Robert T. Barton

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.

Born in Winchester, Virginia he served in the Confederate Army, as did his five brothers, two of whom were killed in the War.cite web|url=http://arlisherring.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I097266&tree=Herring|title=Robert Thomas Barton|publisher=Arlis Herring.com|accessmonthday=March 7 |accessyear=2008] In 1865, he was admitted to the bar and became one of the leading lawyers in the state.cite web|url=http://www.hrl.lib.state.va.us/Handley/Archives/Barton,%20Robert%201268.htm|title=Robert Barton Family Papers|publisher=Handley Regional Library|accessmonthday=March 7 |accessyear=2008] He was also author of some standard textbooks, "Barton’s Law Practice" [cite book
last = Barton
first = R.T.
title = The Practice in the Courts of Law in Civil Cases, Founded on Conway Robinson's Practice (1832)
publisher = J.W. Randolph & English
date = 1877] and "Barton’s Chancery Practice", [cite book
last = Barton
first = R.T.
title = Pleading and Practice in the Courts of Chancery
publisher = J.W. Randolph & English
date = 1881, 1883] 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", [cite book
last = Barton
first = Robert, et al., eds.
title = Virginia Colonial Decisions
publisher = The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.(accessed via Google Books)
date = 2005
isbn = 1584775106] "which has been a landmark reference work for mid-eighteenth century Virginia since its first printing in 1909."cite web|url=http://www.genealogybin.com/virginia.htm|title= Virginia Books|publisher=The Genealogy Bin|accessmonthday=March 7 |accessyear=2008]

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. His term as president of The Virginia Bar Association was 1892-93.cite web|url=http://www.vba.org/history.htm|title= VBA History and Heritage|publisher=The Virginia Bar Association|accessmonthday=March 7 |accessyear=2008] He was made president of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Winchester in 1902.

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.

Notes and references