Thornton family in London England late 1700's to 1800's
I am a desc. of Robert Boyce and Mary Horton who lived in London England. I do not have dates of birth or death dates for either of them. Robert wrote a will in the early 1800's which was proved January 4, 1827. His last codicil to that will was written Nov. 2, 1825 so it is safe to assume he died between those two dates. His widow Mary Horton was alive after his will was proved. I have recorded that Robert Boyce was born abt. 1760 and his wife Mary abt. 1750 and I believe those dates come from my old parchment pages that were handed down to me by my grandmother.
Robert and Mary had 7 children, 4 of whom were alive in 1825. I descend from their daughter Mary Ann Boyce (1796-1868) who married James Greenhalgh (1785-1850). One of Robert and Mary's sons George John Boyce (1793-1853) was the father of two famous artists Joanna Mary Boyce (1831-1861) and her brother George Price Boyce (1826-1897).
I have never been able to find anything about ancestors past Robert and Mary Boyce- i.e.) names of their parents or siblings. Until last night. I was trying to read Robert Boyce's will again which I have downloaded and printed out. That old fashioned handwriting is so difficult to read and very hard on the eyes. However I did find an interesting tidbit where Robert Boyce refers to property that was left to another of his daughters...Sarah Frances Boyce (1790-1848) by a woman named Sarah Thornton, late of Suffolk Street at Marylebone, "aunt to my said wife Mary".
I was able to find the will of same Sarah Thornton and here is my dilemma- does anyone recognize these names at all? I can partially rebuild this family based on names in her will. Sarah must have died in Sept. 1802. I found a burial for a Sarah Thornton of Marylebone at St. Giles in the Fields on Sept. 13, 1802. Her will is dated Sept. 3, 1800. It was proved Oct. 1, 1802. She had specifically asked to be buried at St. Giles in her will.
She does refer to her sister Mary (Thornton) wife of Isaac Horton. She refers to Isaac as her brother in law a few times. I assume then these are the parents of my ancestor Mary Horton who married Robert Boyce, Sarah Thornton being the "aunt of my said wife" (Mary) according to will of Robert Boyce.
Sarah Thornton is also referred to with last name "Williams"- had she been married at one time? Or had her mother re-married, that's another possibility?
She refers to her brother Richard Thornton and his daughter Mary Thornton. She refers to a sister in law Susannah whose last name I cannot make out- it looks like Bagual??? She refers to a niece who is a widow, Sarah daughter of her brother John Thornton. Cannot make out her married name- Ronmay, Rommmay, Ronnay or first letter could be something else, a "K"? This Sarah has a son named John.
Sarah Thornton's brother John Thornton has 3 other children that she names in her will: Susannah Maria Thornton, Thomas Thornton and William Thornton.
Sarah also refers to a Goddaughter Sarah whose surname I can't make out, daughter of Sarah's niece Mary whose surname I cannot make out.
It sounds as if Sarah was well off, never had children of her own, or had none that survived perhaps, and that her siblings are all deceased except her sister Mary Thornton who is married to Isaac Horton. When the will was proved, Mary Thornton Horton was referred to as Sarah's closest living relative.
So in summary in this Thormton family we have:
Sarah Thornton died in 1802 perhaps married to a Mr. Williams
Richard Thornton died before 1800, married with at least one daughter Mary Thornton
Mary Thornton alive in 1800 married to Isaac Horton, these are the parents of Mary Horton who is married to Robert Boyce (my ancestors)
John Thornton deceased before 1800, married and with children Sarah, Susannah Maria, Thomas and William.
A sister in law Susannah Bagual (?) alive in 1800, married to either John or Richard Thornton
Does anyone recognize these names at all or have information to share with me about any of them? I am guessing these Thornton siblings were born in time frame 1720 to 1740.
Thanks from Nora