Robert T. Barton

Robert T. Barton, circa 1900

Robert Thomas Barton (November 24, 1842 – January 17, 1917) was a Virginia lawyer and politician, the author of law and historical books and articles, and a president of the Virginia Bar Association.

Biography[edit]

Born in Winchester, Virginia he served in the Confederate Army, as did his five brothers, two of whom were killed in the War.[1] In 1865, he was admitted to the bar and became one of the leading lawyers in the state.[2] He was also author of some standard textbooks, Barton’s Law Practice[3] and Barton’s Chancery Practice,[4] and edited a two-volume set of the records of Virginia's colonial courts, Virginia Colonial Decisions: The Reports by Sir John Randolph and by Edward Barradall of Decisions of the General Court of Virginia, 1728-1741,[5] "which has been a landmark reference work for mid-eighteenth century Virginia since its first printing in 1909."[6]

Barton was also a member of the Virginia House of Delegates (1884–85), mayor of Winchester from 1899 to 1903, and sat as chair or president on several state and local organizations.[2] His term as president of The Virginia Bar Association was 1892-93.[7] He was made president of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Winchester in 1902.[1]

Barton married twice, first to Katie Knight (1868) and then to Gertrude W. Baker (1890). He had two children with Gertrude. He was buried in Mt. Hebron cemetery.[2]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Robert Thomas Barton". Arlis Herring.com. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Robert Barton Family Papers". Handley Regional Library. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  3. ^ Barton, R.T. (1877). The Practice in the Courts of Law in Civil Cases, Founded on Conway Robinson's Practice (1832). J.W. Randolph & English.
  4. ^ Barton, R.T. (1883). Pleading and Practice in the Courts of Chancery. J.W. Randolph & English.
  5. ^ Barton, Robert, et al., eds. (2005). Virginia Colonial Decisions. ISBN 1-58477-510-6. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Virginia Books". The Genealogy Bin. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  7. ^ "VBA History and Heritage". The Virginia Bar Association. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2008.