John Morton (abt. 1789 - 1865)

Born about Dec 1789 in Meduncook, Lincoln, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Ridley) Morton — married after 21 Jan 1809 (to 1 Jun 1861) in Nobleboro, Nobleborough Town, Lincoln, Maine

Descendants

Died 13 Jul 1865 at about age 75 in Bremen, Lincoln County, Maine

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rosa Lane [send private message]

Biography

Capt. John Morton was born in Meduncook, now Friendship, Province (now State) of Maine about 1789. His birth year is inferred from death and census records. In the Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, John's age at death was reported as 76 years, 7 months. From John's date of death on July 13, 1865, John's approximate birth date calculates to be about 1789. Per the 1850 Fed. Census, John's age was reported as 62 years old and in the 1860 Fed. Census age 71, both Censuses taken in Bremen, Lincoln, Maine. These enumerations are within close range of John's approximate birth date as presented in this profile. John was the son of Cornellum and Miriam aka "Mariam" (Graffam) Morton.

On January 21, 1809, John filed his intention to marry Sarah "Sally" Ridley (aka Redlon) of Newcastle, Lincoln County, Massachusetts (now State of Maine). He was known as Capt. John Morton and a seafarer, later becoming a farmer in his elder years, leaving seafaring up to his sons.

John and Sarah at first may have lived with family or extended family in the vicinity of Friendship, but certainly by 1822 they had removed to Bristol (a portion of which was later setoff on February 19, 1828 as Bremen), Lincoln County, Province (now State) of Maine. Around this same time, Jonah and Nancy (Clark) De Morse also removed from Friendship to Bremen (specifically Bremen Long Island), likely they coordinated their move. Bremen by boat is about 3.5 miles from Friendship (previously named Meduncook) and about 18 miles by road. Newcastle, Maine (where John's wife resided pre-marriage) is about 10 miles via the Biscay Road, Bremen being within close distance among residences.

John and Sarah had 11 known children including:

1) Elcy b. April 25, 1809

2) George W. b. September 13, 1810

3) James b. July 7, 1812; d. at sea September 14, 1841 at 39 yrs. old.

4) Capt. John Jr. b. May 27, 1814; d. in Havahan on August 2, 1867 at age 52 yrs., 2 mos.

5) Almira A. b. June 22, 1816; d. in Massachusetts

6) Capt. Daniel b. August 22, 1818; m. Sarah Unknown; d. May 13, 1851

7) Susan b. April 20, 1820

8) Capt. Enos Baxter b. March 6, 1822; Mary Pedrick Lane; d. June 7, 1892

9) Capt. Alfred b. March 19, 1824; d. in New Orleans, August 1, 1853 at 29 yrs. old

10) Sarah Ann b. March 23, 1827

11) Jane b. May 20, 1832.

John Morton's household is enumerated in the 1830 Fed. Census for Bremen including the following household members with speculated names: 2 males 5-9 (Enos and Alfred); 3 males 15-19 (James W., John Jr., Daniel); 1 male 40-49 (John, HOH); 1 female under 5 (Sarah Ann); 1 female 5-9 (Susan); 1 female 10-14 (Almira); 1 female 20-29 (Elcy); and 1 female 40-49 (wife Sarah). Jane, the 11th and last child, was born in 1832.

John's household in Bremen's 1840 Fed. Census had 9 members with speculated names as follows: 2 males 15-19 (Enos and Alfred), 2 males 20-29 (John and Daniel), 1 male 50-59 (John, HOH), 1 female 5-9 (Jane), 1 female 10-14 (Sarah Ann), 1 female 15-19 (Susan), 1 female 50-59 (wife Sarah).

In Bremen's 1850 U.S. Federal Census record, John is listed as "Head of Household," age 62, "farmer," and landowner. Members of his household are enumerated as wife Sarah, age 65; son Alfred, age 26; daughter Jane, age 18; and "John Harrington," possibly a grandson, age 12. In the 1860 Fed. Census for Bremen enumerated on June 30 of that year, John (age 71) is head of household with the following members enumerated: Jane Morton (age 28), John Harrington (age 22), and Alfond or Alfred Morton (age 4).

In two of his children's death certificates, namely his of son Enos Baxter Morton, Sr. and his daughter Sarah Ann (Morton) Johnson, John Morton (father) and Sarah Ridley (mother) are listed as their parents including their mother's maiden name.

John passed away in Bremen, Maine on July 13, 1865. John died a widower, Sarah having passed away on June 1, 1860. Sarah had passed away just before the 1860 Federal Census was taken on June 30, 1860, 29 days after her death. Both John and Sarah are buried in the "Clark" section of the Hillside Cemetery in Bremen.

Research Notes

1) John, subject of this profile, and Sarah are buried in same plot as Robert Morton, who died on March 18, 1860 at the age of 48 years and 22 days. Robert may have been a cousin of John Morton, subject of this profile. There is no documentation that Robert was a son of John and Sarah (Ridley), or brother of said John. Robert may have been son of James and Hannah (Cook) Morton and born in Friendship. Of note, Robert married Lucy Stetson and they had a daughter Lucy S., who died at age 21 years 10 months on April 10, 1864. Robert and members of his household are enumerated in the 1860 Fed. Census and include the following members: Robert (age 37, self); Lucy (age 36, wife); Emeline (age 12); Lucy S. (age 7); Almira L. (age 3); Lucy Stetson (age 63, likely mother-in-law); John Stetson (age 24); Ruth A. Stetson (age 22); and Leander McKeen (age 14).

2) A household of "John Morton 2d" is enumerated in Bristol's (Maine) 1810 Fed. Census. His household of 4 with speculated names included 1 male 16-25 (John), 1 female 16-25 (wife Sarah), 1 male under 10 (son George W.), and 1 female under 10 (daughter Elcy). This enumeration is commensurate with the family of John Morton, subject of this profile. Also of interest here is the denotation of the suffix "2d" indicated in the listing of John as head of household in this 1810 Fed. Census. This notation appears to indicate that there was a 1st John Morton listed in the same Census and indicated as such so as to differentiate the two John Morton/s to avoid appearance of duplicate.

3) In the death certificate of Enos Baxter Morton Sr., the birth place of his father, John (subject of this profile) is given as Bremen, Maine. Given the inferred birth date of John being Dec. 1788, the only Morton who was living in Bristol, part of which is now Bremen, in 1790 when John was about 6 mos. old, is John Morton with one son under age 16 (a household of three: 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16, and 1 female).

4) Similar to Research Note #3, in the death record of daughter Sarah A. (Morton) Johnson, the birthplace of her father is noted as "Bristol, Maine," and her mother's maiden name is provided. Bremen was setoff from Bristol about 4 decades later than the birth date of John Morton, subject of this profile.

5) Per the Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, Capt. John Morton, died at sea at age 60 on September 12, 1820. He is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Round Pond, Bristol, Lincoln Co. Maine. Note: Round Pond is a township located adjacent to Bremen. As inferred by his age at death, he was born about 1760. His wife's name was "Anna;" she died at age 87 on January 18, 1859 with an inferred birth year of about 1771. It is uncertain if this Capt. John Morton or Anna is related to John Morton, subject of this profile, and it may be fruitful thereof to explore these ancestors. Capt. John may have been the "John Morton," whose household of three was enumerated in 1790 first Fed. Census (See Research Notes 1 & 2 above). They are noted in some family trees to have married about 1795, which would rule out Capt. John and Anna as potential parents of John Morton, subject of this profile. A John Morton and Anna Bryant were married on January 12, 1792, their intention filed in Bristol on November 14, 1791. They were both described as being of Bristol.

6) On August 14, 1814, at age 25, a John Morton (likely not the subject of this profile), born in Bristol and noted as a "blacksmith," enlisted in the U.S. Army from Nobleboro, Maine, during the War of 1812. He entered on May 20, 1814 and was a Private in the U.S. Army 45th Infantry during a period of "War." He served under two Captains including Smith Elkin's Company, "Book 1814-1815," and Captain Henry Snow's. He "consolidated with Co. at Plattsburgh, January 30, 1815." During his service, military records describe his being hospitalized twice at Bath, Maine.

Sources

• 1800 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Bristol. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #15 of 20). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Second Census of the United States, 1800: Population Schedules, Washington County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio; and Population Census, 1803: Washington County, Ohio. NARA microfilm publication M1804 (1 roll).] (family/household data)

• 1810 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Bristol. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (family/household data)

• 1820 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Bristol. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #2 of 10). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (family/household data)

• 1830 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Bremen. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #1 of 10). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (household/family data)

• 1840 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Bremen. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #7 of 14). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (household/family data)

• 1850 United States Federal Census for John Morton, Maine, Lincoln, Bremen, Enumerated by the Assistant Marshal on August 16, 1850. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame 6 of 22). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (family details)

• 1860 United States Federal Census for John Morton, Maine, Lincoln, Bremen; Enumerated by John A. Chapman on June 30, 1860. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #12 of 23). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.] (family household details)

• Dodge, Christine Huston (ed.). Vital Records of Old Bristol and Nobleboro in the County of Lincoln, Maine Including Towns of Bremen, Damariscotta, South Bristol, and the Plantation of Monhegan to the Year 1892, pub. by the Maine Historical Society, 1947, Volume II, p. 207. (marriage intention); and Volume I, pp. 515-522 (children): https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/394146-vital-records-of-old-bristol-and-nobleboro-in-the-county-of-lincoln-maine-including-the-present-towns-of-bremen-damariscotta-south-bristol-and-the-plantation-of-monhegan-vol-2?viewer=1&offset=0#page=225&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q= AND. https://www.gengophers.com/book.html#/book/26022?page=1

• Maine, Death Records, 1761-1922 for John Morton, Knox County, to 1802. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Maine, Death Records, 1761-1922 (database on-line, Frame #111 of 136). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Maine Death Records, 1761-1922. Augusta, Maine: Maine State Archives. Maine Death Records, 1761-1922, Maine State Archives, Augusta, Maine, USA.] ("Record of A Death" form, completed for child/Enos B. (Sr.), includes date of death, age, occupation, and mother & father's names)

• Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915. Pre-1903, 1898. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915 (database on-line, frame #1176 of 2306). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.] (Death record for child Sarah A., includes mother's and father's names including mother's maiden name)

• Maine, U.S., Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, 1780-1980. Morse, Caroline M. to Moulton, Hannah E. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Maine, U.S., Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, 1780-1980 (database on-line, frame #837 of 1530). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2020. Original data: Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1980. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: FamilySearch, 2016.]

• U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914, 1798, May 17, 1815, hand-scribed "Records of Men Enlisted in the U.S. Army Prior To The Peace Establishment, May 17, 1815," p. 96. [Ancestry.com. U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

• Tribal Pages, Maine Family Connections--Family Tree, Created by Glenn Simmons, Maintained by Fred Simmons, for John Morton: https://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=glenn510&view=6&pid=94103&ver=2916

• My Heritage: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40001-450591996/john-morton-in-familysearch-family-tree

• U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137386500/john-morton