James Morton Sr. (1750 - aft. 1830)

Born 1750 in Kingston, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Elwell) Morton — married after 15 Nov 1772 in Meduncook, Lincoln, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Died after 1830 after age 80 in Friendship, Lincoln, Maine, United States [uncertain]

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

Biography

James Morton was born about 1750 in Kingston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was the son of Ebenezer Sr. and Susannah (Holmes) Morton. He was baptized in Kingston along with his brother, Ebenezer Jr., on May 9, 1756.

Shortly after 1756, Ebenezer Sr, wife Susannah, and family removed from Kingston to Meduncook (now Friendship), Lincoln (now Knox) County, Province (now State) of Maine. Ebenezer Jr. and older brother James would marry and raise their families there.

James Morton married Elizabeth Elwell in Meduncook after November 15, 1772, the date they filed their marriage intention in Lincoln County. Elizabeth was the daughter of Jacob Elwell, who had removed his family to Meduncook from Gloucester. Of note, James Morton was appointed administrator of Jacob Elwell's estate in Lincoln Co. on December 11, 1776, Jacob being Elizabeth's father and father-in-law of James Morton.

James and Elizabeth continued to live in Meduncook (now Friendship). Their children included at least the following: James Jr. b. abt. 1782; Elizabeth b. abt. 1784; Rebecca b. abt. 1786; Hannah b. abt. 1795; and William b. Abt. 1797.

James's household is enumerated in Meduncook's 1790 Fed. Census. His household with some speculated names included the following: 1 male over 16 (self); 3 males under 16 (Capt. James Jr., Cornelius?, Elkanah?); and 4 females, wife Elizabeth and daughters Elizabeth, Rebecca, Unknown female-1. This 1st Fed. Census (of 1790) indicates that by 1790 quite possibly James and Elizabeth had three sons, one of whom is known to be Capt. James Jr. and the other two sons perhaps Cornelius, b. 1780-1789 per Friendship's 1830 Fed. Census; and/or Elkanah, b. after 1776 per Friendship's 1820 Fed. Census. See "Research Notes" below.

Some family trees in another platform present without documentation that James and Elizabeth indeed had only three children by 1790, namely one son and two daughters. The 1790 Fed. Census, however, enumerates James's household with eight (8) members, i.e. 1 male ov. 16; 3 males under 16; and 4 females. Regarding the 3 males under age 16, the 1800 Fed. Census corroborates the 1790 Fed. Census enumerating three males in the age range 16-25.

Per the 1800 Fed. Census for Meduncook Plantation, only two "Morton" households were enumerated that year in Meduncook, i.e. that of James Sr., subject of this profile, and his older brother Ebenezer Jr. In the 1800 Fed. Census year, James Sr.'s household (with name/familial speculations) included: 1 male under 10 (William); 3 males 16-25 (James Jr., Cornelius?, Elkanah?); 1 male 26-44 (Unknown male-1); 1 male ov. 45 (James Sr., HOH); 1 female under 10 (Hannah); 1 female 16-25 (poss. Mary (Ridley), wife of James Jr.); and 1 female ov. 45 (wife Elizabeth). It is apparent that James Sr.'s household may have included two families under one roof, his own and likely one of his child's families.

In the 1810 Fed. Census, James Sr.'s household of 5 included with name/familial speculations: 1 male (10-15, William); 1 male 26-44 (Capt. James Jr.); 1 male ov. 45 (James Sr., HOH); 1 female 16-25 (Hannah); and 1 female over 45 (wife Elizabeth). Per further analysis of the 1800 and 1810 Fed. Censuses and their enumerations of James Morton's household, the female enumerated in the 1800 Fed. Census is not listed in the 1810 Fed. Census. It is known that Capt. James Morton married Mary Redlon (b. abt. 1778 in Newcastle), had issue, and that Mary (Redlon) Morton was an "amiable woman" and died in her young years leaving Capt. James Morton a widower. The female aged 16-25 as enumerated in 1800, but absent in 1810, is an indicator supporting family speculations as above described, notwithstanding further research.

In Friendship's 1820, Fed. Census, James Sr. and James Jr. (suffix "Jun." included in head-of-household nomenclature) are enumerated as two separate households. James Sr.'s household included five members (w/speculated names): 1 male 16-25 (William); 1 male 26-44 (Unknown male-1); 1 male over 45 (James Sr.); 1 female 26-44 (Hannah); and 1 female over 45 (wife Elizabeth).

Censuses support that James Sr. and Elizabeth (Elwell) Morton had at least five (5) children that lived to adulthood, who are either known or speculated to be: Capt. James Jr. Cornelius, Elkanah, Hannah, and William. Further research is needed particularly regarding sons Cornelius and Elkanah.

James Sr. and wife Elizabeth were likely living with their son William per Friendship's1830 Fed. Census. One male age range 70-80 and one female age range 70-80 were enumerated in the 1830 Fed. Census in the household of son William.

Research Notes

1) A household enumerated in Friendship's 1820 Fed. Census is that of Elkanah Morton. This Elkanah could be the son of James Sr., subject of this profile

2) There are two other males known as Elkanah Morton born within this Morton branch. One is the 2nd child and son of Ephraim and Hannah (Faunce) Morton b. 1702; and the other is Elkanah who was born about 1771, and in 1810 is living in Plantation 1, Washington County, District of Maine, in vicinity of the household of his likely cousin Zenas Amasa Morton of Eastport. This Elkanah living in Plantation #1 may be either a son of Joshua and Mercy (Howard) Morton or son of James Sr. (subject of this profile).

3) As brothers Cornelius I and Ebenezer Sr. removed to North Yarmouth and Meduncook, Province of Maine (respectively), their older brother, the elder Elkanah, removed from Kingston further "downeast" to Cornwallis, Kings Co., Nova Scotia where his family and descendants appeared to remain and raise their families.

4) Cornelius Morton, who appeared in the 1830 Fed. Census and b. sometime between 1780 and 1790 is highly likely from this Morton branch and even more likely the son of James Morton, Sr.

Sources

• Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988. Kingston, Church Records, with Births, Marriages, and Deaths, p. 46. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (database on-line, frame #28 of 148). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).] (baptismal (church) record)

• Versailles, Elizabeth Starr (ed. & comp.). section "Elwelliana," in Memorabilia of Levi Henry Elwell, 1854-1916 Williamsburg, MA: 1974, p. 138. (marriage intention, spouse, father in law named, and residence)

• Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records (p. 84), 1760-1800; Lincoln Probate Records. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records, 1760-1800 (database on-line, frame #118 of 455). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data: William D. Patterson, comp. The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1999.] (probate records of Jacob Elwell)

• 1790 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Meduncook Plantation. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #1 of 1). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (household/family data)

• 1800 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Meduncook Plantation. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #1 of 4). 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).] (household/family data)

• 1810 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Friendship. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #3 of 4). 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.] (household/family data)

• 1820 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Friendship. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #1 of 2). 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.] (household/family data)

• 1830 United States Federal Census; Maine, Lincoln, Friendship. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #7 of 8). 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.]

• Ridlon, G. T.. History of the ancient Ryedales and their descendants : in Normandy, Great Britain, Ireland, and America, from 860 to 1884, comprising the genealogy and biography ... of the families of Riddell, Riddle, Ridlon, Ridley, etc., Manchester, N.H.: Ridlon, 1884. [Section "Redlons of Newcastle," p. 625. [Repository: Ancestry.com. History of the ancient Ryedales and their descendants (database on-line, frame #678 of 845). Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Ridlon, G. T.. History of the ancient Ryedales and their descendants : in Normandy, Great Britain, Ireland, and America, from 860 to 1884, comprising the genealogy and biography ... of the families of Riddell, Riddle, Ridlon, Ridley, etc. .... Manchester, N.H.: Ridlon, 1884.] (cites son James Jr.'s marriage to Mary Redlon. He is referred to as "Captain John Morton of Nobleborough")