In my last post, I shared how a Princess Anne County, Virginia, 1791 marriage record provided evidence that Willoughby Randolph’s wife, Franky, was likely the daughter of William Thornton. Another document I’ve discovered is the 1794 will of William Thornton of the same county. It lists his “daughter Franke Randolph” along with other children. This will provides additional evidence that William Thornton was Franky’s father. Lee County, Virginia, “Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983,” “Will Book, Vol. 2, 1795-1807,” will of William Thornton,  signed 18 December 1794, page 3 [page numbering inconsistant]; database, image 307, ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19...

Virginian Willoughby Randolph (1765-1822) mentions his wife, Franky, twice in his will. On many Ancestry.com trees, Franky’s maiden name is listed as Thornton and her father’s name as William Thornton. However, I have not found anyone who documents these relationships. Willoughby and Franky’s first child, William Randolph (my 4th great grandfather), was born on 4 November 1792 in Virginia. Willoughby and Franky were likely married around 1792. Ancestry.com > Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 > Princess Anne County > Index to Wills and Marriages, 1754-1799 > image 2192, 1791 marriage of Willoughby Randolph and Frankey Cummings I found this...