Prospect Hill Plantation
PROSPECT HILL PLANTATION
Airlie, Halifax County, North Carolina
Transcribed & Researched by Deloris Williams
PLANTATION NAME: PROSPECT HILL
ASSOCIATED LINK(s): White Rock Plantation; Montmorenci; Archibald H. Davis Plantation
ORIGINAL OWNER: William Williams Thorne (1798-1838)
BUILT: 1825 - House no longer exists
ASSOCIATED SURNAMES: THORNE, WILLIAMS, ALSTON, CLARK, NICHOLSON
HISTORY: Prospect Hill was built by William Williams Thorne (1798-1838) who was the son of Dr. Samuel Thorne (1767-1838) and Martha W. Williams (1771-1827) in Halifax County, North Carolina.
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Samuel, who was originally from Hempstead, New York, came to North Carolina when he was a young man, and where he married Martha Williams, daughter of Joseph John Williams (ca 1727-1818) & his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Alston.
At the time, Martha had been the widow of Henry Hill, son of John Hill and Martha Whitmell, with whom she had one son, John Hill, who died young. Samuel and Martha had 5 children together, the youngest of which was William. Martha's father, Joseph John Williams, was the owner of nearby White Rock Plantation.
On May 3, 1820, William W. Thorne married Temperance Williams Davis (1804-1854) who was the daughter of Archibald Davis & Elizabeth J. Hilliard of Franklin County. Archibald's son, Archibald H. Davis, was the owner of Cypress Hall in Franklin County, NC.
In 1825, William built a new home for his family, which he named Prospect Hill, which stood about 6 miles from his grandfather's home, White Rock.
Samuel Thorne died in July 24, 1838, and in his will, which was written in 1835, he left all of his slaves to his son, William, and also stated that there was no need to do an inventory, since he was the only one who had any interest.
He does mention in his will that he had 35 Slaves, and his Estate record only says he had 34 Slaves "consisting of Men & Boys mostly and some few Women & children."
William died only one week after his father, so his Estate covered what he'd inherited from Samuel.
William and Temperance had 11 children, all of whom were minors at the time of his death, so his estate was spread out over many years as each child grew, over which time there were multiple inventories done to keep up with the growth of the ever changing number of slaves.
The executor for both Samuel and William Thorne's wills and estates was Edward Davis (1792-1856) who was married to Temperance's sister, Martha H. Davis (1801-1876).
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William Williams Thorne was born July 20, 1798; died August 1, 1838.
Temperance Williams Davis was born Sept. 26, 1804; died August 4, 1854.
Their children were:
1. Martha Elizabeth Thorne (b. Feb. 2, 1821)- m. Thomas W. Nicholson
2. William Henry Thorne (b. Oct. 20, 1822)
3. Ann Maria Thorne (b. March 3, 1824)- m. David Clark
4. Mary Eliza Mabbette Thorne (b. Dec. 29, 1825)- m. Kemp Plummer Alston
5. Samuel Thomas Thorne (b. May 30, 1827)
6. Edward Alston Thorne (b. Dec. 27, 1828)
7. Lucy Emily Davis Thorne (Dec. 24, 1830-July 2, 1910)- m. Blake Baker Nicholson
8. Archibald Hilliard Davis (Jan. 7, 1833-Apr. 6, 1833)
9, John Davis Thorne (b. Nov. 3, 1834)
10. Temperance Davis Thorne (b. Nov. 30, 1836)- m. 1st: Samuel T. Clark. 2nd: John Buxton Williams
11. Ozella Eudora Thorne (b. Dec. 4, 1838)
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SLAVE POPULATION: Estate of WILLIAM W. THORNE
Halifax County, North Carolina
Record of Estates, 1843-1849
Page 212
May Court 1845
Statement of Valuation of the Negroes belonging to the Estate of the late WILLIAM W. THORNE as valued by EDWARD ALSTON, ALFRED ALSTON & A. H. DAVIS this 14th day of January 1840.
Lot No. 1:
SOLOMON - 850
JUDY & Child PENNY - 550
RANSOM - 800
FANNY - 650
HENRYETTA -450
NED - 300
DAVID - 250
SYLVESTOR - 475
(Total) - $4300
Lot No. 2:
OXFORD - 950
MARTINA & Child JOHN OXFORD - 475
ABNER - 800
BURWELL - 700
MARTINA JR. - 180
CAESAR - 250
PEGGY - 350
GRACE - 400
OLD OXFORD - 000
OLD GRACE - 000
(Total) - $4105
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Lot No. 3:
CASWELL - 850
CAROLINE & Child MARGARETT - 750
ESSEX & AMY - 700
MADISON - 650
SUCKY - 450
JULIA - 350
JACK - 100
ANTHONY - 250
(Total) - $4100
Lot No. 4:
AUSTIN - 850
MELY & Child DELIA - 375
TONEY - 175
NANCY - 425
MATILDA - 475
PETER - 750
MOSES - 300
BOSON - 750
(Total) - $4100
Lot No. 5:
WASHINGTON (y) - 850
EMILY - 600
HENRY JUNIOR - 750
CYNTHIA - 500
CHARLES - 550
EDMOND - 750
(Total) - $4000
Lot No. 6:
WESLEY - 850
DILLY - 600
ALFRED - 700
ALEXANDER - 750
MARINA - 600
REUBEN & LAVINIA - 600
OLD NEPTUNE - 000
OLD CHANY - 000
(Total) - $4100
Lot No. 7:
EVERETT - 850
MARIA - 600
WASHINGTON (B) - 800
HENDERSON - 800
CHARITY - 425
SURRY & Wife CHARLOTTE, MARGARET, VINEY - 650
(Total) - $4100
Lot No. 8:
FREEMAN - 800
LUCINDA & Child MARY - 750
TOM - 600
AMY JR. - 350
BURGES - 450
EDY - 275
MALISSA - 150
LEWIS - 700
(Total) - $4075
Lot No. 9:
JOHN - 800
ELIZA & Child ARIADNER - 775
HENRY (SMITH) - 750
PAT & Child PRISSEY - 475
LUCY - 100
REDICK - 310
JULIA - 400
ALBERT - 450
(Total) - $4060
Lot No. 10:
BURGES - 800
CAROLINE JR. - 600
CLARY - 650
SOL - 800
JOE - 750
LENNY - 425
(Total) - $4025
Lot No. 11:
NELSON - 800
PATSEY & Child DANIEL - 600
WILBUR - 100
MARY - 400
HARRIET & Child HUBBARD - 610
ESOP - 550
DAMON - 725
LOUISA - 350
OLD TOM - 000
OLD SUKEY - 000
(Total) - $4135
Lot No. 1 Amt to $4300
Lot No. 2 Amt to 4105
Lot No. 3 Amt to 4100
Lot No. 4 Amt to 4100
Lot No. 5 Amt to 4000
Lot No. 6 Amt to 4100
Lot No. 7 Amt to 4100
Lot No. 8 Amt to 4075
Lot No. 9 Amt to 4060
Lot No. 10 Amt to 4025
Lot No. 11 Amt to 4135
_______
11)45100
Each ones Share $4100
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We the undersigned pursuant to the Will of the late WILLIAM W. THORNE have this fourteenth day of January 1840 valued the Negroes belonging to his Estate and arranged them in Lots as above represented each ones Share being forty one hundred dollars THOS. W. NICHOLSON who married MARTHA THORNE the oldest daughter of said WILLIAM dec'd drew Lot No. 1 which amounts to Forty three hundred dollars that sum being more than each ones share by two hundred he the said NICHOLSON has that amount to pay to EDWARD ALSTON Exr. of WM. W. THORNE Dec'd.
EDW'D ALSTON Ex'r
ALFRED ALSTON
A. H. DAVIS
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Record of Estates, 1843-1849
Page 487
Halifax County Court May Term 1849
Statement of the valuation of the Negroes belonging to the Estate of the late WILLIAM W. THORNE as valued by EDWARD ALSTON, ALFRED ALSTON & A. H. DAVIS in January 1846.
Lot No. 1:
OXFORD - $900
MARTHA & two* Children, OXFORD, JOHNNY & NATHAN - 500
ABNER - 500
MARTINER - 200
CAESAR - 225
PEGY - 275
MALISSA - 175
CHARLES - 325
Total: $3100
*actually 3 children
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Lot No. 2:
CASWELL - $900
CAROLINE & Child CASWELL - 375
JULIA - 300
MARGARET - 175
LAVENIA & two Children, PENNY & SAMPSON - 500
ESSEX & OLD AMY - 400
ANTHONY - 100
OLD REUBIN - 25
EVERETT - 500
Total - $3375
Lot No. 3:
AUSTIN - $850
MELY & Child DELIA - 200
NANCY - 375
MATILDA & Child ALLEN - 425
PETER - 400
EDMOND - 450
LOUISA - 260
Total - $2960
Lot No. 4:
WASHINGTON (Yellow) -850
HENRY JUNIOR - 475
JUNE - 450
EMILY & Three Children, FAULCON, SILVY & RITTA - 575
CLARY - 375
GRACE - 325
Total - $3050
Lot No. 5:
WELSY - 850
DILLY & two children HARRISON & MORRETT - 525
ALFRED - 500
HENDERSON - 450
MERINA - 325
SUCKY - 500
OLD JACK - 25
VINEY - 00
Total - $3175
Lot No. 6:
MADISON - 850
MARIA & Child PATIENCE - 450
WASHINGTON (blk) - 475
FREEMAN - 475
MARGARETT & Child SILAS - 375
SURRY & Wife CANDA - 125
CAROLINE (blk) - 250
MOSES - 200
Total - $3200
Lot No. 7:
ALXANDA [ALEXANDER] - 800
LOUCINDA & Four Children, MARY, ROBERT, CYNTHA, EATON - 725
THOMAS - 475
ABNER (Jnr) - 275
BURGESS (Jnr) - 350
LEWIS - 500
OLD TOM & SUCKY - 000
Total - $3125
Lot No. 8:
BURGESS - 800
SOL. - 475
JOE - 475
LENNY - 350
BURWELL - 400
ELIZA & HILLIARD - 175
EADY - 225
Total - $2900
Lot No. 9:
NELSON - 800
MARY (Senior) - 325
EASOP - 325
PATSY & three Children, WILBUR, DANIEL & ELLER - 600
DAMON - 440
HARRIET & Four Children, HERBERT, DENTON, SUSAN & GORDON - 725
Total - $3215
Lot No. 1 Amts to - $3100
Lot No. 2 Amts to - 3275
Lot No. 3 Amts to - 2960
Lot No. 4 Amts to - 3050
Lot No. 5 Amts to - 3175
Lot No. 6 Amts to - 3200
Lot No. 7 Amts to - 3125
Lot No. 8 Amts to - 2900
Lot No. 9 Amts to - 3215
______
9 )28000
Each one Share --- $3111.11
We the undersigned pursuant to the will of the late WILLIAM W. THORNE have in January valued the Negroes belonging to his Estate and arranged therein Lots as above represented each ones share being $3111.11 DAVID CLARK who married ANN MARIA THORNE daughter of the said WILLIAM drew Lot No. 5, which amounts to $3175 that sum being more than each ones share by sixty three dollars & eighty nine cents he the said DAVID CLARK has that amount to pay to EDWARD ALSTON Ex'r of WILLIAM W. THORNE dec'd.
EDW'D ALSTON Excr
ALFRED ALSTON
H. A. DAVIS
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Page 488
Statement of the valuation of the Negroes belonging to the Estate of the late WILLIAM W. THORNE as valued by EDWARD ALSTON, ALFRED ALSTON & A. H. DAVIS in the Fall 1847.
Lot No. 1:
OXFORD - 900
MARTHA & two Children NATHAN & HERCULES - 500
EDMOND - 700
MARTINA JR. - 300
CEASAR - 350
PEGGY - 300
MALISSA - 250
CHARLES - 325
JOHN OXFORD - 300
Total: $3925
Lot No. 2:
EVERETT - 750
CAROLINE & Two Children CASWELL & WESLY - 650
JULIA - 600
MARGARET - 300
ESSEX & Old AMY - 400
HENRY - 700
LOUIS - 400
Total - $3800
Lot No. 3:
AUSTIN - 800
MELY - 50
NANCY & Child HAYWOOD - 625
MATILDA & Child ALLEN - 625
ABNER - 750
AMY JR. - 525
LOUISA - 450
ARIADNER -250
Total - $4075
Lot No. 4:
WASHINTON (y) - 850
CASWELL - 950
JIM - 750
EMILY & Four Children FAULCON, SILVY, RITTA, BRITTANA - 1100
CLARY - 525
Total - $4175
Lot No. 5:
MADISON - 850
GRACE - 575
WASHINGTON (blk) - 700
MOSES - 200
LAVENIA & Three Children PENNY, SAMPSON, REUBEN - 800
FREEMAN - 775
Total - $3900
Lot No. 6:
ALXANDA - 800
LUCINDA & Five Children ROBERT, CYNTHIA, EATON, MARY, RICHMOND - 1250
BURGESS (Jr.) - 775
JOE - 700
ELIZA & HILLIARD - 275
ANTHONY - 75
Total- $3875
Lot No. 7:
BURGESS Sr. - 700
SOLOMON - 775
LINNY - 600
EADY - 450
MARIA & Child PATIENCE - 625
TOM - 775
Total - $3925
Lot No. 8:
NELSON - 700
MARY Sr. - 350
EASOP - 350
PITSY & Three Children WILBER, DANIEL, ELLER - 800
DAMON - 700
HARRIET & Four Children HERBERT, DENTON, SUSAN, GORDON - 1075
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We the undersigned pursuant to the Will of the late WILLIAM W. THORNE have in the Fall of 1847 valued the Negroes belonging to the Estate of said WILLIAM & arranged them in Lots as above represented each ones share being $3956.25 SAMUEL T. THORNE son of the said WILLIAM W. dec'd drew Lot No. 4 which amounts to $4175 that sum being more than each ones share by $218.75 he the said SAM'L T. THORNE has that amount to pay to me EDW'D ALSTON, Exc'r of WM. W. THORNE, dec'd.
EDW'D ALSTON Exc'r
ALFRED ALSTON
A. H. DAVIS
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Statement of the valuation of the Negroes belonging to the late WILLIAM W. THORNE as valued by EDWARD ALSTON, ALFRED ALSTON & A. H. DAVIS in Dec 1848.
Lot No. 1:
TOM Junior - 650
BURGESS Senior - 575
EADY - 400
CYNTHIA - 250
ELIZA - 225
DANIEL - 350
MATILDA - 525
BURGESS Junior - 675
Old NEPTUNE - 000
Total - $3650
Lot No. 2:
ABNER - 650
WASHINGTON - 500
DENTON - 300
GRACE JR. - 500
ARIANNA - 400
WELBER - 375
SAMPSON - 225
LAVINIA & Child VIRGINIA - 600
Old OXFORD - 000
Total - $3550
Lot No. 3:
MADISON - 675
HENRY - 500
AUSTIN - 350
AMY JR. - 350
LINNY - 500
NATHAN - 275
LOUCINDA & Child RICHMOND - 600
EATON - 200
Total - $3650*
*Doesn't add up
Lot No. 4:
OXFORD - 800
EDMOND - 500
JOHN OXFORD - 350
PEGGY - 475
MARTINA JR. - 400
CAESAR - 375
PENNY - 250
MARTINA & Child HARK - 400
MOSES - 150
LUCY - 000
Total - $3700
Lot No. 5:
FREEMAN - 575
ESSEX & Old AMY - 400
JOE - 550
JULIA - 525
MARGARETT - 400
MARY - 350
CAROLINE - 475
WESLEY - 175
Old TOM - 000
CASWELL - 275
Total - $3725
Lot No. 6:
ALXANDA - 675
ROBERT - 300
MARIA - 425
ELLER - 225
PATIENCE - 250
HILLIARD - 200
ANTHONY - 100
NANCY & Child HAYWOOD - 625
SOLOMON - 550
CHORUS - 200
Total - $3550
Lot No. 7:
NELSON - 500
DAMOND - 500
EASOP - 275
LOUISA - 500
MALISSA - 350
HUBBARD - 375
SUSAN - 225
MARY SR. 325
HARRIET - 400
GORDON - 225
GRACE - 000
Total - $3675
We the undersigned pursuant to the Will of the lat WILLIAM W. THORNE have in December 1848 Valued the Negroes belonging to his Estate and arranged them in Lots as above represented each ones share being $3642.85 KEMP P. ALSTON who married MABBITT THORNE the daughter of the said WILLIAM W. dec'd drew Lot No. 3 which amounts to $3650 that sum being more than his share or each ones share by seven dollars & fifteen cents he the said KEMP P. ALSTON has that amount to pay to EDWARD ALSTON Excr. of WILLIAM W. THORNE dec'd & EDWARD A. THORNE son of the said WILLIAM W. dec'd drawing at the same time Lot No. 4 which amounts to $3700 that sum being more than each ones share $57.15 he the said EDWARD A. THORNE has that amount to pay to EDWARD ALSTON Ex'r of WILLIAM W. THORNE dec'd.
EDW'D ALSTON
ALFRED ALSTON
A. H. DAVIS
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Estate of WILLIAM W. THORNE
Records of Estate 1850-1856
Page 518
Halifax County Court August Term 1855
Statement of the Valuation of the Negroes belonging to the Estate of W. W. THORNE as valued by EDWARD ALSTON, MASON L WIGGINS and THOMAS W. HARRIS, July 23, 1855.
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Lot No. 1:
WASHINGTON - 850
DAYMOND - 800
DENTON - 800
GORDON - 600
CASWELL - 800
MARY - 750
NANCY & Child HENRY -1050
CHARLOTTE - 300
HARRIET - 400
WHIT - 450
MARY (Cook) - 450
Total - $7250
NELLY (blind) allotted to Est. of TEMPERANCE W. THORNE
Lot No. 2:
FREEMAN - 900
BURGESS Senr. - 800
WELBON [WILBUR?] - 800
LOUISA - 800
SUSAN - 650
ELIZA - 600
CAROLINE & Children SPRIG & BEN - 1000
EADY & Children PATSY, EMILY, LIZZY - 1300
ESSEX & Old AMY - 500
Total - $7350
Lot No. 3:
ALXANDAR - 1000
DANIEL - 800
HUBBARD - 800
WESLEY - 600
AREANA - 850
CYNTHIA - 700
GRACE & Child PEGGY - 950
MARTINA - 375
CHARLES - 300
HAYWOOD - 550
Total - $6925
GRACE old
Lot No. 4:
BURGESS Junr - 1100
NELSON - 800
SOL - 950
SAM - 600
MALISSA - 750
LAURA - 400
JULIA & Children FANNY & LEWIS - 1200
MATILDA & Children BETSY & MARINA - 1150
ESOP - 300
Total - $7250
CHERRY old
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We the undersigned pursuant to the Will of the late W. W. THORNE have in July 1855 valued the Negroes belonging to his Estate and arranged them in Lots as above represented each ones share being Seven Thousand One hundred an Ninety Three dollars and Seventy five cents ($7193.75) and have allotted Lot No. 1 as above represented to the Estate of TEMPERANCE W. THORNE amounting to the sum of Seven Thousand Two Hundred and fifty Dollars Thereby showing that this Lot has to pay to EDWARD ALSTON Ex'r of W. W. THORNE the Sum of fifty six Dollars and Twenty five Cents.
EDWARD ALSTON
M. L. WIGGINS
THO'S W. HARRIS
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Estate of TEMPERANCE W. THORNE, dec'd
Halifax County, North Carolina
Records of Estate 1850-1856
Page 518
August Term 1855
Inventory of Property belonging to the Estate of TEMPERANCE W. THORNE Dec'd
One thousand and forty nine acres, more or less
Slaves viz:
WASHINGTON
DAIMOND
DENTON
GORDON
CASWELL
MARY Junr.
NANCY & Children HENRY, CHARLOTTE & WHITMELL
MARY (Cook)
HARRIET
MELY
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RESEARCH NOTES: Prospect Hill no longer stands, but a series of photos of the then very dilapidated buildings were taken in 1933 as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey, which are housed in the Library of Congress.
MISCELLANEOUS: Will & Estate of William W. Thorne, Halifax Co. WB 4, P.170, Record of Estates, 1843-1849, Pages 212, 487-489; 1850-1856, Page 518; Will of Samuel Thorne, Halifax Co. WB 4, P. 172; Estate of Temperance Thorne, Halifax Co. Records of Estates 1850-1856, P.518; Library of Congress, Historic Buildings Survey-Prospect Hill; William W. Thorne Family Bible; Williams-Polk-Davis Bible; Thorne-Clark Family Cemetery; William Williams Thorne on Find-a-Grave; North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. I, July, 1900; pages 466-467.
Source: https://www.ncgenweb.us/.../prospecthill-halifax.htm...