Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Old Muhlenberg map

Family Group Records M

Descendants of Sir William Morton

Generation 1

SIR WILLIAM MORTON

Born: 1610 England
Married: Unknown

In early colonial times and long before the creation of the District of Columbia in 1790, the Morton's owned large tracts of land upon which the city of Washington now stands. The District of Columbia was cut off in 1790 from two Maryland counties, Prince George and Montgomery, and part of Virginia. King Charles II granted a large tract of land in the Northern Neck of Virginia to some of his followers, among them Sir William Morton. Sir William sent to America a son who represented his fathers interests and became the founder of one line of the Morton families in America. (See Calendar State Papers, Charles II, Colonial Series, Lenox Library, NYC.)

Child:

  1. John Morton Sr. christened 18 February 1655 Durham, England; will probated 2 May 1722 Richmond Co., Virginia.

Generation 2

JOHN MORTON SR.

Born: 1655 Kent Co., England
Christened: 18 February 1655 Durham, England
Will probated: 2 May 1722 Richmond Co., Virginia

Spouse: Deborah “Joanne” Sydenham Hughes (widow of John Hughes)
Born: 1655 Kent Co., England

In 1694, one, John Morton is found living in Northumberland Co., Virginia and in that year bought 157 acres of land in Richmond County from James Orchard. Presumably he then moved to Richmond County and 27 years later made his will mentioning his sons by name. John & William were cut off with 4 shillings each. One year later he died, his will being proved May 2, 1722.

Children:

  1. John Morton Jr., born 1689 Virginia; married Mary Jordon Mountjoy born 1693
  2. James Morton, born 1692 Richmond Co., Virginia; died 1760 Lunenburg Parish, Richmond Co., Virginia; married Elizabeth Snead
    Children:
    • Charles Morton
    • Snead Morton
    • Thomas Morton
  3. William Morton, born 1694 Richmond Co., Virginia; will probated 28 July 1747 Orange Co., Virginia; married Ann Batchelder, daughter of Thomas Batchelder & Mary Quisenberry, about 1719 Virginia. She was born about 1698 Virginia & died 1748 Orange Co., Virginia.
    Children:
    • Sarah Sneed Morton, born 1720 Orange Co., Virginia; died 1740; married John Christopher, son of Nicholas Christopher & Ann C. Hughes. John was born 1714 Orange Co., Virginia & died 1740.
    • Elizabeth Morton, born 1721 Orange Co., Virginia; married Thomas Newman, son of Alexander Newman & Penelope Wilson. Thomas was born 1715 Lancaster Co., Virginia & died about 1788 Culpeper Co., Virginia.
    • Elijah Morton, born 1722 Richmond Co., Virginia; married Ann Elizabeth Hawkins, daughter of Benjamin Hawkins & Sarah Willis, about 1745
    • George Morton, born 1723 Richmond Co., Virginia; died 1744 Virginia; married Margaret Strother Orange Co., Virginia
    • Jeremiah Morton, born 1724 Richmond Co., Virginia; died 1757; married Sarah Street about 1743. She was born about 1716-18 & died in Orange Co., Virginia.
    • Jane Morton (twin), born 1726 Orange Co., Virginia; died Culpeper Co., Virginia; died about 1790; married Andrew Bourne, son of John Bourne II & Elizabeth Johnson. Andrew was born 1720 Fredricksburg, Essex Co., Virginia & died 17 January 1790 Culpeper Co., Virginia.
    • Ann Morton (twin), born 1726 Orange Co., Virginia; married Henry Bourne, son of John Bourne II & Elizabeth Johnson, 3 March 1745 Virginia. Henry was born 1719 Essex Co., Virginia & died 15 October 1787 Orange Co., Virginia.
    • John Morton, born 1728 Orange Co., Virginia; died 12 September 1810 Mortsonville, Woodford Co., Kentucky; married Sarah Hawkins, daughter of Benjamin Hawkins & Sarah Willis, about 1749. Sarah was born about 1730 Orange Co., Virginia & died 1826 Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Kentucky.
    • Mary Morton, born 1734 Orange Co., Virginia; married 1) John Davis; married 2) William Minor, born 1733 Orange Co., Virginia.
  4. Thomas Morton, born about 1695 Richmond Co., Virginia; died February 1729-30 Henrico Co., Virginia; married Elizabeth Woodson, daughter of Richard Woodson & Ann Smith, 1718 Virginia. Elizabeth was born 1699 & 20 September 1740.
    Children:
    • Ann Morton, born 1718 Henrico Co., Virginia
    • Richard Morton, born 1721 Henrico Co., Virginial died 27 February 1815 Virginia; married Judith Quin, daughter of John Quin & Susanna Micheaux, March 1740 in Clark Co., Kentucky
    • Thomas Morton, born 1726 Henrico Co., Virginia
    • Judith Morton, born 1727 Charlotte Co., Virginia
  5. Mary Morton
  6. Richard Morton, born Richmond Co., Virginia; died 1732 Westmoreland Co., Virginia; married Mercy Sanford, daughter of Robert Sanford Sr.

Generation 3

CAPT. JOHN MORTON JR.

Born: 1684 King George Co., Virginia
Married 7 March 1713
Died: 1727-28 Virginia

Spouse: Mary Mountjoy Jordan
Born: about 1693 Richmond Co., Virginia
Father: Alvin Mountjoy (died 1700 Virginia)
Mother: Mary Lane (daughter of William Lane)

Captain John Morton Jr. lived in Richmond Co., Virginia in 1713. Virginia records show John Morton of Richmond County qualifying as Lieutenant of Militia on October 2, 1713, and as Richmond County Sub-Sheriff on December 6, 1716. He was a man of affairs, constantly buying land, and a man of energy.

John Morton died without a will as proved by his wife in court October 2, 1728. She later married William Jordon, who must have had a strong personality and been highly esteemed by his kinsman, as his name has been handed down the Morton line: There have been many William Jordon Mortons.

Children:

  1. Joseph Morton, born 1715 James City, Virginia; died 1759 James City, Virginia; married 1) Frances Colston, daughter of William Colston of King George Co., Virginia, & Mary Meriweather, 1738 James City, Virginia. Frances was born about 1722 in Virginia. Married 2) Margaret Elizabeth Beckwith, daughter of Sir Marmaduke Beckwith & Elizabeth Brockenbrough, 1740 Chesterfield, Virginia. Margaret was born 29 July 1725.
  2. George Morton, born 17 August 1717 Richmond, Virginia; died 1765 King George Co., Virginia; married Lucy Baylor 23 October 1742 Virginia. Lucy was born about 1721 & died 1765.
    Child:
    • Frances Morton married Jesse Payne, son of George Payne & Judith Burton. Jesse died 15 April 1771.
  3. Mary Morton, born 22 March 1719 Richmond, Virginia; married Jonathan Sydenham, born about 1715 London, England
  4. Frances Morton, born about 1720 Richmond, Virginia; died 1760 Virginia; married 1) Nicholas Meriweather, son of David Meriweather & Ann Holmes, 1740. Nicholas was born 11 December 1719 Louisa Co., Virginia & died 3 May 1758. Married 2) Dr. Samuel Pryor, son of Samuel Pryor & Mary Prudence Thornton, 27 August 1760 Goochland Co., Virginia. Dr. Pryor was born 1725 in Gloucester Co., Virginia & died 1766 in Louisa Co., Virginia.

Generation 4

JOSEPH MORTON

Born: about 1715
Married: 1) 1738
Married: 2) Chesterfield Co., Virginia
Died: 1759 in James City, Virginia.

At his death, Joseph held 3,450 acres.

Spouse 1): Frances Colston
Born: 1717
Father: William Colston of King George Co., Virginia, born 1680
Mother: Mary Meriweather born 1704 Bathurst, Virginia
Frances Colston Morton inherited a large estate from her parents.

Spouse 2): Margaret Elizabeth Beckwith
Born: 27 July 1725 Richmond Co., Virginia
Father: Sir Marmaduke Beckwith, Baronet of Aldorough, Yorkshire, England, born 1686
Mother: Elizabeth Brockenbrough, daughter of William Brockenbrough (who died in Richmond Co., Virginia 22 January 1699) & Mary Tarpley

Children of Joseph Morton & Frances Colston:

  1. Frances Morton, born about 1742; married James Hubbard of Williamsburg, Virginia. James, born 1738 in York Co., Virginia, was the son of Matthew Hubbard (born 1665 York Co., Virginia) & Jane Clark (born about 1710). He attended William & Mary College 1756 and later practiced law in Williamsburg. He died 1789 Sussex Co., Virginia.
    Children:
    • Morton Hubbard, born about 1760
    • James Hubbard, born 12 February 1765
    • Matthew Hubbard, born 25 December 1766
    • Meriwether Hibbard, born about 1768
    • Frances Hubbard, born about 1770
    • Elizabeth Hubbard, born about 1772 Williamsburg, James City, Virginia
    • Charlotte Hubbard, born about 1774
    • Elizabeth “Betty” McCarty Morton, born 9 February 1746 Westmoreland, Virginia; died 13 September 1807; married Colonel George Payne, son of George Payne & Judith Burton, 31 December 1765 James City, Virginia. Col. George was born 9 July 1743 at “Bellfield” & died 31 May 1831.

Children of Joseph Morton & Margaret E. Beckwith:

  1. William Jordon Morton Sr., born 15 November 1754 Richmond, Virginia; died 1 March 1825 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Martha Pryor, daughter of William Pryor & Sarah “Sallie” Wood, 16 March 1779 Goochland Co., Virginia. Martha was born 6 April 1771 & died 15 March 1800, following childbirth.
  2. Lucy Butler Morton, born 1755 Goochland Co., Virginia; married David Clarkson 1780 Albemarle Co., Virginia. David Clarkson was born 1767 in Albemarle Co., Virginia. He received a part of his father's place at the mouth of Priddy's Creek, where he died early.
    Children:
    • Joseph Morton Clarkson, born 1788 Albemarle Co., Virginia; died Alabama.
    • Mary Clarkson, born about 1795; married James Collins 1 September 1823 Albemarle Co., Virginia. James was born about 1792.
    • Nancy Morton Clarkson, born about 1796 Albermarle Co., Virginia; married Francis Catterton 2 October 1815 Albermarle Co., Virginia. Francis was born about 1795 Virginia.
    • Elizabeth B. Clarkson, born 25 June 1798 Virginia; died 19 December 1882 Albemarle Co., Virginia; married Richard Durrett Simms, son of James Simms & Mildred Durrett, 1815 Virginia. Richard was born 25 November 1788 & died 15 May 1862 Albemarle Co., Virginia
  3. Margaret Sydenham Morton, born 30 April 1756 Richmond Co., Virginia; died 23 May 1840 Fluvanna Co., Virginia; married Robert Burton Payne, son of George Payne & Judith Burton, 22 December 1773 Goochland Co., Virginia. Robert was born 9 February 1745 Virginia & died 13 September 1807.
    Children:
    • Elizabeth “Betsy” Burton Payne, born 1774
    • Lucy Morton Payne, born 1775
    • Richard Beckwith Payne, born 9 September 1776 Goochland Co., Virginia; died 8 September 1858 Fluvanna Co., Virginia; married Judith Anderson, daughter of George Dabney Anderson & Susannah Mims, 12 January 1795 Fluvanna Co., Virginia. Judith was born 1773 & died 18 June 1862 Fluvanna Co., Virginia.
    • Joseph Payne
    • Anne Payne
    • Molly Jordan Payne, born 21 August 1780 Goochland Co., Virginia
    • Robert Burton Payne, born 3 July 1781 Goochland Co., Virginia
    • Margaret Sydenham Payne, born 1789; married Richard Sclater 25 October 1803 Fluvanna Co., Virginia. Richard was born 23 February 1779 Fluvanna Co., Virginia.
  4. Mary Molly Beckwith Morton, born 1758; married Abraham Venable, son of James H. Venable & Judith Morton, 4 August 1783. Abraham was born born 1757 in Charlotte, Virginia & died Lexington, Kentucky.
  5. Infant son Morton, not christened when father Joseph wrote his will in 1758, presumably died before 1st birthday.

Joseph Morton named daughter Betty McCarty for good friend Captain Daniel McCarty & daughter Lucy Butler for good friend Lawrence Butler. Recorded in the Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1756-58 for James City by name is Joseph Morton. Recorded in 1744 are found Joseph Morton & brother George.

Generation 5

WILLIAM JORDAN MORTON SR.

Born: 17 November 1754 Westmorland Co., Virginia
Married: 16 March 1779 St. James Northam Parish, Goochland Co., Virginia
Died: 3 January 1825 Logan Co., Kentucky
Buried: at “Snowden,” his home on the Gasper River, Logan Co., Kentucky

William Jordan Morton's father died when he was 5 years of age, at which time he was taken to Essex Co., Virginia and reared by his uncles Marmaduke Beckwith & Sir Jonathan Beckwith.

Spouse: Martha Pryor
Born: 6 April 1761 on a farm in Louisa Co., Virginia
Died: 15 March 1800, a few hours after birth of daughter Martha
Father: Col. William Pryor (Virginia Militia & Sheriff of Goochland Co., Virginia)
Mother: Sarah Wood (born 4 December 1726)

Children:

  1. Peter Morton, born 16 December 1779 Goochland Co., Virginia; died before 8 December 1855 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Sarah Maxwell 28 September 1844 Logan Co., Kentucky. Sarah was born about 1800 in Tennessee.
  2. Sarah Morton, born 10 November 1781 Goochland Co., Virginia; died in childbirth 5 May 1824 Kentucky; married Martin Robertson, son of William Robertson & Anne Young, 6 February 1798 Louisa Co., Virginia. Martin was born 31 March 1775 Edinburgh, Scotland & died 2 April 1849 Cass, Illinois.
    Children:
    • Anna Robertson, born October 1798 Virginia; died 30 November 1859 Bath, Mason Co., Illinois; married Isaac Mitchell Jr. 10 December 1840 Morgan Co., Illinois. Isaac was born 1 January 1771 in Virginia.
    • William Beckwith Robertson, born 1800 Virignia; died 23 March 1876 Pleasant Plains, Illinois. He was a surgeon in the Union Army. He married 1) Margaret Fletcher 1829 Jessamine Co., Kentucky; 2) a Miss Alexander 1835 Kentucky; 3) Ann Davis Browning 1852 Kentucky. Ann D. Browning was born 8 November 1821 Harrison Co., Kentucky.
    • Alexander Robertson, born 1802 Virginia & buried Cass, Illinois. He was a Doctor of Medicine.
    • Martha Pryor Robertson, born 1804 Virginia; died 1886; married Emanuel Ransom Metcalf 20 November Morgan Co., Illinois. Emanuel was born 1810 in Illinois.
    • Mary Robertson, born 1806 Virginia; died after 1878; married Peter Alfred Lowrence 13 March 1832 Morgan Co., Illinois. Peter was born 1 June 1801 in North Carolina.
    • Charles Henry Robertson, born 1808 Virginia; died after 1870. Charles was a Doctor of Medicine. He married Evelina S.B. MD(??)
    • James P. Robertson, born 29 November 1809 Virginia; died after 1880 Oregon. James was a Farmer. He married Mary Ann Riggs 1 November 1835 Schuyler, Illinois. Mary was born 10 December 1815 Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
    • Joseph Robertson, born 1811 Virginia. He was a Lawyer & lived in Iowa.
    • Isabel Robertson, born 1814 Virginia & died in childhood.
    • Eliza Robertson, born 4 March 1817 Virginia; died 15 October 1853 Cass, Illinois; married Vincent G. Smith 13 November 1834 Morgan Co., Illinois. Vincent was born 15 September 1806 in Tennessee.
    • Frances Robertson, born 1819 Virginia; married Martin G. Tredway 9 Mary 1843 Morgan Co., Illinois. Martin was born 5 October 1816.
    • Colin Morton Robertson, born 10 June 1821 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 14 June 1913 Tallula, Illinois. He was a Physician & a Judge. He married Salina Elizabeth Harris 20 May 1847 Petersburg, Illinois. Saline was born 28 December 1825 in Tennessee.
    • Lucy Robertson, born 1823 Kentucky; died 1849 Illinois
  3. Rebecca Morton, born 21 May 1783 Goochland Co., Virginia; died May 1838 “Snowden” Logan Co., Kentucky. Rebecca remained unmarried. “In old age, large & fleshy; a shouting Methodist; Godly & religious; Could make the welkin ring.”
  4. Frances “Fannie” Hubbard Morton, born 9 March 1785 Goochland Co., Virginia; died 21 May 1834. Frances remained unmarried. “A religious woman and faithful member of the Methodist Church.”
  5. William Jordon Morton Jr., born 9 September 1786 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 16 March 1860 Logan Co., Kentucky; married 1) Rebecca Haden 2 December 1805 in Virginia. Rebecca was born 23 January 1793 Goochland Co., Virginia & died 25 January 1860 Logan Co., Kentucky. Married 2) Louisa Clinton McCormick 10 March 1825 Kentucky. Louisa was born 15 April 1801 Lincoln Co., Kentucky & died 1830 Logan Co., Kentucky. Married 3) Clarissa Harlow McCormick (Widow) 12 November 1832 Kentucky. Clarissa was born 16 November 1802 in Kentucky & died 5 April 1883.
  6. Margaret Beckwith Morton, born 31 March 1788 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 20 August 1875 Russellville, Logan Co., Kentucky. “She was a beautiful woman, the most beautiful member of the family.” Died in home of her brother.
  7. Joseph Morton, born 28 February 1790 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 27 August 1886 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Louisa Ann Davidson 2 September 1817 Kentucky. Louisa was born 24 August 1803 Frederick Co., Virginia & died 10 February 1898 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    Children:
    • Martha P. Morton, born 5 October 1820 Kentucky; died 31 May 1893; Occupation: Listed as a Seamstress in the 1860 Census.
    • Marmaduke Beckwith Morton, born 27 July 1824 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 24 November 1845.
    • Harriet Smith Morton, born 1 September 1827 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Andrew Jackson Caldwell, born 1818 Hardin Co., Kentucky.
    • Lancelot Minor Morton, born 20 October 1830 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 15 August 1852
    • James H. Morton, born 18 November 1833 Logan Co., Kentucky; Occupation: Listed as a “C.P. Minister” in the 1860 Census; married Josephine Neal
    • Mary Frances Morton, born 24 April 1836 Logan Co., Kentucky; Occupation: Listed as a Seamstress in the 1860 Census; married an unknown Ellis.
    • Joseph Jordan Morton, born 1 July 1841 Logan Co., Kentucky; Occupation: Listed as a Farm Laborer in the 1860 Census.
    • Louisa Virginia Morton, born 1 February 1844 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 28 October 1930 Logan Co., Kentucky; Occupation: Listed as a Seamstress in the 1860 Census.
    • Jonathon Henry Morton, born 27 November 1846 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Fannie Courts
  8. John Henry Morton, born 21 January 1792 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 21 December 1838 Logan Co., Kentucky; married 1) Elizabeth J. Rollins 26 January 1818 Logan Co., Kentucky. Elizabeth was born 1795 in Virginia. Married 2) Catherine Miller Spencer April 1830.
    Child of John H. Morton & Elizabeth J. Rollins:
    • Martha Elizabeth Morton
    Child of John H. Morton & Catherine M. Spencer:
    • John Henry Morton Jr., born Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky.
  9. Elizabeth “Betsy” Morton, born 2 September 1794 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 9 February 1876 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Jefferson Haden, son of James H. Haden & Rebecca Hite Smith Morton, 21 October 1824 Logan Co., Kentucky. Jefferson was born about 1793 Kentucky & died March 1857 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    Children:
    • Sarah Haden, born 1825 Logan Co., Kentucky; married James T. Holland
    • James Haden, born 1827 Logan Co., Kentucky
    • Martha R. Haden, born 1830 Logan Co., Kentucky
    • Anna Haden, born 1833
    • Margaret Haden, born about 1835
    • William Jordan Haden, born about 1838 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Mary F. Watkins

  10. Marmaduke Beckwith Morton, born 13 September 1796 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 3 March 1887 of Cancer, Logan Co., Kentucky; married 1) Nancy Ann Caldwell, the daughter of Andrew Caldwell (1783 Virginia - 1833 Kentucky) & Frances Terrill Morton (1788 - 1862 Kentucky), 6 September 1827 Russellville Logan Co., Kentucky. Nancy was born 8 September 1809 Logan Co., Kentucky & died 19 June 1834 Kentucky. Married 2) Elizabeth Smith Caldwell 17 January 1838. Elizabeth was born 3 September 1811 in Lincoln Co., Kentucky.

    Note: Marmaduke Beckwith Morton was both the County Court & Circuit Court Clerk of Logan Co., Kentucky. He was Cashier of the Southern Bank of Kentucky, Justice of the Peace, and a prosperous farmer. The following is from a letter written by Marmaduke (age 90).

    Of himself he says, I am just a worn out old man born in Louisa County about 4 miles from the homes of his uncles Capt. Samuel Pryor & Mr. William Pryor who lived near each other in Goochland County and whom he remembered distinctly. Especially his uncle Capt. Samuel Pryor who had a scar on his head from a saber cut in the Revolutionary War. As a youngster, Marmaduke, was a pupil in an old field school in Goochland where he was taught the multiplication table and Arithmetic up to the Rule of three, with a smattering of Dilworth's spelling book.

    In 1815 he moved with his father and family to Logan Co., Kentucky and “attended school four months to my brother Joseph Morton and got a very imperfect knowledge of English Grammar.” Thereafter he lived on his father's farm as a field hand until 22 May 1818, when he went to Bowling Green to live as a clerk in the store of Judge Davidge.

    Children of Marmaduke B. Morton & Nancy A. Caldwell:

    • Daniel A.K. Morton, born 21 October 1829 Russellville Logan Co.Co., Kentucky; married 1) Susan Eliza Moore Booker 10 January 1851 Logan Co., Kentucky. Susan was born 28 November 1831 & died 17 September 1859 in Kentucky. Married 2)Mary A. Bottomley, daughter of Thomas Bottomley & Hannah Wilson.
    • William Morton, born 24 June 1831; died 11 March 1899 Russellville, Logan Co., Kentucky; married Sophia Wesley Maria Warren 25 November 1856. Sophia was born 7 June 1835 & 17 September 1886.
    • David Morton, born 4 June 1833 Russellville, Logan Co., Kentucky; died 9 March 1898 Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky; married Hannah Wilson Bottomley, daughter of Thomas Bottomley & Hannah Wilson, 8 August 1854. Hannah was born 5 February 1831 Ellicott Mills, Maryland.

    Children of Marmaduke B. Morton & Elizabeth Smith Caldwell:

    • Nancy “Nannie” Morton, born 1839 Russellville, Logan Co., Kentucky; died 1921 Logan Co., Kentucky; married James Henry Bowden, son of John Bowden & Lova A. Faquier, 14 May 1857 Logan Co., Kentucky. James was born 15 March 1833 Morganfield, Union Co., Kentucky & died 1932.
    • Martha Morton, born 9 April 1840; died 1840
    • Infant son Morton, born 24 June 1841; died 1 July 1841
    • Infant daughter Morton, born 27 June 1843; died 1843
  11. Henry Pryor Morton, born 13 September 1798 Louisa Co., Virginia; died 15 October 1870 Logan Co., Kentucky. Listed as an “Overseer” in the 1860 Federal Census. Never married. A farmer, a man of fine sense, who lived at Snowden, Logan County. As a child he would often compel his brother Marmaduke to carry him in arms by the novel threat of holding his breath. This would so frighten Marmaduke that, for fear his younger brother would die, he would pick up Henry and walk off with him. Henry died on the farm of his brother Joseph Morton, near Auburn, Kentucky.
  12. Martha Morton, born 15 March 1800 Thompson Crossroads, Louisa Co., Virginia; died 1829; married James McCarley 28 September 1826 Logan Co., Kentucky. James was born about 1796 Louisa Co., Virginia.
    Children:
    • Martha McCarley, born about 1827; married homas L. Price 12 December 1846 Logan Co., Kentucky
    • Sarah McCarley, born about 1829; married M.M. Wall 30 April 1851 Logan Co., Kentucky

Generation 6

WILLIAM JORDON MORTON JR.

Born: 9 September 1786 Louisa Co., Virginia
Married: 1) Rebecca Haden, 4 December 1805 Fluvanna Co., Virginia; marriage performed by William Barker, Baptist Minister
2) Louisa Clinton McCormack, 10 March 1825 Logan Co., Kentucky
3) Clarissa Harlow McCormick, 13 November 1832

William Jordon Morton Jr. moved to Kentucky in 1810. After taking a course in legal studies, practiced law for a great many years. He was a very public spirited man, progressive in his ideas, and was a leader in the old Whig party. After serving as postmaster of Russellville for several terms, was elected county attorney of Logan Co., Kentucky in 1836, and held that office many years; served his district in the Legislature at one time; in 1854 was appointed Judge of the Logan County Court; was deeply interested in religion and frequently preached the gospel in the Baptist Church of Russellville, also at the Liberty and Friendship Churches in Logan County. He preached also in Tennessee. (Recorded from DAR, Washington, DC Library Book titled Kentucky Biographies, Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Pages 63-64.)

Spouse 1: Rebecca Haden
Born: 23 January 1790 Fluvanna Co., Virginia
Died: 25 January 1816 Logan Co., Kentucky
Father: Col. Joseph Haden, born 1753; died 26 October 1820 Virginia
Mother: Mary Peatross, born about 1753

Spouse 2: Louisa Clinton McCormack
Born: 15 April 1801 Lincoln Co., Kentucky
Died: 1830
Father: John McCormack
Mother: Leannah Masterson

Spouse 3: Clarissa Harlow McCormick
Born: 16 November 1802 Kentucky
Died: 5 April 1883 Logan Co., Kentucky
Widow of John McClelland whom she married 15 May 1822. John died 25 October 1825.

Children of William J. Morton Jr. & Rebecca Haden:

  1. Eleanor Beckwith Morton, born 5 March 1807 Virginia; died 21 August 1890; married Dr. Henry Taliferro Loving 21 February 1827. Henry was born 21 May 1801.
    Children:
    • Amanda Jane Loving, born 27 June 1828 Kentucky
    • Sarah Rebecca Loving, born 16 April 1829 Kentucky; died 16 September 1834
    • Frances Eleanor Loving, born 18 September 1830 Kentucky; died 10 May 1878
    • Mary Emmaline Loving, born 4 March 1832 Kentucky; died 11 October 1834
    • Daughter Loving, born 2 December 1833; died 1834 Kentucky
    • Son Loving, born 26 August 1834; died 26 August 1834
    • Harriet Isabella Loving, born 27 September 1835 Kentucky; died 3 September 1928 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Young Wallace Larmon 15 November 1855 Logan Co., Kentucky. Young Wallace was born 1831 Kentucky.
    • Henry Talifero Loving, born 11 June 1839 Kentucky; died 22 March in the Civil War
  2. Amanda Pocahontas Morton, born 22 February 1809 Logan Co., Kentucky; married 1) James Clayton Slaughter, son of Thomas S. Slaughter, 23 June 1829 Logan Co., Kentucky. James was born 1805. Married 2) Willis Loving, son of William Loving & Sarah B. Taliaferro, 7 January 1836 Logan Co., Kentucky. Willis was born 1802.
    Child of Amanda P. Morton & James C. Slaughter:
    • Lucy R. Slaughter, born 1830 Kentucky; married George W. Haden 28 April 1851 Logan Co., Kentucky.
  3. Mary Virginia Morton, born 9 June 1811 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 1877 Logan Co., Kentucky; married John Gabriel Lewis, son of Gabriel Jones Lewis (1775 - 1864) & Mary Bibb (born 1779), 30 August 1831 Logan Co., Kentucky. John was born 27 August 1809 Kentucky & died 1874.
    Children:
    • Rebecca Lewis, born 15 October 1833 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 1852; married Isaac Lunsford James 16 September 1851 Logan Co., Kentucky. Isaac was born about 1830 Kentucky.
    • Mary Bibb Lewis, born 1835; died 3 September 1895; married John Waller Lewis, son of Waller Lewis (born 1809) & Emily Frances Washington. John was born 1832 & died 1895.
    • Nancy Haywood Lewis, born 26 January 1838 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Adam Steele Luckett 29 November 1855 Logan Co., Kentucky. Adam was born 1827 Kentucky.
    • Gabriel Jones Lewis, born 18 September 1839 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Alice Jane Barbee, born about 1856 Kentucky.
    • Eleanor Lewis, born 15 November 1842
    • William Morton Lewis, born August 1848; died 1848
  4. Joseph William Morton, born 27 June 1813 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 1835; married Mary S. Curd 15 December 1834. Mary was born 1815.
  5. George Richard Morton, born 22 December 1815 Logan Co., Kentucky; died 15 October 1819

Child of William J. Morton Jr. & Louisa C. McCormack:

  1. Peter Henry Morton, born 16 May 1826 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Rebecca Jane Hayden 28 September 1848 Logan Co., Kentucky.

Children of William J. Morton Jr. & Clarissa H. McCormick:

  1. Clarissa McCormack Morton, born 1833; died 8 April 1854; married John M. Floyd 29 December 1852 Logan Co., Kentucky.
  2. Joseph William Morton, born 12 November 1836. Listed as a Constable in the 1870 Census. Married Katherine “Kate”, born 1846.
    Children:
    • Ella Morton, born 1856
    • Minnie Morton, born 1862
  3. Marmaduke Beckwith “Buck” Morton (twin), born 16 August 1842; died 20 February 1914; married Louise Virginia Morton, daughter of Joseph Morton & Louisa A. Davidson, 7 December 1869. Louise was born 1 February 1844 Kentucky & died 26 October 1930 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    Children:
    • Henry Pryor Morton, born 25 September 1870; died September 1947 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Lula Rice 1911
    • Overton Harris Morton, born 1 October 1871 Kentucky; died 10 November 1885 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    • Joseph Jordon Morton, born 1873 Kentucky; died 1891 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    • Francis Alexander Morton, born 14 March 1875 Kentucky; died 22 February 1964 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    • Maricy L. Morton, born 1876 Kentucky
    • William I. Morton, born 6 April 1878 Kentucky; died 7 April 1970 Logan Co., Kentucky; married Mary Lova Bowden, born 1873 Kentucky. No children.
    • James Hanna Morton, born 1879 Kentucky; died 1899 Logan Co., Kentucky.
    • Virginia Morton, born 1881 Kentucky
  4. Martha Louise Morton (twin), born 16 August 1842; died 12 June 1854

Generation 7

PETER HENRY MORTON

Born: 17 May 1826 Russellville, Logan Co., Kentucky.
Married: 28 September 1848 Logan Co., Kentucky.

Peter Henry Morton traveled to the gold fields of California, promising to establish a home and send for his wife and children. With no further contact, Peter was presumed dead. The remaining Morton families provided financial and parental support in the rearing of his children. Years after his death, records bearing his signature proved he struck gold and married again in California, abandoning his wife & children in Kentucky.

Spouse: Rebecca Jayne Hayden

Children:

  1. Henry Morton, born 1852 Muhlenburg Co., Kentucky.
  2. Harry Morton, born 10 February 1853 Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky; died 8 September 1923 Buncombe Co., North Carolina; married Jessie Verna Mason.
  3. William Morton, born 1854 Muhlenburg Co., Kentucky.
  4. Charles Morton, born 1856 Muhlenburg Co., Kentucky.
  5. Fannie Morton, born 1858 Muhlenburg Co., Kentucky.

Generation 8

HARRY “KITT” MORTON

Born: 10 February 1853 Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky
Married: 2 August 1892
Died: 8 September 1923 Buncombe Co., North Carolina

Harry Morton, a popular and frequent gambler on the Mississippi River Boats, asked for the hand of Jessie Mason, daughter of a minister, and received an answer of “Yes” if he gave up gambling on the boats. He agreed, married Jesse and bet on horse racing thereafter, earning himself the nickname of “Kitt the Devil” for his clever deception.

Spouse: Jessie Verna Mason
Born: 11 November Lockhaven, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Nurse
Died: 6 April 1928 Asheville, North Carolina from Cholosystitis following surgery
Father: Horace Mason
Mother: Minnie Hudson.

Children:

  1. Aleen Lacy Morton, born 25 October 1893 Kentucky; died 18 October 1918 from a heart defect; buried Greenville, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky.
  2. Jessie Verna Morton, born 20 January 1898 Drakesboro, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky; died 17 September 1969 Asheville, North Carolina from heart failure. Married Wiley Larrie Gouge, son of William Gouge (16 January 1860 - 1938) & Louisa Emma Hughes. Wiley was born 16 January Bakersville, North Carolina & died 24 December 1972 Atlanta, Georgia.
    Children:
    • Winton Douglas Gouge, born 10 December 1922 North Carolina; died 17 April 1977 Maryland; married 1) Living Greenwood; married 2) Betty Evans
    • Wiley Larrie Gouge, born 15 September 1924; died 2 June 2006 Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio; married Margaret
    • Beverley Jean Gouge, born 7 November 1925 Asheville, North Carolina; died 17 November 1992 Florida; married 1) David Ansel Duncan 1 June 1947, born 7 May 1916 & died 8 June 1994 Asheville, North Carolina; divorced. Married 2) Karl Kline Schulhofer 15 March 1950, born 2 December 1927 & died 3 November 1971.
  3. Mildred Gertrude Morton, born 21 September 1900 Owensboro, Daviess Co., Kentucky; died 28 October 1979 California; married William Edward Hicks, son of George Washington Hicks & Mary, 24 March 1922 Alabama. William was born June 1896 Kentucky & died 17 April 1953 California. He was an Army Chaplain Major in WWII, serving from 1941 to 1942. After the war, he was an insurance agent in Upland, Californa.
    Children:
    • Mildred Louise Hicks, born 10 December 1923 Tampa, Florida; died 1989 Beverly Hills, California; married 1) William Lawrence Lumpkin (AN) Minter Field, Bakersfield, California 1942-43; married 2) John Michael Hayes 1952 (Screen Script-writer & College Professor)
    • Living Hicks
  4. Myrna Ruann Morton, born 6 December 1902; died 19 May 1962 Virginia; Occupation: Lawyer for the Federal Government, Washington DC. Birth name “Minnie Rebecca” - legally changed at her request. Married Charles L.G. Moffat, born 1 November 1900 & died August 1979. Occupation: Canadian Attache.
  5. Kitty Louise Morton, born 24 December 1906; died 24 August 1977 Houston, Texas; buried Asheville, North Carolina; married 1) Russell Masagee (North Carolina State Highway Engineer). Married 2) Joseph Walter Bagby (Common Pleas Judge of Georgetown, Ohio) whom Kitty met while working for the U.S. Government at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. He was born 1874 & died 1952.
    Child of Kitty L. Morton & Russell Masagee:
    • Betty Masagee, born 25 March 1925; died 20 May 2001; married 1)Forrest Raeford Maney (Policeman), son of Hughie Lorenzo Maney & Annie Margaret Sloop, 22 April 1947 South Carolina; divorced 7 June 1954. Married 2) William Robert Harris Jr. 1954 Texas, born July 1924 & died 31 March 1975.
  6. Marion Lucille Morton, born 5 April 1910 Kentucky; died 31 December 1981 Asheville, North Carolina; married Albert Leonard Heuer 16 May 1940 Arlington, Virgina; divorced. Albert was born 18 September 1912 Davidsonville, Maryland & died 27 November 1964 Asheville, North Carolina.
    Child:
    • William Kitt Heuer (living) married Martha Deanna Sumner (living), daughter of William Franklin Sumner & Martha Eloree Hyder.

Related: The Morton Family of Colonial Virginia

Contributed by Kitt Heuer

Updated August 4, 2017