(Vol. ii., p. 216.)
The creation of the baronetcy of _Norton_, of Rotherfield, in East
Tysted, co. Hants, took place in the person of Sir Richard Norton, of
Rotherfield, Kt., 23d May, 1622, and _expired_ with him on his death
without male issue in 1652.
The style of Baronet, in the case of _Sir Gregory Norton_, the
_regicide_, was an assumption not uncommon in those days; as in the case
of _Prettyman_ of Lodington, and others.
The regicide in his will styles himself "Sir Richard Norton, of Paul's,
Covent Garden, in the county of Middlesex, Bart." It bears date 12th
March, 1651, and was proved by his relict, Dame Martha Norton, 24th
Sept., 1652. He states that his land at Penn, in the county of Bucks,
was _mortgaged_, and mentions his "disobedient son, Henrie Norton;" and
desires his burial-place may be at Richmond, co. Surrey.
The descent of Gregory Norton is not known. There is no evidence of his
connexion with the Rotherfield or Southwick Nortons. His assumption of
the title was not under any claim he could have had, real or imaginary,
connected with the Rotherfield patent; for he uses the title at the same
time with Sir Richard of Rotherfield, whose will is dated 26th July,
1652, and not proved till 5th Oct, 1652, when Sir Gregory was dead; and,
what is singular, the will of Sir Richard was proved by his brother,
John Norton, by the style of _Baronet_, to which he could have had no
pretension, as Sir Richard died without male issue, and there was no
limitation of the patent of 1622 on failure of heirs male of the body of
the grantee.