You are going to have to dig in to figure out the full extended line. From
www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurehistory4642.html we had:
Alex. Crombie, a successful and much-esteemed advocate and land agent in Aberdeen, acquired the property in 1804. He was succeeded by his cousin, the Rev. Alex. Crombie, LL.D., F.R.S. (1760-1840), the author of several well-known works; and his grandson, Alex. Crombie, Esq., W. S. (b. 1836; suc. 1877), holds 2300 acres in the shire, valued at £2632 per annum.—Ord. Sur., sh. 57, 1868.
Me thinks too many Alexander Crombies
Without verifying anything but from what I have seen to date:
(2) Rev. Alex. Crombie, LL.D., F.R.S. (1760-1840)...................cousin of Alex. Crombie (1), advocate and land agent in Aberdeen (who originally purchased Thornton Castle in 1804)
(3) Alexander Crombie son of Rev. A Crombie married Mary Harriet Richardson and they had
(4) Alexander Crombie b. 1836 who married Elizabeth Marshall in 1870, this Alexander was grandson to Rev. Alex. Crombie, LL.D., F.R.S. (1760-1840).
Alexander Crombie b. 1871, son of Alex C. and Elizabeth Marshall, went on to marry Mabel Cookson in 1899.
(X) Order of succession of Thornton Castle
So Thornton Castle looks to have been bought by the AC from Aberdeen in 1804. On his death without heirs it was transferred to his cousin the Rev AC. On his death passed to his son AC (husband of Mary Richardson) and then in 1877, AC son of AC and Mary Richardson inherited.
...or something like that! Thornton Castle looks to have been sold back to the Thornton family in 1893 from what I read.
Some entries from the Wills & Testaments section on SP. I have just picked up on some, there are more, but just trying to get you rough time line:
Aberdeen AC who when he died passed over Thorton Castle to his cousin the Rev AC:
Crombie Alexander 01/05/1833 esquire of Phesdo, advocate in Aberdeen T. Misc. Papers incl. Elizabeth Duthie 01/05/1833 SC1/37/10/pp481-508 Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories SC1/36/10The cousin, the Rev AC who when he died passed on Thornton Castle to his son AC (husband of Mary Richardson):
Crombie Alexander 01/01/1841 Revd, Doctor of Laws, residing at York Terrace in parish of Saint Marylebone in county of Middlesex and of Phesdo in county of Kincardine Inventory; List of Arrears of Rents; General Disposition Stonehaven Sheriff
CourtAC, husband of Mary Richardson, son of the Rev AC, who when he died passed on TC to his son AC (born 1836):
Crombie Alexander 05/10/1877 esq., of Thornton, county of Kincardine, d. 22/07/1877 at Cheltenham, testate Stonehaven Sheriff CourtAC born 1836 looks to have sold Thornton Castle circa 1893.
There are lots of refs to Thornton Castle on google. Try "thornton castle" +crombie (as written) for more specific entries.
I just found this for example which bring some personality and character to the names:
Lord Gardenston's heir, Francis Garden of Troup, sold the estate to the first of four lairds to bear the name Alexander Crombie, a name which is held in honour for the skilful restoration of the 16th century castle by the first Crombie laird and the addition of the garden front by the third.
With this Alexander Crombie's son and his heir the fourth Alexander Crombie of Thornton, known as 'Joe' to his friends, and Joe's younger brother Francis rests the credit of introducing to Scotland the game of Rugby football which they had leart at Durham School in 1852-53 six years after the codification of the laws of the game as played at Rugby.
It was the Crombies who created the cricket park - still so called though long since farmed - between the Black Burn and the East Drive and built the fine pavilion which, used initially for country house cricket, has been the scene of many family festivities and tenantry parties, accommodated families of evacuees during the second World War and more recently, a children's play group.
On this ground in August 1882 Colonel H.W. Renny-Tailyour of Newmanwalls, a Scot who played cricket for Kent and the Gentlemen of England, scored 140 runs in a record second wicket partnership of 370.Source:
www.clanstrachan.com/heritage/castles/thornton_castle.htmRegards.
Monica