John Alton (d. 1785) was GW’s body servant in Braddock’s campaign and remained in his service until his death in 1785. At different times Alton was overseer of one or another of the Mount Vernon farms. For instance, in 1762 Alton was made overseer first of Dogue Run farm and then of Muddy Hole farm. In 1765 he was moved to Mill farm and in 1770 back to Muddy Hole. At the time of his death in 1785 he was overseer of River farm, having served without interruption, it appears, as an overseer at Mount Vernon for twenty-three years.

Alton's wife's name was Elizabeth. Their daughter, Ann, appears to have married Richard Burnet (later named Richard Burnet Walker), the housekeeper, or butler, at Mount Vernon.