Individual Details

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
p.24 In 1816, the town of Terre Haute was laid out.... very early settlers of the country prior to 1818 included Curtis Gilbert, the first county Clerk and recorder, Peter Allen. "Peter Allen had been a general in the war which had just closed." John Britton listed among those that came within the next five years.
Terre Haute, pp. 30-41
July Term 1818, Circuit Court of Vigo Co. John Britton received $2 for his services as deputy sheriff and bailiff.
p.39
In a letter written years afterward, Lucius H. SCOTT says: "June 6, 1817, in company with John W. OSBORN, I arrived at Vincennes, after a journey of nearly two months, from St. Lawrence county, N.Y. OSBORN being a printer, readily obtained work in Elihu STOUT's printing office, in Vincennes, but after spending three weeks vainly looking for something to do, I determined to seek my fortune higher up the Wabash valley, and set out on foot for the newly laid out town of Terre Haute. In Vincennes I had met and formed acquaintance with John BRITTON, who had been to Terre Haute, and was then making his temporary home at the house of Daniel BARNES, a small log cabin situated on Sec. 16, at the edge of the prairie not far from the present cemetery. Having to walk the whole distance from Vincennes, and carrying my bundle, I made slow progress, and was nearly three days upon the journey. I found my new friend BRITTON as I expected, and was kindly received by him and his family; but as the cabin was small, and I found the family were not in a condition to receive an additional boarder, I determined to make my stay as brief as possible.
p.58
Early Residents.
John Britton was for many years a magistrate, and was esteemed a good one; he also kept the county library. He was a great teacher of mine. He taught me how to guide a horse by hauling on the starboard rein if I wanted to steer to the right, and hauling on the port if i wished to veer away to the left. He was rather plain in manner and speech. It was said that at a trial before him a man by the name of Leatherman jumped up and exclaimed: "So and so swera to a d___d lie" Squite Britton then, in an excited voice, said: "John Leatherman, I fine you $5 for swearing by G-d!" He was very fond of fancy gardening and "Britton's garden" was a place of great resort thirty-five years ago.
p.63
John Britton was the first constable of Harrison township. Among the first accounts allowed by the county commissioners was a bill presented by Mr. Britton for arresting and 'dietin' certai rioters on the 4th and 5th of July, 1818. ....He was the first surveyor in the county. He also kept an apothecary's shop.

Vigo County, Indiana Deed Records: Book 1, 1816-1821; Immogne B. Hannan Brown, 197?
[deeds are from assorted deed books, arranged by date of deed, not recording date]
19 Jul 1819. Bk 1, p. 280 From John Britton, Collector of Tax, to Mathew Morrison, lot in Terre Haute
19 Jul 1819. Bk 1, p. 332 From John Britton, Collector of Tax, to Curtis Gilbert, lot in Terre Haute.


1820 Census. Vigo Co IN
John Britton. 1m 26-45. 1f 16-26

Western Register & Terre Haute Advertiser, p. 3
Notice.
The citizens of the county of Vigo are respectfully informed that the
Public Library
is open of the perusal, by their complying with the regulations of the institution - where due attention will be paid to the issuing and returning o Books, each day in the week, (Sundays excepted) between the house of 10 and 12 A.M. and 2 and 4 P.M. at my office in Terre-Haute.
JOHN BRITTON, Librarian
July 21, 1823

October Term, 1825, Circuit Court, Vigo Co IN. John Britton vs. Harriet Britton. Petition for divorce. Granted. "It is ordered ...John Britten be and he is hereby divourced from the cares of Matrimoney With the said harret Britton and it is further ordered adjudged and decreed that the said Harriet Britton be and she is hereby released from the cares of matrimoney With the said John Britton."
John Britton married Eliza Roach, 24 Jan 1826. Cruft was the minister.
On 27 Jul 1830, John married Catherine Croy, M. Chamberlain officiated.

Historically Speaking, Dorothy J. Clark; Whipporwill Publications; Evansville, Indiana, 1981
p.185. In 1831, two lots were bought at the northwest corner of 5th and Walnut Streets for the Terre Haute School House. A four-room brick school was built. Shares in the venture were $5 each - John Britton purchased four.


Circuit Court Order Books, Civil and Criminal, Vigo County, Indiana. WPA transcriptions.
Vol. 3, 1832-1837, Part E
May Term, 1837
Note: John Britton served as commissioner to divide lands of the deceased several times. The following was a time he served with his brother in law.
Nov Term 1837 Carlton V. Belt & John Britton, two of the commissioners for the division of lands of William Reed, dec'd.


Commissioner's Records, Vigo County, IN Vol. 3 1837-1844, Part B. Series copied by WPA; not indexed.
5 Dec 1842. p.334 John Britton pd $1.25 as petit juror, Nov Term 1842.
March Session 1843 p.350 John Britton be allowed $1.50 for making a map of the county for the Auditor of the State.
p.354. John Britton, Charles Jackson & John Strain appt to review road proposed by Daniel Soesbe - Honey Creek & Linton Twps.
p.356 John Britton, Hiram Smith & Abraham Jackson to view proposed road for Geo Taylor.
June Session 1843 p.376 John Britton & Hiram Smith to review road, set aside.
Sept Session 1843. p.404 John Britton & John Strain on petition of Daniel Soesbe made report. submitted 4 Sep. Accepted & confirmed - be considered a public highway. Britton be allowed $8 for surveying Carlisle & Terre Haute road & 1 day surveying in Sugar creek.
p.407 John Britton, Co Surveyor to veiw & make note of Praireton & Bowling Green road.
Dec Term 1843 5 Dec. p.419. John Britton made report. Allowed $3 for surveying & field notes.
May Term 1845 (surrounding notes indicate this was 1844) John Britton pd .75 for jury duty.

1850 Census. Harrison Twp, Vigo, IN, Hh 547 & 548
John Britton, 58, County surveyor, b. PA
Catharine, 38, b. Ohio
Cirilla, 14, b. IN. Demming D., 10, b. IN. John, 7, b. IN. Catharine, 5, b. IN
Henry Ashley, 28, Cooper, b. VT
Mary J., 19, b. IN
Note: Dennis Demming, age 59, is in Hh 550 - is he some relationship to Catharine ...was she perhaps nee Demming and had also previously been married before marrying John Britton?

He was interred, 29 Jul 1853, Woodlawn Cemetery.

Birth	1792	Pennsylvania
Marriage	15 Sep 1819	Vigo County, Indiana - Harriett Allen
Divorce	Oct 1825	Vigo County, Indiana - Harriett Allen
Marriage	24 Jan 1826	Vigo County, Indiana - Eliza Roach
Marriage	27 Jul 1830	Catharine Ann Croy
Death	Jul 1853	Vigo County, Indiana

Spouse

Harriett Allen (1803 - 1855)

Spouse	Catharine Ann Croy (1809 - 1855)
Child	Mary J. Britton (1832 - 1890)
Child	Hanson Britton (1834 - 1855)
Child	Sylvia Britton (1836 - )
Child	Demming D. Britton (1840 - )
Child	John Britton (1843 - )
Child	Catharine Britton (1845 - )

Spouse

Eliza Roach ( - )