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William Norton
(circa 1783? - 3/17/1857)
(William2, Mercer Norton1)

BIRTH: Before 1783 in North Carolina
DEATH: March 17, 1857 in Tippah Co., MS
BURIAL: DATE UNKNOWN, Mt. Zion Cemetery, Tippah Co., MS
PROPERTY: William was listed on the 1812 Tax List of Franklin Co., TN
                     February 9, 1818 William purchased 160.5 acres in Limestone Co., AL.
                               Legal Description: W1/2 of NE Sec 29 & E1/2 of SE Sec 29
                    November 2, 1848 He paid $8.42 to Howel C. Featherstone and wife Delaney of
                               Limestone Co., AL for the W1/2 E1/2 NE1/4 of Sec 29
                    January 10, 1852 an Indenture between William and Esther Norton of Tippah Co., MS
                               sell to Granvill V. Fogg for $387.50 200 acres situated W1/2 E1/2 NE1/4
                               Sec 29 W1/2 NE1/4 Sec 29 & E1/2 SE1/4 Sec 29 Twnship3 Range 4 containing
                               200 acres
RESIDENCE: Between 1820 and 1840 William and Esther lived in Limestone Co., AL
                     After 1840 they lived in Tippah Co., MS

Father: MercerNorton
Mother: Martha Higgins

WIFE: Easter (Esther, Hesther) James
MARRIAGE: January 29, 1803

             William and Esther's Children:
                        1. Mary (Polly) Norton Pollock
                        2. Martha Jane Norton
                        3. John Warren Norton
                        4. Isaac James Norton
                        5. Moses Norton
                        6. Aaron Norton
                        7. William Norton
                        8. Jacob Norton
                        9. Elizabeth Norton
                       10. Hetty Ann
                       

William Norton was born in North Carolina, the date is unproven since the date given on the census would make him only 14 when his daughter, Polly, was born. He died in Tippah County, MS and is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Tippah Co., MS.   Easter (Esther, Hesther) married William with the consent of Isaac and Dority James, they were either her parents or were close relatives. She was also born in North Carolina. She died less than a month after William and is also buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery.

There were in all probability 10 children, only three were living at the time of William's death which were Polly, Martha Jane and John Warren Norton. Moses and Aaron were twins born July 13, 1804. Moses died in 1806 at 2 years old, and Aaron died in 1810 at age 6.

After Williams death, Messer King Norton and John Pollock issued a petition to the court for letters of administration, the court ruled them unavailing and appointed two nephews, Pinckney Allen Norton and William Norton, Jr. as Administrators.

The following is a report of the sales held on May 22, 1857 and October 23, 1861:

SW1/4 S.31T3 R4E purchased by Martha Norton for $810.00
NE 1/4 S 25 T3 of R4E purchased by Edward Norton for $910.00
Philip purchased by Martha Norton for $1340.00
Bob purchased by Zachariah Smith for $1300.00
Sally and 3 children purchased by Ann A. Crisp for $2760.00
John purchased by Melton Long (?) for $1055.00
Coleman purchased by L.D. Alexander for $1200.00
Charity purchased by Mary (Polly) Pollock for $1340.00
Anica purchased by Jas. B. Ellis for $550.00
Joicy and child purchased by Jas. B. Ellis for $900.00

The following is a report of payment to heirs:

O. Davis, agent of John Norton $1030.00
Mary Pollock $1800.00
H.H. Smith, guardian of Messer Norton's children $720.00
J. H. Norton $360.00
Lynch, guardian of Mercer heir $1800.00
P. A. Norton $360.00
W. J. Norton $360.00

A further distribution was made as follows:

Mary (Polly) and husband John Pollock $1800.00
Isaac James Norton's daughter Ann & Husband L.M. Crisp $1800.00
John Norton $1030.00
Jacob's heirs (4) $1800.00
Betty's heirs (wife of Messer King Norton):
            William J. $360.00
             John H. $360.00
             Martha C. $360.00
             Doctor F.
             Edward K. $720.00

Supporting Legal Documents

Petition of Messer King Norton

Petition of John Pollock and James M. Spight

Sources:

Barron, John Calvin. "Descendants of Robert Pollock
Personal Communication with Iona Pollock
Alex R. Orr, Jr. supplied the source from author Mildred Dulaney, "The Descendants of Mercer (Messer) Norton, 1750?-1800?, and his wife, Martha." 1984, page 399-400.