Thomas Thornton (1807-1884)

First name:
Thomas
Second name:
Thornton
Date of birth:
1807
Date of death:
1884
Home address(es):

Crofthead farm, Whitburn

Thomas Thornton, was born in Whitburn parish, West Lothian, and like his younger brother James Thornton, farmed and operated coal mines in the Crofthead (Fauldhouse) area. The firm of Thomas and James Thornton, had a range of mineral interests, including the operation of a number of oil works. Thomas died shortly before formation of the Hermand Oil Co. Ltd., which purchased Thomas' oil interests from his heirs.

Business interests

  • Coalmaster - proprietor of Fauldhouse Colliery, Crofthead, later quoted as "successor" to the Benhar Coal Company
  • Partner in the firm of Thomas & James Thornton, coalmasters and oil manufacturers
  • Partner in the firm of Mungle & Thornton, oil manufacturers of North Cobbinshaw
  • Partner in the firm of the Lesmahagow & Longlee Coal Co., other partners being James Thornton, David Grieve, & R. Gardner (retired December 1878)
  • Partner in the City of Glasgow Banking Co. , which failed in February 1879
  • Leasee of minerals at Woodmuir
  • Proprietor of Murieston lime works

  • Census data

      • Census data records that Thomas Thornton was born in Whitburn parish, Linlithgowshire on c.1807

      1851 census

      • of Crofthead, coalmaster and farmer of 20 acres

      1861 census

      • of Crofthead, coalmaster and farmer

      1871 census

      • of Crofthead farm, coalmaster and oil manager, farmer of 30 acres

      1881 census

      • of Crofthead, coalmaster
  • Newspaper references

      • WILLIAM MACKINNON, Chartered Accountant, Glasgow, Trustee on the Sequestrated Estate of THOMAS THORNTON, Coalmaster, Glasgow and Fauldhouse, and residing at Crofthead, near Fauldhouse,Linlithgowshire, and also carrying on business as a Farmer at North Cobbinshaw, near West Calder, as an Individual, and also as an alleged Partner of the City of Glasgow Banking Company qua Trustee, hereby calls a General Meeting of the Creditors, to be held within the Office of Messrs. M'Clelland, Maekinnon, & Blyth, C. A., 115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, on Wednesday the 25th June current, at twelve o'clock noon, to take into consideration an offer of Composition to be made by the said Thomas Thornton. WILLIAM MACKINNON.Glasgow, 16th June 1879.

      The Edinburgh Gazette, 17th June 1879

    Enquiry form