The Cochrane & Allied Families

Cochranes from Scotland to Colonial Virginia (c 1760), to Kentucky (1811), to Kansas (1859) and beyond. Allied families to the United States from England, Scotland, Ireland and Switzerland.

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THORNTON, Mildred

THORNTON, Mildred

Female 1721 - 1778  (57 years)   Has 79 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.


Personal Information    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All

  • Name THORNTON, Mildred  [1, 2, 3] 
    Birth 21 Mar 1720/21  Snow Creek - Thornton Family Home, Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
    Address:
    "Snow Creek", Thornton Family Home
    Essex / Spotsylvania County, Virginia
    USA 
    Gender Female 
    FindaGrave Memorial ID 8587513 
    Land-Heir 5 Dec 1734  Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 8] 
    that he transferred to his grandson, Nicholas "The Younger" MERIWETHER, son of William MERIWETHER, 1650 acres on Turkey Mountains, 
    • Role: Heir
      This was part of his land grant of 1727. On the grandson's death, this tract would be inherited by the grandson's widow, Mildred THORNTON. She then married Dr. Thomas WALKER, who built their home, Castle Hill, on this tract, that would then be in Albemarle County.
    Death 16 Nov 1778  Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
    Address:
    "Castle Hill" Plantation, Walker Family
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA 
    Age 57 years 
    Burial Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Address:
    Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA 
    Person ID I211  Cochrane Genealogy
    Last Modified 25 Aug 2025 

    Father THORNTON, Col. Francis Jr.,   b. 4 Jan 1681/82, The Hills - Thornton Family Home, Gloucester County, Colony of Virginia, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Feb 1736/37, Snow Creek - Thornton Family Home, Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 55 years) 
    Mother TALIAFERRO, Mary Elizabeth,   b. 11 May 1685, Powhattan Plantation, James City County, Colony of Virginia, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Aug 1741, Snow Creek - Thornton Family Home, Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years) 
    Family ID F317  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 MERIWETHER, Nicholas "The Younger",   b. Abt 1714, Colony of Virginia, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 May 1739, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 25 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1738  Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3, 5, 9, 10] 
    Age at Marriage She : ~ 16 years and 9 months - He : ~ 24 years. 
    Children 
    +  1. Female MERIWETHER, Mildred,   b. 19 May 1739, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between Nov 1761 and 1764, Newcastle, Hanover, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 22 years)
    Family ID F90  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 28 Jun 2022 

    Family 2 WALKER, Dr. Thomas Jr.,   b. 25 Jan 1715/16, King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Nov 1794, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Marriage 22 Jun 1741  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11] 
    Age at Marriage She : 20 years and 3 months - He : 25 years and 5 months. 
    Residence 1764  Albemarle County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 10, 12] 
    at Castle Hill plantation that Dr. WALKER built 
    • The home was built on the +15,000 acres of land he acquired through his marriage to the widow Mildred THORNTON MERIWETHER. This land was originally granted to Nicholas MERIWETHER II, and passed on to his son, William MERIWETHER, Sr., and then to his son, Nicholas MERIWETHER "The Younger", Mildred THRONTON's first husband.

      During the American Revolution, on 3 June 1781, British General CORNWALLIS and his troops were camped on the North Anna River in Hanover County. Learning that Virginia Governor Thomas JEFFERSON and the Virginia legislature had moved to Charlottesville after the capitol in Richmond had been attacked, CORNWALLIS sent Lt. Col. Banastre TARLETON with 250 men to capture JEFFERSON, Patrick HENRY and other notable Virginia leaders of the Revolution at Charlottesville. They expected to cover the 70 miles in 24 hours, marching through the night.

      Jack JOUETT, a Captain in the Virginia militia, detected their march near Louisa during the night, and correctly guessed their intentions. Knowing that Charlottesville was not protected by any troops, he rode through the night by back roads to reach Charlottesville and warn them.

      TARLETON and his troops arrived at Dr. WALKER's Castle Hill plantation at dawn. The story is told, which may or may not be entirely true, that Dr. Walker and his wife prepared a large breakfast for TARLETON in order to delay him for several hours and give JEFFERSON more time to escape. In any event, Capt. JOUETT did reach Monticello at 4:30 am to warn JEFFERSON, and then proceeded the additional 2 miles to Charlottesville to warn the legislators, who fled and reconvened in Staunton, VA three days later. Because of his heroics, JOUETT is known as "Paul Revere of the South".
    Family Event 4 Jun 1781  Charlottesville, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 13] 
    Dr. WALKER and his wife Mildred delayed Col. Tarleton and his British troops for several hours at their home, Castle Hill, so that Thomas Jefferson at Monticello could be warned and avoid capture, 
    Children 
    >  1. Female WALKER, Mary "Molly",   b. 24 Jul 1742, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Feb 1824, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
    >  2. Male WALKER, John,   b. 13 Feb 1743/44, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Dec 1809, Orange County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
       3. Female WALKER, Susan,   b. 1746, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    +  4. Male WALKER, Capt. Thomas III,   b. 1748, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1798 (Age 50 years)
    >  5. Female WALKER, Lucy,   b. 5 May 1751, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1800 (Age 48 years)
       6. Female WALKER, Elizabeth,   b. 1753, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    >  7. Female WALKER, Mildred "Milly",   b. 5 Jun 1753, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Jun 1790, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)
    >  8. Female WALKER, Sarah,   b. 25 May 1758, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1790 (Age 31 years)
       9. Female WALKER, Martha,   b. 1760, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     10. Male WALKER, Ruben,   b. 1762, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1765, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 3 years)
    >11. Male WALKER, Francis,   b. 22 Jun 1764, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Mar 1806, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years)
    >12. Female WALKER, Peachy,   b. 6 Feb 1767, Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F318  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 17 May 2025 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Address:
    "Snow Creek", Thornton Family Home
    Essex / Spotsylvania County, Virginia
    USA - 21 Mar 1720/21 - Snow Creek - Thornton Family Home, Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK    		 Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsLand-Heir - that he transferred to his grandson, Nicholas "The Younger" MERIWETHER, son of William MERIWETHER, 1650 acres on Turkey Mountains, - 5 Dec 1734 - Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - Abt 1738 - Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - at Castle Hill plantation that Dr. WALKER built - 1764 - Albemarle County, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Address:
    "Castle Hill" Plantation, Walker Family
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA - 16 Nov 1778 - Castle Hill Plantation, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA    		 Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - Address:
    Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery
    6106 Gordonsville Rd.
    Cismont, Virginia
    USA - - Castle Hill - Walker Family Cemetery, Cismont, Albemarle, Virginia, USA    		 Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsFamily Event - Dr. WALKER and his wife Mildred delayed Col. Tarleton and his British troops for several hours at their home, Castle Hill, so that Thomas Jefferson at Monticello could be warned and avoid capture, - 4 Jun 1781 - Charlottesville, Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, UK Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S643] Sarah Travers Lewis (Scott) Anderson, Book - Lewises, Meriwethers & Kin, (1938; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008.), 19 Feb 2022, p 221.

    2. [S635] The Meriwether Society, Inc., Society - Meriwether, ((http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meriweth/ : 2015)), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015), ID #: I334, Mildred Thornton; Various Meriwether Society sources.

    3. [S607] Alexander Brown, Book - Cabells and Their Kin (Internet Archives), (Cambridge, MA: The Riverside Press, 1895.), 1 Mar 2015, p 189.

    4. [S141] Cemetery Records - Find A Grave, (http://www.findagrave.com: n.d.), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015<, Memorial #8587513, Mildred Thornton Walker.

    5. [S159] Miriam Margaret (Cochrane) Hunter, Book - Four John Symes of VA, (Coshocton, OH: School Annual Publishing Co., 1986.), 19 Dec 2010, p. 35.

    6. [S646] Minor Meriwether, Book - Lineage of Meriwethers & Minors, (1895; reprint, n.p.: The Meriwether Society, Inc., 2003.), 9 Aug 2015, Revised Meriwether Colonial Generations: p 3.

    7. [S1164] Magazine - William and Mary College Quarterly - Series 1 & 2 (JSTOR), 28 Mar 2020, S. O. Southall, "Records of Hanover County," (Series 1) July 1912, Vol. 21, No. 1, p 56; digital images, JSTOR.com (https://www.jstor.org/stable/1922081?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents : accessed 28 March 2020).
      William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1      		 William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1


    8. [S639] Newsletter - Meriwether Connections, 16 May 2025, Guy Meriwether Benson, "Castle Hill, Home of Dr. Thomas Walker," Vol. XXXIV (No. 1, Jan-Mar 2015): p 9-10.
      Meriwether Connectiions - Castle Hill      		 Meriwether Connectiions - Castle Hill


    9. [S635] The Meriwether Society, Inc., Society - Meriwether, ((http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meriweth/ : 2015)), 10 Jul 2015, accessed 10 July 2015), ID #: I304, Nicholas Meriwether; Various Meriwether Society sources.

    10. [S1517] Mary B. Kegley and F. B. Kegley, Book - Early Adventures on the Western Waters (VA & WV), (Orange, Virginia: Green Publishers, Inc., 1980.), 28 Jun 2022, p 27-32.

    11. [S495] John H. Gwathmey, Book - Twelve Virginia Counties, (1937; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2006.), 7 Aug 2013, Albemarle County: 344.

    12. [S495] John H. Gwathmey, Book - Twelve Virginia Counties, (1937; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2006.), 7 Aug 2013, Albemarle County: 358.

    13. [S214] Internet - Wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page), 17 May 2025, accessed 17 May 2025), Jack Jouett.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Jouett#Jack_Jouett's_ride.


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