John Garton - (1661 - 1698)

My 8th great grandfather

The lineage is as follows:

8 - John Garton & Martha [Garton]
    7 - Catherine Garton [Petty] & Thomas Petty
        6 - John P. Petty & Rebecca Sims [Petty]
            5 - Rebecca Petty [Boston] & Joseph Boston
                4 - Reuben G Boston & Sarah Hawkins [Boston]
                    3 - Francis "Fanny" Boston [Dale] & Lewis Luntsford Dale
                        2 - Mary Ellen Dale [Powell] & William Henry Powell
                            1 - William Constance Powell & Gertrude Marguerite Fix [Powell]
                                 0 - Maude Gertrude Powell [Gates] - Herbert Ellis Gates (grandparents)

The following is a compilation of data found on the web. Most of it didn't have sources listed.

There is a nice write-up on John in Find a grave, unfortunately it contains an obvious error in the year of his birth.

John Garton is said to have been born in 1661 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. Old Rappahannock County was formed in 1656 from Lancaster County and became extinct in 1692 when it was divided into Essex and Richmond counties. The name "Rappahannock" comes from the Algonquian word lappihanne (also noted as toppehannock), meaning "river of quick, rising water" or "where the tide ebbs and flows."
Rappahannock County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metropolitan Area.

John's parents are believed to be Capt. William Garton (1649-1709) of Christ Church Parish and Margarett Angell [Garton] (1639-1702) although I have seen no documentation to support this. According to Leland Garton in the MyHeritage message logs on Garton Line from England to VA, William named his first born son John after his father John Garton (1615 - 1698).

If John is a son of William Garton, his known siblings were:
     Catherine Garton (1673 - 1748)
     Uriah Garton (1672 - 1755)
     James Garton (1677 - ?)
     Margaret Garton (1678 - ?)
     Anthony Garton (1679 - 1763
     Ester Garton (1680 - ?)

Other researchers have theorized that John and William may be brothers or cousins.John wasn't named in William's will; however John died before William. If John and his family had already received their share, they might not have been listed in the will. In any event they were probably related.

John is believed to have married a lady named Martha around 1680 in Richmond, Virginia. He and Martha are credited with the following children:
     John Garton Jr. (c. 1677 - 1721)
     Richard Garton (c. 1681 - 1702)
     Catherine Garton [Petty]  (1683 - 1748) my ancestor
     Ruth Garton [Boyd] (c. 1685 -1733)
     Mathew Garton  (c. 1687 - ?)

John was probably a planter by trade. Researchers state he served as the Sheriff of Richmond county in1690. Another researcher listed the following fact: Richmond County Court 7th Dec 1693. Ordered that John Garton offitiate as Survayor of the Highways this present yare from Rappa Creeke to Stoney Hill.

John Garton of Richmond and Orange counties died after June 17, 1698 in Richmond, Virginia. He was about 38 years old at the time of his death. We have no details on his death. I believe he probably had knowledge of his impending death as he left a will. In earlier times, it was common to write a will when death was believed to be eminent.

In his will dated 17 June 1698  he mentioned his wife Martha and five children, viz: (1) Richard Garton; (2) John Garton; (3) Mathew Garton; (4) Katherine (Catherine) Garton [Petty]; and (5) Ruth Garton.

The will was recorded in the lost Will book # 1 (1692-1699). Thus we have no details of his estate. Plantation appraised for 17,504 pounds of tobacco in June, 1697.

On March 6th, 1701, Thomas and Katherine Petty appeared in court with her mother Martha Garton as plaintiffs in a suit against Robert Post, executor of John's estate. Apparently Robert died before distributing the estate.

On 7 May 1702 the records for Richmond Co., VA show that Thomas and Katherine Patty and Martha Garton won their suit. Robert Post was ordered to pay 3000 pounds in tobacco. (Richmond Co., OB 3. pp. 85, 168)

Richmond Co. Court 7th of May 1702 Pg 159 Widdo of the said JOHN GARTON deced, One thousand pounds of tobbo; and to the Surviveing Children of the said JOHN GARTON Two thousand pounds of tobbo to be equally divided being in full of all theire Right and Interest ot the Estate of the said JOHN GARTON deced. The Plts and Defts to beare and equall part in the costs of the said suite to which award the Plts, and the Defts agreeing; this Court doth Confirme the same and do order that the said ROBERT POST & c. Deft to pary the above named MARTHA GARTON, Widdow of the saif JOHN GARTON. One thousand pounds of tobbo; and to surviveing Children of the said JOHN GARTON. Two thousand pounds of tobbo als.