PRINCIPAL RECORDS

b=born  m=married  d=died

C=Christened        B=Buried

BIRTH

 

Mary Masters married Robert Burton in 1694 at Merton in Surrey so a birth about 1670 is expected and the register stated she was of Chiswick in Middlesex. The registers of Merton begin 1559 but are missing 1656-1693 and no Masters entries were found at all before 1750.  The registers of Chiswick begin in 1678 and while no baptism of Mary has been found, baptisms to George and Thomas Masters are found after this date: 

 

C 9Apr1679 Richard s George Masters 

C 6Apr1681 Rebecca d George Masters

 

Richard Masters witnessed Robert Burton's will; Rebecca Masters married Richard Clement in 1708 and witnessed Mary Burton's will in 1727.  She also left money for a ring each for five of Mary Burton's children. There is little doubt therefore that Mary was a sister of Richard and Rebecca, and daughter of George Masters born around 1670 and probably baptised at Chiswick before the registers begin.

MARRIAGE

 

Mary married Robert Burton at Merton St Mary in Surrey in 1694:

m 28Oct1694 Robt Burton of this parish & Mary Masters of Chiswick Middlesex

 

How Mary of Chiswick came to marry an Essex farmer at a church in South London is a puzzle.  The Rich family, Earls of Warwick owned much land around Colchester where Robert was a farmer   and also Holland House where Mary's father was a gardner but nothing can be be made of this

 

DDESCENDANTS

From the will of Robert and registers of Great Bentley:

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 Robert's will. George son of George is almost certainly a register error repeating the child's name instead of the father There are no other known baptisms to a George Burton, and Mary's will shows that she and Robert had a son George born after 1706. No marriage is known for Rebecca.  She may have been buried at Colchester All Saints 22Jun1732or St Nicholas 8Aug1755

DEATH

 

Robert's will was proved in December 1727 and there is a suitable preceding burial in Gt Bentley. Mary 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

will of Robert Burton (TNA PROB 11/618/15)

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

will of Mary Burton

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

 

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