's family.  David had established a household in Pendleton Co. and is listed there on the 1810 census but disappears after 1814.  He probably did not die in Grant County because there is no estate sale or legal record of it.  Barton's papers say he died in 1814 and was buried near Lexington. The Commodore is reportedly buried at Stoney Point Church located just 3 miles south of Paris, Bourbon Co., KY in the Elias Poston History.  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.  

"John and Sarah Norton are buried at North Middleton, in Bourbon County." Elias B. Poston and his Ancestors   

John Norton of Bourbon dies in 1814.  His will was probated in April 1814. Its essential parts are: 'To my beloved wife, Sarah, the choice or 4 head of horses to be kept on the farm, 6 head of cattle and sheep to remain on the farm for the use of the family.  I have given to my oldest daughters, Polly and Nancy, about $65--same amount to each of younger daughters, Patsy, Peggy, Catherine, Sarah and Betsy. Also 25 choice hogs to be kept on farm for use of family. "Also to my beloved wife Sarah all household and kitchen furniture and farming implements during her life. Negro Sam to remain on farm until my younger son, Spencer, becomes of age. To my sons, Hiram, John and Spencer, on decease of my wife, balance of property not mentioned."  Elias B. Poston and his Ancestors

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"

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

History of Marion County, South Carolina by W.W. Sellars
It is perhaps strange that the history of the Nortons in Kentucky should begin with the History of Marion Co. South Carolina.  But it was W.W. Sellars who begins the story of the Norton family in Kentucky.  He was the father of Rachael Cochrane Sellers who married James Norton (born 1843) of  Marion Co., SC.  James Norton was very prominent in South Carolina serving in the 55th and 56th US Congress.  Being the father-in-law to James Norton he probably took extra care to make the history of this family as complete and accurate as possible.  He also probably had access to the grandson of William Norton who came to SC from Virginia (about 1880) and possibly to the son of William Norton. It is worth noting, that his history written by Sellars of the Nortons has proved accurate in almost all details. In addition the story has been confirmed from two separate branches of the Norton family.  This source is in the Elias Poston History. There is one problem with Sellers genealogy. He writes in 1901, but a major portion of the Norton family had left for Alabama after William Norton died in 1804 and he loses the thread from time to time.