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Southern New York Volume II
Page 418
HORTON. This is a name found in England at a very early period. In the twelfth century Robert de Horton was possessed of the manor of Horton in Lincolnshire, England. This form of the name indicates that it is of Latin origin and came from France into England. Its first beginning and significance is lost in the maze of the remote past. The French syllable "de" signifies "of" and shows that the name is derived from a locality or manor. The Hortons were possessed of a manor, including mill and land at Great Horton in England. William Horton, Esq., of Frith, had a homestead at Barksland in Halifax, England. He is said to have been a descendant of Robert de Horton. His wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Thomas Hanson, Esq., of Toothill, and died about 1640. They had sons, William and Joseph, the latter born about 1578, may have settled in Mousley, and was possibly the father of the immigrant ancestor in this country. In early generations here the family was engaged chiefly in tilling the soil, but later generations have engaged in professional life, and they are found among manufacturers and other leaders of industry. They have been conspicuously identified with the settlement and history of Westchester County, where many representatives now occupy prominent position in the business world.
(1) Barnabas Horton was born July 13, 1600, in Mousley, Lincolnshire, England, died July 13, 1680, in Southold, Long Island. He came to America in the ship "Swallow," owned and commanded by Jeremy Horton, between 1635 and 1638. He was a landholder at Hampton, Massachusetts (now New Hampshire), where his house lot was granted in June, 1640. In the following year he was in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where he sold six acres of land, march 12, 1641. He was subsequently at new Haven, Connecticut, with his wife, Mary, and sons, Joseph and Benjamin. He appears as one of the organizers of a church in New Haven, Octobers 31, 1740, and was deputy to the general court of Connecticut several times between 1654 and 1661. He was constable at Southold in 1656, and 1659, and collector of customs 1658-59. He appears as a freeman at Southold, October 9, 1662, and was commissioner for that town in 1663-64. The records shoe that he had property at Southold in 1651, and he was made a member of a committee at New Haven to buy lands of the Indians at the east end of Long Island, December 7, 1665. He brought with him from England a bible, printed in 1597, which is preserved by his descendants, and also the musket he used. He built the first frame house on Long Island, and this was still standing in 1875, the sides still covered with the original shingles. He is described as a pious man, an advocate of civil and religious freedom. His homestead at Southold remained in the hands of his descendants until 1873, when its last owner, Jonathan G. Horton, willed it to an adopted daughter, having no children of his own. In a table of Long Island rates made in 1675 he was assessed for thirty-seven acres of land at £37; nine oxen, £54; four three-year old cattle, £16; four two-year-olds, £10; four yearlings, £6; sixty-nine sheep, £23; six horses, £72; one colt, £3; eight swine, £8. His children were: 1. Benjamin, 2 .Caleb, 3. Joshua, 4. Jonathan, 5. Hannah, 6. Sarah, 7. Mary, 8. Mercy and 9. Abigail. (Joshua and descendants receive mention below).
(II) Joseph, eldest child of Barnabas and mary Horton, born about 1625, in England, died before June 12, 1696. He resided near his father in Southold until about 1664, when he removed to Rye, now Westchester County, New York, then under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. He was admitted a
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freeman of the Connecticut colony, October 9, 1662, then residing at Southold. In 1665 he sold his house and land at Southold, his father being the purchaser of his homestead. In 1671 he was a selectman of Rye, and about the same time was on a committee to procure a minister. In 1672 he was deputy to the general court, and 1676 was a commissioner, empowered to administer oaths to town officers. In 1678 he was justice of the peace, and was commissioner for Rye from 1681 to 1683. He was confirmed by the general court of Connecticut, May 9, 1667, as lieutenant of the train band at Rye, and was later a captain. He was empowered to marry couples in 1678. In 1691 he inherited land from his brother, Benjamin, and in 1695 was chosen vestryman of the church at Rye. He was a miller by occupation, and many of his descendants were similarly engaged. He married, about 1655, Jane, daughter of John and Catherine Budd, of Southold. John Budd was one of the original thirteen Puritan settlers of Southold in 1640, and moved to Rye before 1664. This probably led to the removal of Joseph Horton, of Rye. The latter's children were: 1. John. 2. Joseph. 3. Samuel. 4. David. 5. Jonathan. 6. Benjamin, and 7. Hannah.
(III) David, fourth son of Joseph and Jane (Budd) Horton, was born about 1654 in Southold, and settled at White Plains, New York. Before 1700 he bought land there of this brother John, and on October 27, 1707, received a quitclaim from his nephew to lands previously owned by Joseph Horton in White Plains. His earmark was registered in 1710. He was one of the patentees of the White Plains purchase, and as such was a grantor to fellow members of the association, January 18, 1723. He deeded land at White Plains to his son David, March 5, 1726. He was among those who signed a petition to the general court of Connecticut, May 11, and October 6, 1727, relating to the building of a meeting house at Rye. He quitclaimed land formerly owned by his brother Samuel to a nephew, April 24, 1733. He married Esther King, and their children were: 1. David. 2. Rebecca. 3. William. 4. Thomas. 5. Joseph. 6. Daniel, and 7. John.
(IV) Daniel, sixth son of David, and Esther (King) Horton, was born at White Plains, and settled in Yorktown, same county, in 1727. In that year he married Esther Lane, born May 24, 1704, in Rye, and their children were: 1. Daniel. 2. Elizabeth. 3. Rachel. 4. Stephen. 5. Esther. 6. Phebe. 7. Millicent. And 8. William.
(V) Stephen, second son of Daniel and Esther (Lane) Horton, was born April 13, 1731, in Yorktown, where he was a farmer, and died December 7, 1814. He was a soldier of the Revolution, serving in the Second Regiment of Westchester Troops, under colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, and his successor, colonel Drake. He married (first) December 24, 1758, Sarah Owens, born November 19, 1737, died October 27, 1772. He married (second) December 29, 1772, Elizabeth Frost, born February 24, 1741, died May 20, 1828, having survived her husband more than ten years. Children of first wife: 1. Joseph. 2. Hannah. 3. Elizabeth. 4. Caleb, died young. Of second wife, 5. Caleb. 6. Wright. 7. Jacob. And 8. Sarah.
(VI) Wright, son of Stephen Horton and second child of his second wife, Elizabeth, (Frost) Horton, was born May 22, 1776, in Yorktown, where he was a farmer, died June 27, 1861. He was an orthodox Quaker; was highly esteemed in the community, and a prosperous citizen. He married, November 28, 1798, Anna Quereau, born March 10, 1780, daughter of Dr. Elias Quereau of that town. Children: 1. Elias Quereau. 2. Betsy Ann. 3. George. 4. Frost. 5. Stephen D. 6. William C. 7. Jane. 8. Sarah. 9. Peter Quereau, and 10. Wright Frost.
(VII) Frost, third son of Wright and Anna (Quereau) Horton, was born September 18, 1806, in Yorktown, died November 11, 1880, in Peekskill, New York. He remained on the paternal farm until seventeen years of age, attending winter schools in the meantime, and accustomed from an early age to assist in the labors of the homestead. He served an apprenticeship of several years in learning the blacksmith trade, and carefully preserved his earnings after becoming a journeyman, so that in 1830 he was prepared to establish himself in business. He settled in Peekskill, march 9, of that year, purchased property and set up his shop. For five years he industriously pursued his trade, and in the spring of 1835 entered into partnership with Truman Miner,
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under the title of Miner & Horton, and established a foundry. They engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements, chiefly plows and plow castings, and the business rapidly grew and became profitable. In 1839 George W. Depew was taken in as partner and the name was changed to Miner, Horton & Company. This continued for twenty years at the end of which time Mr. Miner retired, and the style name was changed to Horton, Depew & Company, which obtained one year when Mr. Edward finch withdrew, he being the company, and in 1858 the son of each joined the firm and it became Horton, Depew & Sons, the sons being Stephen D. Horton and George W. Depew, Jr. In 1864 the business was sold to a stock company and Mr. Norton retired from business activity. He was a man of genial nature, and was much esteemed for his temperate and industrious life. When he arrived in Peekskill with his wife, his effects consisted chiefly of a rag carpet and a cow, besides a few dollars invested in his property. During his first year there he laid by one thousand dollars, and with subsequent additions to this small capital he was enabled to found one of the leading industries of Peekskill which rapidly developed under his shrewd management, and thus afforded a livelihood to many citizens of the town. It was natural that the public should seek his service in the management of local affairs, and in 1855 he was elected supervisor of the town of Cortlandt and continued by re-election to serve in that capacity for five years. In 1858 he was elected a member of the state legislature and represented his district creditably, and with the approval of his constituents. He was a director of the Westchester County Bank from 1835 until his death.
He married, in Yorktown, October 17, 1827, Phebe Tompkins, born there November 25, 1803, daughter of William and Lydia (Lane) Tompkins, and second cousin of Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, of Scarsdale. She survived her husband more than thirteen years, dying at Peekskill, May 14, 1894. She was a useful worker in the Presbyterian Church with which the family had long been identified. Children: 1. William James, born December 10, 1828, was a farmer in Yorktown. 2. Sarah Jane, June 10, 1832, died in her third year. 3. And 4. Cornelia, and Stephen Daniel (twins); the former died at the age of fifteen years, and one day.
(VIII) Stephen Daniel, son of Frost and Phebe (Tompkins) Horton, was born February 17, 1837, in Peekskill, where he has continuously resided to the present time, and has appeared among the most active and useful citizens of the town. He was educated in the Peekskill Academy. In 1858 he became associated with his father in business and was a member of the firm of Horton, Depew, & Sons until 1864, when the business was sold out. He then established the Peekskill Manufacturing company, which engaged in the manufacture of mowing machines for five years. In 1868 in association with William Mabie, under the firm name of Horton & Mabie, Mr. Horton engaged in the fire brick and stove lining business; and since September, 1898, when Mr. Mabie withdrew, Mr. Horton has continued the business under his sole control, which has been a gratifying success and give employment to a large number of people. Mr. Horton has been identified with various business interest in the county; is a director of the Westchester County National Bank; a trustee and president of the Peekskill Cemetery, and was for several years president of the Horse Protective Association. Through the efforts of himself and his association a gang of horse thieves operating in this section of the country was broken up, and Mr. Horton achieved an extensive reputation as a detective. In 1882 he was elected sheriff of the county, and his work in this connection took him over many of the eastern states. He served three years as sheriff and has undertaken both before and since many cases in the detection of crime. In 1873 he was trustee of the village of Peekskill, and in 1875 was elected president of the village, which position he filled for twelve years, having been seven times re-elected. A consistent Democrat in political principle, he has been a warm supporter of all measures calculated to advance the interests of his home county, and has ever taken a keen interest in the progress of affairs, both state and national. For two terms he was chief engineer of the Peekskill Fire Department,
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a position which his father filled before him. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workman, and of various organizations in the Masonic fraternity, including the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Consistory, Knights Templar Commandery, and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
He married, December 28, 1857, Emily C. Horton, a remote relative, daughter of Joshua R. and Sally (Purdy) Horton, born in Westchester County. Children: 1. Cornelia, born august 30, 1859, died at the age of seven years and one day. 2. Frost Joshua, September 30, 1862, died when two months old. 3. Stephen Frost, of whom further.
(IX) Stephen Frost, only surviving child of Stephen Daniel and Emily C. (Horton) Horton, was born February 18, 1865, in Peekskill, died June 21, 1910. He grew up in that village, receiving his early education in the public schools. He was subsequently a student of the Peekskill Military Academy, and entered Trinity School at Tivoli, New York, from which he graduated in 1882. After one year in the academic department of Columbia College, he entered the University Medical College of New York City and graduated in the class of 1886. He pursued an post-graduate course of one year at the Polyclinic of New York, and up to the time of his death, had been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Peekskill. He took an especial interest in surgery, and enjoyed an enviable reputation in that department of the healing art. He was a member of the Westchester Medical Society, served several years as United States pension examiner, and was surgeon of the Peekskill Hospital. He took much of his recreation in outdoor sports, and was a member of the Peekskill Gun Club. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, ancient Order of Foresters, and several branches of the Masonic Order, including the Knights Templar and Mystic Shrine. With his family he attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married September 21, 1886, Lillian L., born January 1, 1865, daughter of Carson and Margaret (Finch) Baxter, of Peekskill. Children: 1. Douglas, born January 13, 1888, and Robert Donald, December 23, 1889.
(II) Joshua, fourth son of Barnabas and Mary Horton, was born about 1643 in Southold, where he resided, and died in 1729. He was one of the original patentees of Southold by grant of the English crown in 1767, and seems to have been a large landholder as shown by deed executed by him 1673-76-78-95. He married, about 1667, Mary Tuthill. Children: 1. Joshua. 2. Joseph. 3. Sarah. 4. Mary. 5. Bethiah. 6. Zerviah, and 7. Ephraim.
(III) Ephraim, youngest child of Joshua and Mary (Tuthill) Horton, was born in 1686 in Southold, where he lived, and died January 9, 1730. He married, about 1707, Martha Vail, born 1688, in Southold, daughter of Jeremiah Vail, of that town. They had sons, 1. Joseph, 2. Benjamin, 3. Jeremiah, and 4. Joshua.
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