History of Richmond County, New York, 1887



Britton Family

This family is of French descent, and their name was originally written Breton, another example of the change of French names into English. The earliest mention of the name in connection Genealogy with the island, is that of Captain, sometimes called Colonel Nicklos, who was born in 1679, and died January 12, 1740.

The following is a copy of the inscription upon the tombstones of Colonel Nicklos Britten and his wife on Long Island, the one a Ten Eyck, the other a Hageman, and then purchased land and removed here.

"Here lies ye Body of Col. Nicklos Britten, aged 61 years, Deceased Jan. 12, 1740. Here lies a man of tender hart
Unto the poor in every part
He never sent the poor away
Which well is nown unto this Day."

"Here Lyes ye Body of Frances, wife of Col. Nicholas Britton, aged 66 years, Deceased May ye 7, 1748.

This Woman who is buried here
This county has nown for many a year
A loving mistress, a faithful wife
A Tender mother all her Life."

These stones are still standing in the Moravian cemetery.

William was defendant in a suit at law October 3, 1680. Nathaniel was plaintiff in a suit in July, 1681, and. again in a suit Genealogy with Lewes Lakerman in the same year. These two last named were adults when "Col. Nicklos" was an infant, but the consanguinity between them cannot now be ascertained. There was another William, a. son of Nicholas, probably Col. Nicklos, born October 11, 1708. There was a Joseph, perhaps a brother of William, who had a son James, baptized April 23, 1707, and a daughter, in 1708. There was also a Richard, who purchased land in 1694.

Nathaniel made his will in 1683, but he was still living in 1695; he was probably the same individual who was a party to the law- suit alluded to above. Nathaniel and Esther Belleville had a daughter, baptized April 9, 1732. Nathaniel and Mary his wife, had the following children: Joseph, born November 15, 1760; Richard, born March 22, 1760; William, born September 19, 1768. Samuel and Mary had the following daughters: Addra, born July 7, 1771; and Mary, horn July 31, 1773. Nathaniel and Catharine had a daughter Mary, born April 4, 1775; at her baptism, the father was also baptized. Samuel and Polly Latourette married May 24, 1797.

The present representative of one branch of the family, is J.A.H. Britton, Esq., of New Dorp; his father was Nathaniel, whose place of interment is marked by the marble monument at the southwest corner of the Church of the Ascension. Nathaniel was born in 1764 or 1765; he was twice married; his first, wife was a Van Buskirk, of Bergen, and they were the parents of Debora, wife of Joshua Mersereau, born August 4, 1782, died March 26, 1840; Cornelius, born July 1, 1785, died April 3, 1867; he resided at Fresh kill for many years before his death.

Abraham, born August 20, 1787, died August 26, 18(36, resided on the Clove road in Castleton, and was the father of Henry and Abraham, both deceased, who resided on the paternal property. Nathaniel, Jr., born in 1792, died February 13, 1841, owned and resided on the property on the east side of Broadway, West New Brighton, extending the whole length of that highway. He had also another son, John. Nathaniel's second wife was Margaret Bedell, who was born January 5, 1768, and died September 21, 1849; she was the mother of J.A.H. Britton, Esq., as before mentioned.



Source: History of Richmond County, (Staten Island) From its Discovery to the Present Time: Richard M. Bayles: New York: L.E. Preston & Co.; 1887












Britton Genealogy Resources



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