Robert Dutton 
(say 1620 - )
Robert Dutton|b. s 1620|p1766.htm|John Dutton the legendary progenitor of the family in New England|b. ca 1591|p827.htm||||||||||||||||
8-greats-granduncle of Darrell Allen Martin.
The following information is meaningful only when understood in the context of my discussion of the antecedents of Robert's purported father John Dutton.
Robert was born probably in England say 1620.1,2,3 He was the son of John Dutton the legendary progenitor of the family in New England. Robert Dutton resided in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, before circa 1644.2 He resided in Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, circa 1644.2,4,5 He was a selectman of Reading in 1647 and 1649. Using the interpretation I have adopted, Eaton accounts for seven selectmen in 1647, five in 1648, seven in 1649, and five in 1650. Most bodies of this type try to have an odd number of members to avoid deadlocked votes, and it may be simply that Robert was omitted from the selectmen only because their number had been reduced. 2,6
Robert was born probably in England say 1620.1,2,3 He was the son of John Dutton the legendary progenitor of the family in New England. Robert Dutton resided in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, before circa 1644.2 He resided in Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, circa 1644.2,4,5 He was a selectman of Reading in 1647 and 1649. Using the interpretation I have adopted, Eaton accounts for seven selectmen in 1647, five in 1648, seven in 1649, and five in 1650. Most bodies of this type try to have an odd number of members to avoid deadlocked votes, and it may be simply that Robert was omitted from the selectmen only because their number had been reduced. 2,6
Cited documentation
- [S167] Robert's parentage is unknown, and it is not certain who his siblings were, if indeed he had any.
- [S76] A.M., ed. William Richard Cutter, "Dutton," Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1908).
- [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass. (Boston: Alfred Mudge & Sons, 1874), pg. 63, lists "Dunton, Robert" then the next entry "Dunton, Samuel, probably a son or brother of the foregoing."
- [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., pg. 3, "It is probable that several families removed hither [to Reading] from Lynn in the same year, and as early as 1640 ... The early records of Lynn ... are wanting [so are some of the earliest Reading records] ... There is reason to conclude, however, that the following persons, with their families, were inhabitants at or about the year of incorporation [1644], viz:-- [inter alia] Robert Dunton" and pg. 11, in the 1652 land lot list, "Robert Dunton."
- [S89] John Farmer, "Dunton and Dutton," A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New-England, additions and corrections by Samuel G. Drake. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1976 reprint of an 1829 original).
- [S87] Lilley Eaton, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass., pg. 63, "Dunton, Robert, was selectman of Reading, 1647 to 1649" but pg. 281, in the list of selectmen, "Robert Dunton 1647, 1649" where for others with three consecutive years the style is yyy1-yyy3 (hyphen, not comma), indicating Robert did not serve in 1648.