William and Grace’s fourth son, Hugh, succeeded to the family’s wine estates on the death of his grandfather French Tom in 1780. In 1794, during the revolution in France, many of the leading Bordeaux merchants were thrown into prison and their offices closed. Hugh Barton was arrested, but with the help of his wife Anne Johnson he escaped and fled to Ireland. Hugh was fortunate that his French property was preserved. Since he was not able as an alien to own property in Bordeaux, he arranged with Daniel Guestier to take over and manage the business there, while Hugh managed it in Great Britain. This was done without any act of partnership. Barton placed great trust in Guestier, who could have seized the business as his own. Eventually, when some degree of normality returned, a partnership was drawn up between the two men in 1802. In 1830 both men brought their eldest sons into the partnership, and their descendants still control the firm of Barton and Guestier today. (1)¹