Gad Waite Morton Sr. (1770 - bef. 1850)

Born 24 May 1770 in Athol, Worcester, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before Jun 1850 before age 80 in Mexico, Oswego, New York, United States

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Biography

Gad Waite Morton, Sr. was born on 24 May 1770 in Athol, Province of Massachusetts Bay (now known as Athol, Worchester, Massachusetts). He was the son of Martin Morton and Jerusha Twitchell. His name was a tribute to his infant brother who had passed away just two months prior to his birth. Both children were named after their father's maternal uncle, Gad Waite.

Gad's parents moved to Orwell, Addison (then Rutland County), Vermont during his adolescence, shortly after the first permanent settlement was created in 1783.^[1] It is not known how long Gad remained in Orwell. Unlike his father and some of his siblings, Gad has not been located in the 1790 or the 1800 United States Census.

Gad married Sarah (Sally) Aldrich c. 1798. As a child, Sally had lived in Granville, New York; less than 30 miles away from Orwell, Vermont. Soon after their marriage, Gad and Sarah moved to Royal Township Number Seven, Grenville, Upper Canada (now known as Augusta, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada).^[2] This was an area that had been set off for Loyalists in 1784.^[3] Although Gad's political sentiments are not known, it is quite possible that he had British sympathies, given his decision to move to Upper Canada at this time. It is also known that his brother-in-laws served in the British Army while they lived in Canada. Regardless, Gad's stay in Upper Canada did not last more than a few years.

About 1806, Gad & Sally left their home in Upper Canada, for the wilderness of Mexico, New York, where several of Gad's brother's had already settled. The 1810 United States Census shows Gad & Sally living nearby his brothers, John and Bailey Bishop Morton.^[4] At the time of this enumeration, Oswego County had not yet been formed from Oneida County. Nevertheless, it is clear that Gad & Sally were living in Mexico, New York based upon the names of the families that lived nearby. Gad's father-in-law and several of his wife's siblings would follow them to Mexico, New York, before ultimately heading west to Michigan. Gad Waite Morton Sr. would remain in Mexico for the rest of his life.

On 16 Sep 1834, Gad & Sally bought land on Lot 12 in Mexico, New York from Oliver Ormsby. They sold this land to their son, Gad Morton Jr. in 1836.^[5]

Census Enumerations

1810 Oneida County, New York Oswego County had not yet been formed from Oneida County by this point in time, but is clear (based upon neighboring families) that Gad and Sally Morton lived in Mexico by this point in time. Their household consisted of themselves (age 26-44); 1 female (age 10-15); 3 males (under 10) and 2 females (under 10).^[6]

1820 Mexico, Oswego, New York Gad and Sally continued to live in Mexico, New York. Their household consisted of Gad Morton, Sr. (over 45); Sally (age 26-44); 1 male (age 19-25); 1 female (age 16-25); 1 male (age 16-18); 1 male and 1 female (age 10-15); and 1 male and 2 females (under 10 years).^[7]

1830 Mexico, Oswego, New York Gad Sr. and Sally's household consisted of themselves (age 50-59); 1 male (age 15-20) and 2 female (age 15-20).^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Bottum, Roswell, History of the Town of Orwell, 1881. Digital Images; Rootsweb. Accessed 2/2/22. Orwell, Vermont History
2. ↑ Ontario and Nova Scotia, Census, 1800-1842; 1800 Augusta, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada; Ancestry.com; 2005 1800 Augusta Tax Assessment
3. ↑ Augusta, Ontario. Digital Images; Wikipedia. Accessed 2/2/22 Augusta, Canada History
4. ↑ 1810 United States Census; G Morton, Oneida County, New York, United States; page number 479, line number 15. Citing NARA microfilm publication M252, Roll 33; Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Digital Images; Family Search. Image 104 of 109. Accessed 2/2/22.1810 Mexico, New York
5. ↑ United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975, Oswego County Grantor index, surnames I-Z, 1791-1861, page 411, entry V. Digital Images; Family Search. Image 189 of 701. Accessed 2/2/22. 1836 Land Sale
6. ↑ 1810 United States Census; G Morton, Oneida County, New York, United States; page number 479, line number 15. Citing NARA microfilm publication M252, Roll 33; Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Digital Images; Family Search. Image 104 of 109. Accessed 2/2/22.1810 US Census
7. ↑ United States Census, 1820. Mexico, Oswego, New York, United States. Gad W. Morton; page 28. Citing NARA digital publication series M33. Records of the Bureau of the Census, National Archives and Records Administration. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 1 of 9. Accessed 23 Feb 2023. 1820 US Census
8. ↑ 1830 United States Census. Mexico, Oswego, New York, United States. Gad Morton; page 244. Citing NARA digital publication series M19. Records of the Bureau of the Census, National Archives and Records Administration. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 476 of 618. Accessed 23 Feb 2023. 1830 US Census