from
History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Biographical
NY: The American Historical Society, Inc.
1920
pp. 231 - 232:
"CONSTANT SIMMONS HORTON -- The late Constant Simmons Horton, assistant
superintendent of police and chief of detectives of the city of Providence,
R. I., was a descendant of a family which has been prominent in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a period of more than two hundred and
fifty years. He was of the seventh generation in direct descent from the
founder, Thomas Horton. The coat-of-arms is as follows:
Arms - Argent on a fease azure between two wolves passant in chief and a
cross bow in base gules, three martlets or.
Crest - A cubit arm erect, vested gules, cuffed argent, holding in the hand
proper an arrow azure, feathered and barbed or.
(I) Thomas Horton, immigrant ancestor and founder of the family in
America, was of Welsh ancestry, according to family tradition, and was a
relative of Thomas Horton, who settled early in Charlestown, Mass. He
settled in Milton, Mass., formerly Dorchester, as early as 1669. His first
wife, Sarah, appears to have been a member of the church at Braintree,
Mass., where her son, Thomas, was baptized in 1677. Thomas Horton married
(second) at Milton, Mass., December 25, 1693, Susannah Keney. His sons
settled at Milton and Rehoboth, and he was doubtless the progenitor of all
the Rhode Island Hortons of colonial days. Children, born at Milton, of the
first wife: 1. Rachel, born Aug. 6, 1669. 2. John, born June 6, 1672,
settled in Rehoboth. 3. Thomas, born Oct. 3, 1677. 4. David, born Oct.
14, 1679. 5. Solomon, mentioned below, born Jan. 11, 1682. 6. Esther,
married at Rehoboth, April 10, 1701, Benjamin Viall. There were perhaps
other children.
(II) Solomon Horton, son of Thomas and Sarah Horton, was born at Milton,
Mass., January 11, 1682. He resided at Milton, where he married, December
5, 1701, Susaan Babcock, and subsequently removed to Rehoboth, where he was
the founder of the Rehoboth branch of the family. The children of Solomon
and Susanna (Babcock) Horton were: 1. Sarah, born May 17, 1702. 2.
Hannah, born Dec. 19, 1706. 3. Solomon, mentioned below. Perhaps others.
Solomon Horton was prominent in the life and affairs of early Rehoboth.
(III) Solomon (2) Horton, son of Solomon (1) and Susanna (Babcock) Horton,
was born at Milton, Mass., between the years 1712 and 1715. He removed to
Rehoboth, and there made his home until his death. He married Mary ---- ,
and they were the parents of the following children, born at Rehoboth: 1.
Charles, born March 18, 1739. 2. Constant, born Oct. 29, 1740. 3.
Solomon, born Jan. 15, 1742-43. 4. Mary, born Aug. 10, 1745. 5. Abiall,
born Oct. 14, 1747. 6. Daniel, mentioned below. 7. Aaron, born March 21,
1752.
(IV) Daniel Horton, son of Solomon (2) and Mary Horton, was born in
Rehoboth, Mass., January 30, 1749-50. He was a soldier in the American
Revolution, enlisting in his native town, as a private in Captain Nathan
Carpenter's company, at Brookline, Mass. During the course of the war he
served also in Captain Israel Hix's company, Colonel Thomas Carpenter's
regiment, marching from Rehoboth to Bristol, R. I.; he was sergeant in
Captain Israel Hix's company, in 1780. (See page 265, vol. viii,
'Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution'). Daniel Horton
married Mary Goff, and their children, born in Rehoboth, were: 1. Nancy,
born Oct. 15, 1780. 2. Silvanus, mentioned below. 3. Simeon, born Sept.
27, 1784; married Melvina M. Wheeler. 4. Rachel, born Jan. 18, 1787;
married John Slade, and died at Somerset, Mass. 5. Polly, born Aug. 6,
1789; married Isaiah Simmons, and died at Bristol, R. I. 6. Lettis, born
Dec. 22, 1791; married George Case, and lived at Rehoboth. 7. Royal, born
Nov. 18, 1795.
(V) Silvanus Horton, son of Daniel and Mary (Goff) Horton, was born in
Rehoboth, Mass., September 20, 1782, and resided there all his life. He was
a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen. He married Hannah Slade, and
they were the parents of several children, among them Henry Slade Horton,
mentioned below.
(VI) Henry Slade Horton, son of Silvanus and Hannah (Slade) Horton, was
born in Rehoboth, Mass., and like his father was a successful and well-known
farmer. He married Arabella Simmons, and they were the parents of nine
children, among them, Constant Simmons, mentioned at length below.
(VII) Constant Simmons Horton, son of Henry Slade and Arabella (Simmons)
Horton, was born at the Horton homestead, in Rehoboth, Mass., January 7,
1848. He received his education in the public schools of Rehoboth, and
after completing his studies, learned the carpenter's trade. He followed
this trade until 1877, in East Providence and Pawtucket, R. I. In the
latter year, he removed to Providence, where he became connected with the
police force in the capacity of patrolman. From this minor position he
rose, solely through worth and signal ability, to the post of assistant
superintendent of police and chief of detectives of the Providence forces.
During the thirty-seven years of his connection with the department he was
eminently respected not only for his fine ability, but for his high
standards of justice and honor. His work through these years shed lustre on
the police department of the city. Constant S. Horton was a man of pleasing
personality, and commanding appearance, tall and fine looking. He was
thoroughly acquainted with every phase of his work, and was one of the most
efficient men who filled the difficult posts which he held. His political
affiliation was with the Republican party. He was a member of the Men's
Club of the Cranston Street Baptist Church.
On May 9, 1875, Mr. Horton married Calista W. Viall, who was born in
Seekonk, Mass. (now East Providence), R. I., daughter of Willard and Calista
(Lyon) Viall; both of her parents were of early Massachusetts families. Mr.
and Mrs. Horton were the parents of two children: 1. Bertha Willard, who
died at the age of ninteen months. 2. Chester Shorey, was born April 7,
1878, and died April 8, 1917; he married in 1913, Alice Louise Ward. Mr.
Horton was connected with the Union Trust Company of Providence, R. I. Mrs.
Horton survives her husband and resides at the family home at No. 25 Almy
street, Providence. She has been a member of the East Providence First
Baptist Church for fifty-one years, and is actively identified with the many
departments of its work, taking an active part in charitable and
philanthropic efforts. Constant Simmons Horton died at his home, in
Providence, R. I., April 13, 1914."
illustration on facing page:
photo, Constant S. Horton
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Beth Hurd
Johnston, RI USA
beth(a)the-hurds.com
http://www.the-hurds.com
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