Elisha Barton served in the American Revolutionary War as a captain in the Eastern Battalion of Morris County, New Jersey, also known as the First Battalion New Jersey Militia. Some researchers say Noah Barton, born 1668, is Elisha's father but that is unlikely (see below). Some speculate Elisha and George Barton's father was an unknown son of Noah Barton. All we can say, is Elisha Barton is the son of an unknown Barton.
From Barton Family Information - Compiled by C. Kirkstadt, Jan 1997
(ed.) - Elisha did marry Jemima VanKirk and their daughter, Mary did marry Elijah Barton. Mary and Elijah were first cousins (sub. note: This is based on the theory Noah Barton was Elisha and George Bartons' father, which is highly unlikely. see below). Elisha was a Captain in Morris County, eastern battalion, Revolutionary War. Will dated Sep 21, 1821, proved Apr 26, 1824.
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From the book "Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots: Volume 1, A-D by Patricia Law Hatcher," on page 58, Elisha Barton's grave is listed at "Barton Fam Yard, Hunterdon, NJ."
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There is a reference to Elisha Barton in "Annals of Our Colonial Ancestors and Their Descendants" by Ambrose Milton Shotwell.
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Elisha Barton is listed in the "Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War."
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Elisha was married about 1755 to Jemima Van Kirk, born 20 FEB 1735/36 in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co. NJ. Their children are:
1. Henry BARTON b: 18 DEC 1756 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 1786
2. Mary BARTON b: 28 DEC 1758 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
3. Rachel BARTON b: 4 JAN 1760 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harmon Kline
4. Sarah BARTON b: 18 APR 1763 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harbert Hummer
5. Noah BARTON b: 23 NOV 1764 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 26, 1829 in Shamikin, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania; married Mary Cooley September 24, 1791
6. Ursilla BARTON b: 20 JAN 1767 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
7. Catherine BARTON b: 26 SEP 1768 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Isaac Kline
8. Margaret BARTON b: 10 SEP 1770 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Philip Cooley October 07, 1792 in New Jersey.
9. John BARTON b: 30 APR 1772 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died March 05, 1845 in Raritan Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; married Charity Golden November 13, 1793 in New Jersey
10. Enoch BARTON b: 22 JAN 1774 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
11. Gilbert BARTON b: 30 JAN 1777 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
12. Rhoda BARTON b: 15 OCT 1780 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
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Some descendants of Elisha Barton
Revolutionary War exhibits and historical narrative from the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey:
Exhibit One
Exhibit Two
Music during the American Revolutionary War
The New Jersey Militia in the Revolutionary War:
Unlike Massachusetts, New Jersey was a relatively quiet colony in the decade before the war, although the majority of Jerseyans sympathized with what they saw as excessive British limitations on colonial liberties. New Jersey militiamen flocked to the flag following the battles of Lexington and Concord, and a 1775 law called for every township to enroll men between the ages of 16 and 50 in the active militia. Quakers (20% of the population) and those in certain occupations were exempted.
In 1776, the New Jersey militia helped defend New York under General George Washington. When the Americans were defeated and retreated across the state, the Jersey militiamen melted away, and, much to Washington's dismay, a number of Jerseymen signed loyalty oaths to the British. The New Jersey militia redeemed itself, however, in succeeding months, providing vital assistance to the American commander in his counterattacks at Trenton and Princeton, and in keeping the British bottled up in a few towns during the "forage war" that lasted into the spring of 1777.
For the rest of the Revolution, militia and "state troops" drawn from the militia disarmed local Tories and battled Loyalist and British raiders along the coast, the New York border and deep into the South Jersey Pine Barrens. New Jersey militiamen also conducted amphibious raids and attacks on British coastal enclaves and shipping. The militia also assisted regular American forces in large battles like Monmouth Court House. Many battles and skirmishes were fought in New Jersey, which gained the state the nickname "cockpit of the Revolution."
New Jersey volunteers and draftees from the militia, a new generation of "Jersey Blues," manned the state's "Continental Line" regular army regiments. Two regiments of "Blues" joined the 1775 invasion of Canada and suffered casualties from both combat and smallpox. These units were discharged in 1776, and four new ones, mustering 1,408 men, were raised in 1777. These regiments served together in the "New Jersey Brigade" commanded by Brigadier General William Maxwell of Sussex County, which earned an excellent combat record. By the end of the war in 1783, two New Jersey Continental regiments, mustering 676 men, were still in service. Approximately 2% of the men serving in the New Jersey Continentals were African American or Native American.
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THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
p. 114: "He [Elisha Barton] was a captain in the Eastern Battalion of Morris County during the Revolution (Stryker, 381), and is said to have built a fine brick house in Hunterdon. Elisha's will was dated 21 Sept. 1821, probated 26 April 1824 (Trenton 3311J)."
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Subj: Re: TAX PAYERS in HUNTERDON COUNTY REQUEST
Date: 97-11-25
From: Jim Stout
To: Michael S. Caldwell
Here's what the TAXPAYERS book has to say about Elisha BARTON: he paid taxes in Amwell Township in 1780, 1784, 1786 and 1789. The entry for 1789 says "Elisha & son" without naming the son. Other BARTONs listed are Andrew (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81, 1785); David (in Hopewell twp in 1780-81, 1785); Elijah (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Gabriel (in Hopewell twp in 1781); George (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Henry (in Amwell twp in 1780, 1784); John (in Bethlehem in 1778, 1780); John (in Hopewell twp in 1781, 1785); Noah (in Amwell twp in 1786); Stephen (in Hopewell twp in 1778-81, 1785); Zebulon (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81).
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Will of Elisha Barton:
In the name of God Amen
I Elisha Barton of the Township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being of sound disposing mind and memory do make and publish this a for my last will and testament.
First, I give devise and bequeath my farm land lying in the Township of Amwell aforesaid adjoining lands of Mary Everitt, John Suydam, Andrew Shepherd and others containing one hundred and forty four acres of land be the same more or less to my beloved son John Barton to him his heirs and assigns forever. And if he should die before me I devise the same to his children to be divided between them as the same as by law it would have been divided had he held the same in fee simple and died intestate and my son John Barton is to pay my beloved son Enoch Barton two hundred and eighty dollars and to my beloved son Noah Barton fifty dollars within one year after my decease. These legacies I order to be paid by my son John Barton to my two sons Enoch Barton and Noah Barton as above set forth: out of the aforesaid farm that I have given to my son John Barton: or their survivors. Secondly, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved son Gilbert Barton two acres of wood situate in the Township of Amwell adjoining lands of the aforesaid Everitt Shepherd and others to him my son Gilbert Barton his heirs and assigns forever: and likewise my waggon and gear. Thirdly, I do order that my executors herein after named do make a vendue of all and singular my goods chattels as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and the money arising from the sale after paying my just debts and funeral expenses together with all the monies that I have owing to me at my decease I give devise and bequeath to my daughters and their survivors Namely Mary, the Heirs of Rachel; Sarah, Ann Catherine, Margarett, and Rhoda and ten dollars to my grandaughter Mary Cronts. I do constitute and appoint my beloved son John Barton and my trusty friend Philip Cooley Executors. of this my last will and testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull any other will or wills by me heretofore made, and I do declare that this to be my last will and testament: In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. (1821)
Signed Sealed published )
and declared by the )
said Elisha Barton to )
be his testament and last ) Elisha Barton (Seal)
will in presence of us )
Cornelius Lake )
Wm Rake )
John Sergent )
--------
Sources:
Birth and Death Dates - THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
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From a posting by Marilyn Current in Barton Family Genealogy Forum - (http://genforum.genealogy.com/barton/messages/4432.html):
Hoping for help in unravelling a family mystery.
Bet. 1745-1747 our ancestor, William Current, landed in NJ, an orphan, (maybe 5-7 years old?)the rest of his family having died of ship's fever. An Elisha Barton took him in, (possibly as an indentured servant?) The next record we have of William is in Oxford, Sussex Co., as an adult. When he lived with the Bartons he was probably in another part of New Jersey. I really need to identify who this Elisha Barton was, in order to piece together the real facts about William's early years. The problem is, there were many Elisha Bartons in NJ, NY, and PA in this time period. I need HELP in figuring out which is the correct one.
One of William Current's eldest children, Charity Current, married Thomas Campbell Sexton from Hunterdon Co., NJ on May 10, 1787, in Sussex Co. Recently I located Sexton family records which give Charity's birth as February 18, 1769, Hopewell, Hunterdon (now Mercer) Co. So maybe William lived in Hunterdon Co. before moving to Sussex Co? Giving further support to this, I have located an Elisha Barton who lived in Hunterdon Co. in the same time period:
Capt. Elisha Barton was b. 5 Oct 1729 in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ, d. 31 Mar 1823 same place, m.abt 1755 to Jemima van Kirk b. 20 Feb 1735/1736 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co.. But, I'm afraid this Elisha would have been slightly too young to have taken in an indentured servant in 1747, and definitely too young in 1745. There is conflicting information about who this Capt. Elisha Barton's parents were. The only source I have seen who has attempted to assign a father to Elisha, gives him as Noah Barton, (citing no real evidence), b. 1668 in CT, d. aft. 1737, Cranberry, Middlesex Co., NJ, m. bef. 1710 NY to Mary unknown. Even descendants of Capt. Elisha have had reason to doubt this connection, partially based on the age difference.
I just came across some more information which I believe sounds more plausible. But, without proof, it is nothing but theory. This new information appears to place 2 consecutive Elisha Bartons immediately prior to Capt. Elisha Barton, making him Elisha Barton, III. Elisha Barton, II, would be the correct age to be the benefactor of William Current. What do you think of this? Anything anyone can add, or detract, from this?:
from the Lorne Shunk's Family Tree: (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shunkfamilytree/FamilyTree/fam07666.htm)
Elisha BARTON, (SR.) (s/o Roger Barton & Mary Lounsberry) b. bet.1662-1668, d. bef. 1717 at Burlington Co., NJ, m.1 to _?_ Contine, (d/o Isaac Contine), at New Rochelle, Westchester Co., NY; m2 to Mary Griffin. CHILDREN by 1st marriage: 1) Thomas BARTON, b. at Westchester Co., NY, d. Hunterdon Co., NJ, m. Hannah Clark; and2) _?_ Barton, (whom I believe was Elisha Barton, Jr.), d. NJ
Put this together with another bit of information picked up from Michael S. Disbrow's Family Tree (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/5853/hendis/hendis.html):
BENJAMIN DISBROW (son of Henry I), b. abt. 1672, poss. on Long Island, NY, d. 10 Dec. 1733 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ, m. MARY GRIFFIN, Children: 1)John Disbrow, b. 1702; 2)Benjamin Disbrow, Jr., b. abt. 1707; d. 17 Mar. 1735 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ; m. Margaret _; no children, 3)Anne Disbrow, b. 1710; d. 1733, 4) Griffin Disbrow, b. 1712, 5) Mary Disbrow, m. Elisha Barton (This would be Elisha Barton, Jr., Mary Disbrow's step-brother, son of her mother, Mary Griffin's second spouse, Elisha Barton,Sr.)
This Elisha Barton, Jr., and wife Mary Disbrow, then, are probably the parents of Capt. Elisha Barton (III) of Hunterdon Co., NJ, as well as being the Elisha Barton who took William Current into their home when he landed, orphaned, on NJ soil.
So, tell me, am I crazy?!!! Is there anything anyone can add to support this, or to point me in another direction for the real Elisha Barton who took in William Current?
Reply to the above post from JCB:
There is no problem with the timing of your theory. To make it simple for the descendants of Roger Barton, you are saying that McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) is your Elisha of interest, married to Mary Disbrow.
There is no inherent objection to your identification. Roger Barton knew the earlier Disbrow family. And more than a few early descendants of Roger Barton were identified through other family genealogies. The only problem is that there is not a shred of evidence to prove your theory.
I suggest you spend considerable time studying the children of McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) to see where they were when, etc., and see how that fits your knowledge of William Current. Of course, that's going around in a circle because you want to identify Elisha Barton so as to learn more about William Current. But you could at least study it at that level to see if there are any contradictions or conflicts.
Also, I suggest you ask Michael Disbrow for the specific references (perhaps some photocopies) for his claim that Mary Disbrow married Elisha Barton. He lists five references, only one of which is readily available in the public domain (Bolton's History of Westchester), and I doubt the item of interest is in that book. If you had the reference, you might learn a little bit more about the family of interest, or it might kill your idea.
Finally, although this will not affect your situation, there is not a shred of evidence that the wife of Roger Barton was Mary Lounsbury.
So this is neither yea nor nay, but more like, good work, interesting, carry on.
JCB
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 14, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elisha, Mary and Rachel Barton:
For the most part, the information in Rick Busig's three posts is reasonably well documented.
However, the big question is the parentage of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
In 1941, Adolph Law Voge estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of Noah2 Barton (Roger1). This is the version provided by Rick.
In 1952, George E. McCracken estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of an unknown son of Elisha2 Barton (Roger1). McCracken provided some of his reasoning, but it is scattered in his article, and hardly suited to a message board. This is the version published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
On this date in 2004, I will point out that both Voge and McCracken constructed the early Barton families partly on the assumption that all families in the area of interest were descendants of Roger1 Barton. Thus they reasoned, often tacitly, that any Barton family with the appropriate given names, and not otherwise accounted for by direct evidence, could be placed in (or out of) the Roger Barton family by whatever circumstantial evidence was available. However, since there is evidence of possibly two brothers of Roger in that area at that time, namely John and the father of William (although John could be the father of William), one cannot automatically assign all the unknowns as descendants of Roger1 Barton. DNA evidence is not helpful because any brother of Roger1 would have the same DNA as Roger.
As an example of poor reasoning by circumstantial evidence; McCracken (1952, page 291) dismissed a family of Bartons in Burlington County, NJ, thusly, "There was, however, a family of Bartons in that area who, unlike the Bartons of Westchester, were Friends, and that Elisha may have been a different man." This argument was based on McCracken's incorrect notion that Roger Barton was not a Puritan. As it turns out, McCracken was not an astute student of Roger, because the evidence is that Roger was very much the Puritan, and that family of Friends might well have been closely related to Roger1.
Thus we are left with THREE possible ancestries of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 15, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elijha Barton:
Rick:
First, the easy one. It is generally agreed that Noah2 Barton (Roger1) was born about 1668. The documentary evidence, not someone's personal file, is that Roger Barton was in Rye from 1667 until 1678 when he moved to Fordham Manor. In 1668, when Noah2 Barton was born, Rye was part of Connecticut. Therefore, it is correct to say that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668 in Rye, Connecticut (later a part of New York).
Now the problem.
First Point: There seems to have been three brothers:
George, who you state was born in 1719.
Elisha, born 1729.
Gabriel, born 1733.
Since we agree that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668, then we look at Noah's age when the three brothers were born.
George was born when Noah was 51.
Elisha was born when Noah was 61.
Gabriel was born when Noah was 65.
This means that Noah's wife had to be at least 20 years younger than Noah. Thus when Noah was 50 years old, his wife was under 30. That is quite an age gap.
Next point. Noah2 Barton had quite a series of land transactions. The first one that mentioned his wife, Mary, was in 1730, eleven years after George was born, and after Elisha was born.
Next point. Much of what we know about the family of Elisha (b. 1729) came from the genealogist Hiram Deats, great grandson of Ursilla, who was the daughter of Elisha. Deats said that he copied the data from Ursilla's family Bible. Since the data did not include the parents of Elisha, that issue was left in the dark. That means the issue of George's parents was also left in the dark.
Next point. As I pointed out before, the noted genealogist, George E. McCracken, also a descendant of Roger1 Barton, concluded that Elisha, George and Gabriel were not the sons of Noah2 Barton.
Next point. You state that Elisha was born Oct 5, 1729, in Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. That matches the records of Elisha's great grandson, Hiram Deats, as copied from the family Bible of Elisha's daughter, Ursilla. On Oct 23, 1729, Noah2 Barton was a protester at an Eastchester, Westchester Co., NY, town meeting. On Aug 4, 1730, a Noah Barton bought land in Trenton, and he was described in the deed as being of Somerset.
What is the evidence that supports your contention that George, who you say was born about 1719, Elisha, born 1729, and Gabriel, born 1733, were the sons of Noah2 Barton?
Regards, JCB
From Barton Family Information - Compiled by C. Kirkstadt, Jan 1997
(ed.) - Elisha did marry Jemima VanKirk and their daughter, Mary did marry Elijah Barton. Mary and Elijah were first cousins (sub. note: This is based on the theory Noah Barton was Elisha and George Bartons' father, which is highly unlikely. see below). Elisha was a Captain in Morris County, eastern battalion, Revolutionary War. Will dated Sep 21, 1821, proved Apr 26, 1824.
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From the book "Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots: Volume 1, A-D by Patricia Law Hatcher," on page 58, Elisha Barton's grave is listed at "Barton Fam Yard, Hunterdon, NJ."
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There is a reference to Elisha Barton in "Annals of Our Colonial Ancestors and Their Descendants" by Ambrose Milton Shotwell.
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Elisha Barton is listed in the "Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War."
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Elisha was married about 1755 to Jemima Van Kirk, born 20 FEB 1735/36 in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co. NJ. Their children are:
1. Henry BARTON b: 18 DEC 1756 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 1786
2. Mary BARTON b: 28 DEC 1758 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
3. Rachel BARTON b: 4 JAN 1760 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harmon Kline
4. Sarah BARTON b: 18 APR 1763 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harbert Hummer
5. Noah BARTON b: 23 NOV 1764 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 26, 1829 in Shamikin, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania; married Mary Cooley September 24, 1791
6. Ursilla BARTON b: 20 JAN 1767 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
7. Catherine BARTON b: 26 SEP 1768 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Isaac Kline
8. Margaret BARTON b: 10 SEP 1770 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Philip Cooley October 07, 1792 in New Jersey.
9. John BARTON b: 30 APR 1772 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died March 05, 1845 in Raritan Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; married Charity Golden November 13, 1793 in New Jersey
10. Enoch BARTON b: 22 JAN 1774 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
11. Gilbert BARTON b: 30 JAN 1777 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
12. Rhoda BARTON b: 15 OCT 1780 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
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Some descendants of Elisha Barton
Revolutionary War exhibits and historical narrative from the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey:
Exhibit One
Exhibit Two
Music during the American Revolutionary War
The New Jersey Militia in the Revolutionary War:
Unlike Massachusetts, New Jersey was a relatively quiet colony in the decade before the war, although the majority of Jerseyans sympathized with what they saw as excessive British limitations on colonial liberties. New Jersey militiamen flocked to the flag following the battles of Lexington and Concord, and a 1775 law called for every township to enroll men between the ages of 16 and 50 in the active militia. Quakers (20% of the population) and those in certain occupations were exempted.
In 1776, the New Jersey militia helped defend New York under General George Washington. When the Americans were defeated and retreated across the state, the Jersey militiamen melted away, and, much to Washington's dismay, a number of Jerseymen signed loyalty oaths to the British. The New Jersey militia redeemed itself, however, in succeeding months, providing vital assistance to the American commander in his counterattacks at Trenton and Princeton, and in keeping the British bottled up in a few towns during the "forage war" that lasted into the spring of 1777.
For the rest of the Revolution, militia and "state troops" drawn from the militia disarmed local Tories and battled Loyalist and British raiders along the coast, the New York border and deep into the South Jersey Pine Barrens. New Jersey militiamen also conducted amphibious raids and attacks on British coastal enclaves and shipping. The militia also assisted regular American forces in large battles like Monmouth Court House. Many battles and skirmishes were fought in New Jersey, which gained the state the nickname "cockpit of the Revolution."
New Jersey volunteers and draftees from the militia, a new generation of "Jersey Blues," manned the state's "Continental Line" regular army regiments. Two regiments of "Blues" joined the 1775 invasion of Canada and suffered casualties from both combat and smallpox. These units were discharged in 1776, and four new ones, mustering 1,408 men, were raised in 1777. These regiments served together in the "New Jersey Brigade" commanded by Brigadier General William Maxwell of Sussex County, which earned an excellent combat record. By the end of the war in 1783, two New Jersey Continental regiments, mustering 676 men, were still in service. Approximately 2% of the men serving in the New Jersey Continentals were African American or Native American.
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THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
p. 114: "He [Elisha Barton] was a captain in the Eastern Battalion of Morris County during the Revolution (Stryker, 381), and is said to have built a fine brick house in Hunterdon. Elisha's will was dated 21 Sept. 1821, probated 26 April 1824 (Trenton 3311J)."
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Subj: Re: TAX PAYERS in HUNTERDON COUNTY REQUEST
Date: 97-11-25
From: Jim Stout
To: Michael S. Caldwell
Here's what the TAXPAYERS book has to say about Elisha BARTON: he paid taxes in Amwell Township in 1780, 1784, 1786 and 1789. The entry for 1789 says "Elisha & son" without naming the son. Other BARTONs listed are Andrew (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81, 1785); David (in Hopewell twp in 1780-81, 1785); Elijah (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Gabriel (in Hopewell twp in 1781); George (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Henry (in Amwell twp in 1780, 1784); John (in Bethlehem in 1778, 1780); John (in Hopewell twp in 1781, 1785); Noah (in Amwell twp in 1786); Stephen (in Hopewell twp in 1778-81, 1785); Zebulon (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81).
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Will of Elisha Barton:
In the name of God Amen
I Elisha Barton of the Township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being of sound disposing mind and memory do make and publish this a for my last will and testament.
First, I give devise and bequeath my farm land lying in the Township of Amwell aforesaid adjoining lands of Mary Everitt, John Suydam, Andrew Shepherd and others containing one hundred and forty four acres of land be the same more or less to my beloved son John Barton to him his heirs and assigns forever. And if he should die before me I devise the same to his children to be divided between them as the same as by law it would have been divided had he held the same in fee simple and died intestate and my son John Barton is to pay my beloved son Enoch Barton two hundred and eighty dollars and to my beloved son Noah Barton fifty dollars within one year after my decease. These legacies I order to be paid by my son John Barton to my two sons Enoch Barton and Noah Barton as above set forth: out of the aforesaid farm that I have given to my son John Barton: or their survivors. Secondly, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved son Gilbert Barton two acres of wood situate in the Township of Amwell adjoining lands of the aforesaid Everitt Shepherd and others to him my son Gilbert Barton his heirs and assigns forever: and likewise my waggon and gear. Thirdly, I do order that my executors herein after named do make a vendue of all and singular my goods chattels as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and the money arising from the sale after paying my just debts and funeral expenses together with all the monies that I have owing to me at my decease I give devise and bequeath to my daughters and their survivors Namely Mary, the Heirs of Rachel; Sarah, Ann Catherine, Margarett, and Rhoda and ten dollars to my grandaughter Mary Cronts. I do constitute and appoint my beloved son John Barton and my trusty friend Philip Cooley Executors. of this my last will and testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull any other will or wills by me heretofore made, and I do declare that this to be my last will and testament: In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. (1821)
Signed Sealed published )
and declared by the )
said Elisha Barton to )
be his testament and last ) Elisha Barton (Seal)
will in presence of us )
Cornelius Lake )
Wm Rake )
John Sergent )
--------
Sources:
Birth and Death Dates - THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
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From a posting by Marilyn Current in Barton Family Genealogy Forum - (http://genforum.genealogy.com/barton/messages/4432.html):
Hoping for help in unravelling a family mystery.
Bet. 1745-1747 our ancestor, William Current, landed in NJ, an orphan, (maybe 5-7 years old?)the rest of his family having died of ship's fever. An Elisha Barton took him in, (possibly as an indentured servant?) The next record we have of William is in Oxford, Sussex Co., as an adult. When he lived with the Bartons he was probably in another part of New Jersey. I really need to identify who this Elisha Barton was, in order to piece together the real facts about William's early years. The problem is, there were many Elisha Bartons in NJ, NY, and PA in this time period. I need HELP in figuring out which is the correct one.
One of William Current's eldest children, Charity Current, married Thomas Campbell Sexton from Hunterdon Co., NJ on May 10, 1787, in Sussex Co. Recently I located Sexton family records which give Charity's birth as February 18, 1769, Hopewell, Hunterdon (now Mercer) Co. So maybe William lived in Hunterdon Co. before moving to Sussex Co? Giving further support to this, I have located an Elisha Barton who lived in Hunterdon Co. in the same time period:
Capt. Elisha Barton was b. 5 Oct 1729 in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ, d. 31 Mar 1823 same place, m.abt 1755 to Jemima van Kirk b. 20 Feb 1735/1736 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co.. But, I'm afraid this Elisha would have been slightly too young to have taken in an indentured servant in 1747, and definitely too young in 1745. There is conflicting information about who this Capt. Elisha Barton's parents were. The only source I have seen who has attempted to assign a father to Elisha, gives him as Noah Barton, (citing no real evidence), b. 1668 in CT, d. aft. 1737, Cranberry, Middlesex Co., NJ, m. bef. 1710 NY to Mary unknown. Even descendants of Capt. Elisha have had reason to doubt this connection, partially based on the age difference.
I just came across some more information which I believe sounds more plausible. But, without proof, it is nothing but theory. This new information appears to place 2 consecutive Elisha Bartons immediately prior to Capt. Elisha Barton, making him Elisha Barton, III. Elisha Barton, II, would be the correct age to be the benefactor of William Current. What do you think of this? Anything anyone can add, or detract, from this?:
from the Lorne Shunk's Family Tree: (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shunkfamilytree/FamilyTree/fam07666.htm)
Elisha BARTON, (SR.) (s/o Roger Barton & Mary Lounsberry) b. bet.1662-1668, d. bef. 1717 at Burlington Co., NJ, m.1 to _?_ Contine, (d/o Isaac Contine), at New Rochelle, Westchester Co., NY; m2 to Mary Griffin. CHILDREN by 1st marriage: 1) Thomas BARTON, b. at Westchester Co., NY, d. Hunterdon Co., NJ, m. Hannah Clark; and2) _?_ Barton, (whom I believe was Elisha Barton, Jr.), d. NJ
Put this together with another bit of information picked up from Michael S. Disbrow's Family Tree (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/5853/hendis/hendis.html):
BENJAMIN DISBROW (son of Henry I), b. abt. 1672, poss. on Long Island, NY, d. 10 Dec. 1733 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ, m. MARY GRIFFIN, Children: 1)John Disbrow, b. 1702; 2)Benjamin Disbrow, Jr., b. abt. 1707; d. 17 Mar. 1735 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ; m. Margaret _; no children, 3)Anne Disbrow, b. 1710; d. 1733, 4) Griffin Disbrow, b. 1712, 5) Mary Disbrow, m. Elisha Barton (This would be Elisha Barton, Jr., Mary Disbrow's step-brother, son of her mother, Mary Griffin's second spouse, Elisha Barton,Sr.)
This Elisha Barton, Jr., and wife Mary Disbrow, then, are probably the parents of Capt. Elisha Barton (III) of Hunterdon Co., NJ, as well as being the Elisha Barton who took William Current into their home when he landed, orphaned, on NJ soil.
So, tell me, am I crazy?!!! Is there anything anyone can add to support this, or to point me in another direction for the real Elisha Barton who took in William Current?
Reply to the above post from JCB:
There is no problem with the timing of your theory. To make it simple for the descendants of Roger Barton, you are saying that McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) is your Elisha of interest, married to Mary Disbrow.
There is no inherent objection to your identification. Roger Barton knew the earlier Disbrow family. And more than a few early descendants of Roger Barton were identified through other family genealogies. The only problem is that there is not a shred of evidence to prove your theory.
I suggest you spend considerable time studying the children of McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) to see where they were when, etc., and see how that fits your knowledge of William Current. Of course, that's going around in a circle because you want to identify Elisha Barton so as to learn more about William Current. But you could at least study it at that level to see if there are any contradictions or conflicts.
Also, I suggest you ask Michael Disbrow for the specific references (perhaps some photocopies) for his claim that Mary Disbrow married Elisha Barton. He lists five references, only one of which is readily available in the public domain (Bolton's History of Westchester), and I doubt the item of interest is in that book. If you had the reference, you might learn a little bit more about the family of interest, or it might kill your idea.
Finally, although this will not affect your situation, there is not a shred of evidence that the wife of Roger Barton was Mary Lounsbury.
So this is neither yea nor nay, but more like, good work, interesting, carry on.
JCB
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 14, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elisha, Mary and Rachel Barton:
For the most part, the information in Rick Busig's three posts is reasonably well documented.
However, the big question is the parentage of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
In 1941, Adolph Law Voge estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of Noah2 Barton (Roger1). This is the version provided by Rick.
In 1952, George E. McCracken estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of an unknown son of Elisha2 Barton (Roger1). McCracken provided some of his reasoning, but it is scattered in his article, and hardly suited to a message board. This is the version published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
On this date in 2004, I will point out that both Voge and McCracken constructed the early Barton families partly on the assumption that all families in the area of interest were descendants of Roger1 Barton. Thus they reasoned, often tacitly, that any Barton family with the appropriate given names, and not otherwise accounted for by direct evidence, could be placed in (or out of) the Roger Barton family by whatever circumstantial evidence was available. However, since there is evidence of possibly two brothers of Roger in that area at that time, namely John and the father of William (although John could be the father of William), one cannot automatically assign all the unknowns as descendants of Roger1 Barton. DNA evidence is not helpful because any brother of Roger1 would have the same DNA as Roger.
As an example of poor reasoning by circumstantial evidence; McCracken (1952, page 291) dismissed a family of Bartons in Burlington County, NJ, thusly, "There was, however, a family of Bartons in that area who, unlike the Bartons of Westchester, were Friends, and that Elisha may have been a different man." This argument was based on McCracken's incorrect notion that Roger Barton was not a Puritan. As it turns out, McCracken was not an astute student of Roger, because the evidence is that Roger was very much the Puritan, and that family of Friends might well have been closely related to Roger1.
Thus we are left with THREE possible ancestries of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 15, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elijha Barton:
Rick:
First, the easy one. It is generally agreed that Noah2 Barton (Roger1) was born about 1668. The documentary evidence, not someone's personal file, is that Roger Barton was in Rye from 1667 until 1678 when he moved to Fordham Manor. In 1668, when Noah2 Barton was born, Rye was part of Connecticut. Therefore, it is correct to say that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668 in Rye, Connecticut (later a part of New York).
Now the problem.
First Point: There seems to have been three brothers:
George, who you state was born in 1719.
Elisha, born 1729.
Gabriel, born 1733.
Since we agree that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668, then we look at Noah's age when the three brothers were born.
George was born when Noah was 51.
Elisha was born when Noah was 61.
Gabriel was born when Noah was 65.
This means that Noah's wife had to be at least 20 years younger than Noah. Thus when Noah was 50 years old, his wife was under 30. That is quite an age gap.
Next point. Noah2 Barton had quite a series of land transactions. The first one that mentioned his wife, Mary, was in 1730, eleven years after George was born, and after Elisha was born.
Next point. Much of what we know about the family of Elisha (b. 1729) came from the genealogist Hiram Deats, great grandson of Ursilla, who was the daughter of Elisha. Deats said that he copied the data from Ursilla's family Bible. Since the data did not include the parents of Elisha, that issue was left in the dark. That means the issue of George's parents was also left in the dark.
Next point. As I pointed out before, the noted genealogist, George E. McCracken, also a descendant of Roger1 Barton, concluded that Elisha, George and Gabriel were not the sons of Noah2 Barton.
Next point. You state that Elisha was born Oct 5, 1729, in Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. That matches the records of Elisha's great grandson, Hiram Deats, as copied from the family Bible of Elisha's daughter, Ursilla. On Oct 23, 1729, Noah2 Barton was a protester at an Eastchester, Westchester Co., NY, town meeting. On Aug 4, 1730, a Noah Barton bought land in Trenton, and he was described in the deed as being of Somerset.
What is the evidence that supports your contention that George, who you say was born about 1719, Elisha, born 1729, and Gabriel, born 1733, were the sons of Noah2 Barton?
Regards, JCB
Elisha Barton served in the American Revolutionary War as a captain in the Eastern Battalion of Morris County, New Jersey, also known as the First Battalion New Jersey Militia. Some researchers say Noah Barton, born 1668, is Elisha's father but that is unlikely (see below). Some speculate Elisha and George Barton's father was an unknown son of Noah Barton. All we can say, is Elisha Barton is the son of an unknown Barton.
From Barton Family Information - Compiled by C. Kirkstadt, Jan 1997
(ed.) - Elisha did marry Jemima VanKirk and their daughter, Mary did marry Elijah Barton. Mary and Elijah were first cousins (sub. note: This is based on the theory Noah Barton was Elisha and George Bartons' father, which is highly unlikely. see below). Elisha was a Captain in Morris County, eastern battalion, Revolutionary War. Will dated Sep 21, 1821, proved Apr 26, 1824.
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From the book "Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots: Volume 1, A-D by Patricia Law Hatcher," on page 58, Elisha Barton's grave is listed at "Barton Fam Yard, Hunterdon, NJ."
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There is a reference to Elisha Barton in "Annals of Our Colonial Ancestors and Their Descendants" by Ambrose Milton Shotwell.
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Elisha Barton is listed in the "Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War."
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Elisha was married about 1755 to Jemima Van Kirk, born 20 FEB 1735/36 in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co. NJ. Their children are:
1. Henry BARTON b: 18 DEC 1756 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 1786
2. Mary BARTON b: 28 DEC 1758 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
3. Rachel BARTON b: 4 JAN 1760 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harmon Kline
4. Sarah BARTON b: 18 APR 1763 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harbert Hummer
5. Noah BARTON b: 23 NOV 1764 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 26, 1829 in Shamikin, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania; married Mary Cooley September 24, 1791
6. Ursilla BARTON b: 20 JAN 1767 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
7. Catherine BARTON b: 26 SEP 1768 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Isaac Kline
8. Margaret BARTON b: 10 SEP 1770 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Philip Cooley October 07, 1792 in New Jersey.
9. John BARTON b: 30 APR 1772 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died March 05, 1845 in Raritan Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; married Charity Golden November 13, 1793 in New Jersey
10. Enoch BARTON b: 22 JAN 1774 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
11. Gilbert BARTON b: 30 JAN 1777 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
12. Rhoda BARTON b: 15 OCT 1780 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
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Some descendants of Elisha Barton
Revolutionary War exhibits and historical narrative from the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey:
Exhibit One
Exhibit Two
Music during the American Revolutionary War
The New Jersey Militia in the Revolutionary War:
Unlike Massachusetts, New Jersey was a relatively quiet colony in the decade before the war, although the majority of Jerseyans sympathized with what they saw as excessive British limitations on colonial liberties. New Jersey militiamen flocked to the flag following the battles of Lexington and Concord, and a 1775 law called for every township to enroll men between the ages of 16 and 50 in the active militia. Quakers (20% of the population) and those in certain occupations were exempted.
In 1776, the New Jersey militia helped defend New York under General George Washington. When the Americans were defeated and retreated across the state, the Jersey militiamen melted away, and, much to Washington's dismay, a number of Jerseymen signed loyalty oaths to the British. The New Jersey militia redeemed itself, however, in succeeding months, providing vital assistance to the American commander in his counterattacks at Trenton and Princeton, and in keeping the British bottled up in a few towns during the "forage war" that lasted into the spring of 1777.
For the rest of the Revolution, militia and "state troops" drawn from the militia disarmed local Tories and battled Loyalist and British raiders along the coast, the New York border and deep into the South Jersey Pine Barrens. New Jersey militiamen also conducted amphibious raids and attacks on British coastal enclaves and shipping. The militia also assisted regular American forces in large battles like Monmouth Court House. Many battles and skirmishes were fought in New Jersey, which gained the state the nickname "cockpit of the Revolution."
New Jersey volunteers and draftees from the militia, a new generation of "Jersey Blues," manned the state's "Continental Line" regular army regiments. Two regiments of "Blues" joined the 1775 invasion of Canada and suffered casualties from both combat and smallpox. These units were discharged in 1776, and four new ones, mustering 1,408 men, were raised in 1777. These regiments served together in the "New Jersey Brigade" commanded by Brigadier General William Maxwell of Sussex County, which earned an excellent combat record. By the end of the war in 1783, two New Jersey Continental regiments, mustering 676 men, were still in service. Approximately 2% of the men serving in the New Jersey Continentals were African American or Native American.
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THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
p. 114: "He [Elisha Barton] was a captain in the Eastern Battalion of Morris County during the Revolution (Stryker, 381), and is said to have built a fine brick house in Hunterdon. Elisha's will was dated 21 Sept. 1821, probated 26 April 1824 (Trenton 3311J)."
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Subj: Re: TAX PAYERS in HUNTERDON COUNTY REQUEST
Date: 97-11-25
From: Jim Stout
To: Michael S. Caldwell
Here's what the TAXPAYERS book has to say about Elisha BARTON: he paid taxes in Amwell Township in 1780, 1784, 1786 and 1789. The entry for 1789 says "Elisha & son" without naming the son. Other BARTONs listed are Andrew (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81, 1785); David (in Hopewell twp in 1780-81, 1785); Elijah (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Gabriel (in Hopewell twp in 1781); George (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Henry (in Amwell twp in 1780, 1784); John (in Bethlehem in 1778, 1780); John (in Hopewell twp in 1781, 1785); Noah (in Amwell twp in 1786); Stephen (in Hopewell twp in 1778-81, 1785); Zebulon (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81).
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Will of Elisha Barton:
In the name of God Amen
I Elisha Barton of the Township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being of sound disposing mind and memory do make and publish this a for my last will and testament.
First, I give devise and bequeath my farm land lying in the Township of Amwell aforesaid adjoining lands of Mary Everitt, John Suydam, Andrew Shepherd and others containing one hundred and forty four acres of land be the same more or less to my beloved son John Barton to him his heirs and assigns forever. And if he should die before me I devise the same to his children to be divided between them as the same as by law it would have been divided had he held the same in fee simple and died intestate and my son John Barton is to pay my beloved son Enoch Barton two hundred and eighty dollars and to my beloved son Noah Barton fifty dollars within one year after my decease. These legacies I order to be paid by my son John Barton to my two sons Enoch Barton and Noah Barton as above set forth: out of the aforesaid farm that I have given to my son John Barton: or their survivors. Secondly, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved son Gilbert Barton two acres of wood situate in the Township of Amwell adjoining lands of the aforesaid Everitt Shepherd and others to him my son Gilbert Barton his heirs and assigns forever: and likewise my waggon and gear. Thirdly, I do order that my executors herein after named do make a vendue of all and singular my goods chattels as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and the money arising from the sale after paying my just debts and funeral expenses together with all the monies that I have owing to me at my decease I give devise and bequeath to my daughters and their survivors Namely Mary, the Heirs of Rachel; Sarah, Ann Catherine, Margarett, and Rhoda and ten dollars to my grandaughter Mary Cronts. I do constitute and appoint my beloved son John Barton and my trusty friend Philip Cooley Executors. of this my last will and testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull any other will or wills by me heretofore made, and I do declare that this to be my last will and testament: In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. (1821)
Signed Sealed published )
and declared by the )
said Elisha Barton to )
be his testament and last ) Elisha Barton (Seal)
will in presence of us )
Cornelius Lake )
Wm Rake )
John Sergent )
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Sources:
Birth and Death Dates - THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
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From a posting by Marilyn Current in Barton Family Genealogy Forum - (http://genforum.genealogy.com/barton/messages/4432.html):
Hoping for help in unravelling a family mystery.
Bet. 1745-1747 our ancestor, William Current, landed in NJ, an orphan, (maybe 5-7 years old?)the rest of his family having died of ship's fever. An Elisha Barton took him in, (possibly as an indentured servant?) The next record we have of William is in Oxford, Sussex Co., as an adult. When he lived with the Bartons he was probably in another part of New Jersey. I really need to identify who this Elisha Barton was, in order to piece together the real facts about William's early years. The problem is, there were many Elisha Bartons in NJ, NY, and PA in this time period. I need HELP in figuring out which is the correct one.
One of William Current's eldest children, Charity Current, married Thomas Campbell Sexton from Hunterdon Co., NJ on May 10, 1787, in Sussex Co. Recently I located Sexton family records which give Charity's birth as February 18, 1769, Hopewell, Hunterdon (now Mercer) Co. So maybe William lived in Hunterdon Co. before moving to Sussex Co? Giving further support to this, I have located an Elisha Barton who lived in Hunterdon Co. in the same time period:
Capt. Elisha Barton was b. 5 Oct 1729 in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ, d. 31 Mar 1823 same place, m.abt 1755 to Jemima van Kirk b. 20 Feb 1735/1736 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co.. But, I'm afraid this Elisha would have been slightly too young to have taken in an indentured servant in 1747, and definitely too young in 1745. There is conflicting information about who this Capt. Elisha Barton's parents were. The only source I have seen who has attempted to assign a father to Elisha, gives him as Noah Barton, (citing no real evidence), b. 1668 in CT, d. aft. 1737, Cranberry, Middlesex Co., NJ, m. bef. 1710 NY to Mary unknown. Even descendants of Capt. Elisha have had reason to doubt this connection, partially based on the age difference.
I just came across some more information which I believe sounds more plausible. But, without proof, it is nothing but theory. This new information appears to place 2 consecutive Elisha Bartons immediately prior to Capt. Elisha Barton, making him Elisha Barton, III. Elisha Barton, II, would be the correct age to be the benefactor of William Current. What do you think of this? Anything anyone can add, or detract, from this?:
from the Lorne Shunk's Family Tree: (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shunkfamilytree/FamilyTree/fam07666.htm)
Elisha BARTON, (SR.) (s/o Roger Barton & Mary Lounsberry) b. bet.1662-1668, d. bef. 1717 at Burlington Co., NJ, m.1 to _?_ Contine, (d/o Isaac Contine), at New Rochelle, Westchester Co., NY; m2 to Mary Griffin. CHILDREN by 1st marriage: 1) Thomas BARTON, b. at Westchester Co., NY, d. Hunterdon Co., NJ, m. Hannah Clark; and2) _?_ Barton, (whom I believe was Elisha Barton, Jr.), d. NJ
Put this together with another bit of information picked up from Michael S. Disbrow's Family Tree (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/5853/hendis/hendis.html):
BENJAMIN DISBROW (son of Henry I), b. abt. 1672, poss. on Long Island, NY, d. 10 Dec. 1733 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ, m. MARY GRIFFIN, Children: 1)John Disbrow, b. 1702; 2)Benjamin Disbrow, Jr., b. abt. 1707; d. 17 Mar. 1735 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ; m. Margaret _; no children, 3)Anne Disbrow, b. 1710; d. 1733, 4) Griffin Disbrow, b. 1712, 5) Mary Disbrow, m. Elisha Barton (This would be Elisha Barton, Jr., Mary Disbrow's step-brother, son of her mother, Mary Griffin's second spouse, Elisha Barton,Sr.)
This Elisha Barton, Jr., and wife Mary Disbrow, then, are probably the parents of Capt. Elisha Barton (III) of Hunterdon Co., NJ, as well as being the Elisha Barton who took William Current into their home when he landed, orphaned, on NJ soil.
So, tell me, am I crazy?!!! Is there anything anyone can add to support this, or to point me in another direction for the real Elisha Barton who took in William Current?
Reply to the above post from JCB:
There is no problem with the timing of your theory. To make it simple for the descendants of Roger Barton, you are saying that McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) is your Elisha of interest, married to Mary Disbrow.
There is no inherent objection to your identification. Roger Barton knew the earlier Disbrow family. And more than a few early descendants of Roger Barton were identified through other family genealogies. The only problem is that there is not a shred of evidence to prove your theory.
I suggest you spend considerable time studying the children of McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) to see where they were when, etc., and see how that fits your knowledge of William Current. Of course, that's going around in a circle because you want to identify Elisha Barton so as to learn more about William Current. But you could at least study it at that level to see if there are any contradictions or conflicts.
Also, I suggest you ask Michael Disbrow for the specific references (perhaps some photocopies) for his claim that Mary Disbrow married Elisha Barton. He lists five references, only one of which is readily available in the public domain (Bolton's History of Westchester), and I doubt the item of interest is in that book. If you had the reference, you might learn a little bit more about the family of interest, or it might kill your idea.
Finally, although this will not affect your situation, there is not a shred of evidence that the wife of Roger Barton was Mary Lounsbury.
So this is neither yea nor nay, but more like, good work, interesting, carry on.
JCB
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 14, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elisha, Mary and Rachel Barton:
For the most part, the information in Rick Busig's three posts is reasonably well documented.
However, the big question is the parentage of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
In 1941, Adolph Law Voge estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of Noah2 Barton (Roger1). This is the version provided by Rick.
In 1952, George E. McCracken estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of an unknown son of Elisha2 Barton (Roger1). McCracken provided some of his reasoning, but it is scattered in his article, and hardly suited to a message board. This is the version published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
On this date in 2004, I will point out that both Voge and McCracken constructed the early Barton families partly on the assumption that all families in the area of interest were descendants of Roger1 Barton. Thus they reasoned, often tacitly, that any Barton family with the appropriate given names, and not otherwise accounted for by direct evidence, could be placed in (or out of) the Roger Barton family by whatever circumstantial evidence was available. However, since there is evidence of possibly two brothers of Roger in that area at that time, namely John and the father of William (although John could be the father of William), one cannot automatically assign all the unknowns as descendants of Roger1 Barton. DNA evidence is not helpful because any brother of Roger1 would have the same DNA as Roger.
As an example of poor reasoning by circumstantial evidence; McCracken (1952, page 291) dismissed a family of Bartons in Burlington County, NJ, thusly, "There was, however, a family of Bartons in that area who, unlike the Bartons of Westchester, were Friends, and that Elisha may have been a different man." This argument was based on McCracken's incorrect notion that Roger Barton was not a Puritan. As it turns out, McCracken was not an astute student of Roger, because the evidence is that Roger was very much the Puritan, and that family of Friends might well have been closely related to Roger1.
Thus we are left with THREE possible ancestries of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 15, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elijha Barton:
Rick:
First, the easy one. It is generally agreed that Noah2 Barton (Roger1) was born about 1668. The documentary evidence, not someone's personal file, is that Roger Barton was in Rye from 1667 until 1678 when he moved to Fordham Manor. In 1668, when Noah2 Barton was born, Rye was part of Connecticut. Therefore, it is correct to say that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668 in Rye, Connecticut (later a part of New York).
Now the problem.
First Point: There seems to have been three brothers:
George, who you state was born in 1719.
Elisha, born 1729.
Gabriel, born 1733.
Since we agree that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668, then we look at Noah's age when the three brothers were born.
George was born when Noah was 51.
Elisha was born when Noah was 61.
Gabriel was born when Noah was 65.
This means that Noah's wife had to be at least 20 years younger than Noah. Thus when Noah was 50 years old, his wife was under 30. That is quite an age gap.
Next point. Noah2 Barton had quite a series of land transactions. The first one that mentioned his wife, Mary, was in 1730, eleven years after George was born, and after Elisha was born.
Next point. Much of what we know about the family of Elisha (b. 1729) came from the genealogist Hiram Deats, great grandson of Ursilla, who was the daughter of Elisha. Deats said that he copied the data from Ursilla's family Bible. Since the data did not include the parents of Elisha, that issue was left in the dark. That means the issue of George's parents was also left in the dark.
Next point. As I pointed out before, the noted genealogist, George E. McCracken, also a descendant of Roger1 Barton, concluded that Elisha, George and Gabriel were not the sons of Noah2 Barton.
Next point. You state that Elisha was born Oct 5, 1729, in Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. That matches the records of Elisha's great grandson, Hiram Deats, as copied from the family Bible of Elisha's daughter, Ursilla. On Oct 23, 1729, Noah2 Barton was a protester at an Eastchester, Westchester Co., NY, town meeting. On Aug 4, 1730, a Noah Barton bought land in Trenton, and he was described in the deed as being of Somerset.
What is the evidence that supports your contention that George, who you say was born about 1719, Elisha, born 1729, and Gabriel, born 1733, were the sons of Noah2 Barton?
Regards, JCB
From Barton Family Information - Compiled by C. Kirkstadt, Jan 1997
(ed.) - Elisha did marry Jemima VanKirk and their daughter, Mary did marry Elijah Barton. Mary and Elijah were first cousins (sub. note: This is based on the theory Noah Barton was Elisha and George Bartons' father, which is highly unlikely. see below). Elisha was a Captain in Morris County, eastern battalion, Revolutionary War. Will dated Sep 21, 1821, proved Apr 26, 1824.
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From the book "Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots: Volume 1, A-D by Patricia Law Hatcher," on page 58, Elisha Barton's grave is listed at "Barton Fam Yard, Hunterdon, NJ."
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There is a reference to Elisha Barton in "Annals of Our Colonial Ancestors and Their Descendants" by Ambrose Milton Shotwell.
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Elisha Barton is listed in the "Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War."
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Elisha was married about 1755 to Jemima Van Kirk, born 20 FEB 1735/36 in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co. NJ. Their children are:
1. Henry BARTON b: 18 DEC 1756 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 1786
2. Mary BARTON b: 28 DEC 1758 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
3. Rachel BARTON b: 4 JAN 1760 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harmon Kline
4. Sarah BARTON b: 18 APR 1763 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Harbert Hummer
5. Noah BARTON b: 23 NOV 1764 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died June 26, 1829 in Shamikin, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania; married Mary Cooley September 24, 1791
6. Ursilla BARTON b: 20 JAN 1767 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
7. Catherine BARTON b: 26 SEP 1768 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Isaac Kline
8. Margaret BARTON b: 10 SEP 1770 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; married Philip Cooley October 07, 1792 in New Jersey.
9. John BARTON b: 30 APR 1772 in Hunterdon Co. NJ; died March 05, 1845 in Raritan Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; married Charity Golden November 13, 1793 in New Jersey
10. Enoch BARTON b: 22 JAN 1774 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
11. Gilbert BARTON b: 30 JAN 1777 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
12. Rhoda BARTON b: 15 OCT 1780 in Hunterdon Co. NJ
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Some descendants of Elisha Barton
Revolutionary War exhibits and historical narrative from the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey:
Exhibit One
Exhibit Two
Music during the American Revolutionary War
The New Jersey Militia in the Revolutionary War:
Unlike Massachusetts, New Jersey was a relatively quiet colony in the decade before the war, although the majority of Jerseyans sympathized with what they saw as excessive British limitations on colonial liberties. New Jersey militiamen flocked to the flag following the battles of Lexington and Concord, and a 1775 law called for every township to enroll men between the ages of 16 and 50 in the active militia. Quakers (20% of the population) and those in certain occupations were exempted.
In 1776, the New Jersey militia helped defend New York under General George Washington. When the Americans were defeated and retreated across the state, the Jersey militiamen melted away, and, much to Washington's dismay, a number of Jerseymen signed loyalty oaths to the British. The New Jersey militia redeemed itself, however, in succeeding months, providing vital assistance to the American commander in his counterattacks at Trenton and Princeton, and in keeping the British bottled up in a few towns during the "forage war" that lasted into the spring of 1777.
For the rest of the Revolution, militia and "state troops" drawn from the militia disarmed local Tories and battled Loyalist and British raiders along the coast, the New York border and deep into the South Jersey Pine Barrens. New Jersey militiamen also conducted amphibious raids and attacks on British coastal enclaves and shipping. The militia also assisted regular American forces in large battles like Monmouth Court House. Many battles and skirmishes were fought in New Jersey, which gained the state the nickname "cockpit of the Revolution."
New Jersey volunteers and draftees from the militia, a new generation of "Jersey Blues," manned the state's "Continental Line" regular army regiments. Two regiments of "Blues" joined the 1775 invasion of Canada and suffered casualties from both combat and smallpox. These units were discharged in 1776, and four new ones, mustering 1,408 men, were raised in 1777. These regiments served together in the "New Jersey Brigade" commanded by Brigadier General William Maxwell of Sussex County, which earned an excellent combat record. By the end of the war in 1783, two New Jersey Continental regiments, mustering 676 men, were still in service. Approximately 2% of the men serving in the New Jersey Continentals were African American or Native American.
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THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
p. 114: "He [Elisha Barton] was a captain in the Eastern Battalion of Morris County during the Revolution (Stryker, 381), and is said to have built a fine brick house in Hunterdon. Elisha's will was dated 21 Sept. 1821, probated 26 April 1824 (Trenton 3311J)."
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Subj: Re: TAX PAYERS in HUNTERDON COUNTY REQUEST
Date: 97-11-25
From: Jim Stout
To: Michael S. Caldwell
Here's what the TAXPAYERS book has to say about Elisha BARTON: he paid taxes in Amwell Township in 1780, 1784, 1786 and 1789. The entry for 1789 says "Elisha & son" without naming the son. Other BARTONs listed are Andrew (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81, 1785); David (in Hopewell twp in 1780-81, 1785); Elijah (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Gabriel (in Hopewell twp in 1781); George (in Bethlehem twp in 1778, 1780); Henry (in Amwell twp in 1780, 1784); John (in Bethlehem in 1778, 1780); John (in Hopewell twp in 1781, 1785); Noah (in Amwell twp in 1786); Stephen (in Hopewell twp in 1778-81, 1785); Zebulon (in Hopewell twp in 1779-81).
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Will of Elisha Barton:
In the name of God Amen
I Elisha Barton of the Township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being of sound disposing mind and memory do make and publish this a for my last will and testament.
First, I give devise and bequeath my farm land lying in the Township of Amwell aforesaid adjoining lands of Mary Everitt, John Suydam, Andrew Shepherd and others containing one hundred and forty four acres of land be the same more or less to my beloved son John Barton to him his heirs and assigns forever. And if he should die before me I devise the same to his children to be divided between them as the same as by law it would have been divided had he held the same in fee simple and died intestate and my son John Barton is to pay my beloved son Enoch Barton two hundred and eighty dollars and to my beloved son Noah Barton fifty dollars within one year after my decease. These legacies I order to be paid by my son John Barton to my two sons Enoch Barton and Noah Barton as above set forth: out of the aforesaid farm that I have given to my son John Barton: or their survivors. Secondly, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved son Gilbert Barton two acres of wood situate in the Township of Amwell adjoining lands of the aforesaid Everitt Shepherd and others to him my son Gilbert Barton his heirs and assigns forever: and likewise my waggon and gear. Thirdly, I do order that my executors herein after named do make a vendue of all and singular my goods chattels as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and the money arising from the sale after paying my just debts and funeral expenses together with all the monies that I have owing to me at my decease I give devise and bequeath to my daughters and their survivors Namely Mary, the Heirs of Rachel; Sarah, Ann Catherine, Margarett, and Rhoda and ten dollars to my grandaughter Mary Cronts. I do constitute and appoint my beloved son John Barton and my trusty friend Philip Cooley Executors. of this my last will and testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull any other will or wills by me heretofore made, and I do declare that this to be my last will and testament: In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. (1821)
Signed Sealed published )
and declared by the )
said Elisha Barton to )
be his testament and last ) Elisha Barton (Seal)
will in presence of us )
Cornelius Lake )
Wm Rake )
John Sergent )
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Sources:
Birth and Death Dates - THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. CVI, (July 1952) "Roger Barton of Westchester County, N.Y., and some of his earlier Descendants" by George E. McCracken
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From a posting by Marilyn Current in Barton Family Genealogy Forum - (http://genforum.genealogy.com/barton/messages/4432.html):
Hoping for help in unravelling a family mystery.
Bet. 1745-1747 our ancestor, William Current, landed in NJ, an orphan, (maybe 5-7 years old?)the rest of his family having died of ship's fever. An Elisha Barton took him in, (possibly as an indentured servant?) The next record we have of William is in Oxford, Sussex Co., as an adult. When he lived with the Bartons he was probably in another part of New Jersey. I really need to identify who this Elisha Barton was, in order to piece together the real facts about William's early years. The problem is, there were many Elisha Bartons in NJ, NY, and PA in this time period. I need HELP in figuring out which is the correct one.
One of William Current's eldest children, Charity Current, married Thomas Campbell Sexton from Hunterdon Co., NJ on May 10, 1787, in Sussex Co. Recently I located Sexton family records which give Charity's birth as February 18, 1769, Hopewell, Hunterdon (now Mercer) Co. So maybe William lived in Hunterdon Co. before moving to Sussex Co? Giving further support to this, I have located an Elisha Barton who lived in Hunterdon Co. in the same time period:
Capt. Elisha Barton was b. 5 Oct 1729 in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ, d. 31 Mar 1823 same place, m.abt 1755 to Jemima van Kirk b. 20 Feb 1735/1736 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co.. But, I'm afraid this Elisha would have been slightly too young to have taken in an indentured servant in 1747, and definitely too young in 1745. There is conflicting information about who this Capt. Elisha Barton's parents were. The only source I have seen who has attempted to assign a father to Elisha, gives him as Noah Barton, (citing no real evidence), b. 1668 in CT, d. aft. 1737, Cranberry, Middlesex Co., NJ, m. bef. 1710 NY to Mary unknown. Even descendants of Capt. Elisha have had reason to doubt this connection, partially based on the age difference.
I just came across some more information which I believe sounds more plausible. But, without proof, it is nothing but theory. This new information appears to place 2 consecutive Elisha Bartons immediately prior to Capt. Elisha Barton, making him Elisha Barton, III. Elisha Barton, II, would be the correct age to be the benefactor of William Current. What do you think of this? Anything anyone can add, or detract, from this?:
from the Lorne Shunk's Family Tree: (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shunkfamilytree/FamilyTree/fam07666.htm)
Elisha BARTON, (SR.) (s/o Roger Barton & Mary Lounsberry) b. bet.1662-1668, d. bef. 1717 at Burlington Co., NJ, m.1 to _?_ Contine, (d/o Isaac Contine), at New Rochelle, Westchester Co., NY; m2 to Mary Griffin. CHILDREN by 1st marriage: 1) Thomas BARTON, b. at Westchester Co., NY, d. Hunterdon Co., NJ, m. Hannah Clark; and2) _?_ Barton, (whom I believe was Elisha Barton, Jr.), d. NJ
Put this together with another bit of information picked up from Michael S. Disbrow's Family Tree (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/5853/hendis/hendis.html):
BENJAMIN DISBROW (son of Henry I), b. abt. 1672, poss. on Long Island, NY, d. 10 Dec. 1733 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ, m. MARY GRIFFIN, Children: 1)John Disbrow, b. 1702; 2)Benjamin Disbrow, Jr., b. abt. 1707; d. 17 Mar. 1735 Matawan, Monmouth Co., NJ; m. Margaret _; no children, 3)Anne Disbrow, b. 1710; d. 1733, 4) Griffin Disbrow, b. 1712, 5) Mary Disbrow, m. Elisha Barton (This would be Elisha Barton, Jr., Mary Disbrow's step-brother, son of her mother, Mary Griffin's second spouse, Elisha Barton,Sr.)
This Elisha Barton, Jr., and wife Mary Disbrow, then, are probably the parents of Capt. Elisha Barton (III) of Hunterdon Co., NJ, as well as being the Elisha Barton who took William Current into their home when he landed, orphaned, on NJ soil.
So, tell me, am I crazy?!!! Is there anything anyone can add to support this, or to point me in another direction for the real Elisha Barton who took in William Current?
Reply to the above post from JCB:
There is no problem with the timing of your theory. To make it simple for the descendants of Roger Barton, you are saying that McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) is your Elisha of interest, married to Mary Disbrow.
There is no inherent objection to your identification. Roger Barton knew the earlier Disbrow family. And more than a few early descendants of Roger Barton were identified through other family genealogies. The only problem is that there is not a shred of evidence to prove your theory.
I suggest you spend considerable time studying the children of McCracken's Unknown3 Barton (Elisha2, Roger1) to see where they were when, etc., and see how that fits your knowledge of William Current. Of course, that's going around in a circle because you want to identify Elisha Barton so as to learn more about William Current. But you could at least study it at that level to see if there are any contradictions or conflicts.
Also, I suggest you ask Michael Disbrow for the specific references (perhaps some photocopies) for his claim that Mary Disbrow married Elisha Barton. He lists five references, only one of which is readily available in the public domain (Bolton's History of Westchester), and I doubt the item of interest is in that book. If you had the reference, you might learn a little bit more about the family of interest, or it might kill your idea.
Finally, although this will not affect your situation, there is not a shred of evidence that the wife of Roger Barton was Mary Lounsbury.
So this is neither yea nor nay, but more like, good work, interesting, carry on.
JCB
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 14, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elisha, Mary and Rachel Barton:
For the most part, the information in Rick Busig's three posts is reasonably well documented.
However, the big question is the parentage of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
In 1941, Adolph Law Voge estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of Noah2 Barton (Roger1). This is the version provided by Rick.
In 1952, George E. McCracken estimated that Elisha Barton (1729-1823) was the son of an unknown son of Elisha2 Barton (Roger1). McCracken provided some of his reasoning, but it is scattered in his article, and hardly suited to a message board. This is the version published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
On this date in 2004, I will point out that both Voge and McCracken constructed the early Barton families partly on the assumption that all families in the area of interest were descendants of Roger1 Barton. Thus they reasoned, often tacitly, that any Barton family with the appropriate given names, and not otherwise accounted for by direct evidence, could be placed in (or out of) the Roger Barton family by whatever circumstantial evidence was available. However, since there is evidence of possibly two brothers of Roger in that area at that time, namely John and the father of William (although John could be the father of William), one cannot automatically assign all the unknowns as descendants of Roger1 Barton. DNA evidence is not helpful because any brother of Roger1 would have the same DNA as Roger.
As an example of poor reasoning by circumstantial evidence; McCracken (1952, page 291) dismissed a family of Bartons in Burlington County, NJ, thusly, "There was, however, a family of Bartons in that area who, unlike the Bartons of Westchester, were Friends, and that Elisha may have been a different man." This argument was based on McCracken's incorrect notion that Roger Barton was not a Puritan. As it turns out, McCracken was not an astute student of Roger, because the evidence is that Roger was very much the Puritan, and that family of Friends might well have been closely related to Roger1.
Thus we are left with THREE possible ancestries of Elisha Barton (1729-1823).
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JCB posted on the Ancestry.Com Barton Bulletin Board on Dec. 15, 2004 in response to my posting information on Elijha Barton:
Rick:
First, the easy one. It is generally agreed that Noah2 Barton (Roger1) was born about 1668. The documentary evidence, not someone's personal file, is that Roger Barton was in Rye from 1667 until 1678 when he moved to Fordham Manor. In 1668, when Noah2 Barton was born, Rye was part of Connecticut. Therefore, it is correct to say that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668 in Rye, Connecticut (later a part of New York).
Now the problem.
First Point: There seems to have been three brothers:
George, who you state was born in 1719.
Elisha, born 1729.
Gabriel, born 1733.
Since we agree that Noah2 Barton was born about 1668, then we look at Noah's age when the three brothers were born.
George was born when Noah was 51.
Elisha was born when Noah was 61.
Gabriel was born when Noah was 65.
This means that Noah's wife had to be at least 20 years younger than Noah. Thus when Noah was 50 years old, his wife was under 30. That is quite an age gap.
Next point. Noah2 Barton had quite a series of land transactions. The first one that mentioned his wife, Mary, was in 1730, eleven years after George was born, and after Elisha was born.
Next point. Much of what we know about the family of Elisha (b. 1729) came from the genealogist Hiram Deats, great grandson of Ursilla, who was the daughter of Elisha. Deats said that he copied the data from Ursilla's family Bible. Since the data did not include the parents of Elisha, that issue was left in the dark. That means the issue of George's parents was also left in the dark.
Next point. As I pointed out before, the noted genealogist, George E. McCracken, also a descendant of Roger1 Barton, concluded that Elisha, George and Gabriel were not the sons of Noah2 Barton.
Next point. You state that Elisha was born Oct 5, 1729, in Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. That matches the records of Elisha's great grandson, Hiram Deats, as copied from the family Bible of Elisha's daughter, Ursilla. On Oct 23, 1729, Noah2 Barton was a protester at an Eastchester, Westchester Co., NY, town meeting. On Aug 4, 1730, a Noah Barton bought land in Trenton, and he was described in the deed as being of Somerset.
What is the evidence that supports your contention that George, who you say was born about 1719, Elisha, born 1729, and Gabriel, born 1733, were the sons of Noah2 Barton?
Regards, JCB
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