HEATON
James Heaton, immigrant ancestor of many of the old New England families of this surname, was born in England in 1633, died in New Haven, Conn., Oct. 16, 1712. He settled in New Haven and was ensign of the train-band. He had large tracts of land granted by the colony. He was sent by the town to Boston to treat with Mr. Joshua Moody in 1684; held important offices; took the oath of fidelity in 1654; and was for many years a prominent citizen.
He married, Nov. 20, 1662, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Nicholas Street, of Taunton and New Haven. Joseph and Nathaniel Heaton, his descendants, moved from Hamden, Conn., where many of the Heatons lived, to Hanover, New Hampshire. Ebenezer Heaton and Jonathan Heaton of this family also settled in Grafton county, New Hampshire. This was near Canaan, N.H.
(I) John Heaton, doubtless a descendant of James Heaton, of New Haven, was a private from "Colrain or Shelburne," Mass., in Captain Hugh McClellan's Colerain company, Colonel Samuel Williams' regiment. He was also second lieutenant in the Eighth company, Fifth Hampshire County Regiment, in 1780, in the revolution. Moses Heaton, of the adjacent town of Charlemont, also in the revolution, may have been a brother. The name Eaton was used frequently interchangeably for Heaton.
Ensign James Eaton was the only head of family spelled either Eaton or Heaton in Shelburne in 1790, according to the federal census. There was a John Heaton, of Pelham, but his name should have been spelled Eaton.
(II) Lucius, son of John Heaton, was born in Shelburne, Mass., according to the Stearns genealogy, May 20, 1780. He lived for a time in Canaan, Grafton county, N.H., but finally settled in Chazy, Clinton county, New York, where he took up a tract of land in the eastern part of the town, cleared it and built his house. He followed farming there the remainder of his life.
He married, March 8, 1804, Laura, born July 8, 1785, died Jan. 6, 1858, daughter of Asa and Phebe Stearns. (see Stearns V).
Children, all born at Chazy:
1. Parley, born Feb. 13, 1805, died Nov. 28, 1851; married Orpha Ransom, born Feb. 13, 1814, died Sept. 20, 1883; children: Amelia, married Charles O. Barber; Cornelia, married Darius W. Marsh.
2. Paschal, Nov. 2, 1806.
3. Amanda (twin), Oct. 17, 1809; married Stephen Smith.
4. Miranda (twin), Oct. 17, 1809; died July 16, 1826.
5. Child, died in infancy.
6. Rufus, born Nov. 10, 1813, died unmarried July 23, 1900.
7. Elial W., July 10, 1816.
8. Lucy, Oct. 2, 1818; died March 17, 1865; married John H. Phinney.
9. Achsah, Sept. 6, 1820, died unmarried.
10. John, July 6, 1822, mentioned below.
11. Cordelia L., Jan. 13, 1825, died young.
12. Harriet, July 30, 1827, died July 15, 1861; married Dr. James Fulton, of Beekmantown, N.Y.
(III) John, son of Lucius Heaton, was born in Chazy, July 6, 1822, died March 23, 1885. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and followed farming there during his active life. In politics he was a Democrat, in religion Presbyterian.
He married, Nov. 8, 1848, Hannah L., born at Elizabethtown, Essex county, N.Y., May 8, 1828, died at Chazy, June 22, 1898, daughter of Willis and Almira (Hulett) Gates. Her parents were married Jan.1 2, 1823.
Children of John and Hannah L. Heaton:
1. Washington Irving, born Aug. 13, 1849, died unmarried Jan. 20, 1871.
2. Rufus P., June 2, 1855, mentioned below.
3. Lucy, Oct. 17, 1863, died Jan. 25, 1872.
(IV) Rufus P., son of John Heaton, was born at Chazy, June 2, 1855. He was educated there in the public schools and in the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He then went west and worked in the lumber industry for about two years. He returned to his native town and engaged in farming. He has also dealt in wood, wool. etc., very successfully to the present time. [1910]. He owns the homestead on which his father lived, containing four hundred acres, and also a farm adjoining. He has a herd of thirty-five cows, and makes a specialty of the dairy business. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 621, Free Masons; Plattsburgh Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; De Sota Commandery, Knights Templar, of Plattsburgh; the Oriental Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Troy, New York. He is an attendant of the Presbyterian Church of Chazy and was for several years one of its trustees.
He married, Dec. 1, 1898, Edith Athalia, born at Chazy, daughter of Dr. Abiatha and Mattie (Adams) Brooks. They have one child, Lucy, born at Chazy, Feb. 10, 1900.