Elijah Norton appears in the family of Isham Norton Sr., and is believed on the basis of Y-DNA results of several of his descendants to have been a biological Hathcock. Elijah Norton also has the characteristic Hathcock Y-DNA profile, but also has a distinctive mutation at the DYS461 allele that Isham does not have but which another contemporary Hathcock does have. Therefore, we hypothesize that Elijah is also a biological Hathcock but not Isham Norton’s son. We think that, just as Isham was orphaned and adopted by James and Martha Norton, Elijah was orphaned and adopted by Isham, who was likely his uncle.

1840 Census, Rockingham District, Richmond Co NC
Name: Elijah Norton
Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free Colored Persons - Males - 10 thru 23: 2
Free Colored Persons - Males - 24 thru 35: 1
Free Colored Persons - Males - 36 thru 54: 1 [Elijah, b 1786-1804]
Free Colored Persons - Females - Under 10: 3 [wife, b 1786-1804]
Free Colored Persons - Females - 10 thru 23: 2
Free Colored Persons - Females - 36 thru 54: 1
Total Free Colored Persons: 12

1850 Census, Laurel Hill, Richmond Co NC
Name Age
Elijah Norton 48 Pedlar
Eliza Norton 44
Emeline Norton 23
Alley Norton 20
Andrew Norton 22 Assistant Pedlar
Sarah Norton 17
Elijah Norton 16
Johnnie Norton 14
Ann Norton 10
John Norton 9
Daniel Norton 7
James Norton 5
Archibald Norton 2
William Norton 6
Hiram Norton 3
Rebecca Norton 11/12

Next door on one side is family of Reuben Norton, brother of Elijah Norton.

Next door on the other side is family of Thoroughgood Pate.

1860 Census of Williamson, Richmond Co NC
Household Members Age
Elijah Norton 60
Eliza Norton 64
John Norton 19
Daniel Norton 16
Jas Norton 15
Hiram Norton 8
Minerva Norton 7
Loderic Norton 5
Evander Norton 4

Other nearby Norton families:
Lodric Norton, 30, and family
Eli Norton, 55, with wife Rachel and seven children
Julia Norton, 29, single
Handy Norton, 30, with wife Elizabeth and five children
David Norton, 70, with Susan, 40, Christian, 36, Sallie, 25, Mahala, 7, Mary, 5, Rebecca, 1, James, 20, Wm, 18.
Thorogood Pate, 47, with wife Christain, 42 and six Pate children, including another Christain.