The Gorton Connection
                          by Don Badger
                           2 May 1990
      ------------------------------------------------

A current genealogy of Samuel Gorton's descendants is the book by
Thomas Gorton entitled "Samuel Gorton of Rhode Island and His
Descendants Volumes I & II."  The copy I have was published in 1985
by Gateway Press and is available directly from the author by writing
to him at 831 Illinois St., Lawrence KS 66044.  This is a revision of
an earlier volume and is called volumes I & II but is really a single
volume of 1041 pages plus front material.
     
Page 5 of the book gives information about Samuel Gorton's ancestry as
follows:
     
  In Samuel Gorton's own words:  "I was born in the town of Gorton,
old England, where not only I but also were the fathers of my body
for many generations."  He gave his age in a letter to John Winthrop,
Jr., dated 11 Aug. 1674, as "four score and two years."

  Because of this personal testimony there is not problem in
identifying him as the Samuel Gorton who was baptized in the
Cathedral Church, Manchester on 12 February 1592/93, the son of
Thomas, husbandman, and Anne, of Gorton.  Gorton is a chapelry in the
city of Manchester, Lancashire, England.  Contemporary residents of
that city claim that natives fo that subdivision, known still as
Gorton, speak with a particular inflection which they can recognize
as a "Gorton accent."

  Ancient records of Lancashire disclose Gortons there as early as
1332 when Thomas de Gorton was taxed 2s. in the parish of Atherton.
In 1421 another Thomas de Gorton as listed as proprietor of the manor
of Aspull, near Gorton. ... Samuel Gorton's ancestry beyond his
immediate parents is somewhat conjectural, but the following
assumptions were made by a genealogist after searching the Lancashire
records rather thoroughly.

1. THOMAS GORTON of Gorton, parish of Manchester, co. Lancaster, a
descendant of the early Gortons of Gorton and of Aspull, taxed 12d in
1524 on goods valued at 40s.  His wife's name unknown. He was
probably the father of:

2. THOMAS GORTON of Gorton, assessed 8d on goods valued as L4 in
1543.  His wife's name unknown.  He was probably the father of:

3. THOMAS GORTON of Gorton, husbandman, who was buried 3 Jan. 1610/11
and who, "being greeved with sickness in body," wrote his will on 31
Dec. 1610.  It was proved on 26 Jan. 1610/11.  His wife, Anne, and
eldest son, Nicholas, were named executors.  Thomas had earlier
married Elizabeth (    ) who was buried 29 Aug. 1578.  His second
wife, Anne, survived him and was buried 1 Nov. 1623. Children of
Thomas & Elizabeth: a. Nicholas Gorton, bap. 5 May 1575 b. Elizabeth
Gorton, m. 27 Apr. 1711 William Betson Children of Thomas & Anne: c.
Thomas Gorton, bap. 16 Feb 1582/83; d.y. d. Katherine Gorton, bap. 4
Oct 1584; m. 22 Apr. 1605 Ralph Shelmerdyne, of Gorton, yeoman e.
(Son), d.y. f. William Gorton, bap. 30 Apr 1587; d.y. g. Thomas
Gorton, bap. 17 Nov. 1588, probably d. in New England, 1649; m. at
Manchester 14 Sep. 1612 Agnes Grimshaw h. Francis Gorton, bap. 18
Dec. 1591 i. SAMUEL GORTON, bap. 12 Feb. 1592/93

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With regard to Samuel GORTON's daughter Mahershalalhashbaz who m.
Daniel COLES or COLE, it is stated (on page 483) that her father gave
her the longest name in the Bible (cf. Isaiah 8:1).  He wrote that
she was "in delicate health" when the family moved to Aquidneck in
1638. The Coles rem. to Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY ca. 1665 where
Daniel and two of his brothers held a patent granted by Gov. Edmund
Andros. Hope this is of some use to you.

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