John Wingate Thornton (August 12, 1818 – June 6, 1878) was an American lawyer, antiquarian, book collector and writer.

John Wingate Thornton researched and wrote numerous family genealogies and authored a number of books.

In 1844 he was a founding member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and authored numerous articles for their publication, the Register.

[2] His 1844 report to the American Statistical Association was presented to Congress by John Quincy Adams who notes that it demonstrates "a multitude of gross and important errors in the printed census of 1840.

John Wingate Thornton was invited to deliver a speech on August 29, 1862, during an occasion set to commemorate the failed Popham Colony.

Much to the chagrin of the audience and Fort Popham Celebration committee members, John Wingate Thornton correctly pointed out, in contradiction to the beliefs of those who invited him, that the Popham Colony was not the first attempt at New England colonization, and that additionally it was not a serious attempt at creating a permanent colony as only men and not entire families were sent.

See List of Students 1813 - 1848 Thornton Academy, Saco, Maine; Burnham, Edward P. and George A. Emery, eds.

The contents of this book are published in The Institution and Records of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati; Concord, NH; Ira C. Evans, Printer; 1893.

The letter reads: North Yarmouth Centre, State of Maine October 24, 1842 Rev.

Sec'y N.H.H.Society Dear Sir: I wish to present to the New Hampshire Historical Society (Through the hands of my Nephew, J. Wingate Thornton, Esq.)

I consider the Library of your Society the most safe & proper place for the deposit of this valuable record of some of our Revolutionary worthies; & although they have gone to their home, I hope the principles for which they contended may be perpetuated to the latest posterity.

I am, Sir, Very Respectfully, your ob't Serv't John W. Gookin Item 12 in Catalogue of Private Library of JWT.

He was a captain in the U.S. Army during the war of 1812-1814, and in active service on the Lakes, honored by his brother officers as a brave and generous gentleman.

He was of a lofty stature, of large person, and his military discipline left a lasting impression on his manners, giving him a peculiar dignity and elegance of address.

(History of the Wingate Family, p. 245 and NEHGS JWT's Personal Genealogy book in Box 1).

Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine Alumni Biographical File, John Wingate Thornton George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections and Archives.

John Wingate Thornton Papers Book containing letters to children and family photographs.

Ch.A.8.14 03 Dec 1874 Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad Co., Boston, MA (Mss notes by JWT).

Ch.E.4.65A Dyer Library and Saco Museum, Saco, Maine Thornton Family Papers Dyer Library Archives & Special Collections 17 May 1859 Letter from Sarah Gookin Storer to John Wingate Thornton.

Autograph File T. 23 Jul 1851 Letter from George Stillman Hillard to John Wingate Thornton.

Autograph File H. 26 Dec 1860 Letter from Jared Sparks to John Wingate Thornton.

Autograph File S. 24 Jan 1866 Letter from John Wingate Thornton to Mary Cutts.

Autograph File T. 11 Jan 1873 Letter from Charles William Eliot to John Wingate Thornton.

Autograph File E. 16 Jan 1873 Letter from John Wingate Thornton to Charles William Eliot.

Autograph File E. 19 Mar 1874 Letter from John Wingate Thornton to Samuel Batchelder.

1523 Contains note correspondence (1842-1877), pertaining to the Chipman, Crocker, Cutts, Ellis, Peperell, Scammon, Thaxter, Smith, and other families.

Also contains biographical and genealogical material relating to Edward Godfrey, Habijah Savage, Joshua Scottow, Robert Jordan, and Captain Thomas Cammock.

As NEHGS describes them, they contain "genealogical, historical, business and personal papers of the Thornton and 37 allied families of Saco, ME, and North Hampton, N.H.

The Social Law Library holds a copy of a rare book (Wingate, Edmond.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library 07 Nov 1874 Letter from Frederick William Gookin to John Wingate Thornton.