Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1911 — Horton Family [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Horton Family

Horton, a name of Anglo-Saxon derivation, admits of little, if any, variation; Horten, Hortun and Hortoun being perhaps the only ones. It is from ort, or wort, meaning herbs or vegetables, and tun, an enclosure, or a garden. Horton is the name of towns in Kent, York, Chester, Dorset and Gloucester, and in Norway there is a place called Horten; Ville de Horta is a town in the Azores.

What is perhaps the oldest frame house In the United States was built on Long island by Barnabas Horton, pilgrim father. This house was still standing a few years ago. He Was born in 1600, In Leicestershire, England, and came over in the Swallow, 1636, with wife and two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Eight children were born here. The captain of the Swallow was a Horton, Jeremy by name. If you want a name for your family chart, dating back to the sixteenth century, put down Joseph, father of Barnabas, the pilgrim. We can go farther back and find Robert de Horton, lord of the manor of Horton, or Great Horton, before 1310, but Just where he comes in, or where any of the present generation of American Hortons come in with reference to him, it is Impossible to say. Ancestors have ways that are dartc, that is, they remind you, “now you have and now you haven’t."

In the time of Charles L, William Horton, of Howroyde, was a man of some importance—enough so to have his name handed down to the present day. Sudhrooke Park, Petersham, is one seat of the family, and it was the home of the author and statesman, Sir Robert Horton, governor of Ceylon, and knighted in 1830. It was his wife, Lady Beatrix, who was the subject of Byron's lines, "She walks in beauty." To go back to our first American ancestor, Barnabas. He went first to Massachusetts, and then to Long island in 1640, with 1* other Puritans. The fateful number of 13 had no terrors for them. Southold was the town they founded, and any Horton of today who can hark back to Barnabas is eligible for membership with colonial societies, for Barnabas wag a magistrate and member of the court. As he had the foresight to provide himself with a tombstone—perhaps before he left England—his grave is still marked, and a few years ago. that is. about 60, bis stone was relettered. It la down In the records, that of the 13, he was the only one whose Lares and Penates Included a monument, and It is said that he had the epitaph engraved upon It himself. This shows his caution and wisdom. The writer understands that the epitaph is not un-

complimentary, but rather the reverse. He died 80 years young. History records other pilgrims, Thomas of Springfield, and Jeremiah, also of Massachusetts. The New York branch of the family was founded by Joseph of the second

generation, and to trace back to him, is to find an ancestor with a record, for he was selectman, justice of the peace, also captain of militia. When It cornea to Revolutionary an cestors, there are enough and to spare, so that every one in good standing can have a few. Jonathan of the fifth generation, and of Long island, was one of the signers of the for Independence.** In 1775. ClpL Nathan was a bold aoldler, and on guard at the execution of Andre.. * Others In the Revolution, from pfcw Jersey, were Captain Joseph and Surgeon Jonathan; from New York. Captains Ambrose and Thomas, and Lieutenant Jotham and Ensign Elisha; from Connecticut. Captain James. The arms illustrated was borne by the pilgrim Barnabas and is blazoned gules, a lion rampant, argent, charged on the breast with a boar's head, coupled, azure; a bordure engrailed on the Becond. Crest, a red rose seeded and barbed proper. Motto, Pro Rege et Lege— For king and law. This Is §j§o. the motto of the Btewart family. The lion is a valued Charge of great dignity; the boar, the bearing of a warrior, and also the symbol of hospitality. Engrailed denotes land. the rose, hope, gules, magnanimity -argent, sincerity; azure, loyalty. Another Horton motto is quod Volt, Valde Vult —what he wills, he wills heartily and cordially.