Burton, Robert, 1747-1825

<p>Robert Burton, member of the Continental Congress, Revolutionary War officer, and planter, was born in Goochland County, Va., the son of Tabitha Minge and Hutchings Burton and perhaps the grandson of Noel Burton, barrister, of Henrico County, Va. Burton moved to Granville County in about 1775, in which year he married Agatha Williams, daughter of Judge John Williams.</p>

<p>At the beginning of the Revolution, Burton became a lieutenant of Continental artillery; afterward he was quartermaster general of North Carolina with the rank of colonel. He served as a member of the council of state from 1783 to 1785, again during the period 1800–1807, and again in 1813–15. He was president of the council in 1807, 1813, and 1815. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1785 but not seated until 1786; although he was elected again in 1787, to replace Timothy Bloodworth, there is no record to indicate that he attended. In 1789, Burton gave the state a bust of John Paul Jones, destroyed in 1831 when the capitol burned. Granville County records for 1790 indicate that he owned fourteen slaves and 2,405 acres of land there, as well as nearly 6,000 in what was to become Tennessee. In 1813 he was a member of the commission to establish the line between North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.</p>

<p>Burton's wife died in 1831; at his own death, he was survived by nine children. Two of his sons, Alfred M. and Robert H., both of whom attended The University of North Carolina, moved to Lincoln County. Robert H. was the grandfather of Confederate general Robert F. Hoke. The elder Robert Burton was the uncle of Hutchins G. Burton, governor of North Carolina.</p>

<p>Robert Burton (October 20, 1747 – May 31, 1825) was an American farmer, Revolutionary War officer, and planter in what is now Vance County, North Carolina (then Granville County, North Carolina). He was a delegate from North Carolina to the Continental Congress in 1787. Between 1783 and 1815, the North Carolina General Assembly elected him to 13 one-year terms on the Council of State, which at the time was an official advisory panel that the legislature used to check the governor's power.</p>

<p>Robert Burton was born in Goochland County, Colony of Virginia on October 20, 1747. He was the son of Tabitha Minge and Hutchings Burton and may also have been the grandson of Noel Burton, barrister of Henrico County, Virginia. He moved to Granville County, North Carolina in about 1775 where he married Agatha Williams, daughter of Judge John Williams.</p>

BURTON, Robert, (Uncle of Hutchins Gordon Burton), a Delegate from North Carolina; born near Chase City, Mecklenburg County, Va., October 20, 1747; attended private schools; moved to Granville County, N.C., in 1775; engaged as a planter; served in the Revolutionary Army and as quartermaster general attained the rank of colonel; member of the Governor's council in 1783 and 1784; Member of the Continental Congress in 1787; member of the commission to establish the boundary line between the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia in 1801; died in Granville (now Vance) County, N.C., May 31, 1825; interment on his estate, ``Montpelier,'' at Williamsboro (now Henderson), Vance County, N.C.

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1786 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
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