Richard Barton

     Richard was born circa 1608. Richard married Elizabeth Atherton, daughter of Edmund Atherton and Elizabeth Molineaux, on 8 February 1629 in Wigan at All Saints Church. Richard and Elizabeth had children: John, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah, Sarah & Joshua. Richard made his will on 29 September 1652.

In the name of God Amen of Richard Barton of Billinge in the County of Lancaster being at present sicke in my body butt of good and p’fect memory praised bee unto the Almighty, yet knowing the uncertainty of the estate of this short and transitory life and that all things must yield unto death when said it shall please God to call mee therefore forth.
Aboydinge of all troubles and conditions which after my decease might happen to arise and grow betweene my wife and children or amongest any of them concerning my lands tenements hereditments goods chattels, debts or sums yet thereof and for the better and more p’fect selling assaying and disposinge of the same hereby first revokinge frustratinge and making voided all former and other Will or Wills Testament or Testaments gifts legacies or bequests whatsoever made by mee ordained made given or bequeathed in anywise.
Doe then now constitute ordayne and make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say first and principally I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty God my only Maker & Redeemer in whom is all my hope and salavation and my body to commit unto the earth from whence it came to bee buryed in the Church of Holland and as for and concerninge all my lands Nantwich in the County of Chester together with all edifices, buildings,rents,revenuess and hereditaments with the appurtenants whatsoever I do hereby devise give and will and appoint unto my lovinge Brother William Barton of Huyton in the County afforesaid Yeoman and Edmund Winstanley of Ashton in Makerfield in the said county Yeoman their heirs and assigns. And after all scripts deeds and documents which doth may concern the same upon such special trust and confidence and to and for such uses intents and purposes as in and by this last Will and Testament are hereafter sett down lymitted expressed and declared and to none other use or purpose in anywise.
That is to say that the said William Barton and Edmund Winstanley their heirs and assigns from and immediatley after my decease shall stand and bee seized of and in all of my said messuages lands tenements buildings rents revenues and hereditaments whatsoever lyinge and being both in Billinge and Nantwich to and for the use and behalfe of Elizabeth Barton my wife and the education and bringing upp of my children soe longe and untill John Barton my eldest sonne attain unto the age of one and twenty years and then of and in the moyety or one equall halfe part of all my messuages lands ,tenements,hereditaments and premises edifices and buildings lyinge and beinge in Billinge aforesaid and for the use and on behalf of the said John Barton my sonne and heirs of his bodie lawfully begotten which case the said John Barton or his heirs shall pay or cause to bee paid within the space or commencement of three years next, after hee or they shall enter the sum of onehundred poundes of good and lawfulll money of England for the use and benefit of his younger sisters namely Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah and Sarah to be equally divided amongst them or the survivors of them.And of the moyety of the other halfe part thereof with edifices buildings and utensells premises together with the said lands lyinge and beinge in Nantwich aforesaid rents & issues and profits whatsoever to and for the use and behalfe of the said Elizabeth my wife and the education and bringing upp of my younger children besides my Eldest sonne soe longe and but till hee shall accomplish the age of one and thirty years and then of and in true this part of my said messuages, lands and tenements and premises lyinge and being in Billinge,aforesaid to and for the use and behalfe of my said sonne John Barton and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten.
And of and in the third part thereof together with the said Nantwich Lands, Rents, Edifices and profits to and for the use of Elizabeth my said wife and the preferment of my said children doe longe and but till Joshua Barton my youngest sonne shall accomplishe the age of one and twenty years and then of and in two parts of my said lands, Rents, Issues & Profits lyinge and beinge in Nantwich aforesaid and for the use benefitt and behalfe of the said Joshua Barton my said younger sonne and heirs of his body lawfully begotten. If in case hee the said Joshua or heirs of his body doe pay or cause to be payd the sum of Thirty pounds of good and lawfull money of England within the space or commencement of three years next after he or they shall enter or cause for the use benefitt & preferment of his sisters before named to bee equally divided amongst them or the surviors of them
And as for and concerning all my goods cattels and chattels and debts assett real and p’sonall which of right belong unto mee at the time of my decease I will desire and bequeath as followeth, and first it is my will and mynd that my funerall expenses shall be fully discharged and paid forth out of the whole and the rest and residue I would have divided into three equall parts one pte of which I gyve unto Elizabeth my said wife and out of the other two parts I give to my younger sonne Joshua Barton ffive poundes and the rest and residue I gyve to be equally divided amongst the rest of my children that is to say John, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah & Sarah.
I doe hereby constitute ordayne and make Elizabeth my said wife my sole Executrix to Execute p’forme and accomplishe this my said Last Will and Testament accordinge to the true intent and meaning hereof my mynd and will to herein declared.
And that shee will be a careful Mother of my and her children as my whole trust and confidence is in her and I desire my said Brother William Barton & Edmond Winstanley Feeoffees before nominated to bee Overseers of this my last Will and Testament and to be aydinge and assistinge to my said wife in the performance of the same and for the better strengthening and corrobarating hereof. I have hereunto sett me hand & seal the nyne and twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord God accordinge to our English computation one Thousand sixhundred and Ffity two.
Richard Barton His marke Witness-signed sealed and delivered in presence of
Humphrey Cowley-his marke James Maddocke-his marke
Debts owing to Testator Richard Acton of Nantwich £5.15 Humphrey Winstanley of Billinge £ 6.06 John Lawrenson of Billinge £2.00 Henry Martindale 16/- Thomas? of Warrington 2/-
Debts owing by Testator Thomas Turner 9/.¹

Richard departed this life in Billinge, Lancashire, England. His will was probated on 8 November 1655 at London, County Middlesex, England.