Borton

         This page does not try to be the definitive Borton family history. All it hopes to do is gather information about the ancestors of Esther Borton who married John Haines in 1684. If you have any corrections or additional information about any of the individuals on this page I would be glad to hear from you. Please contact me at .

English Ancestors

         The oldest member of this family I've been able to find thus far is the son of William Borton^B, also named William Borton^A, who was christened 29 November 1590 in Aynho, Northamptonshire.[1] He married in 1613 Elizabeth ____.[2] [See an explanation of the National Genealogical Society's Numbering System used on this web page.]

Children of William and Elizabeth (__) Borton:[3]

1. William Borton¹, christened in Aynho, 5 Jan. 1616; d.y.


2. William Borton, christened in Aynho, 27 Mar. 1619;


3. Elizabeth Borton, christened in Aynho, 29 July 1622;


4. Jana Borton, christened in Aynho, 7 Apr. 1625;


5. Margaret Borton, christened in Aynho, 3 Apr. 1628;


6. Henry Borton, christened in Aynho, 10 Jan. 1630;


7. John Borton, christened 25 Jan. 1634; m. 1658 Ann KINTON;

Immigrant Generation

         John Borton¹ was baptized in 1634. In 1658 John, of Aynhoe, King's Sutton Hundred, Northamptonshire, married Ann Kinton.[4]

         They soon became Friends, at a time when the group's stubborn refusal to submit to customary or legal practices they deemed contrary to Christian Truth resulted in persecution. The first recorded suffering for conscience sake of a Friend in Aynho was in 1659 when Margaret PARKER, "of Aino on the Hill, a poor Widow, having three Children, was imprisoned at Northampton seven and twenty Months for Tithes of Corn and Hay, less than 13s. 4d. in Value."[5]

         In January 1660/1 John Borton and eight other men from the area, including John Bett from Aynho, were "taken out of their own Houses by Soldiers, and committed to Prison for refusing the Oaths".[6] They justified their refusal to take an oath by pointing to the clear instruction of Jesus in Matthew 5:34 to "swear not at all", echoed in James 5:12. Vindictive authorities quickly learned that tendering an oath to a Quaker who would refuse to take it was an easy way to find him or her guilty.

         Withe abortive uprising of the Fifth Monarchy Men (with whom Friends had no connection other than that they were both minority non-conforming religious groups) and the return to power of the Cavalier Parliament following the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, persecution increased.

The Number of [Friends] Prisoners now in Northampton Goal [sic] was near forty, put into the Low-Goal twelve Steps under Ground, where they were lockt up every Night among Felons, and in Winter the Goaler kept the Door fast sixteen Hours together, and they lay so close one by another, that he who was up last could hardly set his Foot between them to go to the Place where he should lie. Some of them were sick for Want of Air, and when their Friends came many Miles to visit them, they were not admitted: Their Food and Necessaries were often kept from them, so that their Sufferings were exceeding great. . . . The Generality of the Prisoners before mentioned lay about three or four Months, and then were discharged by the King's Proclamation.[7]

         In 1665 John BETT, John BORTON, Edward HARDLY, and John HOLCROFT, "poor Labourers, had their Goods taken by Distress for a Fine of 4s. each, imposed for four Weeks Absence from their Parish-Church".[8] Parliament re-established a state church and decreed that all citizens must attend each Sunday or incur a fine. Friends, of course, refused to attend something they found devoid of spiritual nourishment. When they refused to pay the fines because the law itself was unjust, goods were taken from their homes or shops, often at many times the value of the original fine.

         The fact that John Borton was considered to be a "poor labourer" probably had more to do with his decision to emigrate than the persecution he and his family endured. Early Friends knew that their example of trying to follow the teachings of Christ would get them in trouble. They believed that by remaining steadfast in the face of persecution would speak more loudly than mere words, and would help convince others to change their lives. However, the steady depredations on their resources by distraint and imprisonment meant that they would be unable to help their children to become independent adults. Therefore, when the Bortons heard about a group of Friends establishing a settlement on the Delaware River in West Jersey, where land was plentiful and cheap, they were interested. In 1679 they joined a group of several families of Friends sailing on the Griffith the province of West Jersey. They took with them a teenage son of Aynho neighbors, John HAINES.

         John Borton and his wife Anne brought a certificate of removal from the monthly meeting of Borton, Oxfordshire, dated Third Month [May] 5, 1679 (Old Style) stating that the undersigned have "Known ye sd John and Anne Borton these many years, and that they have walked honestly among us, living in the fear of God and in obedience to the blessed truth revealed in this our day, and have been of a good savor to friends and to their neighbors in ye village where they dwell." Signed by Richard and William TREDWELL, Thomas OLLIFFE, and Richard HAINES, among others.[9] [See an explanation of Friends' Dates.]

         The Bortons settled at Hillsdown on the Northampton River (now known as the Rancocas Creek). Their land was a tract in Evesham Township (now Mount Laurel), in Burlington County. It extended from the Creek to the Mount Holly and Moorestown turn pike, and was known as the "Borton Tract".[10]

         John Borton and William Brightwen were appointed constable for "London tenth", of which John owned some shares. In Burlington County a "tenth" was considered to be 32,000 acres, and the inhabitants thereof were entitled to ten representatives in the General Assembly of West Jersey. The Assembly was empowered to fill all public offices from constable up to counselor.[11]

         John died at Hillsdown in 1687. His will was dated Fifth month 28, and proved Eleventh Month 14 that year. He named his two sons, and mentioned six daughters, but did not give their names. The two sons inherited the "Borton Tract", and it was passed down in the family for several generations. At least part of it remained in the family as late as 1882. The picture shows part of the "Borton Tract" with farm buildings ca. 1900.[12]

         Children of John and Anne (__) Borton:[13]

1. Daniel Davis², d. in Uwchlan 1784; probably unmarried as his will, signed 29/4/1783 and pr. 6 Aug. 1784 left everything to his siblings: John David, his 6 sisters who received 20 shillings each, Benjamin got 1 sterling shilling; brother-in-law David JOHN was named executor.


2. Anne Borton, b. 8m/18/1660; m. 1681 Thomas BARTON of E___ Creek, Burlington, at the Burlington meeting house 8 Dec. 1681.


3. Elizabeth Borton, b. 5m/27/1664; d. 1718; m. 1684 John WOOLMAN.


4. Esther Borton, b. 5m/25/1667; m. Dec. 10, 1684 John HAINES.


5. John, Jr. Borton, b. 9m/27/1669; m(1) __, and had 5 children; m(2) 1717 Ann DARNELY; m(3) 1732 Mary HILLBOURNE.


6. William Borton, b. 4m/2 or 20/1672; m. 1699 Hannah COALE of Burlington, at the house of William Borton, 7/7/1699.


7. Susanna Borton, b. 8m/24/1675;


8. Mary Borton, b. 8m/5/1678; m. 1696 Francis AUSTIN.


9. a daughter, b. in America; d. "about the middle of 9m", 1688.

Second Generation

         Esther Borton², daughter of John and Ann (Kinton) was born in England on 25 Fifth Month [July] 1667, and emigrated with her parents when she was eleven years old, in 1679. At the time of her marriage her family lived in Burlington; her intended lived in Northampton River. She married John HAINES at the Burlington meeting house on December 10, 1684.[14] She was seventeen years old.

         Esther died in 1719. John married for the second time in 1722 the twice widowed Hannah (__) Whitall Wood.

England, Fisher, Harry, John, Jones, Lewis, Sharpley, Shemaker, Taylr, Thomas, Townsend, Wood

         Children of John and Esther (Borton) Haines

1. John Haines³, d. 1752; married (1) Elizabeth SATTERTHWAITE of Chesterfield Twp, at Chesterfield MM Tenth mo. [Dec.] 13, 1709.


2. Elizabeth Haines, b. 1687; bur. Tenth Mo. [Dec.] 4, 1687 at Ancocas.


3. Jonathan Haines, b. Third Mo. [May] 2, 1688; married Mary MATLACK. Resided in Evesham. Jonathan's will pr. March 25, 1729.


4. Joshua Kirk, b. 12 Dec. 1759;


5. Isaac Haines, b. Feb. 2, 1690/1; married Catherine DAVIS or DAVIES; 10 children.


6. Mary Haines, b. Second Mo. [April] 20, 1693; d. 1729; married Dec. 19, 1711 Thomas LIPPINCOTT at Newton Mtg house under the care of Haddonfield MM; 6 children. Thomas was b. Tenth Mo. [Dec.] 28, 1686, d. Ninth Mo. 5, 1757, the son of Freedom and Mary (__) Lippincott; he married (2) 1732 Mercy (ALLEN) Middleton Hugg; Thomas married (3) Rachel SMITH, widow. Thomas was a farmer in Cinnaminson Twp., Burlington Co., repeatedly elected to township offices. His will was dated May 23, 1755, prob. Oct. 7, 1757.


7. Caleb Haines, b. Second Month [April] 8, 1695; d. 1756; married at the mtg hse near Mt. Holly under care of Burlington MM Sarah BURR, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (HUDSON) Burr; farmer in Burlington Twp., Burl. Co.; will dated Jan. 15, 1763, prob. Dec. 15, 1770; 5 children.


8. Esther, or Hester Haines, b. First Mo. [March] 15, 1697/8; d. Twelfth Mo. [Feb.] 22, 1728/9; married Tenth Mo. [Dec.] 1, 1715 Thomas EVANS; he was b. 12m [Feb.] 12, 1693/4; d. 1 mo. 21, 1783; son of William and Elizabeth (HANKS) Evans. He married (2) 1730 Rebecca OWEN. Resided in Evesham Twp., Burlington Co.; 7 children.


9. Hannah Haines, b. Apr. 13, 1699; d. before 1728?; she was not mentioned in her fathers will.


10. Joshua Haines, b. Mar. 14, 1701/2; d. July 3, 1714.


11. Josiah Haines, b. 11m [Jan.] 21, 1703/4; d. 10m [Dec.] 28, 1728; married at Mt. Holly mtg hse under the care of Burlington MM 2m [Apr.] 25, 1723 Martha BURR, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (HUDSON) Burr. Farmer, resided in Evesham. She m(2)1730 Timothy MATLACK, whose first wife had been Mary HAINES. 3 children. Will pr. Feb. 18, 1728/9.


12. Rebecca Haines, b. Second Mo. [April] 10, 1705; d. Nov. 1771; married 6m 1722 Joseph MATLACK (d. 11m/1771, son of William and Mary (HANCOCK) Matlack) at Haddonfield Mtg.; Rebecca and Joseph received a certificate of removal from Haddonfield MM to Goshen MM dated 5m [July] 14, 1729. Rebecca's father John devised some land to her in Goshen, and her brother Isaac had been living there some years. Rebecca had 10 children.


13. Abigail Haines, b. Oct. 1, 1708; d. Jan. 11, 1717/8.


14. Phebe, or Pheby Haines, b. Ninth Mo. [Nov.] 6, 1710; married at Haddonfield MM 1726 John BURROUGH, or BURROWS. Received a certificate of removal from Haddonfield MM to Goshen MM Aug. 1729 and then back to Gloucester County, N.J. 10 children.


15. Ann Haines?[22]

To continue the story of this family, go to the Haines page.

To continue the story of this family, go to the Ellis Davies family and the Haines family. This Ashbridge line is part of a larger Price family that, with most of its collateral lines, has been expanded as a hard copy book with considerable historical context. It is available through lulu.com. Click on the title, then on "preview" to see the table of contents and a few sample pages.

The larger Price line includes these collateral lines: Ashbridge, Bonsall, one David/Davies, and the other (Ellis) Davies, England, Fisher, Haines, Harry, Holliday, John, Jones, Kirk, one Lewis (Henry), the other Lewis (Thomas), Malin, Morgan, Orbell, Paxton, the main Price, another Price (Richard), a third Price (David) line, Sharpley, Schumacher/Shoemaker, Taylor, Thomas, Townsend, Warner, White, Williams, Wood, and Wooderson families. In time I hope that more of them will be posted. Some of them are very short, as I do not follow them after "my" ancestor married into another surname family.

If you have additions or corrections to this web page, I would be delighted to hear from you. Contact me via e mail at .

Go to the index of other lines that are included in this website (not all of them have been posted yet).

Go to the Paxson home page.

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This page was posted 12m/18/2009, and updated most recently on 1m/5/2012.

Notes and Sources

The full bibliographical citation is usually given the first time a source is mentioned, but is not repeated each time that source is cited. Scroll up until you find the first mention and there you will find the complete citation.

1. IGI.



2. Frederick Adams Vickers, ed., The Compendium of American Genealogy: The Standard Genealogical Encyclopedia of the First Families of America. 7 vols. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968), 7:214, 589.



3. IGI.



4. The Compendium of American Genealogy, 7:214.



5. Joseph Besse, A collection of the sufferings of the people called Quakers, for the testimony of a good conscience from the time of their being first distinguished by that name in the year 1650 to the time of the act commonly called the Act of toleration granted to Protestant dissenters in the first year of the reign of King William the Third and Queen Mary in the year 1689, 2 vols., 1:530.



6. Besse, A collection of the sufferings, 1:531.



7. Besse, Sufferings, 1:532.



8. Besse, Sufferings, 1:533-34.



9. Freeman C. Mason, History of the Borton and Mason Families in Europe and America (Dowagiac, Mich., 1908), 12.



10. Mason, History of the Borton and Mason Families, 10.



11. Mason, History of the Borton and Mason Families, 10, citing session 1m/1-11/1682, Transactions of the Association of West Jersey, 151-2.



12. Mason, History of the Borton and Mason Families, 10. The picture is also from Mason.



13. Birth names and dates of children Elizabeth through Mary are from "Register of Births Belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Banbury, Oxfordshire, 1632-1756", Public Records Office, UK, RG6/1332/0; my thanks to Chris Farrand for giving me facsimiles of the registry pages, 11/2008. Spouses are from Mason, History of the Borton and Mason Families, 13.



14. Price, "A History of the Early Settlers by the Name of Kirk", 230.



15. New Jersey Archives, 23:200.



16. NJA, 23:200.



17. Listed in J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County (1881), but not in John Wesley Haines, Richard Haines and his descendants, A Quaker family of Burlington County, New Jersey since 1682, 2 vols. (Boyce, Va.: Carr Publishing Company, Inc., 1961); nor in her father's will.

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If you have additions or corrections to this web page, I would be delighted to hear from you. Contact me via e mail at .