Edward Joseph Thornton : Short Biography

Edward J. Thornton was baptised at the Church of Saint Nicholas Without on April 27th, 1828.His parents are Hugh Thornton and Eliza Long Thornton all of Dublin, at least as early as January 1826 when records of the Church show their son Charles Thornton baptised on January 1st of that year. The Thorntons lived in Dublin after that and I believe their son Richard was also born in Dublin in 1828.

Edward emigrated to the United States in 1851, married Margarette McGeehan of Ireland at the Church of Saint Augustine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 15th,1854.They settled in Wilmington, Delaware and then, finally in Newark, New Jersey.Edward was mustered into the Union Army on February 22, 1865.He served for one (1) year as a private in the 12th Regiment, Company K of New Jersey.He was "mustered in" at Newark,NJ.The 12th Regiment was engaged at Dabney's Mills ,VA on Feb.28,1865,from there to Hatcher's Run,VA on March 3,1865, and then, to Boydton Plank Road, VA on April 1st.The 12th took part in the capture of the city of Richmond,VA on April 2, 1865.From there, the regiment was involved in battles at Sailor's Creek,VA  on April 6th,the battle at High Bridge,VA ,April 7th;Farmville,Va,April 7th and finally,joined other Union troops at Appamatox,VA where the Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union led by General Ulysses S.Grant  to end the Civil War on April 9,1865.

Pvt.Thornton "mustered out" on July 15,1865.

Edward died in Newark, NJ on March 31,1888.

Any information regarding his parents Hugh Thornton and Eliza Long Thornton would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, 

Greg Thornton