Jotham Horton-1695 was born 1695 in Swansea, MA and died in
1797. He married (1) Hannah Martin on 29 May 1729, Hannah died 09 Nov
1739. Jotham next married (2) Penelop Round. Information on Jotham can
be found in History of the Town of Somerset (formerly Swansea),
Massachusetts; 1940 pages 245-247. Children of Jotham and Hannah were:
1. Mercy Horton was born 05 May 1730 in Swansea, MA. She
married Benjamin Hawkins on 24 Apr 1751.
2. Nathan Horton-1733 was born 01 Oct 1733 in Swansea, MA. He
married (1) unknown and (2) Phoebe Round on 20 Mar 1785.
3. Sarah Horton was born 11 Nov 1735 in Swansea, MA. She
married John Millerd on 10 Sep 1755.
4. Hannah Horton was born 19 Dec 1738 in Swansea, MA. She
married James Westcott on 20 Apr 1758.
Children of Jotham and Penelop:
1. James Horton-1741 was born 10 Jul 1741 in Swansea, MA. He
married Freelove Pearse on 29 Jan 1764.
James Horton-1741 was born 10 Jul 1741 in Swansea, MA. He
died 10 Aug 1833 in Rehoboth, MA. He married Freelove Pearse on 29 Jan
1764.She was born 08 Nov 1742 and died 13 Feb 1809. James was a
lieutenant in Captain Stephen Bullock's Sixth Company, Colonel Thomas
Carpenter's First Bristol Regiment of Massachusetts Militia. He was
later First Lieutenant in Captain Simeon Crary's Regiment, General John
Fellow's Brigade and was in the list of men stationed in New York for
five months, taking part in the evacuation of New york and the battle
of White Plains. After that battle he was transferred to Captain Hix's
Company, Colonel John Daggett's Regiment. Lieutenant Horton was in
command of a company in Colonel Thomas Carpenter's Regiment for eight
days, 01 Aug 1780 to 08 Aug 1780 when the company marched to Tiverton,
R. I. on an alarm. He was a very vigorous, active man, and lived to the
age of ninety-two years. He was first buried in a neglected cemetery in
Rehoboth, but later, through the efforts and at the expense of his
great-great-grandsons, Everett S. Horton of Attleboro, and Horace F.
Horton, his remains and those of his son, Cromwell, were taken up and
moved to the cemetery at Rehoboth Center. James and Freelove had the
following children:
1. Nathan Horton-1764 was born 30 Aug 1764 in Rehoboth, Bristol
County, MA.
2. Mercy Horton was born 20 Nov 1766 in Rehoboth.
3. Lydia Horton was born 24 Nov 1768 in Rehoboth.
4. Freelove Horton was born 26 Feb 1773 in Rehoboth.
5. James Horton-1775 was born about 1775 in Rehoboth.
6. Cromwell Horton-1777 was born 26 Feb 1777 in Rehoboth. He
married Percy Martin.
7. Rhode Horton was born about 1780 in Rehoboth.
8. Jarvis Horton-1782 was born about 1782 in Rehoboth.
9. Chloe Horton was born about 1784 in Rehoboth.
10. & 11. Jane Horton,
Polly Horton both died young. The
other nine children attained a good old age.
Cromwell Horton-1777
was born 26 Feb 1777 and died Feb 1861 in Rehoboth. He followed the
occupation of a farmer in Rehoboth. Cromwell married (1) in 1801 Pearcy
Martin who was born 28 Oct 1781, daughter Hezekiah and Mary Pearse
Martin, granddaughter of Hezekiah Martin, and great-granddaughter of
John and Mercy (Billington) Martin. Cromwell married (2) Lydia West on
18 Feb 1836. Children of Cromwell and Pearcy:
1.Ellis Horton-1802 was born 07 Aug 1802 in Rehoboth.
2. Gideon Martin. Horton-1804 was born 04 May 1804 in Rehoboth. He
married (1) Mary Smith who was born 03 Apr 1811 and died 02 Sep 1844.
Gideon married (2) Julia Jackson of Middleborough, MA.
3. Mary Horton who was born about 1806 in Rehoboth. 5. Polly Horton was born 15 Apr 1808 in Rehoboth.
6. Freelove Horton was born 05 Feb 1810 in Rehoboth.
7. Percy B. Horton-1812 was born 28 Apr 1812 in Rehoboth.
8. James A. Horton-1815 was born 26 Mar 1815 in Rehoboth.
9. Belinda Horton was born about 1817 in Rehoboth.
10.Sylvanus Horton-1819 was born about 1819 in Rehoboth.
Gideon Martin Horton-1804 was born 04 May 1804 in Rehoboth. He
married (1) Mary Smith who was born 03 Apr 1811 and died 02 Sep 1844.
Gideon married (2) Julia Jackson of Middleborough, MA. Gideon was an
honest, upright citizen, ever ready to forward any good enterprise. He
was highy respected and esteemed for his industry, true charity, and
Christian devotion.
Children of Gideon and Mary:
1. Everett Southworth
Horton-1836 was born 15 Jun 1836 in
Attleborough, Bristol County, MA.
2. Edwin Horton-1838 was born about 1838 in Attleborough,
Bristol County, MA.
3. Gideon Martin Horton,
Jr.-1840 was born about 1840 in
Attleborough, Bristol County, MA.
4. Jane J. Horton was born about 1844 in Attleborough,
Bristol County, MA.
Everett Southworth Horton-1836 was born 15 Jun 1836 in Attleborough
County, MA He attended the public shcools of his native town
until he attained the age of sixteen, when he entered his father's
store as assistant. After his father's health failed he took charge of
the business and successfully continued it until April 1862 when he
sold out and enlisted in the service of his country. With others he
recruited a company of nine months men, who elected their officers 18
Sep 1862 as follows: Leniuel T. Starkey, Captain; Frank S. Draper,
First Lieutenant and Everett S. Horton, Second lieutenant. They were
soon commissioned by Governor Andrew. Lieutenant Horton took hold of
military matters with the earnestness and enthusiasm so characteristic
of him, and rapidly became familiar with the drill and his official
duties. H e displayed true soldierly qualities. The Company went into
camp on Long Island, NY. On 21 Dec 1862, the regiment embarked on the
steamer for New Orleans, which it reached 01 Jan 1863. About this
time Captain Starkey resigned and Lieutenant Horton was chosen to
succeed him by a large majority of the votes of the Company.. The
Company was assigned to provost duty in and around New Orleans, and
remained in service after their term of enlistment had expired, leaving
for home via the Mississippi River 05 Aug 1863. They were
enthusiastically met and feted at every stopping place along the route
and at home the whole town gave the soldiers a grand ovation.
But the war was not ended. The governor called for more troops, and
Captain Horton's patriotic spirit again responded. In October 1863, he
was commissioned second lieutenant and made recruiting officer for the
58th Massachusetts Vol. He opened an office in Attleborough, but was
soon ordered into camp to take charge of recruits for the regiment, and
was commissioned captain and mustered into dervice as Commander of Co.
C. 58th Massachusetts Third Vet. Vols. One of the four veteran
regiments raised in the Commonwealth during the war. They remained in
camp at Readville, MA util 28 Apr 1864, when they went to the front to
participate in the battle of the Wilderness.Reaching the field May 6,
they were in the long and bloody march from the Wilderness to
Petersburg, where almost every hour in battle. After the battle of Cold
Harbor Lieutenant Colonel J.C. Whitton, commanding the regiment,
recommended Captain Horton for promotion, and he was commissioned and
mustered in as Major.The regimental commander was wounded in a charge
June 3, and the command devolved upon Major Horton from that time until
30 Sep 1864, when he was taken prisoner while leading his regiment in
action a few miles south of Petersburg. He reached Richmond and Libby
prison October 3, and was in Libby, Salisbury and Danville, where he
was selected as "hostage" and sent back to Libby in 1865. He remained
in that terrible confinement util February 22, when with a number of
others he was paroled. Afterward, in describing his feelings when once
more under the American colors, he said, "I can never forget that day -
never, NEVER, NEVER! No one who has not experinced the same sensations
can know aught of the peculiar emotions and thoughts that come in
throngs in seeing and knowing that once more I was under the
Star-Spangled Banner. Under their influence I wrote this letter to my
family from the deck of the flag-of-truce boat where each of us was
handed a sheet of paper and an enevelope. My family had not heard from
me for five months, and the newspapers had reported me dead. On that
flag-of-truce boat, James River, 22 Feb 1865 I wrote, Dear Wife,
Out of the jaws of death; out of the gates of hell, once more in the
land of the living. Well, Love to all, Everett."
Major Horton was granted a furlough of thirty days and was soon
exchanged; he left Attleborough to rejoin his regiment on the day that
Petersburg was captured, was ordered to Washington and then there
mustered out of service in July 1865. During the war he had received
seven commissions, mustered into service on six of them. He was a
soldier of unquestioned gallantry and bravery, doing his duty with
unflinching courage, and winning the esteem and confidence of his
comrades. Although he was strict in discipline, he was universally
popular, and careful of the comfort of his men. Duriang the latter part
of his service he was detailed as inspector of the Second Division,
Ninth Army Corps and served on the staff of Generals Potter and Griffin.
Returning from the war Major Horton was employed as manager for Daniels
& Cornell of Providence, R.I. proprietors of the largest wholesale
grocery house in the state. He continued in that capacity after of the
death of his brother, Edwin J. when he succeeded to the latter's
interest in the manufacturing establishment of Horton, Angell & Co.
at Attleborough. this concern was organized in 1870 by Edwin J. and
Gideon M. Horton and Benjamin Angell, under its present firm name, and
is now one of the largest and most important in the country (in 1899)
for the manufacture of gold plated goods, consisting of men's
jewelry, ladies' sets, etc. Their product is strictly all first quality
of rolled gold plate, and finds a market in every part of this
continent and in many European countries. Mr. Angell and Gideon M
Horton died in 1887, since then Major Horton has been the senior
partner.
Major Horton has long been one of Attleborough's most public spirited
and enterprising citizens. Since the war he has taken an active
interest in G.A.R. matters, becoming a charter member and several times
commander of Post 145, of that city, and serving also as commander of
the Bristol County Association of the G.A.R. for about two years. In
politics he is an earnest Republican. He has been chairman of the Board
of Selectmen of Attleborough several times, commissioner of the
Attleborough Water Supply District Sinking Fund for many years, and
president of the board of trustees of the Attleborough Library since
its organization, having been one of its principal founders. He was
long a trustee and the secretary and is now president of the
Richardson School Fund, and was one of the organizers in 1876 of the
Attleborough Savings and Loan Association, which he has served
continuously as a director and of which he is now president. He is also
a vice-president of the Jewelers' Board of Trade, whose headquarters
are in Providence, R.I. and has been a member of the Congregational
Church for many years. He is a leader in town affairs, a patriotic and
progressive citizen, a strong friend and universally respected and
esteemed. He served in the Massachusetts Legislature, House 1891-92 and
Senate in 1893. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the
Royal Arcanum, A.O.U.W. and other Kindred Societies.
On 12 Jun 1861, Major Horton married (1)Mary Ann, only daughter of
Jesse R. and Mary Carpenter of Attleborough. She died 12 Jun1871,
leaving one child, Mary Edith Horton born 22 Jun 1862 who married
Thomas D. Gardiner of Attleborough, MA. Major Horton married (2) Dutton
Freemont of Amesbury, MA on 24 Sep 1873 and they have two children:
Gertrude E. Horton born 29 May 1876 and Addle D. who died in infancy.
(above Bio was taken from: Our County and its People, A Descriptive and
Biographical Record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, pub, The Boston
history Company, 1899)