Thornton Farm · Somerset County, Maryland
· 1877 Atlas map: Princess Anne District No. 1
An old family burial ground on Thornton Farm in Somerset County. The source material supplied by Ed Smith preserves information and photographs shared by Kathy Twining Bozman in 2016.
The cemetery includes early-eighteenth-century stones associated with the Browne family and Capt. John Blaney, as well as later Woolford burials.
Transcription note:
The grave information below is presented as recorded by the contributors. Original spelling, abbreviations, epitaph wording, and transcription notes have been retained.
Graves Recorded
Alexander Browne grave slab. Click the photograph to enlarge.
Alexander Browne
Transcription
Alexander Browne
Died 1712
The Browne coat of arms is carved at the head of the slab.
Capt. John Blaney marker. Click the photograph to enlarge.
Capt. John Blaney
Transcription
Here lies buried
The body of Capt. John Blaney
Who was born in Charlestown in New England
Aged 31 years and 2 days
Who deceased January 5th 1715-16
The source notes a matching carved footstone without an inscription.
Caroline Woolford
Transcription
Caroline Woolford
Daughter of John and Ellen Woolford
Died Sept. 12, [date unclear]
Aged 2 months and 12 days
The source specifically notes uncertainty in portions of this reading.
Other Woolford Burials
Transcription
The source reports additional Woolford graves, including markers bearing initials and a marker for Ellen Gilliss Woolford. Some stones were broken or buried and were not transcribed in the material provided.
Cemetery and Family Notes
According to the supplied notes, Col. David Browne was born in Glasgow, Scotland, was in Somerset County by about 1670, and married Winifred, widow of William Thorne, in 1672. The notes state that Thornton originated as a 600-acre grant to William Thorne, although the exact grant date was uncertain in the source.
The source says Alexander Browne inherited an interest in Thornton and that his daughter later married into the Woolford family, which held the property for about a century.
Capt. John Blaney’s carved marker is described as Massachusetts work. The supplied notes identify him as a ship captain born in Charlestown, New England.
Photographs and notes were shared by Kathy Twining Bozman and forwarded to Ed Smith in March 2016.
Browne coat of arms detail. Click the photograph to enlarge.
