Thornhill Plantation, County Road 19, Forkland

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,32-WATSO,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

James Innes Thornton, grandson and namesake of the builder. Sate of Erection: Architect* Unknown. ($e-6t4*ia ftf Au.r G-UOVK* ) Builder: Col. James Innes llxoraton. Present Condition; Excellent* lumber of Stories; 0?wo* Materials of Constnhotion: The materials used were cypress, cedar, walnut and heart ,of pine. !Ehe mansion is of classic architecture, with fluted oi- n%b.ian pillars, a broad portico, and a small balcony # with wrought iron railing above. !Phe spacious rooms open from either side int* the large hallway, which extends from front to back, it the end of the hall is the beautiful spiral stairway of mahogany. Other Existing Records; See: Historic Homes of Alabama and !Eheir traditions. By Alabama klembers, National League of American ^en Women.

Source of Material; James Innes Thornton, Watsonia, Ala. Compiled by: Katherine Floyd, Auburn, Ala. Approved; E. Walter Burkhardt, District Officer, HABS ALA - 38 HAKIL Page 2. AL Ajditlonai Data; thorn hill was built hy the first James WATSO Innes Thornton, in It is of the Colonial type, standing j_ upon a high hill covered with stately trees, which overlooks a wide stretch of fertile country, including several counties. It is located ten miles from Eutaw and six miles from Boligee, in Greene County, The house was huilt with great care "by slave labor from well seasoned lumber which was cut, sawed, and hewn toy hand. The estate of Thornhill consists of acres, enclosed with a wall of stone and fence of chestnut and cedar rails.

The high stonw wall at the foot of the hill was huilt to protect the acres of deer park. Hunting was a favorite sport at "Fhornhill, and the sound of the horn has given signal for many a house party to Hride to hounds". As one ascends the hill to the house there can he seen on the estate 3?ree Hope Church, which was huilt for the slaves to worship in. The family attended St. liarks Episcopal Church, four miles distant in the country. The .school house where the children were educated, stands on the hillsifle, it was used during the War Between the States for a spinning and weaving house in making clothes for the soldiers* Thornhill is now owned and occupied hy James Innes Thornton,(namesake and grandson of the original "builder and owner Ool.

James Innes Biornton)* A minimized copy of the map of Thornhill plantation of acres as originally laid out, planned and developed hy Col. James I. Thornton} this area was acquired hy homesteading 160 acres on which the home was located and the balance was pre-empted from the United States and a smajl area of the tract purchased on the south end from Allen Glover, so as to square the plantation to a parallelogram. Ool. James I. 'Thornton was horn at Frederiekstourg, "Virginia in and he and an older brother Harry Innes Thornton, studied law in the office of their Uncle, Judge Harry Innes in Eichmond, Va., He and brother rode horse hack from Virginia to Alabama and first located for the practice of law in Huntsville, Ala. Ool. James I.

Thornton was the first Secretary of the State of Alabama, and held this office for thirteen consecutive years; he also .practiced law for several years as the partner of Governor Collier; Harry Innes Thornton practiced law at Tuscaloosa bar for several years then located at Sutaw, from there he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, where he served for two years and was appointed as the first federal Land Commissioner for the territory of California by President Franklin Pierce and moved Jo San Francisco.