My Burton line descends from William Burton. He is the son of Thomas Burton.
There is another Burton (Stephen) in Bristol, RI presumed to also be the son
of Thomas. Below is a Early Providence record concerning the purchase of land
(which became Warwick, RI) from the Indians. Which brother (Stephen or
William) that you connect to I do not know.
1662 Jun 17 Vpon a petition of Mr. Edmund Caverly, Thomas Ralph, William
Burton, James Sweete, and John Sweete, in behalfe of themselves and ten or
twelve more of the freemen of this Collony, as they expresse by work of mouth,
which petition was delivered or presented to this Court, in bearing date June
17th, 1662, it concering the purchasse of land, &c.; the Court doe grant free
liberty and leave to the petitioners and their sayd associates to make
purchase of the natives within this jurisdiction, and to buy of them that are
true owners, a tract of land lying together, and not exceeding fower thousand
ackers; always provided, it bee such land as is not already granted, or
annexed to any of the townshipes of the Collony by purchase or other lawfull
meanes, nor that it be land already purchased and justly claimed by any other
perticular persons, freemen of the Collony or ther successors. (484)
Laurie