The first of the family who emigrated to this country, of whom we have any authentic record, came over from England 1633 to 1638. Thomas, Jeremiah, and Barnabas, were among the early emigrants, and old tradition says they were brothers. Thomas came over in the "_Mary and John_," in 1633, settled permanently in Springfield, Mass. Jeremiah also settled in Massachusetts. There was a John Horton in New York, in 1645, but no one has been found claiming descent from him. He probably returned to England. It is not known from what place in England either Thomas or Jeremiah came, nor is there any certain evidence that they were brothers of Barnabas, but the three coming over about the same time would favor the tradition that they were brothers. The Head Quarters of Cæsar's army was near the present _Leicester_, the principal town of that county, and the Horton name has been known there to the remotest period of any authentic records. This fact, together with the name itself, favors the idea that the family was of Roman origin. The name in olden time was frequently written Orton, and it is highly probable, that the Ortons and Hortons were originally from the same family, and perhaps also the Nortons. ANTIQUITY OF THE HORTON FAMILY. The antiquity of the Horton Family is established by the fact, that one Robert De Horton, manumitted a bondman to his manor of Horton, long before the time of Henry Larey, Earl of Lincoln, who died in 1310. It is also ascertained that the Hortons had a manor-house in Great Horton, with a mill and certain demesne lands therewith belonging, at a very remote period. William Horton, Esq., of Frith House, in Barksland, Halifax, descended from the above-mentioned Robert, married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Hanson, Esq., of Toothill, had issue and died about 1640, viz.: 1. William, of Barkisland, or Bark Island Hall, who purchased in the 15th of Charles I., the estate of Howroyde, was born about 1576. 2. Joseph, born about 1578.--_Burke's Landed Gentry, vol. 1, p. 345._ It is held that this Joseph settled in Mousely, Leicester Co., and was the father of Barnabas Horton. It is highly probable that Barnabas was not the oldest son, and not inheriting real estate, may have been one reason for his emigrating to America. It is known that Capt. Jeremy Horton, 18 Aug., 1626, was the master and owner of the ship "_Swallow_," of Barnstable, and that he made voyages to New England, in 1633 and 1638, and in a subsequent voyage he was shipwrecked and several lives lost--the crew and master came to Boston, but the vessel was lost. Capt. Roger Horton, about this time, had a prisoner delivered to him, from the White Line Prison, to be transported into parts beyond the seas, to serve in the wars of his majesty's plantations. Tradition says that Barnabas Horton and family came over in the "_Swallow_," in 1638, or perhaps earlier, but I have not found his name on any of the lists of emigrants.