Churton had been appointed Register of Deeds for the new county of Orange County when it was erected in 1752, but the actual function was carried out by his deputy, William Reed, because of his necessary extended absences in his surveying practice.
When Orange County was established in 1752, Churton was designated as its Register of Deeds. However, he delegated the actual work to his deputy, William Reed, because of Reed's extensive involvement in land surveying.