Her brother, Williamson Allen Glover, developed the neighboring plantation known as Rosemount.

1720–1790)(first cousin of George Washington) married Col. Francis Thornton III (circ.

Thornhill was developed by Thornton as a cotton plantation in the late 1820s-early 1830s and extended over 2,600 acres (11 km2).

According to the diary of Josiah Gorgas, in talking with Thornton at Thornhill on Tuesday, June 6, 1865, less than two months after the end of the Civil War, Thornton "oppos(ed) ... the doctrine of secession and necessary deduction that we fought so valiantly (in the War) and bled so freely in a cause radically wrong.

"[4] William Nichols is believed to be the architect of the main house at Thornhill, hired in 1832 by Thornton.

Thornton served as Alabama's secretary of state from 1824 to 1834 and would have been very aware of Nichols and his work.

David Rinehart Anthony, of Eutaw, is believed to be the builder who made the portico addition and second story balcony (crisscrossed lattice railing).

The house and grounds were extensively recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1934.

Buried in the family cemetery, located a few hundred feet east of the main house, are:[7] Grandson James Innes Thornton (March 10, 1873 - July 23, 19510, third occupant, is buried in Eutaw's Mesopotamia Cemetery, next to his second wife, Helen Williamson Allison Thornton (February 15, 1890 – December 12, 1963).

His third wife, Sarah Williams Gould Gowdy Thornton (June 11, 1824 – August 23, 1885), is buried in the Bethsalem Cemetery, Boligee.