VOL. III - CHAPTER 1

The Early Generations

For an overview of Volume III see here 

Thomas Barton and Anne Mepham

The earliest generation that I have been able to trace with certainty is Thomas Barton married Anne Mepham of Herstmonceux on 16 January 1751 at Wartling Parish Church.

At present I have been unable to trace Thomas Barton's baptism. Other researchers have suggested he was baptised on 23 April 1721 at Wartling Parish Church, but the entry in the parish register reads Thomas son of Thomas and Mary BARDEN. If they are correct that this is Thomas Barton then he was the son of Thomas Barton (per transcript) (1702 - ?) and Mary French (1702 - 1776) who married on 28 April 1720 in Warbleton and it may be that his ancestry can be traced back to the 1500's but I am not yet convinced this is the correct position, as I have located both Thomas Barton and Thomas Barden in subsequent records (with different families). 

Thomas and Anne had at least three children:

  • Betty Barton. Baptised 13 January 1754 at Herstmonceux, daughter of Thomas and Anne Barton.
  • Thomas Barton. Baptised 19 April 1755 at Herstmonceux, son of Thomas and Anne Barton.
  • John Barton. Baptised 28 November 1756 at Herstmonceux, son of Thomas and Anne Barton.

Nothing more is known about Betty and John, save for

  • Betty may have married William Saunders on 24 April 1776 in Warbleton, but the marriage record is for an Elizabeth Barton. Both were described as "of this parish" and both signed the register. The witnesses were William Saunders, John Durral and William Elliott. 

 A little is known about Thomas and this is detailed below.

Thomas Barton and Mary Weston

Thomas was baptised on 19 April 1755, at Herstmonceux, the son of Thomas Barton and Anne Mepham

On 5 August 1778 Thomas married Mary Weston at Warbleton Parish Church.

Mary Weston had been baptised on 22 May 1757 at Herstmonceux, the daughter of Thomas Weston and Elizabeth. 

Thomas and Mary had seven children

  • Thomas Barton. Baptised 4 October 1778 at Wartling Parish Church
  • Sarah Barton. Baptised 16 January 1780 at Wartling Parish Church. Buried 21 April 1780 at Wartling Parish Church
  • Jane Barton. Baptised 3 June 1781 at Wartling Parish Church
  • Joseph Barton. Baptised 24 August 1783 at Wartling Parish Church.
  • Samuel Barton. Baptised 19 June 1785 at Wartling Parish Church
  • Mary Barton. Baptised 9 July 1786 at Wartling Parish Church.
  • John Barton. Baptised 4 September 1788 at Wartling Parish Church. 

It is possible Thomas Barton was admitted to Hailsham House on 4 July 1835. He is described as a labourer, from Hellingly, a widower. (G5/14/4). He was admitted again on 25 December 1835, 4 July 1836 and 30 September 1836 (G5/14/3)

Barton is not an uncommon surname and with no unusual Christian names, it is difficult to be certain that that I am following the correct family line, so at present

  • Nothing more is known about Thomas Barton.
  • Other researchers have recorded the baptism of Jane Barton and noted that she married Thomas Sweetnam on 26 December 1802 at Wartling. Later known as "Jenny" they had a number of children before emigrating to South Africa. Their lives and that of their descendants are detailed at Appendix A 
  • Joseph Barton of Warbleton, aged 46 may have been buried at Warbleton on 2 August 1829.
  • Samuel Barton may have died in 1844 (Reg Gen June 1844 Uckfield 7 344)
  • Nothing more is known about Mary Barton.
  • Our line continues through Thomas and Mary's son John Barton who married Catherine Keeley and his family is detailed in Chapter 2.  

Click here to go to "Chapter 2 - John Barton and Catherine Keeley"

To find out more about Jenny Sweetnam nee Barton's descendents click here to go to "Appendix A"