Here are some notes about William Thornton brother of
Matthew the signer of the Declaration of Independence.
I found this at the rootsweb site, but there is no mention of
a newfoundland connection.
ID: I05761
Name: William THORNTON
Sex: M
Birth: ABT 1718 in County Tyrone, Ireland
Death: 1790 in Thornton, Grafton, NH
Burial: Thornton, Grafton, NH
Note:
William Thornton, brother of the Hon. Matthew Thornton, was, with his father, James, one of the first settlers of Pelham, Mass., in 1740, and as a surveyor he assisted in laying out that town. In 1744, he left Pelham andmoved to Kingsfield (now Palmer), Mass., where he had a farm on the east side of Dumplin Hill. Here his sons, William, Matthew and James were probably born. In March, 1748, William sold his farm at Palmer, and became the first settler of Dublin, NH, which town was granted in 1749 to the Hon. Matthew Thornton and others. The farm in Dublin on which William Thornton settled was owned by the Hon. Matthew Thornton, and was subsequently sold by him to Dea. Isaac Appleton. A small monument has been erected on this farm to mark the place of the first settlement of the town. Two children were born to William during his residence in Dublin, a daughter, Molly, said to have been the first white child born in that town, and a son, Thomas. William Thornton remained in Dublin until about 1753, when he left on account of the Indians, and with his family moved to Schenectady, NY, where his son John was born.
William Thornton and his sons, Matthew and James, served in the border warfare, their names appearing on the muster roll of Capt. Daniel Campbell's company of Schenectady, on May 12, 1767.
From a deed dated Feb. 3, 1770, it appears that William Thornton was then of Curry's Brook (or Bush), near Princetown, Albany County, NY. He returned to NH, and after living in Londonderry a short time, he went to Thornton, NH, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Father: James THORNTON b: ABT 1684 in Northern Ireland
Mother: Keturah
Marriage 1 Dorcas LITTLE
Children
William THORNTON b: 1745 in Kingsfield [now Palmer], Hampden, MA
Matthew THORNTON b: 6 DEC 1746 in Kingsfield [now Palmer], Hampden, MA
James THORNTON b: 1747 in Kingsfield [now Palmer], Hampden, MA
Molly THORNTON b: 1749 in Dublin, NH
Thomas THORNTON b: ABT 1751 in Dublin, NH
John THORNTON b: 1753 in Schenectady, NY