Robert Morton (abt. 1700 - 1778)

Born about 1700 in York Co., PA

Husband of Susannah (Morrison) Morton — married 14 Jul 1731 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died Sep 1778 at about age 78 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

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Biography

Robert was born about 1700-1707.

Robert Morton married Susannah Morrison July 14, 1731 at the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the heading for the section where this marriage is included indicates that the records are from the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia 1702-1745; that they had a license; and that the dates are given in old style month, day and year which indicate that the month of their marriage should be Sept.)^[1]

The August 1746 Session of the Lancaster Court heard a petition from some 23 early settlers including Robert Morton who signed a petition asking for the original larger Lower Hellam township (the area known as York County was called Hellam and Lower Hellam) which had been subsequently divided into Chanceford and Fawn townships to have its lines redrawn. The previous petition had caused the township of Chanceford to consist of only about 18-20 poor families living 4-5 miles apart making it difficult for fair representation and maintenance of the township. The petition was considered during the Fall Session of the Lancaster Court in 1747 and approved. [Original Pennsylvania Land Records, Vol. 8: The Chanceford Townships, Chanceford and Lower Chanceford Townships, York County, Pennsylvania; by Neal Otto Hively; 1997] The name Chanceford is a compound word meaning a chance ford. The early Scothch-Irish settlers of this area called their township Chanceford and the lower section Fawn instead of Lower Hallam. Chanceford and Lower Chanceford were separated by the York County court on February 15, 1806.^[2]

Robert Morton and five other men were appointed during the Lancaster Courts May Sessions, 1749 to view and lay out a road from Nelson's Ferry (later McCalls's Ferry) to the town of York in response to a petition from settlers in the area. The men's report was made and confirmed at the next session of the Lancaster Court. It was the last of the roads laid out by authority of the Lancaster Court as the County of York was formed shortly thereafter.^[3]

During the August 1754 Session of the York Court a petition was presented for a road to run from Robert Morton's plantation in Chanceford Township toward Rock Run as far as the temporary Line with Maryland. Six names were presented including Robert Morton's to lay out the road. A course was planned and distances were measured. A report written and signed by the men and witnessed on 22 November 1754 was heard at the January 1755 Session of the Court and approved.^[4][5]

During our colonial history the poor of each township were maintained by the people of the district, and "overseers of the poor," one for each township, were appointed by the court justices. On March 26, 1750 at the court of private sessions of the peace held at York, for York County, Robert Morton was appointed as one of two overseers of the poor for Chanceford.^[6]

Land records held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania indicate that Robert Morton lived in the Chanceford and Lower Chanceford township area. A step in the process for an interested prospective settler to acquire land from the Proprietors of Pennsylvania was to apply for a Warrant, which was an official order for the county Deputy Surveyor to initiate a survey of a described tract of land. One must remember that many settlers, particularly poor immigrants, had "squatted" on the land for many years before attempting to purchase the tract. The warrant document designated the county, township, the person for whom the warrant was issued, the approximate acreage, and the date of issue. The official Lancaster Warrant register (M-511) records a Warrant listed on May 21, 1748 for 50 acres to Robert Morton. the survey recorded October 13, 1752 (H-251) shows 187.80 acres to Robert Morton. There was no return on the Patent. The official York Warrant Register (R-70, M-135) records a Warrant listed on September 6, 1762 for 150 acres of land for Robert Morton. Additionally the Warrant lists on September 20, 1762 for 100 acres for Henry Robinson. We know that Robert Morton and his family moved to Mecklenburg Co. NC about this time which would mean he is having the survey done in preparation to sell the land. The survey done on December 18, 1766 (C-179-pg 23) was conducted for Richard McNulty and consisted of the tract named "Morton's Run". On July 3, 1772 a Patent was issued for 307.94 acres to Benjamin Pedan (AA-13-pg 182). Robert also applied for a Warrant survey (York warrant Register M-137) on an additional 150 acres of land on the same September 6, 1762. That survey is recorded (C-132-pg 229,231) with two dates: October 12, 1764 to Robert Morton and November 29, 1766 112.59 acres to Robert Morton called "Morton's Fancy". The patent for this land was given to John Hooper on December 2, 1809 (H-1-pg 679).^[7]

ROBERT MORTON--his will. Probated in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, July 30, 1779 (Will Book "B" p. 58) Names his wife SUSANNAH MORTON and Oldest son SAMUEL MORTON. Third son JACOB MORTON. Oldest daughter MARGARET MORTON who married a McKINLEY. Second daughter SUSANNAH MORTON, the wife of a McCALL. Daughter AGNES MORTON married a HOUSTON. Witnesses David Wilson, John (?)Branam and Hezekiah Alexander. Executors: Hezekiah Alexander and James Bradshaw.^[8]

Xerox copy of the original will found in the Archives and Records Section of the North Carolina State Archives reads as follows: "In the Name of God Amen I Robert Morton of the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina cordwinder being in my ordinary health of body and of sound mind and memory thanks be to God therefor calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a desent manner at the discretion of my executors and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the same in the follwing manner and form viz. I give and bequeath unto Susanna Morton my lawfull marryed wife one third part of all my land for and during her natural life and also one third part of all my personal estate. Item I give and bequeath unto Sammuel Morton my eldest son all that plantation tract or parcel of land on which I now live to him his heirs and assigns forever at and after his mothers death provided that he the said Sammuel Morton pay to my executors the sum of fifty pounds proct.' money for the use of my other legatees. Item I give and bequeath unto Jacob Morton my third son the sum of five pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto Margret McKinly my eldest daughter the sum of ten pounds for the use and behoof of her daughter Susanna. Item I give and bequeath unto Susanna McCall my second daughter the sum of five pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto Agness Houston the sum of five pounds. It is farther my will and pleasure that after my just debts and these above mentioned legacies are paid that all the remainder of my estate be equally divided among all my children. And I do hereby constitute and appoint Hez. Alexander and James Bradshaw to be my sole executors of this my last will and testament and do hereby utterly disallow and evoke and disanul all and every other former testaments wills legacies and executors by me in any wise named willed or bequeathed before ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said Robert Morton have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of July 1778. Robert Morton (with seal) Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Robert Morton as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names. David Wilson, John Brabham, Hez. Alexander [n.b. Hezekiah Alexander was one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, this family along many others seem to coexist and move together from PA (Chester, Lancaster and York counties) into MD and then into NC including Cornelius Dysart, MD from Augusta, GA who I believe to be connected to my line of Dysarts coming out of Chester Co., PA]^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Record of Pennsylvania Marriages Prior to 1810, Vol. 2. Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series. Harrisburg, PA; Clarence M. Busch, State Printer of Pennsylvania. 1895. Page 51.
2. ↑ Prowell, George. History of York County, Pennsylvania. J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago. 1907.
3. ↑ Prowell, George. History of York County, Pennsylvania. J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago. 1907.
4. ↑ Docket No. 4, page 26. County of York, Original Clerk of Courts Docket, Historical Annex, York, PA.
5. ↑ Original Pennsylvania Land Records, Vol. 8: The Chanceford Townships, Chanceford and Lower Chanceford Townships, York County, Pennsylvania; by Neal Otto Hively. 1997.
6. ↑ Prowell, George. History of York County, Pennsylvania. J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago. 1907.
7. ↑ Original Pennsylvania Land Records, Vol. 8: The Chanceford Townships, Chanceford and Lower Chanceford Townships, York County, Pennsylvania; by Neal Otto Hively. 1997.
8. ↑ Ray, Worth S. The Mecklenburg Signers and Their Neighbors. Baltimore, MD; Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1966. page 325.
9. ↑ Last Will and Testament of Robert Morton (xerox copy of the original. Mecklenburg Co., NC; written July 30, 1778; proved Sept-Oct 1778.

• Docket No. 4, page 26. County of York, Original Clerk of Courts Docket, Historical Annex, York, PA.
• Last Will and Testament of Robert Morton (xerox copy of the original. Mecklenburg Co., NC; written July 30, 1778; proved Sept-Oct 1778.
• Original Pennsylvania Land Records, Vol. 8: The Chanceford Townships, Chanceford and Lower Chanceford Townships, York County, Pennsylvania; by Neal Otto Hively. 1997.
• Prowell, George. History of York County, Pennsylvania. J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago. 1907.
• Ray, Worth S. The Mecklenburg Signers and Their Neighbors. Baltimore, MD; Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1966. page 325.
• Record of Pennsylvania Marriages Prior to 1810, Vol. 2. Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series. Harrisburg, PA; Clarence M. Busch, State Printer of Pennsylvania. 1895. Page 51.