Sutton Isacke

     Sutton was born in Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire, England. He was christened there on 9 January 1637/38 in St. Sebastian Church.² On 11 December 1655, 18 year old Sutton was apprenticed out to Thomas Knifton, a clock maker of London. His apprenticeship ended on 19 January 1662 when it was entered into the records of the Clockmakers’ Company of London that Sutton was admitted and sworn a free Clockmaker and had paid his admission money. Sutton married Jeane Harvey on 2 March 1662 in London, County Middlesex, England, at St. Bartholomew the Less Church.³ Sutton and Jeanne had children: Elizabeth [9/17/1664][m. 1681 Thomas Francomb]. He and his family immigrated to St Helena island where he purchased land and became a planter. The reason for the imigration is not known. It could easily been because of one of the two tragedies that struck London during this time period, the black plague of 1664-1665, or the London fire of 1666, or both. The hardships caused by these events may have been too much to recover from. He last appeared in records in London in 1672 in regards to the apprenticeship he was sponsoring and his name first appears on records on the island in 1679. It is also not known if Jeanne died before or after the immigration. Sutton made his will on 27 August 1713. In his will, he first states that he is sick and weak of body. He then mentions his wife Elizabeth, his daughter, Susanna Swallow, his son-in-law, John French and his son Sutton Jr. He also is careful to mention all of his then existing grandchildren. He is listed on the island census taken in 1714 with his wife. Sutton departed this life on the Island of St. Helena. His will was recorded on 20 March 1716 on the Island of St. Helena. In the East India Company St. Helena cemetery record of gravestones and memorials.