Robert Walton Burton

Life Sketch of Robert Walton Burton

compiled by Bertha Call

assisted by Norma L. B. Humphrey and Eleanor E. Mortensen

Robert Walton Burton was born to James and Isabella Walton Burton, April 29, 1826, at Gayle, near Hawes, in the Parish of Aysgarth in Yorkshire, England -- the oldest child in a family of twelve children. At a very young age, he went to live with his uncle Robert and learned the trade of wheelwright and blacksmith, finishing his apprenticeship 11 July 1839, at the age of 13 years. He followed this trade in the countryside around Bradford until he left England four years later.

Near his 17th birthday (16 January 1843) Robert, in company with his Uncle and Aunt, Robert and Ann Tatham Burton, left England for American on the ship Swanton, with a company of Saints under the leadership of Lorenzo Snow. They landed in New Orleans 16 March 1843, then traveled up the Mississippi River in the Amasanth, arriving in Nauvoo the 12 April 1843. John Marriott and his wife, Susan, and sister Elizabeth had been traveling with them during this journey.

The next day, April 13, the Prophet Joseph Smith preached to these newly arrived British Saints. Robert's uncle later introduced the young Robert Walton Burton to the prophet with the remark, "This young man has not yet been baptized." The Prophet said, "He will be baptized before six months have passed." Robert was baptized shortly afterward.

On the 6 February 1845, Robert Walton Burton and Elizabeth Marriott were married by William Paine.

Robert was active in many things. He became a member of the 17th Quorum of Seventy in Nauvoo. He was one of the Prophet's body guards, and he said that he would gladly have given his life for him if it had been required of him. He received his Patriarchal blessing under the hands of Patriarch John Smith, on the 17th February 1845.

Like other members of the Church at that time, Robert and Elizabeth passed through many trying times. When the Saints were driven out of Nauvoo, they, with their baby daughter, Isabelle, went with them, but Uncle Robert and Aunt Ann did not want to go. After three days of travel, Robert went back and persuaded them to come with him, as he did not want to leave them to the mercy of the mobs. On the night of the 17th of November 1846, their baby, Isabelle, died. As Robert left his wagon to tell his Uncle about the baby, the Uncle said, "I know, and your aunt has just passed away also." The next morning they buried them in the same grave. A few months later his Uncle Robert died also.

As Robert was a wheelwright and a blacksmith, he was assigned by Brigham Young to remain for a time in council bluffs to assist the traveling Saints to prepare their wagons for the long westward trek. While here, two other children were born to Robert and Elizabeth: Robert James, born 3 February 1848 and died 13 September. James was born 14 March 1851, and died 10 May.

Robert received two letters from his parents in Bradford, England, one dated 20 September 1843, interestingly addressed to :

"Robert Burton - Hancock County - on the Prary - neer the Mound."

Another, addressed to "Robert Burton - Council Bleff - one of the Seventy - America." and dated August 27th, 1849, brought sad news -- "of the death of your kind and affectionate father, he died on the 18th of July, not long after we heard of the death of your Uncle and Aunt. We have mourned together.---"

Robert and Elizabeth arrived in Salt Lake city in the fall of 1851 and moved on to Kaysville to make their home, and set up a blacksmith shop. One day he was shoeing a horse, when a neighbor walked in and said, Robert there is another Robert Burton in town." Much interested, Robert said, "Hold this horse, won't you?" and left at once to find the other Robert Burton. He found that this new family were cousins from Yorkshire. He took them to his home and kept them until they moved to East Kaysville on the "mountain road", where he raised vegetables to sell. At this time, by the advice of Brigham Young, Robert put 'Walton' in his name and the other Robert put 'Lamb' in his, as these were their mother's maiden names, which gave them complete identity. Both Roberts resided in Kaysville until they died.

Four other children came to them in Kaysville: Elizabeth, William Parrish, Eliza and Vollice, which made them rejoice.

Robert went to Echo Canyon when Johnson's Army came into Fort Bridger. He was Captain of a company of sixty-five men who sent to assist the quelling the Indians in the Black Hawk War. He was called to go to the Salmon Country in Idaho, and responded cheerfully. When Kaysville town was incorporated he was appointed as town marshal. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and was present with his son, William, when they drove the Golden Spike at Promontory, Utah.

Robert Walton Burton married a second wife, Mary Ann Matthews, on the 9th of May 1870, and they had twelve children, six girls and six boys.

On the 1 of June 1905 Robert Walton Burton died at his home at the age of 79 years. He was loved, honored and respected by all who knew him.

The Children of James and Isabella Burton

In the individual photos on the bottom, the one in the middle is Margaret Burton Marriott - our great, great, great, great grandmother.

Walker Pedigree Chart

this chart starts Marilyn Walker's father

James Burton and Isabella Walton Burton Family Group Sheet

 Dates of death were cut off for the children.  They are as follows:
Robert Walton Burton  Died: 1 June 1905
Isabella Walton Smith  Died: 14 April 1909
James Walton Burton Died: 20 September 1829  (age, 5 days)
Rose Mary Burton  Died:  November 1831 (age, less than 1 month)
William Walton Burton Died: 27 June 1918
Rosemond Burton Rushforth  Died: 6 April 1891
James Walton Burton  Died: 9 October 1918 (It was common practice to name a later child after one that died)
Margaret Burton Marriott Died: 30 September 1918
Ann Burton Died: 2 November 1840 ( date of birth)
Christopher Walton Burton  Died: 26 December 1913
Mary Burton Holland Died: 15 January 1874
Thomas Walton Burton Died: 5 August 1919

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."

James Burton and Isabella Walton Burton

As near as I can tell, a lot of this article was copied from William Walton Burton's story, 'Little Willie'.  As I was typing it in, there were many random quotation marks that had no place in the story, so I left them out and I think we can all just realize that a lot of the story is copied from his story - also I changed some of her spelling and punctuation.  There are footnotes that list the sources of dates and such and at a later date, I will figure out a way to include them.

STORY OF OUR GRANDPARENTS

JAMES BURTON AND ISABELLA WALTON BURTON

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

Our Grandfather, James Burton, youngest son of Great Grandparent's James Burton and Rosemond Clarkson, was born 6th of June 1800 in Gayle of Hawes, Yorkshire, England. Gayle is a small hamlet near Hawes, which is a Chapelry in Parish of Aysgarth. The Gayle records were kept in Hawes.

Isabella Walton was born 7 April 1802. The Quaker Records gave Buttersett of Hawes as the place of her birth, but her Patriarchal Blessing gives Dent, Yorkshire, England. They were Quakers. They were probably able financially to give their two children some educational opportunities. Her brother, four years her senior, was head booker of a large firm operating coal mines in the vicinity of town, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England. He had an income of 400 pounds sterling, and was able to give his three living children good educations. This uncle and his family was probably the inspiration that made nephew, William Walton Burton, so determined to get a good education in spite of poverty and difficulties.

Since we find in Gayle and Hawes, both our Burton and Walton families, it seems reasonable that James Burton and Isabella Walton knew one another as children. Later in Hawes Parish Register, -----"Marriage of James Burton of Bradford Moor in Parish of Bradford, and Isabella Walton of Gayle in this Chapelry, married by license 5 March 1825." Her brother, Christopher, was one of the witnesses to their marriage.

In his autobiography titled, 'Little Willie', William Walton Burton on the occasion of a visit with his father to his Aunt Mable Metcalfe's when he was 14 years of age, (probably by cart) describes the country side of the part of England best known to the Burtons:

"As his native town grew dim in the distance, fine old farm houses appeared in view, with fields of waving grain and gentlemen's summer residences, surrounded by beautiful parks, interspersed with very large trees, where deer were seen resting themselves under the wide spreading branches of those ancient oaks.----they gained the top of a high hill, where an open valley lay before them in which there were three or four lovely villages; and in those villages resided many of their relatives, ---- one was the birth place of his father. After descending into the valley they drew up before a very ancient farm house, where his father said, "Willie, your Aunt Mabel lives here." They entered and received a warm welcome. ----the scenery around Aunt Mabel's, rural home was far different from Bradford, his native village. The village in which stood her residence was a beautiful little settlement, occupied chiefly by wealthy farmers, and bounded on every side by rich pastures and beautiful meadows. Close to the village ran a clear stream of water, the bed of this stream was solid limestone rock."

While living in Bradford, some of their children learned vocations. Robert became a blacksmith, also learned to play the violin; William became a wool comber (some of his older children remember seeing his wool combs); James worked with wood and became a Joiner, Isabella and Rose learned to spin and weave cloth.

Here in Bradford, there was a congregation, who had left the Methodist New Connection Church, that met together every Sabbath, worshipped God as well as they knew how, and prayed that he would send them the pure gospel. It was while meeting with this group, that James and Isabella Burton and their family heard the Latter-day Saint Missionaries preach the gospel. They believed that they taught the same gospel that Jesus Christ and his apostles taught, so on June 4, 1842 they were baptized. Their children were baptized later.

James Burton died of cholera 18th of July 1849, at the age of 49 years and 12 days, leaving nine children for his widow to look after, the youngest only 2 years old. His early death was a great shock to his wife and family. The oldest son, Robert, had emigrated to Utah some time before with his Uncle Robert, for whom he had been named. So sixteen year old William had to do all he could to help his mother support the family.

About two years later, the president of the mission asked her if she was willing for her son William to go on a mission, and stated that he had been impressed to call upon him to go and preach the gospel. "Her eyes filled with tears, realizing that it would deprive her of her son's much needed help," but her answer was positive. "If the Lord wants him, I am willing for him to go."

When the appointed time came for him to start on his mission, from the little money he had saved, he purchased a dress for his mother, and an entire suit of clothes for himself. The remainder of the money he left at home, as the elders were required to preach the gospel without purse or script.

We do not have a complete record of how she met her problems. Her daughters, Isabella and Rose, got work in the factory weaving cloth. They had to be at work at 6 o'clock in the morning and had to walk 3 miles there and 3 miles back, after having stood at their looms all day. Margaret, the next daughter, had to do all she could to help for her mother had to work to get a little money, where she could.

One of Isabella Walton Burton's outstanding skills was knitting. She used a sheath or shield in which to hold her knitting needles, and worked so rapidly that her needles could not be seen only the clicking of the needles could be heard. In an evening, she could make a pair of socks.

After William returned from his mission, they decided it was best for him to go to America, find his brother Robert, and the two of them prepare a home and send for their mother and the family. He went on to Utah and met his brother Robert, and together they were able to send for their mother and the family.

The family sailed for America on the 22 of April 1855 on Ship Samuel Curling. They were listed on the ship's records as follows:

Age: 52 Isabella Burton
        22 Isabella Burton
        19 Rosemond Burton
        17 James Burton - Joiner Occupation
        15 Margaret (Margrete) Burton
        12 Christopher Burton
        10 Mary Burton
         8 Thomas Burton

They arrived in New York the 22nd of May 1855, where they traveled by train to St. Louis and then on to Kansas. Isabella and her seven children crossed the plains in 8th Company of Captain Milo Andrus, and arrived in Salt Lake City the 24th of October 1855.

"Andrus was not a very kind man.----He was a hard taskmaster. Grandmother was not very strong, being of slight figure. ----It was hard for her to walk so much, so sometimes she stole a ride to help her along. One day as she was climbing in a wagon she fell. The wheel passed over her leg and broke the bone. It was set and bandaged and doctored by plasters of cow manure."

They walked about 20 miles a day, crossed many rivers on foot and would be very weary at night. When they camped at night after eating their scanty meal, they would have prayers and sing, "Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard, tis not so, all is well." Food was scarce, their flour was weighed out to them, and many times they had very little to eat.

At Fort Bridger they were met by her two oldest sons, Robert Walton Burton and William Walton Burton with provisions. They settled in Kaysville, Utah, and for a while stayed at Robert's home located on what is now known as the Greener Farm.

The winter of 1855 was known as the "hard winter." They had very little food. For six weeks they did not taste bread. What little wheat flour they used for thickening soup, which was made from an old cow that was so thin it couldn't stand up, so was killed and the meat used for soup. In the spring of that year, their food consisted mainly of greens, being made from nettles or other kinds of weeds.

Isabella Walton Burton was given a Patriarchal Blessing by Isaac Morley in Kaysville, Utah on 7 September 1857. It states that she was the daughter of William and Isabella Walton and was born at Dent, Yorkshire, England. She was promised that her children would bless and honor her, that she would have peace of mind, would enjoy health and her last days would be her best days. Because of her integrity, she was beloved by the Lord.

The latter part of her life she lived in Kaysville with William and Rachel Burton. They had been away from home and upon returning asked her how she was feeling. She said, "Oh, I feel so fine I could jump over the moon." But that very night, she took sick and died the 31st of March 1863. She had an egg and a cup of tea for her supper. They thought it was the egg that caused it, for she had had one for breakfast, and her stomach could never digest eggs very well. It was too much for her.

She was buried in a homemade coffin made out of a pine log by her son-in-law, Samuel Rushforth.

Grandmother was buried in Kaysville before the lots had been properly laid out. For a time her grave was lost. Later another grave was being dug and her coffin was found, identified and a marker erected. The family planned to replace the marker as the inscription (in 1967) was almost unreadable and it had fallen over. On the marker, her name is spelled Isabel.

Descriptive Sketch of early England home of James and Isabella Walton Burton

Descriptive Sketch of the early places where the Burtons lived

Dent, Hawes and Bradford in Yorkshire ENGLAND

the home place of the

JAMES AND ISABELLA BURTON FAMILY

Dent and Hawes were the ancestorial homes of our Burtons. The family of James and Isabella Burton moved to the industrial city of Bradford to live and find employment.

Bradford, in Yorkshire (the largest County in England), is pleasantly situated at the junction of three beautiful valleys. At the time our Burton ancestors lived there in 1831, the streets were paved and lighted with gas. The houses, mostly of stone and roofed with brown slate found in the neighborhood, were handsome and well-built. The neighborhood abounded with pleasing and picturesque scenery. Bradford derived its name from a Ford on the River Aire.

Bradford was the center of the manufacturing districts, and the people of the city were principally employed in the manufacture of superior woolen cloth, worsted stuffs, cotton goods, and in the spinning of yarns.

Manningham is a township in the northern Parish of Bradford in West Riding of the county of Yorkshire. William refers to "Long Land Street" in Manningham as the residence of his father's family. Rosemond Burton Rushforth gives another address: (this address is not legible on the copy I have - but could say Montgomery Street).

In a letter from mother Isabella to son Robert dated the 27th of August 1849 she gave a different address, in her own script :

On the faded map of Bradford, you can just make out the village of Manningham in the upper left hand corner. These two maps were taken from the 1967 booklet.

Burton Family History Introduction and Credits

BURTON FAMILY HISTORY

HONORING

JAMES BURTON AND ISABELLA WALTON

FAMILY

Compiled by BURTON FAMILY Organization

for
Burton Family Reunion - June 24, 1967

at Kaysville, Utah

To all members of the BURTON FAMILY:

The stories and pictures assembled in these pages, were obtained from the treasured material kept in many of the Burton Families; from memory and tradition (see note below); and from recent intensive research. It has been assembled here for the purpose of preserving the memories of our people, whose faithful, loving service and simple thrifty ways should be retained in the memory of their children as a source of inspiration through all the generations.

By the vote of the Burton Family assembled in Reunion at Kaysville in 1964, under the chairmanship of Ruby Rushforth Pincock, granddaughter of Rosemond Burton Rushforth, the plan to prepare this History was put into action. To honor this first generation of the Burtons in the Church this History is now presented by the Historical Committee appointed, with the humble hope that it is "complete, correct and acceptable." The committee extends sincere appreciation to all who have contributed stories, shared treasured pictures, identified and verified materials, typed copy or helped in any way.



Family Reunion Officers:

Alice Burton Rampton - President
Camella Christensen Barton
Lucile Burton Kennah
Golda Burton King
John Walton Waite
Ardella Waite Mertlich
Nora Blaimires Ivy


Members Burton Family History Committee:

Marian Gardner Fluckiger - Chairman
Ruby Rushforth Pincock
Bertha Clarke Call
Josephine Burton Bagley - Burton Family Representative

Note: In 1915 William Walton Burton called the Burton Family together in an important Genealogy meeting where plans were made to gather the important dates and facts pertaining to the family in a Record and to begin the work of Genealogy Research.

Consequently all information possible from memory and resources available to the family at that time, was written into a suitable Family Record, and marked "Memory and Tradition".

The accuracy and detail of this first Burton Family Record is amazing to those who have followed this work, and who have checked this work by careful scientific research. It has been a key to success in gathering data which now is assembled in the extensive Genealogy Records in the keeping of our Family Genealogists available to all.

We follow them who lived before,
Because they lived, we now have life
And strength to meet its time of strife.
For us they opened wide the door --
Bequeathed to us all things they learned -
Left guide posts on the roads they turend,
And to the best that they could know
Pointed the way for us to go.
                 By Edgar A. Guest
                 from Children of the Dead

Isabella Walton Burton Patriarchal Blessing

There is a life story of Isabella that will be printed under another heading.  Two things to note - in her life story, she is listed as born in a different place in England.  Second, if you note the date of the blessing, 1857, was a very scary year for the Saints in Utah.  You can read more about that in her life story also.

Kaysville, Utah


September 7, 1857

A blessing by Patriarch Isaac Morley upon the head of Isabella Burton, daughter of Wm. and Isabella Walton, born Dent, Yorkshire, England April 7, 1802.

Sister Isabella, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus and I seal the blessings of the Father and the Patriarch upon thy head. This seal of priesthood shall be a comfortor (sic) to thy mind. Thou art beloved of the Lord by reason of integrity of thy heart. Thou hast previously received, and covenanted before the Lord and I bless thee with the blessings of life, with the blessings of health, that thy last days may become thy best days, that thy system may be quickened and invigorated, that thou may yet live to enjoy the redemption with the Saints of God. Let thy mind become calm and it shall be serene like the Son and thou shall yet participate in the blessings of the Latter day glory. Thy children shall bless and honor thee in thy declining of years. The desires of thy heart shall be given thee in thy union on the resurrection morning. All things shall be restored pertaining to thy exaltation. Thou shall enjoy the blessings of the earth, the blessings of the society of the saints. Thou shall see the hand of the Lord of the law in the redemption of his people, and the wicked fall into their own snares which they have set to betray the people of God.

Thou are of Joseph. Thou are an heiress to the blessings of endless lives. I ratify this seal upon thee in the name of Jesus. Amen.