Biographical Sketch of William BRINTON (1881); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candace Roth 
<clroth1229@earthlink.net>.

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From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope (1881);

ppg. 486/7

BRINTON,* William, of Nether Gournall, Parish of Sedgely, Staffordshire, 
England, with his wife, Ann, daughter of Edward Bagley, came to Pennsylvania in 
the summer of 1684, and settled in the township since called Birmingham.  As his 
home in England was near that town, it is supposed that he gave the name to the 
township.  He was born about the year 1630, his wife five years later, and they 
were married about 1659.  With them came their son, William, and daughters, 
Elizabeth and Esther.  Their daughter Ann married John Bennett, 4,18,1684, and 
they may have accompanied her parents.

William Brinton had suffered persecution as a Friend, and in the year 1683 had 
his goods distrained to the value of #5 11s. to satisfy a fine of 26s.
imposed under the Nonconformity Act.  On his arrival in Philadelphia, and while 
detained there in making arrangements for a permanent settlement, he presented 
two certificates to a Friends' meeting "held at the governor's house" on the 4th 
of the 9th month (November), 1684.  One of these certificates is from the 
Monthly Meeting of Dudley, and is dated the 15th of the 11th month, 1683.  The 
other is from "his dealers & Correspondents,"
and is dated Jan. 14, 1683.  In 1686 he received a patent for 456 acres of land, 
to which he made further additions by purchase.  His death occurred in 1700, and 
that of his wife in the previous year.  Their daughter Elizabeth married Hugh 
Harris soon after 2d month (April) 12, 1686, by whom she had four sons and five 
daughters.  Esther Brinton, her sister, married John Willis, of Thornbury, and 
had several children.

William Brinton, Jr., born about 1667, married, 10,9,1690 Jane, daugher of 
Richard and Jane Thatcher, born 10,17,1670, died 12,17,1755.  In 1704 he built a 
stone house a little distance south of Dilworthtown, which is still standing, 
and until a few years since without much alteration.  He died in 1751, and was 
buried 8th month 17th, at Birmingham Meeting.  His children were,-1.Joseph b. 
11,30,1692, buried 10,18,1751, m. 10,6,1711 to Mary Peirce, and 2,14,1748 to 
Mary Elgar. 2. William, b. 6,25,1694, d. 3d mo.
1761, m. 2,26,1716, to Hannah Buller, 5,9,1724 to Azuba Townsend, and 5th mo. 
1734 to Cecily Chamberlin.  3. Edward, b. 12,12,1704, d. 3,17,1779, m.
4,17,1724 to Hannah Peirce.  4. Mary, b. 2,1,1708, d. 12,13,1774, m.
9,8,1739 to Daniel Corbit.  5. Ann, b. 2,19,1719, m. 2,29,1731 to Samuel Bettle.  
6. John, b. 5,4,1715, d. 3mo. 1748, m. 2,21,1736 to Hannah Vernon.

Joseph and Edward Brinton were prominent and active citizens, and their numerous 
descendants have inherited marked individuality and force of character.  A 
daughtrer of Edward became the wife of Thomas Darlington and ancestor of a large 
portion of the family of that name.  A genealogy and history of the family, 
quarto, pp. 60, was compiled and printed for private distribution by Dr. Daniel 
G. Brinton, 1878. His brother, Joseph H.
Brinton, is the proprietor of Brinton's greenstone or serpentine quarries in 
Thornbury.

*"The English family of Brinton, from whom those in America derive descent, took 
their name from the parish of Brinton, now Brimpton, in Berkshire. 
The first so named of whom we possess any definite account is Robert de Brinton, 
who received a manor in Shropshire from King henry II about the year 1160.  his 
lineal descendant removed to Staffordshire about 1450."-Dr.
Daniel G. Brinton