Family Home

Robert Norden, Rev 
... unknown Norden
... ...Christopher Norton .17148 England
... ... 1st wife Anne unknown
... ... ... John Norton b. 1738 New Kent, VA
... ... .... Mary unknown
... ... ... ... children:
... ... ... ... Sarah Norton b.1758
... ... ... ... John Norton b. 1759
... ... ... ... James Norton b. 1761
... ... ... ... unknown Norton b. abt 1762
... ... ... ... .David Norton b. 1763 Fluvanna, VA
... ... ... ... .Thomas Norton b. 1765
... ... ... ... .Elizabeth Norton b.1769, VA
... ... ... ... .Milly Norton b.1774 Fluvanna, VA

... ...Christopher Norton .17148 England
... ... 2nd wife Mary Emmerson b.1735 VA
... ... ... Thomas Norton b1753 Goochand, VA
... ... ... William Norton b1754 Goochland, VA
... ... ... Martha Norton b1756 Goochland, VA

Christopher Norden

DNA evidence conclusiviely links Norden and Norton
DNA evidence confirms a match of 37/37 markers between the decendants of Robert Norden who came to Virginia as the first Baptist minister in 1714 and the decendants of this Norton family. This DNA evidence gives a 99.4% chance these families have a common ancestor by 1700. There are no other matches to this Norton (or Norden) DNA.

A retired British naval officer settled in Virginia before the Revolution.
The best information we have about the father of this family is from Nimrod Norton, a great grandson of Christopher Norton. His history is retold in the Poston history and was dictated by Nimrod to his nephew Dr. Charles Norton. There is a second telling in the "Confederate Military History" supplied by Nimrod himself.

"A Commodore Norton resigned from the British Navy and settled either in Virginia or on the shore of Albemarle Sound, N. Carolina, "shortly before" the beginning of the Revolutionary War."
Poston History

"His (Nimrod's) grandfather was John Norton, son of a retired British Naval officer who had settled in Virginia before the Revolution, and gave five sons to the Continental army. One of these died on an English prison ship in Charleston harbor; another was a sergeant in Washington's bodyguard, was present at the surrender of Cornwalis, and afterward was a field officer in the Indian campaign in the Northwest."
Confederate Military History

In addition we have a third family history also referred to in the Poston History from another source that confirms that the father of the family was a retired British naval officer that settled in Virginia.

Finally we have the record of Eliza Benefiel, a great grand daughter of Christopher Norton. Her history recounts one of his exploits in the navy. (However, she names him as "John" confusing him with John Norton who was the head of the family in Kentucky.)

"...Norton, was born in England in the time of trouble with sea pirates. He went to sea at the age of twelve and was 40 years on the sea. There was one noted pirate that did such havoc to the merchant vessels that England fitted out a vessel expressly to capture him. My grandfather Norton was on the English vessel that followed the pirate five years and finally came on it in a heavy fog in speaking distance. When spoken to they hoisted a black flag. The pirates had two vessels - one very small and tams - the idea was with the English that they would cripple the small vessel first. They shot into it and it sank like a lump of lead. They then attacked the other vessel and had a hard fight with them - finally overpowered them and took them to England. But most all the treasure was on the little vessel. Grandfather said that the money that was on the big vessel was divided among the men and there was a hatful to each man. All treasure was on the little vessel. I did know the names of the two captives and of both the English and pirate vessels which I have often heard my grandfather relate. I don’t doubt it is in the libraries as England fitted out the vessel expressly for the capture of the noted pirate, the event would no doubt be on record."
Eliza Trimble History

Deeds in Fluvanna relating to Christopher Norton

1714

Born about 1714 England
Calculated from 1st marriage
Calculated from 40 years at sea.

1737

Married to Anne (New Kent, VA)

1738

1738: John Nordan born, New Kent, VA
John son of Christopher and Ann NORDAN born Augt. 8, baptized Octo’r 8.
Testis: David Mossom, Minister.
Link: http://vagenweb.org/newkent/stpete07.html St Peter's Vestry Book
Book is also on ancestry.com, with  Charles Noden is listed as being the clerk of the vestry and appears on pages 181, 184, 188, 189, 691

1747

Christopher Norden witnessed deed from Joseph Walker
of Goochand to Thomas Emmerson of same  -  13 June 1752  This looks like the Chris Norden that married Mary Emmerson
Goochland Deed Book 6, page 215, 

Plaintiff and Xtopher Norden defendant, Thomas Emerson enters himself special bail if a specl. imparlance is granted the deft.    June 1752  
Goochland County Order Book #7 - page 139 - In the action of trespass upon the case between William Rutherford

1752 to paid Thomas Emerson with cost of warrant /11/8
Goochland County Deed Book #8, page 53 - Account of the estate of Thomas Craddock by John Ford and John Craddock  -   18 Sept 1759

Christopher Nordon took the oath of an insolvent debtor.    May 1754
Goochland County Order Book #7 - page 396 - May 1754 - 

DB 1. The first is on page 37. That deed, dated October 1, 1777, is from George Haggard to Abner Barnard. The land sold is on the south side of Mechuck Creek and the land is bounded by Norton's line.