John Burton (abt. 1608 - 1684)

Born about 1608 in England

Descendants

Died 14 Oct 1684 at about age 76 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, New England [uncertain]

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John Burton migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 52) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

John Burton was born about 1608. He testified in 1666 that he was age 58,^[1][2] and in 1683 that he was age 75.^[3] He was probably born in England.

There are no known records in New England mentioning his wife's name. She was not named in his 1684 will.

Recorded Events

John Burton settled in Salem before 1637, when he was granted land by the town.^[4] He was single at the time. He received another grant in 1649.^[5]

2.1.1647/8 [2 Mar 1648]. John Burton and others were fined for sleeping on watch and having their arms taken from them.^[6][7].

In Salem 27: 12[Feb]: 1649, "John Burton having agreed with John Rowden to keep a child of his, Rowden and his wife neglected the child, endangering it's health and life, it was alleged." The court determined that it was not that bad but by mutual consent the child was delivered back to John Burton, and the amount to pay Rowden for keeping the child would be determined.^[8][7]

25th 12th month 1650, William Nicolls petitioned the court about a child of John Burton, committed to dwell with Nicholls as a servant until he was twenty-one years old. Nicholls concern was what would the court order if he, Nicholls, should die.^{[7] [9]}

1658, John Leach died owing money to John Burton and others.^[10]

John's sympathies were strong for the Quakers, and he early joined that sect.^[11] In March 1658. "John Small, Josiah Southwick, and John Burton, belonging to this place [Salem], and to the Friends, were apprehended in Dedham, on their way to Rhode Island, to provide a place for themselves and families. They were carried before the Governor in Boston, who allowed them to pursue their way by paying costs. " ^[12][11]

27 Nov 1660. Several Friends were fined. Robert Stone's wife was fined court costs. John Burton was presented and dismissed.^[12]

10 Dec 1661. Several Friends were fined. John was among the group and spoke telling "the justices that they were robbers and destroyers of the widows and the fatherless, and that their priests divined for money, and that their worship was not the worship of God. Being commanded silence, he commanded the court to be silent. He continued speaking in this manner till he was ordered to the stocks."^[12]

During the years between 1662 and 1667 John Burton Sr, Hanah Burton, and John Burton Jr., along with others, were "presented" at court and fined for "frequently absenting themselves from public ordinances on the Lord's days.^[13] In addition John Sr was fined for swearing in 1665.^[14]

John was chosen fence viewer 22 Mar 1666/7.^[15]

Burton was a tanner by trade and on a couple of occasions (1669 and 1673) petitioned the town for additional land to further his trade of tanning. ^[15][16]

John was one of many petitioners who had rights in the common land at Salem, but the common land was being used for other purposes, some even being sold, and the petitioners asked the town in July 1678 to allow them a way to preserve what was left for it's original purpose.^[17]

March 1677/8 John Burton, and John Burton Jr and a lot of other men of Salem were "warned" to court to take the oath of fidelity.^[18]

10 Jun 1680. He and others purchased land to be the Quaker Burial Ground in Salem.^[19]

He and John Burton jr. were on a tax list in 1684. It appears he was not taxed though.^[20]

Will & Probate

His will was dated 14 Oct 1684 and proved 16 Nov., 1684. He mentions sons John, executor, Samuel and Isaac, son-in-law William Osborne and William's wife Hannah, the daughter of John. Also grandchild Samuel Osburn and other grandchildren. An inventory valued at £223. 12.0. was taken and testimony was given by Henry Kenidy and Jon Nickols that John Burton, Senr, wished that in case his two sons John and Samuel should die, not having any heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten, that his son Isaac and the heirs of his body should inherit his land; because he would have it continue in the name of Burton.^[21] From the will of his son Isaac it is seen that neither of his brothers left issue; and Isaac thus having the land, left to his son Isaac the reversion in same property.^[22][11][23]

CHILDREN by unknown wife:^{[24] [22]}

• Hannah, who married, 1672, William Osborne.
• John, age 21 in 1661, who died without issue.
  
• Samuel, who also died without having children.
  
• Isaac who died in 1706.
  
• Jacob. There is a fifth child listed by Roome^[22]. None of the other genealogies list him. He was "killed at Turner's Falls fight 8 May, 1676. He was in Capt. Turner's company, and is creditied to both Northfield and Salem. He did not leave issue." There was a Jacob Burton killed in the Turner's Falls fight.

Unproven / Unsourced / Disputed

• Not the husband of Frances Claypoole (aft.1622-)
• Not the son of Boniface Burton (abt.1579-1669). Boniface Burton according to Anderson: "Great Migration Begins" was probably not the progenitor of this family. His will mentions no children, but his wife and a niece. Likewise the will of his wife mentions no children.
• It has been claimed that John Burton came to New England via Barbados.^[11] A John Burton, age 17, was on the 2 May 1635 list of persons embarking on the Alexander. They presented their certificates and took the oath of Supremacie.^[25] There is nothing to connect the Barbados man with the Salem man.
  • According to WikiPedia, the first British ship to visit Barbados was 14 Jun 1625. Some of the settlers were indentured servants, who were required to serve for five years. If John received land in 1637 (as a single person), the timing looks to be Very Tight. [end of speculation]
• Note: The article by Roome says "to be continued", however, Vol 8 is not currently available on the internet, and probably doesn't exist, see comments.

Sources

1. ↑ Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk. The New England historical and genealogical register. 6:245 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society; 1847) p. 245Genealogical facts gleaned from various court records.
2. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Volume III. Edited by George Francis Dow, Transcribed and Abstracted from the Original Court Manuscript by Harriet S. Tapley. Published and Copyrighted by the Essex Institute 1913 p. 368 Sworn Dec 1666.
3. ↑ Essex Quarterly Court http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/Essex/vol9/images/essex088.html Vol IX p. 88]
4. ↑ Felt, Joseph. The Annals of Salem. Vol I. Second Edition (Salem: W.&S.B. Ives, 1845) p. 168
5. ↑ Town records of Salem, Massachusetts. Volume I 1634-1659. (Salem, Mass., The Essex Institute, 1868) p. 22. p. 102, p. 158 3 acres of meadow
6. ↑ "Salem Court Records and Files""Essex Antiquarian" 6:29
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 Vol 1 1636-1656 (The Essex Institute, 1911) watch p. 137, child p. 185], Nicholls petition p. 185
8. ↑ "Salem Court Records and Files"Essex Antiquarian 6:163
9. ↑ "Salem Court Records and Files" Essex Antiquarian 7:26. This has a slightly different interpretation and says the 5th.
10. ↑ "Salem Court Records and Files" Essex Antiquarian 13:91 (1909)
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3} Austin, John Osborne. "160 Allied Families of New England", page 51: Salem, Mass.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Felt, Joseph. The Annals of Salem, From Its First Settlement (W.&S.B. Ives, 1827) p. 197, p. 203, pp 213, 214
13. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Volume III Edited by George Francis Dow, Transcribed and Abstracted from the Original Court Manuscript by Harriet S. Tapley, Published and Copyrighted by the Essex Institute, 1913 pp 19, 20, 117, 116, 223, 224, 293, 343, 381, 462, 466
14. ↑ Essex Quarterly Court Vol III p,. 270
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume II 1659-1680 (Salem, Mass.:The Essex Institute, 1913). p. 78 chosen fence viewer p. 100 19 1st mo 1668/9 He petitioned for a small plot of land to improve his trade of Tanning.p. 100 April 1673 asking for a piece of swamp for his tan vats.p. 160
16. ↑ Felt, Joseph. The Annals of Salem. Vol II. Second Edition (Salem: W.&S.B. Ives, 1849) p. 183
17. ↑ Essex Quarterly Court Vol VII p 75
18. ↑ Essex quarterly Court. Vol VII p. 155
19. ↑ Perley Sidney, "Part of Salem in 1700. No. 8" Essex Antiquarian. (1902) 6:98
20. ↑ Essex Quarterly Court Vol IX p. 380, 379
21. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts, probate records and indexes 1638-1916 Old Series : Probate records, vols. 301-303, Book 1-3, 1671-1694. Book 302 pp 115-118 FHL FILM 007704242 Image 227 of 593.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2} Roome, Mrs. William. "Notes on a Branch of the Burton Family of Essex County, Mass. Putnam's Historical Magazine. Jan.-Dec., 1899. New Series, Vol. VII. pp 302-306. Danvers, Mass: Eben Putnam, Publisher and Editor. [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044098875966?urlappend=%3Bseq=320 link Hathi Trust
23. ↑ Essex Quarterly Court Vol IX 414, 415
24. ↑ Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) Vol. 2, Page 696-7
25. ↑ Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. (London: John Camden Hotten, 1874.) p. 75