John Barton was born in about 1731. A resident of Surry County, North Carolina, he helped establish and found Wilkes County, and likely served as a justice of the peace there. In 1779 he performed the marriage ceremony between Anna Allen and William Guest. Barton's son, also named John Barton (1757-1839) was a captain in the same regiment as Guest. He died in Wilkes County, North Carolina in about 1790.