I'm another one of those with a "we're related to Matthew Thornton" story in the family. No idea if it's true. My great grandmother was Mary Eliza Thornton Brown.

Her father was Dr. Grandison Thornton, who was a physician in Missouri. Dr. Thornton was born in 1812 in Mercer, Kentucky, and his father was named Charles Thornton. I see there was a Charles Thornton in Matthew's family.

Anyone have any info?
Thanks,
Mike Brown
Rockdale, Texas
mike@rockdalereporter.com