Peerage Record – 65880

     Stephen Thornton was baptised on 14 August 1767 at London, England.¹ He was the son of Godfrey Thornton and Jane Godin.¹ He married Mary Littledale, daughter of Thomas Littledale, on 17 February 1794 at St. James the less, Thorndike Street, London, England.¹ He died on 26 August 1850 at age 83.¹ He was buried on 2 September 1850 at Blunham, Bedfordshire, England.¹

     William Astell was born on 13 October 1774.¹ He was the son of Godfrey Thornton and Jane Godin.¹ He married Sarah Harvey.² He married Sarah Harvey, daughter of John Harvey, on 15 July 1800.¹
     He was given the name of William Thornton at birth.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Bridgewater between 1806 and 1832.¹ On 12 June 1807 his name was legally changed to William Astell by Sign Manual.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Bedfordshire MIlitia.¹ He gained the rank of Colonel in the Royal East India Volunteers.¹ He was chairman of the Honourable East India Company.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Bedfordshire between 1841 and 1847.¹

     Sarah Harvey is the daughter of John Harvey.¹ She married William Astell, son of Godfrey Thornton and Jane Godin, on 15 July 1800.¹
     From 15 July 1800, her married name became Thornton.¹

     John Harvey lived at Ickwell Bury, Bedfordshire, England^G.¹

     Godfrey Thornton was born in 1701.¹ He was the son of John Thornton and Jane Field.¹ He married Margaret Astell, daughter of William Astell.¹ He died in 1751.¹

     John Thornton was born in 1664.¹ He married Jane Field.¹ He died in 1731.¹

     Jane Field was born in 1666.¹ She married John Thornton.¹ She died in 1718.¹
     Her married name became Thornton.¹

     Margaret Astell was born in 1715.¹ She was the daughter of William Astell.¹ She married Godfrey Thornton, son of John Thornton and Jane Field.¹ She died in 1753.¹
     Her married name became Thornton.¹

     Lt.-Col. Godfrey Thornton was born on 9 November 1795 at London, England.¹ He was the son of Stephen Thornton and Mary Littledale.¹ He married, firstly, Susanna Dixon, daughter of John Dixon and Susanna Littledale, in 1821.¹ He married, secondly, Sophia Pearse in 1831 at Woodford, Essex, England.¹ He died on 8 March 1857 at age 61 at Albemarle Street, St. George Hanover Square, London, England.¹
     He gained the rank of Ensign on 20 January 1814 in the Grenadier Guards.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant on 11 October 1821.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 December 1830.¹

     Mary Littledale was the daughter of Thomas Littledale.¹ She married Stephen Thornton, son of Godfrey Thornton and Jane Godin, on 17 February 1794 at St. James the less, Thorndike Street, London, England.¹ She died after 1812.¹
     From 17 February 1794, her married name became Thornton.¹