Family and Education

bap. 20 Dec. 1646, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of William Burton†, merchant, of Great Yarmouth by his 2nd w. Martha.  m. lic. 29 Mar. 1675, Anne, da. of John Desborough of Hackney, Mdx., 6s. (1 d.v.p.) 3da.  suc. fa. 1673.

Offices Held

Freeman, Gt. Yarmouth 1672, alderman Jan.–Oct. 1688.1

Biography

The most prominent figure in Yarmouth’s Dissenting community, Burton was a merchant by trade and an Independent in religion. He was the son of a loyal Cromwellian and had himself married the daughter of General Desborough, the brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell†. Burton was one of James II’s Whig ‘collaborators’ at Yarmouth and was returned in 1701 on the Dissenting interest. During his brief tenure he is not known to have given a speech, neither is any vote by him recorded. Defeated in 1702, he died on 22 Nov. 1703.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

Notes

• 1. Norf. Rec. Soc. xxii. 10, 23–26; Gt. Yarmouth bor. recs. assembly bk. 1680–1701.
• 2. P. Gauci, Pol. and Soc. in Gt. Yarmouth, 207; Bodl. Ballard 4, f. 61; C. J. Palmer, Hist. Gt. Yarmouth, 129, 212, 244, 307; Norf. Rec. Soc. 34.