Barnabas Horton

Barnabas Horton (13 July 1600–13 July 1680) is described in the supplied family-tree notes as an early settler and one of the founders of Southold, Long Island, New York. The notes place his birth at Mowsley, Leicestershire, England, and his death at Southold, Suffolk County, New York.

Barnabas Horton was reportedly born at Mowsley, Leicestershire, England, on 13 July 1600. The place name also appears as “Mousely” in some accounts. Little is provided about his early life. The supplied notes say that he was probably a son of Joseph Horton, but this relationship is uncertain.

According to the notes, Horton married first to Anne Smith in 1622. They reportedly had two sons, Joseph, born about 1625, and Benjamin. He later married Mary Langton. Accounts summarized in the notes differ as to whether this second marriage produced seven or eight children.

The notes state that Horton may have emigrated to the New World about 1630 on the ship Swallow, accompanied by Mary and the children of his first marriage. This migration account is presented as a claim rather than a documented certainty. He reportedly lived first in Massachusetts and Connecticut before settling at Southold, Long Island, at about age 38.

Horton is described in the supplied material as one of Southold’s founders, a Puritan community leader, and a baker by trade. A local historian, not identified in the notes, reportedly described him as powerfully built, ruddy faced, and genial. The notes also credit him with skills that contributed to his success as a settler and community leader.

He died at Southold, Suffolk County, New York, on 13 July 1680, reportedly at age 80. The family-tree notes describe a large slate gravestone over a vault interment and repeat a tradition that the stone was brought from England already engraved except for the date of his death. They further state that the stone was relettered and given a more secure foundation during the 1800s by a descendant, and that it escaped damage during vandalism at the historic Southold cemetery in January 2004.

The notes add that Horton’s youngest son, Jonathan Horton, was buried at his father’s feet. They identify Jonathan as the first Captain of Calvary in Suffolk County and give his death as 23 February 1707, aged 60; these details require verification.

Historical context

The supplied notes place Barnabas Horton among the early English settlers of Southold, Long Island, a community described there as Puritan. They report that he had previously lived in Massachusetts and Connecticut before establishing himself at Southold.

Sources & research

Original family tree maker notes for Barnabas Horton.
Biography attributed in the original notes to Nikita Barlow.
Unidentified local historian, quoted or summarized in the original family tree maker notes.