Matching Score: 5 Parent(s) Found: Yes

1. Genealogy Summary
The genealogical records suggest that William Norton’s parents might be Richard C. Norton and Margery Wingate Norton. However, this connection appears in only one source (Find a Grave) and should be treated as a research lead rather than a confirmed fact. Given the matching score of 5, this is a plausible lead but requires further validation.

2. Historical & Cultural Context
In 1535, Broadway and White Lackington were small agricultural communities in Somerset, England. These villages shared a rich history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period, with Broadway being a manorial settlement under the Portman family. The local parish church played a central role in daily life, reflecting medieval traditions just before the Reformation. William Norton, born around this time, would have lived a life intertwined with farming rhythms and the manorial social structure, attending church services that were the focal point of village community.

3. Details by Source
WikiTree (William Norton)
Suggests that individuals from White Lackington like William Norton were closely linked with Broadway, indicating a shared community structure.
Raw URL: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Norton-205

Find a Grave
Provides the potential parentage of William Norton, listing Richard C. Norton and Margery Wingate Norton, but this is the only source with that information, making it less reliable.
Raw URL: (not provided)

The History of Martha’s Vineyard by Dr. Charles Banks
Offers detailed genealogical information, including William’s profession as a tanner and his family connections. It notes inconsistencies in death dates but provides rich context of the Norton family’s presence in Somerset.
Raw URL: (not provided)

4. Conclusion & Suggested Next Step
Based on the matching score and source reliability, begin with the information from Dr. Charles Banks’s The History of Martha’s Vineyard, as it provides the most comprehensive details. Independently validate these findings by cross-referencing parish registers, wills, and other local Somerset records.

5. Sources Mentioned

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Norton-205

William Norton (c. 1535 – c. 1604) Genealogical Profile

Birth Details:

• Year: circa 1535
• Place: White Lackington, Somerset, England [1][2][3]

Death Details:

• After 1604 (some sources say 1594; others confirm he was alive in 1604) [1][2][4]
• Place: Broadway, Somerset, England

Family Connections:

• Parents (possible): Richard C. Norton & Margery Wingate Norton [3]
• Siblings:
  • John Norton (younger brother, tanner; will made 1576) [1][5]
  • Robert Norton (younger brother, innholder in Wells; died 1590 without issue) [1][5]
• Spouse: Possibly Margery Hawes, daughter of William Hawes [3]
• Children:
  • Nicholas Norton (b. 1562 in White Lackington) [1][2][5]
  • William Norton (executor of uncle Robert’s will) [1][2][5]
  • Other unnamed children referenced in various records [1][2]

Occupation & Property:
William Norton was a tanner, described as “the eldest of the family” in records from ca. 1540 [5]. His brother Robert’s will (1590) disposed of four water mills—two mill rights passed to Robert’s wife and two to William [2].

Historical Context:
The Norton surname (originally spelled Nourton/Nurton) appears in Somersetshire records from 1400 onward [5]. Before 1600, the family is documented in over a dozen parishes, including Broadway. The Standerwick family, lords of the Broadway manor for centuries, preserved memorial records that mention the Norton family [5].

Source Reliability Assessment:

• Consistent across multiple sites: WikiTree, Geni, Find a Grave, RootsWeb
• Most detailed: Dr. Charles Banks’s The History of Martha’s Vineyard (Vol. III Family Genealogies) [2][5]
• Inconsistencies: Death date varies (1594 vs. alive in 1604); anomalous 20th century dates on Geni are errors
• Weakest link: Parentage (Richard & Margery Norton) appears only in one source and needs corroboration [3]

1. WikiTree Norton-205 entry
2. Charles Banks, The History of Martha’s Vineyard, Vol. III
3. Find a Grave entry (parentage claim)
4. Parish register transcriptions indicating Norton activity post-1600
5. Somersetshire wills and deeds (1400–1600)

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