Individual Details

I have no evidence of a father for William Morton. Some have artificially placed him in the family of John Morton who married Joann Hughes, widow, in Henrico Co. Others have assumed him to be the William named in the will of John Morton who left a will, naming a son William, in Richmond Co VA, circa 1722. Some researchers have combined John Morton of Richmond with John Morton of Henrico - there are no records in Henrico to indicate that John Morton had a son named William; there are land records in Henrico to indicate sons John, Thomas & Joseph for that John who left no will. The John Morton of Richmond did not name a son Joseph in his will and he also had sons named Richard & James, other names not found in Henrico Co. These were obviously two John Mortons, probably of similar age.

The names of some of William's sons - Jeremiah, Elijah, George - seem to place him in an altogether different Morton family. However, the occurrence of some of the names of the daughters, especially Agnes, might indicate a relationship back to the Henrico Mortons, given that they married into the Woodson family and Agnes was used often.

William made a will 8 Dec 1747. Proved Jul 18, 1748, Orange Co Will Book 2, p.131. Named wife Ann, executrix, along with son Elijah and son-in-law Andrew Bourne whose wife was Jane. Also names dau Ann who married Henry Bourne, dau Elizabeth who married Thomas Newman, dau Mary who married Minor/Morris, son John, a minor. A son George died before his father.

Frank Read copy of his correspondence of 27 Oct 2001 with Bonnie Simpson Valko who has researched the Morton family:

Daniel Morton, M.D. in his book, believed the wife of William Morton to be Ann Mothershead. He probably derived this conclusion from the will of Alvin Mothershead which is transcripted in THE MOTHERSHEAD FAMILY by Marie Ray David; 1975. Alvin left most of his property to the children of William Morton, who he calls his "very dear friend". Alvin gave a slave to attend Anne Morton, wife of William Morton and states no relationship to her, although he is very clear on the relationships elsewhere in this will. Children of William and Ann named by Alvin Mothershead are George [who Alvin calls his Godson], Jeremiah, Elijah, and John; Sarah, Anne, Elizabeth, and Jane. The will of William Morton also refers to a slave left to his John by "Mothershead" and names all of the same children.

The Will of Thomas Batchelor in Westmoreland Co VA Wills, was dated 15 April 1719 and probated 3 Aug 1719. 1/4 of personal estate and all of my land to grandson John Morton; daughter Anne Morton, wife Mary. Wife and grandson John Morton, executors.
Will of Mary Batchellor: daughter Anne Morton, one shilling sterling.

The problem with assuming the name of Batchelor for Ann is this. Thomas Batchelor named a grandson John in 1719. William Morton's will named a son John who was a minor in 1747. This can't be the same John. Was there a firstborn son of William & Ann named John who did not survive and they named a later son after him? Strange that Batchelor named none of the other children. Or is Batchelor the wrong parent for Ann. William Morton's will was in Orange Co VA; Batchelor's will in Westmoreland - did these families ever live in close proximity? More research is needed.

Will of William Morton: Orange County, Virginia: Will Book 2, pp. 131 - 134, with apprasial and inventory.
In the Name of God Amen, I William Morton of Orange County, St. Thomas Parish, being sick and weak but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following.
Imprimus: I recommend my Soul to God who gave it me and Body to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned.
Item: It is my will and Desire that all my just Debts be paid.
Item: I give to my beloved son Jeremiah Morton ten shillings current money, he having received his other Part already.
Item: I give to my beloved son Elijah Morton all that Lott of land whereon he now lived to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give unto my Son in Law Henry Browne [Bourne] and my Daughter Ann Brown [Bourne] one hundred Acres of Land, being the half a Lot I purchace of Thomas Jones with the Plantation whereon he now lives to them and their Heirs forever.
Item: I give unto my Son in law Thomas Newman and Daughter Elizabeth Newman one hundred Acres of Land being the other half of Jones lott with the Plantation whereon Edmund Mannion formerly lived to them of their Heirs forever.
Item: I give unto my Daughter Mary Minor Ten Shillings Current Money.
Item: I give unto my Son in Law Andrew Bourne ten Shillings current Money.
Item: I give unto my grand Daughter Frances Christopher ten Pounds current Money and a Young Mare called Flower when she arrives to the Age of twenty one Years or Marries.
Item: I lend to my loving Wife Ann Morton all my Estate both real and Personal until my Son John Morton arrives at the Age of twenty one Years, and that then the same be equally divided between any Wife my Son John Morton except one Negro Man named Will which I give to my Son John in Lew of a Negro left him by Mothershead.
Item: Its will and desire that if my Wife should die before my Son John Arrives to the Age of twenty one Years that then my son John have all the Estate I have given her to him & his Heirs.
Item: It is my Will that if my Wife should live til my said Son John comes to twenty one Years of Age and the Estate should be divided that then all her Part shall go to my son John after her Decease.
Item: It is my Will and Desire that if my Son John should die without Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten that then all I have given to him shall go to my grand Child George Morton the Son of Elijah Morton to him and his Heirs forever.
Item: It is my Will that as soon as my Son John arrives at Twenty one Years of Age that he have my still clear of his Part of the Estate left to be divided between my Wife and him.
And lastly I nominate and appoint my loving Wife Ann Morton, my Son in Law Andrew Bourne, my Son Elijah Morton to be my Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disanulling all other Wills formerly by me made in witness whereof I hereunto set my Hand and Seal this eight Day of December 1747. - William Morton (his mark)
In the presence of: Geo. Taylor, Taverner Beale, W. Russel J., Branham Jr. and John Smith.
Proved Jul 18, 1748.

Death	1748	Orange County, Virginia
Marriage		Ann ?Mothershead ?Batchelder

Spouse	Ann ?Mothershead ?Batchelder ( - )
Child	George Morton ( - 1744)
Child	Jeremiah Morton ( - )
Child	Elijah Morton ( - )
Child	Sarah Morton ( - )
Child	Anne Morton ( - )
Child	Elizabeth Morton ( - )
Child	Jane Morton ( - )
Child	Mary Morton ( - )
Child	[Daughter] Morton ( - )
Child	John Morton ( - )