Early life
He was born on April 9,1828,in North Adams,Massachusetts. Named Sebre Winchester Britton,Jr.,in early manhood he changed his name. [1] His mother died when he was very young,and his father removed with him to Troy,New York when Winchester was 10 years of age. After receiving a preparatory education at the Clinton Liberal Institute,in Clinton,Oneida County,New York,and the Troy Conference Academy,in Poultney,Vermont,Britton went to Union College,from which he graduated with honors. While in college he roomed,part of the time,with future President Chester A. Arthur. Soon after leaving college,Britton read law for a while in the offices of John Van Buren,the second son of President Martin Van Buren.
Personal life
Soon after returning to New York in 1853,Britton married Sarah Nelson Parker,daughter of William Ward Parker and Elizabeth,his wife. However,the following year,he was left a widower with an infant son,Clarence,who died soon afterward. In December 1855,he married Caroline Amelia Parker,sister of his former wife,by whom he had 11 children.
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