Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
NameWinnifred Thornton 1005, GGGG Grandmother
Death1797333
FatherJohn Fitzhugh Thornton (1718-1787)
Spouses
1Charles Gant 1005,330, GGGG Grandfather
Birth1753, Franklin Co NC
Death15 Apr 1816, Franklin Co NC Age: 63
FatherJohn Gant Sr. (1713-1783)
Marriageca 1779
ChildrenJeremiah “Jerry” (1780-1855)
 Charles Jordan (1782-1850)
 William (1786-1851)
 Nancy Tabitha (1794-ca1817)
 Mary Angeline (1797-1866)
Notes for Charles (Spouse 1)
Following from the Gant family book:330

Charles, was the last of the sons of John' GANT to remain in Franklin Co NC and die there. William, the youngest of the three sons of Charles GANT, was the last of the Gants of Franklin Co., NC to move elsewhere to seek his fortune. In the 1820 census of Franklin Co NC, William GANT was the only Gant listed.

Because the lands formerly held by their father were probably "farmed out", each son moved away from Frankin Co., NC to obtain much more productive land at bargain prices available in the newly developing areas in other states. Each had the funds necessary to do this from inheritances from their father; however each moved to a completely different location.

Jeremiah Gant, the first to leave, moved to Central Tennessee;

Charles Jordan Gant, the next to leave, moved to central Georgia, and

William Gant, the last to leave, moved to Western Tennessee with his brother-in-law, Wyatt BASS who married Nancy, the sister of Elizabeth THOMAS who was William's first wife.

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Charles Gant is listed in John Fitzhugh Thornton's Will as one of the Executors of his estate. In this will John refers to his daughter Winifred as Winifred Gant. I t is a logical conclusion that Winifred married Charled Gant, however there is no proof of this marriage at this time.

1790 NC Census Index: Gant, Charles NC FRANKLIN CO, page 059:
1 male >16, 5 males <16, 1 female, 6 slaves

Three of the males <16 would be Jeremiah, Charles Jordan, and William. It is not known who the other two were, but they presumably died between 1790 and the 1800 census The two known daughters of Charles Gant were born after 1790.

1800 NC Census: Gant, Charles NC FRANKLIN CO, page 489:
2 males 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 1 male >45, 1 female <10, 1 female 16-25, 6 slaves

[Winnifred Thornton Gant died in 1797; there is some discrepancy in the female ages since both daughters should have been <10.]

1810 NC Census: Gant, Charles NC FRANKLIN CO, page 797:
2 males 16-25, 1 male >45, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25

[In the 1810 census, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas is listed four families away, followed by the family of Josiah Thomas. Jeremiah Gant was married between 1800 and 1810 and is listed separately in the 1810 Franklin Co NC census. The daughter 10-15 would be Mary Angeline, b 1797, and the one 16-25 would be Nancy Tabitha, b 1794.]
Notes for Charles (Spouse 1)
The will of Charles Gant, dated January 13, 1816 and witnessed by Richard Hill and Mathew J Williams was proved in the March Court of 1816. It included the following wording:

"First I lend my daughter, Nancy Gant the use of my house where I now reside together with twenty acres of land - around the house during her single or natural life after which the said house and land go as hereafter divided."

He gave his son William 600 acres of land including land "whereon I now live" on Red Bud Creek adjoining land of Cooper Williams, Archibald Davis and the Red Bud meeting house and the rest of his land to his son Jerry (approximately 360 acres).

His gave his son Jordan 500 dollars (apparently about equivalent to the value of the land given to each of the other sons). The inventory of the estate of Charles Gant included thirteen slaves and was signed by William Gant (his son), administrator.
Last Modified 24 May 2008Created 3 Jul 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh
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