Elisha Belling

  Notes and Events:

• Note. It is believed, although no proof exists, that William Thornton married, first Elisa Belling, about 1640/42, a daughter of Luke Belling (Bellington?) and Elisa Russell in Linenburg Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. (13) He married second Elizabeth Rowland, March 27, 1648 in Gloucester County, Virginia. (See also deed, Rappahannock Co., Deed Book 6, Page 83 which lists wife "Elizabeth") .

After doing lots of research I [Marcine E. Lohman] have concluded that William THORNTON could NOT have married Eliza BILLINGTON, the daughter of Luke BILLINGTON as is currently believed.

To come to this conclusion, I [Marcine E. Lohman] first searched for information on the Wills of Luke Billington and his wife Barbara, of Rappahannock Co., Va. which were proved in 1672 and 1674. This listed their children: Luke, Elitia, Elizabeth, Jane, Barbara and Mary. (6) (12)

Several sources have shown that Elizabeth is the one who went by Eliza and that Elitia was also known as Alicia. I [Marcine E. Lohman] also found that Eliza Billington married Dennis McCarty and had at least one child by 1679 as is shown in the quote below. (7) (12)

"Captain Daniel McCarty, of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, the son of Dennis and Eliza (Billington) McCarty of Northumberland County, was born in 1679, and died May 4, 1724." (12)

Since it is believed that Luke and Edward Thornton were born circa 1642-1646, you could assume that their mother was 18 when Luke was born - but this would make Eliza 55 years old when her son Daniel was born by Dennis McCarty. Something which is quite unlikely. I [Marcine E. Lohman] therefore decided that Luke, Jr. must have had a daughter named Eliza and that this is the one who married Dennis McCarty. However, I've discovered that Luke, Jr. died without issue. (8)

I [Marcine E. Lohman] also checked on Alicia/Elitia in case I had the wrong daughter and found that Alicia married John Russell on September 11, 1673. (9)

"RUSSELL, JOHN married Alicia Billington, 11 September 1673. NFPR, p.161 (North Farnham Parish Register) (The bride was the daughter of Luke and Barbara Billington. Sweeny, p.16-17, 29.)" (9)

By his first wife, William had the following issue: Luke, named for his maternal grandfather; b. 1642 in Linenburg Parish, Richmond County, Virginia; Edward, second son, b. ca. 1646. [No document proof of this information].

Elisha married William "The Hills" Thornton, II, son of William Thornton and Frances Robinson, in 1641. (William "The Hills" Thornton, II was born in 1620 in "The Hills", Yorkshire, England, died in 1708 in Cod's Creek, Stafford Co., VA and was buried in "Fall Hill", Stafford Co., VA.)