Edward Barton was born about 1620. He was living in 1640 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He took the oath of fidelity to the Massachusetts Bay Government in 1657 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He moved from Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire about 1666 to Cape Porpus, Province of Maine, Massachusetts. He died in Jun 1671 in Cape Porpus, Province of Maine, Massachusetts. His estate inventory was taken on 16 Jun 1671.  

In 1671 Elizabeth the widow of Edward, along with Griffin Montegue, gave bonds for L200 as security for Edwards estate which was valued at L81 with the house, lands and marsh valued at L40. Edward is the founder of our branch of the Barton family in America. His origins are unknown at this writing but he was established at Portsmouth, NH by 1646 when in August of that year Reynold Fernald was granted four acres of marsh at the great house at Little Harbor, on the Piscataqua and his grant mentions that he was bounded on the east by goodman Barton. He served in 1650 at Portsmouth as a trial juryman and in 1651 was brought to court for beating his wife. He received additional grants of land at Portsmouth in 1652 and 1653 and served as a grand juryman in 1656 and as a coroner's juryman in 1657 . At the town meeting of March 20, 1656 James Johnson, William Seavey and Anthony Bracket were directed to settle a land dispute between Edward and Nicholas Row. In June of 1656, at Portsmouth, Susannah Trimmings, wife of Oliver Trimmings of Little Harbor, complained that she had been bewitched by Jane Walford, wife of Thomas Walford, formerly the first settler of Charlestown and among the witnesses was Eliza Barton, Edward's wife who testified to Susannah's unusual physical appearance. At the town meetings between 1658 and 1666 he was among those who subscribed to the minister's salary in the amount of 15 shillings. Probably about 1666 Edward moved from Portsmouth to Cape Porpoise, ME and settled on a farm of about 300 acres which he bought from Anthony Littlefield. The move may have been occasioned by Edward being a loyalist to MA. The Maine farm was situated on Montague's Neck pounded by the sea, Cape Porpoise River and Montegue River. Indian troubles forced Edward, his wife and family to abandon the Cape Porpoise farm for safe haven at Salem where he purchased a house and land which later were exchanged for a house and lands at Marblehead. His estate with the house, lands
and marsh at Cape Porpoise and other property was valued at 81 pounds.

from The New England Historical & Genealogical Register Vol. 84 Issue 4 October 1930, pp 401-402

Edward, landowner, Marblehead 1643, living there +/-4 yrs., prev. of Salem, deft. 1640; soon moved to Portsmouth, owning land above Sagamore Creek, afterw. the Wentworth est., till c. 1659. Plf. in Me. Ct. 1650, and in court next year for beating wife. Jury St. Bk. 1650, gr. j. 1656. He bot from Anthony Littlefield 300 a. at Cape Porpus with a little old house, and built a new one, occu. 20 odd yrs. by hims or fam. until driven away by Ind. Lists 323, 325, 326a, 330a, 43, 255. Inv. 16 June 1671, adm. next mo. to wid. Elizabeth. Ch: Dau. app. m. John Purington. William, with br. Matthew wrongly travelled on Sunday, 1672. Matthew, Elisha, b. ab. 1655, wit. William's deed 1672. List 306a. M. Mary Crockett (6), both liv. Kittery 1688. Also likely other ch., inc. John runaway apprent. of Wm. Ellingham 1659; Job or George, see N. H. Ct. Files, inquest 29 June 1669; James apprent. himself for 4 yrs. to Mary Hilliard, Salem, in 1671.

from Sybil Noyes, Charles Thornton Libby, Walter Goodwin Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, (1998 Higginson Book  Co.) pg. 79.

He was married to Elizabeth about 1639 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Elizabeth died after 1672. Children were:

i. William Barton.
ii. Benjamin Barton.
iii. Joshua Barton.
iv. Matthew Barton was born about 1640. He died after 1724 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was a shipwright. He was a mariner.
v. Edward Barton was born about 1647. He took the oath of freeman in 1674.
vi. Elisha Barton was born about 1655. He died after 1689 in Kittery, York Co., Province of Maine, Massachusetts.
vii. Mary Barton was born about 1657.