ROBERT OVERTON, ANCESTOR OR ACQUAINTANCE?
In reviewing the ancestry of my family's names (Childress, Mathis, Overton, Barron, et. al), there have been numerous noteworthy individuals (and, of course, many more non-noteworthy individuals). However, it would be a fair assessment that no one individual could possibly approach the stature of Robert Overton, a famed military figure, political activist and comrade to men of letters in his day. Robert's life is a model of character. While there is a small level of uncertainty regarding the relationship between Robert and his son William, there is virtual unanimity among contemporary American Overtons that he properly can be called our common progenitor. Nan West takes the position of many of our Overton kinfolk and historians that Robert Overton is almost assuredly the father of our emigrant William Overton. I would very much like to agree with that assessment, but would like to see further evidence. In the interest of providing a guide to our history that may be subject to future research, I will present much of Mrs. West's verbiage herewith, and encourage the reader to adopt a healthy portion of objectivity.

With that caveat in mind, I will proceed with a quote from a source other than Mrs. West:
Gentry Family in America, pages 228-229: William Overton (once again, please see William's biography for more discussion on his parentage) was a son of Colonel Robert Overton, of England, born in 1609, distinguished himself at the battle of "Marston Moor," September 20, 1643; commanded a brigade in the battle of Dunbar under Cromwell; Governor of Hull in 1647 and rendered other distinguished services to the Commonwealth. He was a political prisoner in the Tower of London for many years; accompanied Cromwell to Scotland in 1650; Governor of Edinburgh; scholar; soldier, intimate friend of Milton who celebrated his exploits in "Defensio Secundo."

Now, using Nan West's publication as the primary source, the following will give the reader some appreciation for the character of this man, whom we would all like to claim as our ancestor:

ROBERT OVERTON, THE MAN
General Robert Overton was of noble birth. Born in 1609 in Easington, he later lived in London and Easington, Holderness, Yorkshire, England. A Puritan, and serving under the Fairfaxes, he was one of Oliver Cromwell's officers, commanding a brigade of foot at Dunbar in the cause of the Commonwealth under Cromwell.

Robert Overton was appointed governor of Hull in 1647, Governor of Edinburgh in 1650 and to the post of Governor of Aberdeen in 1652. His career paralleled that of Cromwell until he could no longer in good conscience agree with him. Showing remarkable character so lacking in today's contemporary political figures, Overton resigned his command and his rank was reduced to his former position of Colonel after the rank of major general was abolished in 1657.

In his latter years, because of his political beliefs a strong conscience, Overton was twice imprisoned in the Tower of London, in 1654 and 1660. In 1668 he was removed from the Tower of London to the Isle of Jersey. He was imprisoned twice on the Isle of Jersey, from 1656 to 1659 and again from 1664 to 1671. He was held prisoner both in Mont Orgueil Castle as well as in Elizabeth Castle, a military establishment not usually have used to house prisoners. Overton's release from the Isle of Jersey was authorized by a warrant that was signed by Charles II, ordering Robert Overton to be released to his brother-in-law.

In 1992, Dr. M.C. Overton III learned of a 370 page manuscript handwritten by Robert Overton during his imprisonment on the Isle of Jersey. This document has existed in the USA for at least fifty years, hitherto unknown to his descendants. The manuscript is entitled "Gospell Observations and Religious Manifestations & C./" and is held in the Special Collections and Rare Books Department of Princeton University Libraries. This work consists of meditations, letters and poems and is dedicated to his wife, Anne Gardiner. The volume also substantiates General Robert Overton's long lasting friendships with noted English poets, John Milton and John Donne. Milton praised the General in his work "Second Defence of the English People" in 1654: "You Overton, who for many years have been linked to me with a more than fraternal harmony, by reason of the likeness of our tastes and the sweetness of your disposition."

After his release from prison on the Isle of Jersey, Robert Overton was destitute and a widower, and likely had to live out the rest of his life with one of his children, Anne who had earlier married Andrew Broughton of Seaton, Rutland.

Robert wrote his last will and testament on June 23, 1678, and the will was probated in London on January 29, 1678/9. He was buried only nine days after his will was written. His will was discovered in Rutland in 1994 by Arthur Jones of Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England. Mr. Jones also located a record in the Seaton Parish in Rutland, which establishes Robert's burial.

There have been other theories concerning the ultimate demise of Robert Overton. Some researchers have mentioned the possibility that the Robert Overton who was listed on the records of Christ Church, St. Michael's Parish, Barbados on December 22, 1679 was the same Robert that we review herewith. However, these suppositions were written without the benefit of the documentation that establishes Robert's presence on the Isle of Jersey as noted above.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROBERT OVERTON
(Note: For the purpose of ease of reading, conventional spelling is used herein)
I, Robert Overton esquire being sick in body but of sound and perfect memory do make, publish and declare my last will and testament as followeth. First and above all things I commit my spirits into the hands of the great God my Creator in hope of eternal life by the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer. Next, for my body I desire it may be decently buried if it may be near the body of my dearest deceased wife in the burying place called the New Church Yard in Moorefields, London. And out of that just a principle I have for the satisfaction of all such moneys as I have borrowed and which I am indebted unto any person or persons whatsoever I do will direct and appoint all and singular my goods and chattels, debts and personal estate whatsoever (except as hereafter excepted) to be sold and disposed for the payment of my said debts. Except nevertheless such wearing apparel, linen, books, manuscripts and other things whatsoever now in the house of my son Broughton which I will and give to my daughter Mrs. Anne Broughton desiring that my son and daughter Johnson may take and choose such of my books and manuscripts as they shall desire to have. My mind and will farther is that such of my wearing apparel and linen as is before excepted be disposed of as my said daughter Broughton shall think fitting among the servants of my son Broughton particular regard being had to Frances, the wife of John Mole, for her care and a good attendance upon me in my long sickness. And I do constitute and appoint my son Mr. Ebenezer Overton sole executor of this my last will and testament and after the satisfaction of my debts as aforesaid I do bequeath and give the remaining part of my personal estate to be divided equally between my two sons Ebenezer and Fairfaxe Overton and do lastly nominate and appoint my two sons-in-law Andrew Broughton and Nathaniell Johnson to be overseers of this my will and that they be assisting to the performance thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this three and twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord 1678.

Robert Overton, signed and sealed

Published and declared to be the last will of said Robert Overton in the presence of Edm. Shepherd, William Sanderson, W. Angell

PROBATUM apud London 29 January 1678

(Note as of March 26, 2005: For the last several years Joel Patrick Childress, the author of this website, has listed this line of Overtons, beginning with William de Overton (b. circa 1270) as the author's Overton ancestral line. However, evidence provided by the Overton DNA Project study which commenced in 2004 precludes Joel Patrick Childress' Overton line as being the same as that of the above Mrs. Nan Overton West. Specifically, there was not a significant match of the DNA string of J.P. Childress' proven male Overton cousin, Keith Andrew Overton, and that of the DNA string of Mrs. West's male Overton nephew, Dr. Marvin Cartmell Overton III. Consequently, the reader should understand that the Overton line documented on this family tree by Mrs. Nan West's publication cannot and should not be tied to the Overton family tree of J.P. Childress.)

This note appears on all Overton males identified by Mrs. West as being her Overton ancestors. Documentation is being provided merely as a courtesy to Overton researchers. The Overton DNA project study may be seen at this website:

Overton DNA Study

• Married: 28 JUN 1632 in Parish of St. Bartholomew the Less, London
• Note: The marriage license (records of Bishop of London 27 June 1632) stated that "Robert Overton, gent., of Easington, Holderness Co., Your, bachelor, aged 23, and Anne Gardiner, aged 16, daughter of Jeremy Gardiner of the same, gent., who consents. To marry at Little St. Bartholomew's, London."

1. John OVERTON b: ABT. 1635
2. Jeremie OVERTON b: 1637
3. WILLIAM OVERTON b: 3 DEC 1638 in Yorkshire, England
4. Robert OVERTON b: ABT. MAY 1639 c: 2 MAY 1639 in All Saints Church, Easington, Yorks
5. Allatheia OVERTON b: ABT. 1640
6. Dorcas OVERTON b: ABT. 1642
7. Ebenezer OVERTON b: APR 1648
8. Anne OVERTON b: ABT. 1650
9. Fairfax OVERTON b: ABT. 1650
10. Joanna OVERTON b: 1650