Robert THORNBURGH

   Another name for Robert was Robert THORNBOROUGH.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Emigration: from England, 1685, to Ireland. Robert Thornborough the son of Charles of Methop, migrated to a Quaker stronghold in Cootenhill, Ireland. There he married Sarah Jackson in 1685. They had three boys and a girl. The sons, Walter, Edward, and Thomas emigrated to the American Colonies between 1713-1729. Robert's father Charles, and his uncle, Richard were also listed as followers of Fox in the English Quaker Records.

http://home.att.net/~rgartee/thornsb/ivode.htm

Robert Thornborough and his brother Edward emigrated to Ireland from England. Robert married Sarah Jackson in about 1685. Their sons Edward, Thomas and Walter were born in Ireland and lived there until they emigrated to America between 1714 and 1726. These sons of Robert are the ancestors of most Thornburg families who are in the United States now (including Thornburgh, Thorn-borough, Thornberry and other variations of the name). I have long been curious as to why the Thornborough family found themselves in Ireland between the 1680's and the 1720's. Was it political changes in England? Were they escaping from religious oppression?

The following list of historical facts help give me an understanding of why the Thornborough's had reason enough to leave England.
· Robert Thornborough's early ancestors in England were Catholic and at one time were people of position and wealth.
· Certain British royalty found reason to be at odds with the Catholic Church (volumes have been written about this)
· In 1609 the six northern counties of Ireland (Ulster) were confiscated by the English government and settled with English and Scottish immigrants.
· 1611: publication of the King James version of the Bible.
· 1625-1649: reign of Charles I (son of King James) which included forced loans from taxpayers and later a statute that required landholders to be knighted. To be knighted required a large fee; to refuse meant a steep fine.
· 1636-1641: Robert's grandfather, William Thornburgh, was forced to sell most of his inherited holdings and estates.
· 1646: George Fox started first Quaker churches in England.
· Robert's father, Charles, and his Uncle Richard became followers of George Fox.
· 1654: the Quaker movement started in Ireland.
· 1661: Parliament enacts Clarendon Code to penalize Puritans, Dissenters and Roman Catholics.
· 1663: George Fox went to Cartmel, England, where he held meetings and was jailed three times.
· Additional Quaker Meetings formed in Ulster with Thornburgh(s) mentioned in the minutes.
· 1686: Robert married in Ireland (Ulster Province) as a Quaker.
· 1715: Robert imprisoned apparently for not paying 'tythes'

After collecting this information, and after starting to compose my own theory on how the Thornboroughs were affected by the events of their time, and why they might have left England, I found a quote from the work of Dwight Thornburg that pretty concisely answers the question.
"'Some members of the Cartmel and Kendal families became ardent followers of George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers) during the years 1663 to 1700; and some were forced or induced by religious persecutors to leave the environs of Cartmel. Robert Thornburgh or Thornborough was one of those early escapees (or departees, if you like). His record in Cotehill and later in Monaghan both evidenced his strong pro-Quaker activities and church prominence.

http://www.rogers-ben.com/benjamin/john/assoc/rayl/thornburgh/jamesthornburgh.htm

• Court, 1715, County Armagan, Ireland.
"Robert Thornborough of Old Castle MM in 1685; imprisoned for not paying tithes in 1715. Of Lurgan MM, County Armagan, Ireland. He married about 7th month 1685 to Sarah Jackson of Cootehill, County, Cavan, Ireland, possibly the daughter of Anthony Jackson."

• See also. http://www.autumnanddavid.com/ancestry/drb/285.htm

http://home.att.net/~rgartee/thornsb/wdthorn.htm

Robert married Sarah JACKSON, daughter of Anthony JACKSON and Unknown, on 25 Jul 1685 in Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland. (Sarah JACKSON was born about 1668 and died in Ulster Province, Cootehill, Cavan, Ireland.)

  Marriage Notes:

Notes for ROBERT THORNBOROUGH: "given leave to marry" in August 1686--from Cootehill, Ireland, monthly meeting of Friends


http://pcsaz.com/cherylpage/thornburg_generational_chart4.htm