Individual Details

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.

Email of 27 Oct 2001, in my files, gives part of Alvin Mothershead's will
...unto my Godson, George Morton, son of William Morton, all the land which I bought of Thomas Simms, John Boyle and James Doyle, containing by examination 360 acres, and if he arrives to age 21, to his heirs forever. If George should died, the land to go to Jeremiah Morton, brother to said George.
To Sarah Morton, daughter of William Morton, one mulatto boy
To Jeremiah Morton, Elijah Morton, John Morton, sons of William, as soon as each of them arrives at age 21, one good new negro boy.
To Anne Morton, Elizabeth Morton & Jane Morton, one negro girl - they are also daughters of William Morton.
His own negro, Pegg's Harry to attend Anne Morton, wife of William
The email did not state the county of origin, nor did it have the date, but it's obviously after most of the children of William had been born.

Unfortunately Alvin Mothershead stated no relationship to the Mortons. One can hardly believe it to be only that of "friends". It is possible for grandparents to serve as godparents to a child.

I read the book at the LDS library:
The Mothershead Family
Marie Ray Davis, 1975

These notes are from the book:
p.8 Alvin, son of John Mothershead - other children were Brooks, George, John, Elizabeth, Ann, Christopher & Nathaniel.
Born ca 1688. Westmoreland Co VA
Believed unmarried.
Will dated 3 Jan 1734; proved 17 Jun 1741, Richmond Co VA
Probably a merchant, hence his gift to Ann Morton in his will of two lengths of material.

When he moved to Richmond Co VA is not known. He was of Lunenberg Parish

Some think Alvin was married and had a daughter Ann that married William Morton. There are no records that Alvin was ever married and his will seems to bear this out. If Ann was a Mothershead daughter, she is more likely to have been a daughter of Alvin's brother George. George did not seem to have much wealth so perhaps Alvin was helping out his family.

p.210-211 Will of Alvin Mothershead
Richmond County, VA
Will Book 5, p.261
In the name of God, Amen: I, Alvin Mothershead of the Parish of Lunenburg in the county of Richmond, being sick and weak of body, but thanks to God of perfect sense and memory, do hereby, revoking all former wills by me made, make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say):
First, and principally, I commend my soul to Almighty God, hoping for mercy through the merits of Jesus Christ, my only Mediator and Advocate, and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executrix herein named. As for such wordly estate as it has pleased God to bestow upon me, I dispose thereof as followeth, namely,
My will is that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged.
I give and bequeath unto my Godson, George Morton, the son of William Morton, all the land which I bought of Thomas Simms, John Doyle and James Doyle, containing by estimation 360 acres, be the same more or less, to him and if the said George arrives to the age of twenty-one years, his heirs forever. Or, if he hath lawful heirs before such age, then to such heirs; but if he, the said George, should die before he arrives to such age, as aforesaid and without such heirs, then I give the said land to Jeremiah Morton, brother to the said George, and his heirs forever.
Item: I given and bequeath to John Morton, son of William Morton, all the land I bought of William Morton, his said father, to him and to his heirs forever. But if he, the said John, should die before he arrives to the age of twenty-one years and without heirs of his body, then I give the said land to Sarah Snead Morton, sister to the said John, and if she, the said Sarah, should died without heirs then to her surviving sisters and their heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Sarah Morton, daughter of William Morton, one mulatto boy named Will and if she should die before she arrives to the age of twenty-one years and unmarried, then to George Morton, her brother.
Item: I given and bequeath unto Jeremiah Morton, Elijah Morton, and John Morton, sons of William Morton, to each of them as soon as he arrives to the age of twenty-one years or married, one good new negro boy, aged about fourteen or fifteen years, to be bought at the discretion of my executors herein named.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Anne Morton, Elizabeth Morton, and Jane Morton, daughter of the said William Morton, to each of them as soon as she arrives to the age of twenty-one years of marries, one good new negro girl aged about fourteen or fifteen years, to be bought at the discretion of my executors, as aforesaid.
Item: My desire is that my negro boy named Peggs Harry wait on and attend Anne Morton, wife of William Morton, during her natural life and afterwards to return to my Godson, George Morton.
Item: I give and bequeath unto the said Anne Morton one piece of fine cotton cloth, containing about ten yards and about ten yards of fine, yard wide linen.
Item: I give and bequeath all my negroes not hereinbefore bequeathed and all the residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, unto my aforesaid Godson, George Morton, except my wearing apparel which I give unto my brother George Mothershead.
I do hereby constitute and appoint my brother John Mothershead and my friend William Morton executors of this my last will and testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 3rd day of January AD, 1734/35.
Alvin Mothershead
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of William Jordan and Matthew Knight.
Proved at Court, June 3, 1734/35. Marmaduke Beckwith, Clerk.

There is no question in my mind that there was a very close relationship between Alvin Mothershead and the family of William Morton. I wonder if it is possible that Ann, wife of William Morton, was a younger sister to Alvin Mothershead? Alvin was also acquainted with the same associates of William Morton - William Jordan & Marmaduke Beckwith. The bequests were identical with those usually associated with family members - particularly since the gifts were all made with the caveat "heirs of the body" which effectively entailed the gifts to the family of William Morton. This was the traditional method of keeping land and slaves in the family. Alvin Mothershead is said to have had a sister named Ann, but she is shown as married to Thomas Clayton, Jr. Westmoreland Co., 1724.


Apparently some lineage societies have discredited the "proof" of the above will of Alvin Methershead, subsituting the following instead.

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 as John in 1719. William Morton's will named a son John who was still a minor in 1747. This cannot 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 simply 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.

Spouse	William Morton ( - 1748)
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 ( - )