Rufus Barton 1749-1807 m. Prudence Cole

====================== Rufus Barton's Early Life ====================

For background we must know that Warren, Rhode Island was founded 1747 from MA towns of Barrington, Swansea, and Rehoboth.  Also, Bristol was called Mt. Hope in 1679. Founded 1681 as part of Plymouth Colony. 1686 Became Bristol Co., MA. ceded to RI in 1747.

There is little doubt in my mind that our Rufus Barton of Warren descends from the Rufus Barton who settled in Warwick and died there in 1648.  A common genealogical ploy is to work down from your known line and work up from the immigrant at the same time.  Eventually the two will connect. However, until we make the actual connection, all general Barton information will be included here.

As a starting point, the Census of the Inhabitants of Rhode Island, 1774 include the following at Warren:

 

Name	Males >16	<16	Females >16	<16	Indian Black
Haile Barton	1	1	1
William Barton	1	2	1	1	1
Rufus Barton	1	2	2
Lydia Barton	1	1	2
Richard Barton	1	2	2	1	4
Benjamin Barton	1	3	2	1	1

(This census also included 15 Cole, 7 Luther, 15 Miller, and 3 Sisson heads of household in Warren.)

The History of Warren, Rhode Island, in the War of The Revolution, 1776 - 1783. By Virginia Baker, Published in Warren, R.I. in 1901 contains some historic information that may help make the connection.

Page 5 indicates that the pioneer settlers of Swansea, Massachusetts, of which the town Warren originally formed a part, were a strong and steadfast race of men, resolute, courageous, and liberty loving.  The characteristics so marked in them descended to their posterity.

Page 10 indicates the population of Warren in 1776 was 1,005 including slaves. The town was required by law to furnish ten men for military service, but in September it was voted to increase the number to twelve.

Page 13 describes how Lieut. Col William Barton (later promoted to General) in July 1777 raised the hopes of Rhode Islanders by capturing British General Prescott, Warren being especially gratified at this brilliant achievement of one of her sons.

Page 38 lists the Roll of Capt. Ezra Ormsbee's Company of Militia in the Town Warren, 1776.  It included Haile Barton, David Barton, Thomas Barden, Richard Barton, Joseph Barton, Jr.

Page 41 includes a True List of all the Soldiers in the Town of Warren both in the Alarm and Militia who were Drafted the 28th day of Sep't'm., A. D. 1777. They included William, Benjamin, Richard Barton.

Page 43 lists Warren men who were members of the Alarm Company of Bristol County in 1779.  It included Benjamin Barton.

Page 44 lists the names in Captain Robert Carr's Company of the Senior Class in the County of Bristol in Gen. Miller's Brigade, 1780.  It included Rufus and William Barton.

Page 45 lists Capt. Curtis Cole's Company in Cur'nl Nathan Miller's Regiment. 1781.  It included David Barton.

Page 59 indicates Rufus Barton's loss during the War was ?9 9 6.

The First Census of the United States in 1790 lists Rufus Barton in Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island with two males of 16 years and upwards, three females under 16 years, and three females including heads of families.

====================== Rufus Barton's Parents ======================

I am not sure who are the parents of our Rufus Barton.  However, because this Rufus Barton named one of his daughters Lillis Turner Barton, I originally assumed his parents were Samuel Barton and Lillis Turner.

From the fact that Warren was once part of Swansea, Massachusetts, I found something in the Vital Records of Swansea, Massachusetts to 1850 that might be a lead to Rufus Barton's ancestry.  Book B: Marriages 1705 - 1775 indicates that Samuel Barton and Lillis Turner were married March ye 23: 1737/8 by Samuel Maxwell minister.  Since our Rufus named one of his daughters Lillis Turner Barton, based on time and place, I would suspect that Samuel and Lillis Barton may be his parents.

Book B: Births 1705 - 1775 indicates Lillis the daughter of William Turner and of Patience his wife was Born February the 26: 1714/5.

The source of this Rufus Barton's birth date, birth location, marriage date, and marriage location is the 1994 RI IGI.

Page 22 of the Barton Family manuscript lists Rufus and Prudence (Cole) Barton, Mar. Apr 7, 1771, and their eleven children.  However, there is neither a link to this Rufus nor reference to his parents in the manuscript. (Nearly every other entry in the manuscript has both a to and from reference for every family head.)  It does list the eleventh child, Ebenezer Cole Barton b. Aug 14, 1799 Cambridge, N. Y.

As stated above, it appears Samuel and Lillis Turner Barton may be the parents of this Rufus.  In July 1997 I ran across an Internet web page sponsored by David Cole.  In it, there is circumstantial evidence that Rufus's parents are David and Susanna Barton, married about 1735, or Samuel and Lillis Turner Barton, married in 1737.

A final bit of evidence is that General William Barton and our Rufus Barton were cousins. ( The DAR application submitted by Margarett Hodges Matavia, under the section "Ancestor's Services", she typed the following: " Col. William Barton was a cousin of Rufus Barton and was reared in his home so they were like  brothers.") William Barton's father was Benjamin Barton, brother of Samuel Barton. This would make William and Rufus cousins.  However, there were three other brothers that could be Rufus's father: Andrew, Rufus, and Anthony.  In fact, this brother Rufus had a son named Rufus born 1743 of whom we know nothing further. But, brother Anthony had a son Nathan - remember that our Rufus named one son Nathan. Oh, how twisted this web becomes!

Within an hour of writing the previous paragraph I completed my initial review of Rufus Barton's pension package. The very last page of the file was a letter from a Jos. J. Barton of Greensboro, N.C. dated March 6, 1909 to the Pension Office in Washington, DC. In that letter he said:

"I am advised that I may obtain a copy of the application for a pension of our Rufus Barton who was born Feby. 22, 1743 in Warwick, R.I. and lived in Warren R.I. at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He is supposed to have served in a Rhode Island regiment. I would like to obtain the date of his death and such information as your records may sho. He married April 7, 1771, Prudence Cole. ..."

This all but proves that our Rufus is the son of Rufus, son of Andrew mentioned above.

================= Rufus Barton's Revolutionary Service ================

Rufus Barton's widow was placed on the pension roll, 1836, for his service as orderly sergeant and ensign, and, 1777-78, as lieutenant in Capt. Benjamin Church's company, Colonel Tallman's regiment; also, 1778-79, as Deputy Commissary of Issues. He died 1807, in Lansingburgh, N. Y. (See great granddaughter Fannie Osborn's notes.)

State of New York
County of Rensselaer
City of Troy

On this 16th day of August AD. 1836 personally appeared before the Justices Court in and for the City of Troy, Prudence Barton, a resident of Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York. Aged last October 82 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836. That she is the widow of Rufus Barton who was a Lieutenant and a Commissary in the Army of the Revolution in the Rhode Island State Troops - That her said husband Rufus Barton first entered said service as a Lieutenant in the month of February AD. 1777 and continually served as such Lieutenant until the month of March 1778 when he was reappointed such Lieutenant and served continually in that capacity until the spring of the year of 1779. That during about nine or ten months of the latter part of the last mentioned term of service, he acted as issuing Commissary for the Regiment. That in the month of January 1779 according to the best recollection of this deponent - she went with her said husband to Little Compton in Rhode Island where the troops were stationed and that she remained with him there until the latter part of April or first of May in the year 1779. That while there she well remembers that her said husband acted as Commissary and distributed rations, clothing and other articles to the Regiment and that she this deponent during that time, herself baked bread and done other cooking for the soldiers there stationed - And that her said husband remained at Little Compton and acted in his capacity of Commissary after his second year's commission as Lieutenant expired, but for what term this deponent does not recollect. And this deponent further says that her said husband first began his service in the revolution upon the breaking out of hostilities in Rhode Island about two years before he was appointed Lieutenant and went to Boston and served at different times as an orderlie (orderly) Sergeant and Ensign, but for what period he served in those capacities she has no means of recollection.
That she and her said husband removed from Warren in Rhode Island to Cambridge, Washington County in this state in the month of March 1797 and resided there until October 1802 when they removed to Lansingburgh, where she now resides. That her said husband died in the month of June 1807 and that there all her husband's books and papers fell into the hands of her son Rufus Barton, since which she has not seen them, but most of which she believes to be lost or destroyed. - That she has no Documentary Evidence in support of her claim unless the same may be found at Washington.
She further declares that she was married to the said Rufus Barton on the 7th day of April 1771: that her husband, the aforesaid Rufus Barton died on the tenth day of June A.D. 1807 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above Written before the Justices
of the Justice Court of the City of Troy

B. M. Wilson, Clerk (Benjamin M.)

================= Rufus Barton's Migration to New York ================

Rufus and Prudence in New York (where William Sidney Barton was born.)

Since William Sidney Barton was born in New York in 1815, supposedly in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, Nathan Sisson and Lucinda Barton were there by that time.  The 1800 New York census has several Barton entries that are of interest.

Ruphis Barton is listed in the 1800 Federal New York Census in Washington Co. on page 365 as 31201-11101-00.  Seth and Timothy Barton were also in Washington Co.

Alpheus, Benjamin, Josiah, and Stephen Barton were in Onondaga County. Thomas Barton was in Cayuga County, immediately to the west of Skaneateles.

Of special interest is Azariah, Edward, Samuel, and William Barton are in Rensselaer County.  This could be especially meaningful because in 1819 Rufus Barton of Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer was involved in two land transactions in Camillus in the county of Onondaga.

Probably the most convincing evidence of the migration path is that The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633, page 67 gives us some very meaningful additional information.  The text indicates Prudence's and Rufus' first ten children were born in Warren, RI and the last one was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., NY.  The family lived near Troy, NY.

The 1800 NY census indicates a Ruphes Barton in Washington County, page 192.

Cambridge is approximately 23 miles northeast of Troy in Rensselaer County, NY.
 It is also only two miles from the Vermont/New York boundary.

A deposition by  David Smith to support Prudence Barton's request for Rufus' pension indicates Rufus and Prudence moved to Lansingburgh about 1802 and that Rufus died there in 1807..

The 1820 New York federal census lists Prudence and Rufus Barton in adjacent entries in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer County. (Lansingburgh is a community in the northern part of current Troy, NY. Based on later evidence, this Rufus would be her son.)

For additional information on this Rufus Barton's ancestry, go to http://www.angelfire.com/tx/royc/ and click on My wife's Barton line."