Jonathan Burton was born September 18, 1741 in Middleton, MA. In 1759, at approximately the age of 18 years, he enlisted for militia service in Massachusetts during the French and Indian War, serving until 1763.
At the time of the American War for Independence, Burton can be found living in Wilton, NH. On June 3, 1775, Burton, his father, and two brothers signed Wilton's “Association Test," stating that “WE, the Subscribers, do hereby solely engage, and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with ARMS, oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets, and Armies, against the United American COLONIES.”
Sergeant Jonathan Burton marched from Amherst, NH on December 8, 1775 with Captain Benjamin Taylors Company, en route to Winter Hill and the Siege of Boston. That same day, he wrote his first journal entry. SGT Burton documents the experience and daily occurrences of his unit at Winter Hill from December 8, 1775 through January 26, 1776.
Cover page of Jonathan Burton's second diary. Image courtesy of the New Hampshire Historical Society.
Jonathan Burton’s second diary encompasses the time of his service as a Lieutenant in Captain William Barren’s Company of Colonel Isaac Wyman’s Regiment, from August 1, 1776 through November 29, 1776. During this campaign to the Lake Champlain region, Burton details the march from the Fort at 4 (present day Charlestown, NH) to Rutland, Lake George, Skeensborough, Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Mount Independence, Castleton, Otter Creek and bateaux service on Lake Champlain. During this time, Burton's company is charged with building roads and defensive positions.
At the same time, Colonel Benedict Arnold’s troops were defending Lake Champlain from the invasion of British forces under the command of General Guy Carleton. While Arnold’s “navy” on the lake was soundly defeated, with winter approaching it was too late for Carleton to proceed any further with his invasion plans. Since Arnold had indeed inflicted damage to Carleton’s fleet, Arnold took full credit for turning Carleton’s force around and back to Quebec.
Burton again served in 1780, under Captain Benjamin Mann’s Company of Colonel Moses Nichol’s Regiment in Rhode Island.
Following the war, on June 19, 1786, John Sullivan in his role as President (Governor) of New Hampshire bestowed the rank of Captain upon Jonathan Barton in recognition of his service during the War for Independence. He would later be raised to the rank of Brigadier Major (August 5, 1793) by Governor Bartlett, meaning he was a brigade staff officer, in the New Hampshire State Militia system. He was also appointed as Justice of the Peace by Governor Bartlett on December 21, 1795, an office he held for 15 years, along with being elected a Selectman of the Town of Wilton for the same 15 years.