The Nortons of Fluvanna, Virginia
and later of Bourbon, Pendleton and Greenup Kentucky

"These are the times that try men's souls... " Thomas Paine

Three of Christopher Norton's sons were already captives of the British and imprisoned on stinking derelict hulks in Charleston Harbor. Now the "British Legion" commanded by Banastre Tarelton called "The Butcher" by Americans was at the very door of the Norton plantation in Virginia.

For Christopher Norton the War for Independance was 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.

When the Declaration of Independance was signed Christopher was 58 years old. Thomas Jefferson lived just a few miles from the Norton plantation on the main Stage Road from Richmond to Charlottesville. Christopher was deeply involved with the patriot cause from the beginning.

His sons were among the first "Minute Men" of Virginia and were with Washington at the "Crossing of the Delaware" and Valley Forge. One son was an orderly for George Washington himself.

"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" stand out in high relief when it's your sons and your home that are in jepardy. In June of 1781 the War for Independence was at the door of the Norton home. Christopher Norton would now commit his last two sons to fight the British. It was a fight to the finish.

Patrick Henry as Governor of Virginia would later issue a land grant to Christopher Norton for his service as a patriot.

The Norton Family of Fluvanna, Virginia
This is the history of the Norton family that made it's home in fluvanna, Virginia before the Americna Revolution. By 1884, the family moved near Lexington, Kentucky. Eventually settling in Bourbon, Pendleton and Green counties.

Christopher John Norton .1718 England
...David Norton b1763 Fluvanna, VA
....David Norton Jr. b1796 Pendleton, KY
.....John Wesley Norton b1820 Wayne, IN
.......Riley R. Norton b1855 Panguitch, UT
........Merritt L. Norton b1891 Panguitch, UT
..........M. Ronald Norton b1913 Panguitch

Resources
1 Signature Mary Norton
2 Elias Poston History
3 Eliza Trimble History
4 History of Marion Co., SC
5 James Norton War Pension
6 Norton Marriages in KY
7 Records of Grant and Pendleton, KY

Timeline Norton's in Virginia

Christopher Norton was born in England about 1718 and was a former British Naval officer who resigned his commission and originally settled in Norfolk, Virginia about 1751. Family tradition says his name is John, but from land records in Fluvanna we find his name was Christopher. His wife's name was Mary and they had eight children in all.

The family also called Christopher Norton "The Commodore" and from two other family sources we know he was a British officer on a warship. A commission as an officer in the Royal navy usually meant that the family had a history with the Royal Navy or was placed well enough to secure a commission. It was common for officers to begin their career at the age of 12 as Midshipmen, but advancement was often slow so we have no idea what rank he might have held. In 1750 England was between wars and had little need for officers. It's probable that Christopher would have been lucky to have any officer's position on a British war ship.

We get a little more information about Christopher Norton from one of his great grandchildren , Eliza Benefiel Trimble. We call it the "Pirate Story". Eliza was 90 when she wrote this in 1906. She was 14 when Christopher Norton's wife, Mary died and possibly heard the story directly from her.

The Pirate Story
"John (Christopher) 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 hat full to each man. All treasure was on the little vessel."

Although Christopher Norton arrived in Virginia at Norfolk, he didn't stay there long. It's most probable that he moved upthe James river and settled just below Charlottesville. But there is a suggestion from the History of Marion County. that he may have gone up to Alexandria.

The area of Fluvanna where the Nortons settled was quite well developed by 1750. All of the important roads had already been laid in and while the main connection was down the James River to Norfolk, the roads connecting to the Alexandria area were very well established.

Christopher Norton settled his family on the North side of the Rivanna River west of Mechunck Creek. see map The plantation bordered the Stage Road which was the principal route from Richmond to Charlottesvile and was less than 10 miles from Shadwell, the estate of Peter Jefferson where Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743.

The principal cash crop of the area was tobacco and the bottom land of the Mechunck would have been an ideal location. The Rivanna river was opened for navigation in 1765 facilitating transport of the tobacco crop to Norfolk.

Tobacco was stored and moved to market in Hogsheads.

The Norton family was well connected in colonial Virginia. Christopher Norton was a witness on a land deed for Drummond Smithson in 1779 and the Norton property line is mentioned in a land transfer to Aberner Barnard in 1777. Both of these neighbors moved to the Lexinton area of Kentucky at the same time as the Nortons.

The Virginia Family

Christopher John Norton
.. . Father b.abt.1718 m.abt.1751
Mary Norton
. ..Mother b.abt.1722
... Thomas Norton b.abt.1752
... m.abt.1751 Elizabeth
... William Norton b.abt.1754
... John Norton b.abt.1756
... m.abt.1787 Sarah Spencer
... Sarah Norton b.abt.1758
... m.19 Nov 1775 William Farney
... James Norton b.abt.1761
... m.22 Oct 1788 Jean Bybee
... David Norton b.Mar 1763
... m.abt.1767 Sophia Fancher
... Elizabeth Norton b.1 May 1769
... m.12 Mar 1787 William Benefiel
... Amelia "Milly" Norton b.7 Apr 1774
... m.15 Jul 1792 John Black

Christopher Norton is John Norton
It appears that after the Norton family left Fluvanna, Christopher Norton went by the name of John. Evidence that these are the same person is substantial.
1) Christopher Norton is the only Norton landowner in Fluvanna, VA or surrounding counties.
2) We know that this Norton family came from Fluvanna from the Revolutionary War records of James and David Norton.
3) The wife of Christopher and the wife of this Norton family is named Mary.
4) The neighbors ajoining Christopher Norton's property in Fluvanna moved at the same time as the Nortons to the same place in Kentucky indicating that they moved with Christopher Norton.
5) His children left no record of his name. We get "John" from a grandchild and from the Marion, SC history. Two histories generated by completely separate decendants call him "The commodore".

"There is a tradition, long held by two different lines of his descendants, which we are sure is true. It runs, in effect: that 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. "The tradition goes on: that he had five sons, all of whom served in Virginia units under George Washington; that one son, Thomas*, was taken prisoner and died on a British prison ship in Charleston harbor; that after the Revolution, the two older sons, William and David* ...settled in South Carolina; and the two younger sons, John and James, came to Kentucky with their father, and settled near Lexington."
Elias Poston History
*these items have been changed to reflect recent proved research

The earliest Norton homestead in Virginia dating from at least 1763 was located on the North branches of Mechunck Creek and borders the Rivanna River on the South just 12 miles down river from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Charlottesville. Christopher Norton was a witness on one land deed and is mentioned on another. We know that the family was settled in Fluvanna County, Virginia from the war records of James and David Norton.

Map of Norton plantation in Fluvanna

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

As fever for the Revolution grew, Sarah Norton, the oldest daughter married William Farney in November of 1775. William Farney (Farneyhough) came from a very wealthy family in the neighboring county of Ablemarle and was a Minute Man with Sarah's older brothers. At this same time Thomas Norton, the oldest son also married a girl named Elizabeth.

Thomas Norton and William Farney along with William Norton, the 2nd son probably 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 21. A third brother John was 19 at this time, but it appears he stayed at home to help manage the plantation.

December 1775
The 7th Virginia first defended the Chesapeake Bay during 1775.
Lord Dunsmore had evacuated Williamsburg for Norfolk in the fall of 1775 because Norfolk was considered to be a more loyalist area. Great Bridge became the focus of British defensive strategy against local militia. Lord Dunsmore organized the Queen’s Own Loyal Virginians, which consisted of local Tories and a regiment of former slaves, called Lord Dunsmore’s Ethiopians. A hastily built British fort secured the land approaches and main bridge to Norfolk, and patriot positions were set up opposite. On December 9, 1775 the British attacked with 600 British regulars and the Queen’s Own across the "great bridge" but were immediately repulsed in a bloody counter-fire from the redoubt held by local Virginia militia under Colonel William Woodford. In all the British lost between 62-102 in the engagement, depending upon various historical military accounts.

The battle forced Lord Dunsmore to withdraw from Norfolk on January 1, 1776 and the British began a naval artillery barrage of the town. Norfolk was now occupied by Virginia patriot forces. The former colonial governor was compelled to leave North America for Britain all together by the summer of 1776. Many loyalists from Norfolk and the surrounding areas left Virginia with Dunsmore.

August 1776
The retreat from New York
The next major action for the 7th Virginia Line was the defense of Northern New Jersey. On August 22 1776, the British mounted a massive invasion on Long Island. By August 27, the British overwhelmed the Continental Army. Washington withdrew to Manhattan and then up the Croton River. On November 16, after heavy losses by the British, Fort Washington was surrendered and the British took possession of New York City.

By this time, General Washington had crossed into New Jersey making his headquarters in Hackensack. He received word there of the battle for New York and watched the fight from the cliffs at Fort Lee. General Howe captured 2,818 rebel officers and men and killed 53. The British invaders lost 458 men out of a force of 8000 British and Hessian soldiers.

Now the British turned their sights upon Fort Lee and Northern New Jersey across the Hudson River. Fort Lee had been a hub of activity as nearly 3000 American troops evacuated supplies from New York. The British invaded with 8000 troops using a cleft in the Palisades and were within eight miles of Fort Lee. The American army abandoned the fort in such a hurry that cook fires were still burning. Tents, cannons and other supplies where left behind in the retreat.

Washington's army was now in danger of being trapped between the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers. At dawn, they began the march south.

Thomas Paine, an aide-de-camp to General Greene, began writing "The American Crisis" essays at campfires:

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

Washington's troops burned the bridges behind them at the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers. The troops tarried at Newark while supply depots across New Jersey were readied. While the Continental army fled further south to New Brunswick, British General Charles Cornwallis gave close pursuit. Within minutes of the Americans departure from Princeton, the British force entered the city. The Continental army fled to Trenton and then across the Delaware into Pennsylvania. New Jersey had fallen to the British Army.

Howe settled in for the winter and waited for the rebels to accept a pardon he had recently offered.

December 1776
Crossing of the Delaware
On Christmas Day, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River and attacked a garrison of 1600 Hessian troops under the command of Colonel Johann G. Rall.

In a bold daylight attack 2400 American troops with eighteen cannons subdued the Hessians within an hour. One hundred Hessians lay dead, 900 captured and the rest fled into the New Jersey woodlands. The Americans then recrossed the river to Pennsylvania.

On December 30, 1776, with most of the army enlistments ended, Washington led 1600 volunteers, Continentals and New Jersey and Pennsylvania militia back into Trenton.

July 1777
The defense of Philadelphia
The campaign to seize Philadelphia began in late July. Some 15,000 troops under Howe's command sailed from New York on 23 July and landed at Head of Elk (now Elkton), Maryland, a month later (25 August). Washington, with about 11,000 men, took up a defensive position blocking the way to Philadelphia at Chad's Ford on the eastern side of Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania. Howe attacked on 11 September, sending Cornwallis across the creek in a wide-sweeping flanking movement around the American right, while his Hessian troops demonstrated opposite Chad's Ford. Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene's troops staved off Cornwallis' threatened envelopment of Washington's whole force, and the Americans fell back to Chester in a hard-pressed but orderly retreat. Patriot losses in this engagement totaled about 1,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners. British casualties were less than 600.

After their victory at Brandywine the British forces under Howe maneuvered in the vicinity of Philadelphia for two weeks, virtually annihilating a rear guard force under Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne at Paoli on 21 September 1777, before moving unopposed into the city on 26 September. Howe established his main encampment in nearby Germantown, stationing some 9,000 men there. Washington promptly attempted a coordinated attack against this garrison on the night of 3 - 4 October. Columns were to move into Germantown from four different directions and begin the assault at dawn Two of the columns, both made up of militia, never appeared to take part in the attack, but in the early phases of the fighting the columns under Greene and Divan achieved considerable success. However, a dense early morning fog which resulted in some American troops firing on each other while it permitted the better disciplined British to re-form for a counterattack and a shortage of, ammunition contributed to the still not fully explained retreat of the Americans, beginning about 0900. Howe pursued the Colonials a few miles as they fell back in disorder, but he did not exploit his victory. American losses were 673 killed and wounded and about 400 taken prisoner. British losses were approximately 533 killed and wounded.

November 1777
Winter encampment at Valley Forge

" . . . you might have tracked the army from White Marsh to Valley Forge by the blood of their feet."
- George Washington

"An army of skeletons appeared before our eyes naked, starved, sick and discouraged,"
- New York's Gouverneur Morris of the Continental Congress.

"The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats nor hats, nor shirts, nor shoes. Their feet and their legs froze until they were black, and it was often necessary to amputate them."
- The Marquis de Lafayette

The 6th 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 they had 376 with 226 fit for duty. About this time Thomas Norton was a Corporal in the Virginia 7th.

There is a strong family tradition that says that James Norton served as an orderly 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. I suggest that James joined his brothers at Valley Forge when he was 16 and served as an orderly at this time because he was too young to join the army.

May 1778
The Norton family in 1778 consisted of Christopher and Mary about 60 years old, Thomas 26 (married to Elizabeth), William 24, John 22, Sarah 20 (married to William Farney) 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 "Wolfs 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 1781. It is apparent that the family of Christopher Norton located there for safety from the British from the war record of James Norton.

April 1779
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 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.

July 1780
Thomas, William and David Norton captured
The Virginia Militia was sent to defend Charlestown along with the Continental army in July of 1780. The Americans were defeated by General Cornwallis and only 250 men out of an army of 5000 escaped capture. The American prisoners were held on prison hulks in Charleston harbor.

Thomas Norton was a corporal in the Virginia line. William was there with Thomas and David Norton had just joined the Virginia Militia in May of 1780 when he was 17. We know from our family history that Thomas Norton was captured and died on a British prison hulk in Charleston Harbor.

Sarah Norton's husband William Farney is probably also either captured or killed at Charelston because court records show Sarah's family are left fatherless from that time. David's war record says he served until November 1782, the month the war officially ended. William and David must have made many friends while prisoners of the British. Both brothers settled in South Carolina after the War.

January 1781
The British invade Fluvanna, Virginia
British forces led by the traitor Benedict Arnold and Lord Cornwallis entered the Virginia interior in January of 1781 and Virginia was powerless to defend itself. Many of their ablest fighters had been sent elsewhere in the service of George Washington. Due to the continued decentralization of government power, 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 Thomas Jefferson was almost captured, when British troops under Banastre Tarleton attacked Charlottesville. Jefferson, who was staying at one of his outlying estates, was warned of the attack 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 the Norton family had moved 40 miles away to Thomas Norton's land in Rockingham county in the Shenendoah Valley safely away from the British.

August 1781
With three sons captured and the British in Virginia, the two remaining Norton sons join the the Virginia Militia for the final battle at Yorktown.

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

James Norton pension record
In July or August [James] 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 on 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.

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

Sadly the end of 1781 brought the business of taking care of the families and estates of Thomas Norton and William Farney who died on a British prison hulk in Charleston Harbor. John Norton, the brother of Sarah was appointed executor of William Farneys estate posting a bond for 30,000 pounds. 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.

PVT. GEORGE HARDWICK OF VIRGINIA
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
APPLICATION FOR PENSION
During that year he staid in winter quarters at Valley Forge where his Captain Lambert was tried for stealing a hat and was ? and he left the army. This will be found to be the fact by reference to his case. This applicant was permitted to come home to Virginia to see his parents. He did so and came home with Captain Lambert. Many came home on paroles to see their friends and families. He has forgotten the month he got back but believes it was in Mar 1778. He remained at home he thinks about 4 or perhaps 5 weeks when he returned to the service. Those belonging to Virginia in upper counties in Campbell, Prince Edward and Bedford Co. that were out on parole were ordered to join Capt. Nathaniel Rice, an officer belonging to the Virginia establishment.

George Hardwick signed as a witness on James Norton's pension application.

Early 1782
James Norton set out to explore Kentucky soon after the fall of Yorktown and traveled through the Cumberland Gap into the area of Lexington and Boonsborough just in time to participate in the last battle of the Revolution at Salt Lick, Kentucky.

10 months after Yorktown the British attacked at Lexington luring the frontiersmen into an ambush called the "Battle of Blue Licks". It took place near a salt spring along the Licking River in Central Kentucky north of Boonesborough and Bryan's Station. The Indians feigned an attack on Bryans Station knowing that the frontiersmen would pursue. Which is exactly what they did. The Indians lured a militia of 180 men into an ambush.

"On a hilltop a half-mile beyond a ford over the Licking River, the pioneers spotted two warriors lounging in the open. The officers dismounted and conferred. Some concluded that the braves were stragglers lagging in the wake of the fleeing warriors, but Boone thought they were decoys. He was closely acquainted with the tangled landscape and knew danger lay ahead. The crest of the hill was, he warned, cut by gullies large enough to conceal the host of braves that was no doubt lurking there. The pursuers would do well to wait for Logan, he advised. Failing that, he added, they should at least send half their force upriver and take the Indians in a pincers movement.

Colonel Todd agreed with Boone. So did some of the junior officers, but not Major McGary, who truculently called Boone's courage into question. While Boone was angrily protesting, "I guess I can go as far in an Indian fight as any man," McGary remounted, brandished his rifle and spurred his horse into the water. "Them that ain't cowards follow me," he yelled, "and I'll show where the yellow dogs are!"

In a regular army McGary would immediately have been placed under arrest. But the Long Knives were irregulars; militiamen typically short on discipline and long on impulse and dash. This, together with the high worth the militia set on their reputation for valor, may explain why McGary's challenge overpowered the irregulars' good sense. First the men at large, then the officers-including Boone-fell in behind the insubordinate major.
On the far bank the officers succeeded in forming the men into columns under Trigg, Todd and Boone. Then, except for a few officers who remained mounted, they left their horses at the river and pressed quickly up the hill on foot. The moment McGary and a score of Harrodsburg men in the van reached the crest, the "yellow dogs" sprang the trap. Braves concealed behind rocks and trees on both flanks and in their front raised the war cry and opened fire. Of the entire van, only three men escaped the sudden fusillade.

By then, the three columns following had separated and lost sight of each other. The left-hand column was Boone's. As he pushed forward, a brave leapt from cover to get a clear shot at him. Boone snapped off a round, and the warrior fell. At this point, Boone later recounted, he experienced a surge of confidence. The feeling was only momentary. Just then Hugh McGary galloped up, having been left miraculously untouched by the volleys that had cut down the van. He brought a stunning report: The columns under Todd and Trigg had been routed. They were racing back toward the ford and their horses.

Boone looked back and saw that warriors had moved into the militiamen's rear to seize the mounts and cut off escape. They already lined the riverbank. In a frantic effort to break through to safety, the thinned units of Trigg and Todd crashed into them. As he watched the melee-a desperate contest between tomahawk-wielding Indians and militiamen swinging clubbed rifles-Boone realized that the battle was hopelessly lost. Forty men were already down, and more were falling.

By now, warriors were heavily pressing Boone's own column, and men all around him were beginning to fall. The prudent thing was to get them out of harm's way. He sent them into dense woods to the left, with orders to re-cross the Licking downstream, beyond range of the warriors' muskets. To cover their escape, Boone stayed behind, with Israel beside him. Daniel ordered his son to run for it, but out of love, Israel disobeyed. "Father, I won't leave you," he insisted. A moment later, a musket ball caught him in the neck. He groaned and fell, then started convulsing, blood gushing from his mouth. James Norton was at Daniel's side and yelled, "My God, Dan'l, its Israel." Daniel stooped over his son and watched the light fade from his eyes. He must have recalled that his son was at the Blue Licks only at his insistence. Later, Boone would call Israel's death the hardest blow he ever felt.

Too busy for remorse, Daniel Boone followed his unit leftward into the woods and cautiously made his way back to the river. Once safely across, he rejoined his men-what was left of them. As it happened, the Indians, after scalping the dead (together with the wounded and prisoners, whom they then finished off by slow degrees), grew sated with blood and triumph, and made no effort to run down the survivors. Of the less than 200 that went in 77 died."

James Norton was called "Old Fighter Norton" in eastern Kentucky and fought in Indian wars until 1791.

Spring 1782
The Family regroups
While James Norton was in Kentucky, the rest of the family regrouped.

William and David are released in charleston about November of 1782 and return to home to Virginia. David reports for his back pay in Virginia and we get a picture of him at 19.

David Norton 5 foot 4 and 1/2 inches tall, dark hair, blue eyes and a fair completion. He has a scar on the left side of his jaw. Occupation, planter.

After James returns from Kentucky the decision is made to relocate there. Many Virginians from Fluvanna and Albemarle counties move to Kentucky at this time. We know that the neighbors of Christopher Norton move at this same time.

We have three family histories that tell us Christopher, and two of his sons, John and James went to Kentucky and two sons went to South Carolina. While this is accurate, there is actually a lot more to it. It seems they began moving out of Virginia from 1784 but the move was not completed until the plantation in Fluvanna is sold in November of 1788.

During this time all of the Norton sons married. In 1787 John Norton married Sarah Spencer in Bourbon, Kentucky. The Spencer family had arrived in the Lexington area from Maryland. Sarah was 27 and John 31. David also married

Kentucky was still a dangerous place in 1784 with many Indian raids taking place. In fact it wouldn't really be safe for another 6 years and the Nortons stayed close to the Lexington area during this time.

There seems to be quite a bit of In the meantime all the Norton sons will marry. John Norton married Sarah Spencer probably in Lexington, Kentucky. David Norton married Sophia Fancher possibly in Virginia or Kentucky about the same year.

But before they leave Virginia all of the older siblings marry. John Jr. marries Sarah Spencer in 1787, James marries Jean Bybee in 1788, Elizabeth marries William Benefiel in 1787 and David marries Sophia Fancher in 1787.

All of these families, the Spencers, Bybee, Benefiel and Fancher families settled with the Norton family in Kentucky. It appears from the sale of the Fluvanna land that Christopher Norton, the father has died by 1788. The history given by Eliza Benefiel Trimble also says that he died in Virginia.

South Carolina
William Norton was probably a prisoner of the British in Charleston harbor until after the Revolution ended and certainly stayed in the area. We have lost track of William with the exception of one clue. From a history of Marion County, South Carolina written in 1880 by W. W. Sellers from material supplied by his son's father-in-law John W. Norton we get the story of our Norton family mixed with another unrelated Norton family in Marion.

"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." Sellers History of Marion County SC

We just don't know for sure where these Marion Nortons got our story. Perhaps William Norton who was a prisoner in South Carolina during the Revolution passed it to other Nortons he met. The only other possibility we've uncovered is from Nimrod Norton who supplied the bulk of our own history and used some of these phrases. Nimrod was a grandson of John Norton in Kentucky and was a delegate to the Confederate Legislature in South Carolina during the Civil War. The John W. Norton that supplied Sellers with his information may have met up with Nimrod Norton and they compared notes deciding that because their family names from that time were similar they must be related.

It took DNA testing Norton DNA Project to determine that the Marion/Horry County Nortons are not related to our line. It also leaves us without knowing where William went in South Carolina. Certainly his health would have been affected from the time spent on the prison hulk and he would have met many residents of South Carolina. Probably he settled near David Norton in Claremont county, SC. Claremont is a county that has since been lost in boundary changes. It existed for just a short time and is about 40 miles east of Marion and Horry County.

David Norton returned to Virginia after being released from the British prison hulk. He reported to the Virginia Militia to collect his pay. From this record we learn that he was 5 foot 4 and 1/2 inches tall. He had dark hair, Blue eyes and a fair completion. He had a scar on the left side of his jaw from the war. David married in Virginia and brought his wife down to South Carolina. David Norton shows up in Claremont County for the 1790 Census with his wife and two daughters, Mary and Polly.

Lexington, Fayette county Kentucky
The family first settled near Lexington in Fayette county 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.

John marries Sarah Spencer in Fayette about 1787. (no doumentation for this date)

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.

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  

David Norton Jr.
1796- David Jr. was born 1796 in Pendleton, KY near Falmouth. This was during his father's (David Sr.) first move into upper KY. The family was hardley in Pendleton county long enough for David Jr. to be born before it moved on, probably to Ohio.

This map shows the relationship of Pendleton County with Campbell and Grant counties in KY.

Maps of Grant County

1810- In 1810 David Sr. has acquired 3000 acres in the western part of Pendleton county. They will develope this land until David Sr. dies in 1814.

War of 1812 David Jr. and his brother, Henry Norton along with William Norton, son of John Norton of Grant, KY , sign on in the Kentucky Mounted Volunteer Militia commanded by Col. William Mountjoy to fight in the War of 1812. 

David is 16, Henry 22, William 20.

On November 5, 1813, they muster out of the Mounted Volunteers.  They traveled all the way to Canada and back.

1820- David married Elizabeth Benefield February 10, 1820 in Fayette, Indiana and their first child (John Wesly) was born just 9 months later on 6th of November 1820 near New Lisbon, Henry County IN. The family moved to northern Indiana soon thereafter and the next 2 children (twins James Wiley and Melissa Isabell) were born in Stuben, IN which is in the North East section of the state.

1825- March 10, 1825 David Norton Jr. purchased land in the town of Dudley, Henry county IN.

This is very close to the National Road pushing west from Pennsylvania. There is a John Norton who also bough land in Dudley about a mile from David in July of 1823. Perhaps this is David's younger brother. Three children will be born to David and Elizabeth in Henry county. Henry b. 1826, Hyram Fletcher b. 1829 (Hyram Fletcher is possibly named after Capt William Norton's brother Fletcher Norton.) and Isabelle b. 1836.

David is listed in the 1830 census in Henry County, Indiana with his wife and 5 children.  Also listed is John Norton, with a wife and 3 children.  

The Star locates the Norton
homestead in Henry Co IN.

1831- The Mormons In 1830 a new religion was organized in upstate New York called the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and commonly referred to as Mormons. On October 1, 1831 David Norton records that he joined this church. If so he was a very early convert indeed. The Mormon church had barely established a center at Kirtland, Ohio in the spring of 1831.

In the Church Conference of April 1831 Joseph Smith announced that the elders of the church would travel to Independence, Missouri to organized the church there. But he instructed the elders to travel to Missouri by different routes preaching and baptising as they went. Since David Norton's home was very close to the National Road which was a main conduit to the west, it's likely that the Mormon elders stopped by on thier way to Missouri and their return. It is certainly during this period that David Norton was introduced to the Mormon church. He records being baptized Oct 1, 1831 which coincided nicely with the return of the Elders from Missouri.

The Norton home on the National Road was certainly a rest stop for the Mormon travelers going between Kirtland, Ohio and Missouri.

1838- Caldwell County, Missouri 

• 16 March, 1838 John Wesly Norton, David's oldest son was baptized in Cauldwell county.
• August 2, 1838 David buys 160 acres of land just 3 miles from Haun's Mill, near present day Catabwa in Cauldwell County.
• October 30, 1838 Haun's Mill Massacre
  Just 3 months after David bought land in Cauldwell county one of the most horrific incidents of the Missouri persecution of the Latter-day Saints took place.

  Jacob Haun, leader of a small group of Saints working a mill on Shoal Creek several miles from Far West, ignored the warning of a living prophet, and did not live to tell about it. As tensions grew in Northwest Missouri following the Battle of Crooked River in October 1838, the Prophet Joseph Smith asked Haun to remove his people from the remote site to the relative safety in numbers at Far West. Jacob Haun returned to his mill and his small community, feeling safe in spite of the Prophet's warning.
  
  Late in the afternoon of October 30, 1838, a band of approximately 240 armed Missourians under the command of Colonel Thomas Jennings rode into town, slashing and destroying all in their path. The sisters took the children and ran for the woods, many of the men and boys sought shelter from the hail of gunfire in an unfinished blacksmith shop. It was butchery as the renegade militiamen fired through the unchinked logs into the shop, killing or wounding all present, including ten-year-old Sardius Smith, who was murdered by a point-blank musket shot. The mobber who committed the deed later justified himself saying, "Nits make lice, and if he had lived he would have become a Mormon."
  
  Eighteen of Jacob Haun's people were killed, and another fifteen were wounded that afternoon. The survivors hid in the woods through the night, fearing further action by the marauding militia. The bodies of those who died that day were gathered and buried in mass grave that had started out as a well that was unfinished when the mob came into town. The survivors fled to Far West, telling the Saints there of what became known as the Haun's Mill Massacre.

• 

1838 also brought Governor Bogg’s extermination order which made it legal to kill Mormons living in Missouri. Josehp Smith, the Mormon prophet was arrested and taken to Liberty Jail.

1841- David Norton moved the family to nauvoo, Ill and purchased a farm four miles East and two miles South of Nauvoo in 1841. The City of Nauvoo became the largest settlement in the West and anyone who has been to Nauvoo, knows how the Mormon's built a great and prosperous city.   The Norton's also participated and helped build the temple there.  David, Elisabeth and John Westly recieved their endowments in the Nauvoo temple on Feburary 3, 1846 and the temple was closed four days later.

• John Westly Norton recieved a Patriarchal Blessing from Hyrum Smith July 20, 1841 at age 21 and was ordained an Elder on November 5, 1844 and a Seventy July 9, 1845. 

In 1844 Joseph Smith was killed and the mobs of Illinois were forcing the Mormons to move again.  Few Mormons were left in Nauvoo after 1846.

John Wesley Norton was David Jr’s oldest child and says he was only 16 when the family moved to Caldwell, Missouri which would have been 1838.

In the spring of 1836 Edward Partridge and William Phelps went exploring along Shoal Creek, beyond any settlements in Missouri, looking for a safe place where the Saints could gather. Ray and Clay County’s were driving the Mormon’s out and a new place was needed. In August of 1836, Far West, Caldwell county, Missouri was founded.

August 1838 David Jr’s last child was born in Henry, IN. David bought land in Cauldwell in 1838 and John Wesley was baptized in 1838.

David and Elisabeth Norton went to the gold fields of California the following year, but John Westly stayed in Salt Lake, working 2 years on Public Works.  His second child was born at this time 1850. He was a member of the 29th Quorum of Seventies.   In June 1851 he married a second wife, Martha Reynolds.  She was 22 and he was 31. Their first child was born July 1852 in Salt Lake City.
Martha had a son named Riley Reynolds Norton (pictured at left) and Rebecca had a girl named Rebecca Ann Norton. 
By 1860 John Westly Norton had moved to Lehi, Utah with Nancy.  Martha, his 2nd wife was probably still in Salt Lake because she had a child there February 1862.  By 1864 both wives were living in Lehi, Utah.  Perhaps John moved to Lehi to be near his father because David Norton died in 1860.  His mother, Elisabeth died in Lehi also in 1867.

Panaca, Nevada
John Westly Norton was called to settle Panaca, Nevada in 1867.  He had one child born there by Martha in 1867.  We really need more stories about Panaca.   This was a place so dry and desolate that nobody could live there. Panguich, Utah
I don't know when John Westly moved to Panguich.  He had one child born there in 1874 and Riley Reynolds was married there in 1876.