BRITTON
There are numberous representatives of this name in Northern New York, springing from various branches of the original family, and all contributing a worthy share to the development and progress of the region. The name was early planted in New England, but few particulars are obtainable regarding the early immigrants.
(I) James Britton, first known in this hemisphere, probably came in the ship "Increase" from London in 1637, at which time he was twenty-seven years old. He subscribed to the town orders of Woburn, Mass., in 1640, when the settlement of that town was planted at Charlestown and soon after settled in Woburn. His name appears in the first recorded tax list of Woburn, 1645, and he died there May 3, 1655, leaving a widow, Jane, who subsequently married Isaac Cole, with whom she went to live in Charlestown, taking with her sons Peter and William. She died March 10, 1687.
(II) William, youngest son of James and Jane Britton, married Mary, eldest daughter of James and Mary (Palmer) Pendelton, of Westerly, Rhode Island, and probably resided in that vicinity. Captain James Pendleton was a son of Major Brian Pendleton, a distinguised citizen of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, a large landholder and distinguished in many official capacities.
(III) William (2) son of William (1) and Mary (Pendleton) Britton, married, Oct. 26, 1698, in Taunton, Mass., Lydia, born March 10, 1679, daughter of James Leonard of Taunton and Raynham, and probably lived in the latter town. Lydia Britton was among the petitioners at the Taunton church meeting, Oct. 7, 1731, for an independent church at Raynham. She died May 20, 1735, according to one record, while another places it March 13, 1773, aged ninety-four years. Her husband probably died in 1732.
Children:
James, William, Abiel, Ebenezer, Abigail, Pendelton, Mary, Lydia, Sarah and Elizabeth.
(IV) Ebenezer, fourth son of William (2) and Lydia (Leonard) Britton, was born June 1, 1715, in Raynham, where he lived about fifty-five years. He was in Boston about a year and went to Westmoreland, New Hampshire, in 1771. He bought on hundred acres of land there July 6 of that year, and also purchased a grist and saw mill with twelve acres, and first mills built in the town. The grantor was James Minot, of Putney, "province of New York," the jurisdiction of Vermont then being in dispute. Putney is on the opposite side of the Connecticut river from Westmoreland. Ebenezer Britton was a warm patriot in revolutionary days and signed the "association test." When his neighbors were troubles about the depreciation of continental money, he said: "I am not afraid of continental money; it will be redeemed in good time; redeemed or not redeemed, no soldier who has fought under George Washington shall go hungry while I have corn to feed him."
Several of his sons were enlisted in the army. He was active in church and town matters, serving as deacon and many times as selectman, and was representative in 1776-77-78 and member of continental congress 1777-78.
He married (first) May 20, 1735, Tabitha, daughter of Seth Leonard, his cousin, who died in 1749. He married (second) at Providence, R.I., Feb. 20, 1750, Sarah, daughter of Squire Bullock, of Rehoboth, Mass., born Sept. 12, 1731, died Sept. 19, 1790. There were five children of first wife and thirteen of second, the last two born in Westmoreland, the one preceding in Boston, the others in Raynham, namely:
Ebenezer, David, Abigail, Wealthy, Tabitha, Samuel, Keziah, Job, James, Mercy, Samuel, Asa, Stephen, Squire, Sarah, Calvin, Luther and Martin.
Calvin, born April 1, 1771, in Boston, became brigadier-general of militia; resided some time in Jefferson county, New York, and moved to Michigan about 1838-39.
Two other sons and several grandsons also settled in Jefferson county.
(V) Luther, twelfth son and seventeeth child of Ebenezer Britton, and twelfth child of his second wife, was born May 12, 1773, in Westmoreland, and removed to New York about 1805-07, settling in 1809 at Chaumont, town of Lyme, Jefferston county, where he purchased a lot from James D. Le Ray, and built a hotel. In this building, where he entertained for many years, was held the first town meeting in Lyme, 1818, and at this meeting Mr. Britton was made one of the assessors. There were two persons of this name in Westmoreland simultaneously, from which an error regarding the marriage of this one aroswe and has received wide currency. The name of his first wife cannot be determined, but he had four children born in New Hampshire, where he was first married about 1795. He married (second) 1809, Sally (Phippen), widow of John Sinclair, who bore him two children: Maria, born Aug. 6, 1811, and Danford, mentioned below.
(VI) Danford, son of Luther and Sally (Phippen Sinclair) Britton, was born May 14, 1817, in Chautmont, and was early left an orphan by the death of his father. He went to live with his sister, Maria, wife of James Loughrey, in Clayton, New York, whence they removed to Louisvile Landing, St. Lawrence county. He attended the common schools at Clayton, and subesquently became a clerk in the store of Mr. Loughrey of Louisville Landing, whither they removed about 1835. In 1845 he formed a partnership with Jesse Bell Harris, under the style of Britton & Harris, and they continued to operate a general mercantile business at Louisville Landing until 1871. During this time Mr. Britton served several years as postmaster and was also collector of customs. The latter position was also flled by his partner a part of the time.
Mr. Britton died in Ogdensburg, 1875. He married, Oct. 2, 1844, Mary Newton, born Jan. 25, 1823, daughter of Joseph and Polly (Gleason) Harris, who came from Colerain, Mass., to New York. Polly Gleason was a descendant of the Newton family, and her son, Jesse Bell, was Mr. Britton's partner-in-business. Mr. and Mrs. Britton were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Children:
William Danford, James Luther, Mary M. and George Emerson. The second died at Ogdensburg in 1894. The daughter is the wife of W. George Snaith.
(VII) William Danford, eldest child of Danford and Mary N. (Harris) Britton, was born Oct. 2, 1845, at Louisville Landing, and received a common school education. When a boy he went to Watertown, New York, where he found employment in a store. Later he went to Ogdensburg and became a clerk in a hardware store, and established himself as a hardware merchant in 1874. For thirty-five years he has conducted the establishment in the same place, and is still [1910] actively engaged in the business. He was one of the organizers of the National Bank of Ogdensburg, and is ranked among the sound and successful men of the town.
In politics he is a Republican, and has been called upon to serve in public capacities, such as supervisor and alderman, in which he acquitted himself with credit. He is a member of Acacian Lodge, No. 705, Free and Accepted Masons; Ogdensburg Chapter, No. 63, Royal Arch Masons; Ogdensburg Commandery, No. 54, Knights Templar; Consistory of Syracuse and Media Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Watertown; member of Century Club of Ogdensburg.
He married (first) Emma McFadden, and (second) Mrs. A. L. Olds. One child died in infancy.
(VII) James Luther, second son of Danford, and Mary N. (Harris) Britton, was born June 30, 1848 at Louisville Landing, where he grew up. He settled at Massena, New York, where he established the Massena Banking Company, the first bank there, in association with his younger brother, George E. Britton. This establishment is now [1910] flourishing. He subsequently engaged in the banking business in the east; he returned to New York and died at the home of his eldest brother in Ogdensburg, 1894.