Burton family - first 3 generations back to 1685

(Material collected and compiled by Josephine Burton Bagley, Family Representative)

Note: To help us to better understand the background of James and Isabella Burton lives, I have given a little of the lives of some of their earlier parents and grandparents.

Our First Great Parents JAMES BURTON AND ROSEMOND CLARKSON

James Burton was born and christened the 15th of April, 1751. He was the eldest son of Mathew Burton and Mabel Burrow. Rosemond Clarkson was christened the 18th of March 1753. She was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Clarkson, and was born in Simistone of Hardraw, Yorkshire, England. They were married the 23 of November 1775 at Hawes. Their first home was in Hawes, and their first five children were born there. Their last ten children were born in Gayle of Hawes, Yorkshire, England.

This James Burton was probably a farmer. His death certificate states he was a woolcomer. (sic) This vocation may be been learned and practiced, operating his own agricultural holdings. The little we know of their family seems to indicate they were reared on a farm.

Daughter Mabel was skilled in use of the scythe, which was used at that time to cut and harvest grain and hay. In 1851, we find wife, Mabel, a widow at the age of seventy years, with unmarried 25 year old son, a 10 year old scholar grandson, and a 7 year old granddaughter, operating 94 acres, employing no help. Our grandfather was skilled in handling horses.

Great Grandmother, Rosemond Clarkson, died the 7th of November 1829 at the age of almost 77 years. Our great grandfather, James Burton, died the 14th of April 1842 at the age of 91 years and 364 days, at Appersett, near Hawes, Yorkshire, England, probably at the home of his daughter Mabel, wife of Christopher Metcalfe. (see the reference to this aunt Mabel in the story of James and Isabella).



OUR SECOND GREAT GRANDPARENTS, MATHEW BURTON AND MABEL BURROW

Mathew Burton, the eldest son of James Burton and Isabel Sedgswick, was christened the 15th of February 1716. Mabel Burrow, daughter of Robert Burrow and Elizabeth Collinson, was christened the 10th of December 1719. Mathew and Mabel were married the 26th of May 1738. They lived in Dent, Yorkshire, England. He left now will, but we have found where he was named in three wills.

1) In the will of his maternal grandfather, Mathew Sedgswick. He and his cousin, Leonard Mason received the right of land and property in 1723.

2) In 1769, Mathew Burton, his two sons and four daughters were named as beneficiaries in the will of his deceased mother's only brother, Edward Burrow.

3) In 1881 the will of Robert Burrow, only child of Edward Burrow---- (quote)---"I give and devise all my free-hold estate, messages, tenements with all and singular the lands, grounds, hereditaments and premises situated and lying and being at Gawthrope in Dent -- unto my cousin, James Burton, son of my late Uncle Mathew Burton." He also names the other five children of Mathew Burton and Mabel Burrow as beneficiaries. Cousin Robert Burton of London was given 100 pounds, and his five sisters, Isabell, Mary (wife of George Moses), Ann, and Elizabeth Burton, 40 pounds each.

Evidently Mathew married Margaret after Mabel's death, as in the settlement of his property, it was done in the name of Margaret, widow of Mathew Burton, administratrix.


OUR THIRD GREAT GRANDPARENTS, JAMES BURTON AND ISABEL SEDGSWICK

James Burton was born about the 1685. Isabel Sedgswick was christened the 17th of May 1690. They were married the 12th of May 1715 and lived in Haycoat, Dent, Yorkshire, in the Parish of Sedgberg. In our careful search, we found no will, but we have found his name in other people's wills, where he had either been appointed as an executor or mentioned as "my trusted friend."