Ambrose Sutton

Generation 1

Our story of the Sutton family begins possibly with this Sutton who is believed to be the father of George Sutton, from whom our family descends. However, there is much debate on whether Ambrose can actually be proved to be the father of George as we are lacking the proper records to prove such. We might suppose that he is, and begin here, until further research leads us in a new direction. See the notes below from my friend who has allowed me to publish her thoughts to me on the matter.

 

Ambrose was born in England, however, died in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. Before immigrating to America, he married Sarah Warner on August 25, 1613, who was born in Essex, Kelvedon, England.

We have record of three children as follows:

 

1. George Sutton

Born 4/12/1613 in Tenterden, Kent Co, England, died at the age of 56 on his birthday April 12, 1669 in Albemarle County, Perquimans Dist, North Carolina. married on 3/13/1635-36 in Scituate, Plymouth Colony, to Sarah Tilden born 1/13/1612-13 in Tenterden, Kent Co, England and died March 20, 1676-77 Albemarle County, Perquimans District, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Tilden & Lydia Bourne Huckstep

2. Simon Sutton

3. Samuel Sutton

 

Notes from Janis, London, Ontario, Canada

Janis writes:

"I think that the big problem with George Sutton is that early researchers

made assumptions and those assumptions have been printed and then assumed to be correct by subseuent researchers.

Looking at various websites on the net and info on the FamilySearch website you see that some people have George Sutton born before Apr. 12, 1613 or on Apr. 12, 1613 or baptised on Apr. 12, 1613. Now is this based on fact or assumption? Some have him born or baptised on the same date in Sandwich, Kent. Some show Ambrose as his father and some show Joseph. I think it likely that early researchers discovered George Sutton sailed to America from Sandwich, Kent (so he must have been born in Sandwich); others decided he must have been born in Tenterden because that is where the Tilden's were from.

As to the date of Apr. 12, 1613 I suspect this was based on the fact thatGeorge died Apr. 12, 1669 age 56 which gave some people the idea that he was born prior to Apr. 12, 1613. Does anyone have documentation giving this birth/baptism date from family bible, etc.

It should be very easy for someone living near an LDS Family History Centre to order in the parish registers for Tenterden Kent and look for the baptism of George Sutton on Apr. 12, 1613 or any time around that date. If not found then it would be a good idea to spread the news that he wasn'tbaptised on that date in that place.

Sandwich is a bit more difficult as there were 3 Church of England parishes in this time period where he might have been baptised.

As to Ambrose Sutton it does appear from the IGI Extracted records (morereliable than the submitted records) that a marriage took place between Ambrose Sutton and Sarah Warner Aug. 25, 1613 Kelvedon near Colchester, Essex. So this would appear to be fact. Note however that he married Aug. 25 and George Sutton was supposed to be born Apr. 12!!!!! Did somebody just look for a marriage close to the supposed birth date of George Sutton and found the marriage of Ambrose which sort of fit even though it is in another county?

Where is the proof that this Ambrose was the father of George Sutton? Does anybody have a document to prove this or is this another assumption made by an early Sutton research who found an Ambrose Sutton in the same area of the USA as George and just assumed he must be his father.

Some web sites have Ambrose Sutton settling in Charlestown MASS in 1640 and dying in Hempstead Long Island NY. I have no idea whether there is any proof that this is the same Ambrose who married Sarah Warner in Kelvedon Essex in 1613. Is this another assumption or fact?

Due to all the conflicting information and the fact that many new Sutton researchers are assuming that info found on other researcher's web sites is proven fact it would be a good idea for those Suttons who descend from George to get together and try to at least prove or disprove whether George was born in Tenterden or Sandwich and whether his father was Ambrose or Joseph. You may never find the real birthplace or parents of George but better not to know then to show the wrong ones.

Unfortunately Sutton is a very common surname in Kent as well as in other parts of England. This makes finding the real George Sutton very difficult.I have done a lot of research into the Sutton surname in East Kent which iswhere Sandwich and Tenterden are located. I haven't yet come across a suitable George Sutton but if I ever do I would be sure to pass the infoalong to the Sutton List. Most of the Sutton families that I have come across are in the most easterly portion of East Kent with very few around the Tenterden area. Unfortunately the LDS IGI doesn't contain a lot of records from East Kent although most of the parish registers have now been filmed by the LDS.

Janis

London, Ontario, Canada

And again Janis writes:

"However in this case George is stated to have been born about 1613 in Kent England and that is probably true based on the fact that he sailed from Sandwich and it is less likely that someone from another county would have sailed from there although I think some of those on that ship were from other counties. The marriage date seems to be true and the baptism of Sarah Tilden is probably correct too as the name of the church is quoted. Note however that no baptism entry is given for George which indicates that if he was baptised in the same church as Sarah that the info would have been found.

As far as Symon Sutton is concerned it is certain that he sailed to American on the same ship as George but with the Hatch family.

Apparently a Symon Sutton was witness to the Will of Nathaniel Tilden and this most likely was the same Symon but still no proof he was a brother of George. Symon and George are both named in a list of 1643 but again no proof of relationship. Therefore Symon could have been a brother or other relative of George but then again it might just be a coincidence that they were both on the same ship.

"George Sutton was born about 1613 at Kent, England and died 12 April 1669 in Perquimans Co, NC. (History of Perquimans Co, Mrs. Watson Winslow, p.418)

As proven in Nathaniel Tilden's will, George Sutton married Sarah Tilden. The marriage took place the 13th of March 1636. (No Alpha-No Omega: A Genealogical History of Our Whitaker and Clark Families, Anna May Whitaker Clark and Jonnie E Clark, p.108) Sarah Tilden was baptized 23 January 1613 at St. Mildred's Church, Tenterden, Kent, England and died 20 March 1677 at Perquimans Co. NC. (Ibid., Clark, p. 108 and Loc. Cit., Winslow p.418)

George Sutton was constable of Sciutate, MA in 1647. (Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Nathaniel B Shartleff, ed., Vol. 1, 1633-1640, p.115"

"In his book, Charles Henry Pope described Nathaniel as a town officer and the ruling elder in the first church. ("The Pioneers of MA", Charles Henry Pope, p.454) He did not survive long in his new home. His will was probated 25 May 1641. Mentioned in his will was his wife Lydia and their children:

Joseph; Thomas; Judath; Mary , the wife of Thomas Lapham; Sarah, the wife of George Sutton; and his two youngest children, Lydia and Stephen. Symon Sutton was one of the witnesses to the will. Symon was likely a brother of George Sutton, but no relationship was noted.

(The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Abstract of the Earliest Wills in the Probate Office, Plymouth, Vol. 4, p.173) In a list of those able to bear arms in New Plymouth in 1643, both George and Symon Sutton were named. (The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, p.257)"