Very Rev. Edmund Burton (1737-1817)

He was born at Shap in Cumbria and he and his brothers were educated by a wealthy uncle, who left all his money to establish a hospital. He attended Bampton Grammar School; St. John's College, Cambridge; and, was ordained at Peterborough. He was married twice. In 1764, in Warwickshire, he married Catherine, daughter of Michael and Katherine (Ryder) Baxter of Atherstone, Warwickshire. He came to Ireland as chaplain to his wife's uncle, John Ryder (1697-1775), Archbishop of Tuam, through whom he became Archdeacon of Tuam. Once established in Ireland, he brought out his younger brother, Edward, as Rector of Tuam. In 1783, the year after his first wife died, he married Martha, daughter of Samuel and Frances (Otway) Judge, of Ballysheil, Co. Offaly, who was the mother to his several children. Aside from being Dean of Killala, he held the living of Hollymount and was Vicar-General of the Diocese of Tuam.