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Burton genealogy |
13 July 2020 |
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Dr Geoffrey Mann |
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10 Robert BURTON c1670-1727 |
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m Mary MASTERS 1694 |
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Robert Burton was probably born around 1670 in the vicinity of Colchester, Essex but no record has been found. He married Mary Masters in Surrey and became a farmer at Great Bentley. They had at least seven children before Robert died in 1727. He left £20 each to his unmarried daughters and the rest to his wife who died two years later. They were both buried at Great Bentley |
b=born m=married d=died
C=Christened B=Buried
Martha Burton was born about 1700 son of Robert of Great Bentley. A few Burton baptisms can be discerned in the registers of Great Bentley at this time, the earliest being of Robert Burton in 1699 son of Robert. Two daughters were probably born earlier, so a birth date around 1670 is therefore expected for Robert senior but could be much earlier.
The baptism register of Gt Bentley begins in 1665 but is in fairly poor condition and no Robert Burton can be identified between 1665 and 1690.
The nearest possible baptism in the Essex baptism index is at Chelmsford some 26 miles from Gt Bentley:
C 21Aug1673 Robert son of John Burton
From the will of Arthur Palmer, his mother was Ann Burton who remarried Arthur Palmer at Gt Baddow 15May1677. In 1684 Arthur left property in Moulsham, Chelmsford to Robert Burton son of his wife Ann by her first husband. Charles Rowning of Chelmsford bequeathed him £10 in 1688. There is nothing to connect this Robert Burton with Gt Bentley, and he may be the Robert Burton who was living in Maldon in 1708 mentioned in the will of Thomas Stace of Maldon.
Even further away, Robert and Rebecca Burton, children of Rebecca Burton, widow, were bequeathed £50 each by Robert Cole of Rochford in his will of 1693. This Robert is possibly the Robert Burton husbandman of Barling who made a will in 1750.
Robert was of Merton in Surrey when he married Mary Masters of Chiswick, but how this marriage was arranged is unknown
It seems more likely that Robert Burton was born much nearer Gt Bentley but record of his baptism has not survived. There are records of earlier Burton families at Colchester and Gt Wigborough (7 and 9 miles from Gt Bentley)
Robert's first child was probably born around 1695 so a marriage around 1690 is expected. The 1727 will of Mary Burton shows that she was Robert's wife. The m registers of Gt Bentley survive from 1678 but are in poor condition and no suitable marriage has been found there.
Two witnesses to Robert's will were named Richard and George Masters. The executor of the will of his wife Mary was Thomas Couchman of Thames St London. A Thomas Couchman of London St Michael Queenhithe (which includes Thames St) m Catherine Masters of London St Swithin on 21Aug1712 at Southwark St George. Other documents show beyond reasonable doubt that Catherine Richard and George were siblings and Mary was their sister. There is a suitable marriage of a Robert Burton to Mary Masters at Merton in Surrey:
m 28Oct1694 Robt Burton of this parish & Mary Masters of Chiswick Middlesex at Merton St Mary
b ?1695 Elizabeth m John Greene
b ?1697 Mary m Joseph Dawson
C 20?Sep1699 Robert s Robert Burton
b c1700 Martha m Hugh Simons 1Jan1722/3
C Dec?1701 Anne d Robert Burton
bur 25Feb1739
C 22Apr1705 Rebekah d Robert Burton
C 13Nov1709 George s George and Mary Burton
Descendants are arranged in the order in which they appear in the will. It seems likely that the register entry for George son of George is an error, repeating the child's name for the father.There are no other known baptisms to George Burton, and Robert is known to have a son George and Robert's wife was Mary. No marriage is known for Rebecca. She may have been buried at Colchester All Saints 22Jun1732or St Nicholas 8Aug1755
Robert's will was proved in December 1727 and there is a suitable preceding burial in Gt Bentley. His wife outlived him and was probably buried 2 years later, followed by the burial of daughter Anne
B 25Oct1727 Robert Bentley
B 30Nov1729 Mary Burton
B 25feb1739 Ann Burton
Robert Burton of Magnis Bentley Essex farmer
to da Elizabeth wife of John Greene of Corbey Essex 1s
to da Mary wife of Joseph Dawson of Magnis Bentley 1s
to da Martha Burton 1s
to da Anne Burton £20
to da Rebecca Burton £20
to so George Burton £20
rest to my wife Mary and son Robert sole executors
s 21Dec1722 witness: James Fisher, George Masters, Richard Masters
p 15Dec1727 by Mary Burton widow in London
Mary Burton of Magnis Bentley Essex, widow and executris of late
deceased husband Robt Burton of Magnis Bentley
to every one of my children except my son George Burton, 1s apiece and no more
they being already well provided for
to my son George Burton of Magnis Bentley
who is under 21, all my estate both real and personal, lease of my farm, stock of corn and cattle etc.
executor: Thomas Couchman of Thames St London, distiller in trust for my son George
s 16Nov1727 wit: Rebeka Clements, W Wyatt p 8Sep1729 by Thomas
Couchman