The historic origin of the Stantons in England was in the times of William the Conqueror; the family seat in Leicester, where lived Sir Malgerus, Lord of Stanton. This is undoubtedly the original Stanton family. No claim is made nor any attempts to connect the Stantons of Stonington with this remote period. Their history in America has been one of honor and achievement. On the monument erected on Groton Heights in 1830, "in memory of the brave Patriots who fell in the massacre of Fort Griswold, near this spot on the 6th of September, 1781, when the British under command of the traitor Arnold burned the towns of New London and Groton and spread desolation and woe throughout this region," are the names of three Stantons who perished on that day. Captain Amos Stanton of Groton, Lieutenant Phineas and Sergeant Daniel Stanton were all killed "fighting like tigers." In all the wars of the United States, Stantons have borne a prominent part, down to the civil war, when Edgar M. Stanton, as secretary of war under President Lincoln, rendered valuable service.
(I) Thomas Stanton, born in England, came to America in the merchant ship "Bonaventura," sailing from London, England, January 2, 1635. He settled first in Virginia, later in Boston, and in 1637 was of Hartford, Connecticut, where he married. In 1650 he established a trading house in Stonington, Connecticut, on the Pawtuck river. The family home for a few years was in New London, Connecticut, until they were permanently settled at Stonington. Thomas Stanton was very prominent in the public affairs of Colonial Connecticut. He understood the Indian signs and dialects which brought him in contact with Governor Winthrop, for whom he acted as "Interpreter General of the New England Colonies." Miss Caulkins says, "On the Pawkatuck river the first white inhabitant was Thomas Stanton. He appears to have been always upon the wing, yet always within call. He was required to be present wherever a court, conference or treaty was to be held. Never perhaps did the acquisition of a barbarous language give a man such immediate widespread and lasting importance. From the year 1636, when he was Winthrop's interpreter with the Niantic Sachem, to 1670, when Uncas visited him with a train of warriors and captains to get him to write his will, his name is connected with almost every Indian transaction on record." He was county commissioner and judge for twelve consecutive years; member of the Connecticut general assembly seven years, Indian commissioner many years, and a successful man of affairs. He owned a great deal of land and was active in his business right up to his death. His name is first on the list of members of the First Congregational Church of Stonington, which he was instrumental in organizing. He died December 2, 1677, at the age of sixty-two years. He married, in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1637, Ann Lord, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Dorothy Lord, of Hartford. Dr. Lord and Dorothy were married in England in 1610, came to America, April 29, 1635, in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann." Children of Thomas and Ann (Lord) Stanton:
- Thomas, born 1638, in Hartford, Connecticut; married Sarah, daughter of Captain George Dennison.
- John, born 1641, see forward.
- Mary, born 1643, married Samuel Rogers.
- Hannah, married Nehemiah Palmer.
- Joseph, married (first) Hannah Mead; (second) Hannah Lord, and had third and fourth wives, names unknown.
- Daniel, died in the Barbadoes, West Indies; married and left a son Richard.
- Dorothy, married Rev. James Noyes.
- Robert, married Joanna Gardiner.
- Sarah, married (first) Thomas Prentice; (second) William Dennison.
- Samuel, married Boradell, daughter of Captain George Dennison.
(II) Captain John, second son of Thomas and Ann (Lord) Stanton, was born in 1641, died in Stonington, Connecticut, October 3, 1713. He was a pupil of that famous old teacher of the Puritans, Elijah Corlet. In 1654 John Stanton and John Minor were selected by the court commissioners to be educated as teachers of the Gospel to the Indians. Both young men, however, left their studies and engaged in other pursuits. In 1664 John Stanton was first reader in the Southertown (Stonington) Church. February 16, 1675, he was commissioned captain of one of the four Connecticut regiments raised to fight in King Philip's war. He served with distinction and was in command at the capture of Canonchet, the chief Sachem of all the Narragansetts. This service was acknowledged later by the "Courts" in the remission of a fine imposed for "boldness" in protesting against certain laws passed by the assembly. He married Hannah Thompson, daughter or sister of Rev. William Thompson, missionary to the Pequots, who resided in Stonington and New London until 1663, when he removed to Surrey county, Virginia. His grave is in the old burial ground at Wickaquack Cove, Connecticut. Children of John and Hannah (Thompson) Stanton:
- John, see forward;
- Joseph, married Margaret Cheeseboro, 1696;
- Thomas, married his cousin Anna, 1692;
- Ann, born October 1, 1673, died aged seven years;
- Theophilus, married Elizabeth Rogers, 1698;
- Dorothy, born 1680, died April 28, 1699.
(III) John (2), eldest son of Captain John (1) and Hannah (Thompson) Stanton, was born May 22, 1665, in Preston, Connecticut. He was a farmer on lands bequeathed him by his father. His will, dated 1747, was admitted to probate in Norwich, Connecticut. His wife Mary and son Jabez are named as executors. Children:
- John, married, 1735, Desire Denison;
- Daniel, see forward;
- Joseph, married Abigail Freeman, 1737;
- Lydia, married Daniel Leonard, August 9, 1733;
- Robert, married, 1741, Mary Lester;
- Hulda, born 1716;
- Jabez, married, 1745, Sarah Mors;
- David, married, 1755, Sarah Kimball;
- Mary, born 1722;
- Sarah, 1724;
- Samuel, married, 1754, Mary Palmer.
(IV) Daniel, son of John and Mary Stanton, was born June 8, 1708, in Preston, Connecticut. He was a farmer and possessed of considerable property. He married (first), in 1737, Dinah Stark (although there is a statement that her name was Galusha). She died after 1754. He married (second) Mary Clark, who bore him one child, Daniel (3). Daniel Stanton's will is dated February 22, 1775, and he was then near his death, the exact date of which is not known. Children of first wife:
- Daniel (2), born 1738, died prior to birth of Daniel (3);
- Huldah, see forward;
- Amasa and
- Elias, twins, born 1742, both died young;
- John born November 16, 1746, married Huldah Freeman;
- Lydia, born 1748, married ———— Bennett;
- Lucy, 1750, died 1810, unmarried;
- Elisha, 1752, married, 1781, Anna Rust;
- Elijah, 1754, married, 1791, Lucy Goodall;
- Lois, married Adin Palmer.
Child by second wife:
- Daniel (3), born September 15, 1764, married (first) Sally Jackson; (second) Mehitable Morton.
(V) Huldah, eldest daughter of Daniel and Dinah (Stark) Stanton, was born April 15, 1740. She married Judah Burton, born June 9, 1739, died March 13, 1813, in Montgomery county, New York, whence he had moved from Dutchess county. He was the son of Isaac Burton, born 1713, son of Jacob Burton, of Preston, Connecticut, son of Isaac Burton, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, son of Captain John Burton, of Salem, Massachusetts, the emigrant ancestor who came to America and settled in Salem in 1637, died 1684. Judah Burton was a large land owner of Montgomery county, New York, and owned several slaves. He served as ensign in the English army, and during the revolution was second lieutenant in the revolutionary army.
(VI) Nathan, second son of Lieutenant Judah and Huldah (Stanton) Burton, was born May 1, 1764, died October 16, 1841. He married (first) Molly Smith, born October 23, 1761, died March 12, 1802. He married (second) Eleanor Covenhoven, born August 24, 1776, died April 29, 1859, a descendant of the Covenhovens of New Jersey, who settled in Montgomery county after the revolution. Children of first marriage:
- Smith, born December 4, 1786;
- Daniel, August 16, 1788;
- Huldah, January 27, 1790;
- Judah, December 11, 1791;
- Nathan, February 26, 1794;
- Polly, January 13, 1796;
- John, March 17, 1798;
- Walter, January 2, 1800, drowned June 16, 1821;
children of second marriage:
- Catherine, born March 31, 1804;
- Jacob, May 31, 1805;
- Henry, October 4, 1807, died in infancy;
- Elias C., see forward;
- Eliza, born July 10, 1811;
- Ephrahim, March 21, 1814, died in infancy;
- Elisha, born September 29, 1816.
(VII) Elias C., third son of Nathan and his second wife Eleanor (Covenhoven) Burton, was born May 21, 1809, died June 19, 1907, aged ninety-eight years twenty-four days. He married, January 18, 1832, Catherine J. Conover, born May 12, 1811, died September 25, 1890, daughter of Seth Conover, born July 9, 1872, died April 4, 1859, married Jane Houghtaling, born July 10, 1789, died August 27, 1847. Children of Elias C. and Catherine J. Burton:
- Seth C., married Harriet Judson;
- Nathan J., married Anna E. Leonard, who died October, 1910;
- Ann Elizabeth, married Edward A. Wells, who died June 19, 1910;
- Jacob W., married Harriet Smith;
- Jeannette, see forward;
- Elias Emmet, married Francis Moak, of Sharon Springs, New York.
(VIII) Jeannette, daughter of Elias C. and Catherine J. (Conover) Burton, married James S. Todd, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Todd family is one of the oldest of Massachusetts. The grandfather of Mabel Todd was Rev. John Todd, D.D., of First Congregational Church of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, for many years. He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Joab Brace, of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Rev. John E., son of Rev. John Todd, D.D., was pastor of Congregational church, New Haven, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Thomas, of Virginia.
(IX) Mabel, only child of James S. and Jeannette (Burton) Todd, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and educated in the public schools of Gloversville, New York, (moving there in infancy at her father's death), graduating from the high school, class of 1888. She entered the State Normal College at Albany, where she was graduated, class of 1890. She was employed in the insurance offices of Joseph E. Wood, of Gloversville, for a time, later being admitted a partner in the business. She is a capable woman of business and has full charge of the insurance business, Mr. Wood being engaged in leather manufacturing. She is unmarried. She is a member of Gen. Richard Montgomery Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution, being since 1907 corresponding secretary. She has given much attention to music, having studied under some of the best masters in both vocal and instrumental, and for two years was soloist in several of the churches of Gloversville. Miss Todd inherits her musical talent from both father and mother.