General Notes

The Nortons have generally had black hair with dark complexions. They were of vigorous constitution, full of energy, great workers. FRANCIS NORTON, of Piscataqua, 1631, was an agent for Capt. John Mason there until 1641, when he removed to Charleston. He was a man of education and old-time culture; was admitted freeman, 1642; captain of militia; representative eleven years. An early writer said: "A man of a bold and cheerful spirit, being well disciplined and an able man."

. Francis Norton was a sea captain, lived at Wethersfield in 1639, and went to New Haven, Branford and Milford, being drowned at Milford, February 3, 1667. In his will, dated January 28, 1666, and proved March 21, 1667, he gives his wife
100, son Joseph Northrop two acres of land, son Jeremiah
5, cousin John Norton, of Farmington,
15, and appoints his cousin Jno. Norton, of Farmington, and Joseph Nash, of Hartford, his executors "a" 26 

. Francis Norton was one of the five stewards of a large company sent out by Captain Jno. Mason to the province of New Hampshire, about 1630. He took the freeman's oath in 1642, and moved from Piscataqua about 1634 to Charlestown, Mass., where he died, July 27, 1667. His widow, Mary, married Deacon Wm. Stetson, August 20, 1670. Four daughters are mentioned in the settlement of his estate, but nothing said of his son Francis, ("a" 44,) who died a few months previous to his father, (February 3, 1667.)

FRANCIS NORTON was an inhabitant of Charlestown, Mass., in 1637. He acted as Mrs. Mason's attorney and agent after 1638. He became a member of the church at Charlestown, 10 April 1642. His sympathies were with the government of Massachusetts, and he is charged with having connived with its encroachments for his own private ends. Mason's storehouse at Newichawannock was burned in 1645, and it may have been then that Norton drove away the hundred cattle to Boston and sold them for about twenty-five pounds apiece.