Thornton, Matthew
signer of the declaration of independence, was born in 1.714 in Ireland. He was appointed a surgeon in the army from New Hampshire, and commanded a regiment of militia in the revolutionary war. He was, for six years, judge of the superior court of New Hampshire, and chief justice of the common pleas. He was a delegate to the continental congress from 1776 to 1778, and was one of the signers of the declaration of independence. He also served, for several years, in the general court and in the state senate, and was appointed justice of the peace and quorum throughout the state. He died June 24, 1803, in Newburyport, Mass.