The Biographical Dictionary of America/Barton, William

​BARTON, William, soldier, was born at Warren, Bristol county, R.I., May 26, 1748. He acquired a rudimentary education, was apprenticed to a hatter, and entered into business for himself. He served in the Continental army after the battle of Bunker Hill, and in December entered formally as a corporal, soon gaining the rank of captain, and in July, 1777, he fixed upon a feasible plan for surprising and taking captive General Prescott. ​ascertaining that the British general was quartered at a house on the west side of the island, and taking with him five officers, forty-five privates, and a black servant, he reached the house after dark, secured the sentinel, and breaking in the door of the room in which Prescott was sleeping, they took him prisoner. On July 25, 1777, Congress presented him with a sword in acknowledgment of his services, and in October he was given the commission of brevet colonel. In 1778, when the British retreated from Warren, Colonel Barton received a wound which prevented his taking active part in the military actions of the following year. He was a member of the state committee that adopted the constitution of the United States, a member of the legislature and inspector of customs. Some time after the close of the war he became involved in a lawsuit in Vermont regarding a township in Orleans county, which he claimed to have bought. His title, however, being disputed, he was required to pay the costs, which he refused to do. He was consequently held in Danville for fourteen years. He boarded at the hotel, where he was well treated and apparently contented. In 1824, when Lafayette visited this country, he was surprised and shocked to learn that Barton was held a prisoner and at once paid the debt without his knowledge, and Colonel Barton returned to Warren. He wrote a book entitled "Capture of Richard Prescott" (1777). He died Oct. 22, 1831.