Individual Details

Several references give Joseph's place of birth as England but that is doubtful if his parents were John Morton & Mary Mountjoy of King George Co VA.


3 Feb 1734, Order Book 10, p.252: Motion of Capt. Alvin Mountjoy, guardian of Joseph Morton, son of Capt John Morton, late of this county, deceased, and Mr. Wm. Jordan who married the widow of the said deceased. Wm. Fauntleroy and Thos. W. Belfield to divide the negroes belonging to the deceased's estate between the said John Morton and Wm Jordan in right of his wife
Note: the wording is ambiguous - should the negroes have been divided between Joseph Morton as son and heir and his mother now the wife of William Jordan - or are they being divided between the remaining estate of John Morton and his wife now the wife of William Jordan....
Joseph's father John had once been the guardian of Alvin Mountjoy - he was the younger brother of John's wife Mary, hence an uncle to young Joseph.

2 Jul 1736 Richmond DB 9/296 Joseph Morton, Lunenburg Parish, Richmond Co to Jas. Wilson all that tract of land which John Morton, father of said Joseph, bought of Charles Taylor and Richard Morton, containing 306 acres. Wit: Thomas Greenstreet, Jas. (x) Morton, Wm Morton. Rec. 5 Jul 1736.

1 Mar 1741 Richmond DB 10/59 Joseph Morton, late of Richmond Co, Lunenburg Parish to Thomas Wright Bellfield of the same. 200 acres. Wit: John Slater, John Bellfield, Sarah (x) Harvey. Rec. 1 Mar 1741


Joseph Morton was a Justice, King George Co, 1744. He was a member of the House of Burgesses of Virginia as a delegate from James City Co 1756-1758. He had moved to James City Co about 1751.

4 Feb 1744 Richmond Co. John Morton of King George Co. to Richard Barnes, land in Richmond Co, formerly purchased by said Morton and Barnes.

6 Aug 1744 Richmond DB 10/237 Mary Bellfield, widow of John Bellfield, and William Jordan, executor of the last will of Thomas Wright Bellfield late of the county of Richmond, gentleman, dec'd to Richard Barnes of the said county and Joseph Morton of King George Co. A water grist mill and 2 acres of land. Rec. 6 Aug 1744.

4 Feb 1745 Richmond DB 10/271 Joseph Morton of King George to Richard Barnes of Richmond Co. Half interest in water grist mill in Lunenburg Parish, Richmond Co, formerly belonging to Thomas Wright Bellfield. Rec. 4 Feb 1745.

1 Aug 1746 King George Co. Joseph Morton, Gent. was appointed guardian to Joseph Jones.

22 Dec 1747 Richmond Co DB 10/404 Joseph Morton of Hanover Parish, King George Co, to Hugh French of Lunenburg Parish, Richmond Co. 294 acres in Richmond. Land came to Joseph Morton as heir to his father John Morton, Deceased. Wit: Wm. Brockenbrough, Wm. Jordan, Arthur Spicer, Alvin Mountjoy. Rec. 4 Jul 1748.

22 Dec 1749 Another deed from Joseph Morton of King George, conveying land in Richmond formerly owned by his father John Morton.

5 Feb 1756 Deed, King George Co. Joseph Morton to Thomas Turner, 300 acres in King George Co.

Joseph was married (1) to Frances Colston, dau of William Colston and Mary Meriwether. His 2nd wife was the daughter of Sir Marmaduke Beckwith of Richmond Co VA.

18 Dec 1756 Richmond DB 11/436 Joseph Morton, Wm Jordan, and Presley Thornton bound unto Sir Marmaduke Beckwith, Baronet, for 1000 £ sterling. To pay 500 £ before 18 Dec 1760. Wit: John Campe, John Stretch, Richard Talifero, Thos. Hodge. Rec. 3 Jan 1757
18 Dec 1756 Richmond DB 11/436 Joseph Morton ceritifed to acceptance of loan of 500£ from Sir Marmaduke Beckwith in full satisfaction for fortune he was to have had with said Beckwith's daughter, and gives to said Beckwith absolute discharge from same. Rec. 3 Jan 1757

20 Dec 1756 Richmond DB 11/435 Sir Marmaduke Beckwith at request of his son-in-law Joseph Morton of the county of James City, Gent., hath lent said Morton 500£ sterling. Beckwith draws bills of exchange payable to Wm. Jordon, one of Morton's securities in bond and Jordan, under penalty of 100£ sterling, binds himself to indemnigy said Beckwith from all charges and damages. Wit: Thos. Hodge, Wm. Muir. Rec. 3 Jan 1757

14 Apr 1758 Deed, King George Co. Joseph Morton, Gent., of James City Co, to William Bruce and Elizabeth his wife, and George Bruce their son, of King George Co. 279 acres, part of 1240 acres in King George Co., held by said Joseph Morton by right of his marriage with his first wife, Frances Colson/Colston.

Joseph had a daughter named Frances by Frances Colston; children by Beckwith included Molly, Lucy, Betty McCarty who married George Payne, William Jordan, Margaret Sydenham who married Robert Payne a brother of George, and a son not christened when Joseph Morton wrote his will who probably died young.

Will written in James City Co 18 May 1758 and filed there but the records were burned - a copy was recorded in King George Co 24 Jul 1796.
Written 18 May 1758
Joseph Morton of County of James City, Virginia
to daughter Frances Morton, all Negroes which lately became in my posession by the death (5 Oct 1750) of Mrs. (Thomas Wright) Belfield, my first wife's mother, being about 22 or 23. My executors to have the use and profit until the 20th day of Dec 1760 for the benefit of the estate, then be delivered up to her. In case of refusing to do so, the slaves to son William Jordon Morton and to Frances, 1 shilling only. To daughters Molly Beckwith Morton, Betty McCarty Morton, Lucy Buckner Morton & Margaret Sydenham Morton, all the tract of land at the Mountains, in Orange Co, two excepted, to be divided equally. To son William Jordan Morton, one acre excepted in Orange Co to him. To my four daughters, Molly, Betty, Lucy & Margaret, and my 2 sons, all the slaves and their increase settled by my marriage contract on my wife for her life. To my youngest son not yet christened, the tract of land bought of Dr. John Dixon, 1016 acres in James City Co; in default of such heirs, to son William Jordan Morton.
Executors: Col. Preston Thornton, Capt. William Brockenbrough [uncle of Margaret Beckwith Morton], Jonathan Beckwith [brother of Margaret], Mr. Lawrence Butler, Mr. Samuel Epperson.

In 1769 his estate was paying tax on some 3450 acres in James City County.

Birth	1715
Marriage	Abt 1737	Frances Colston
Marriage	1740	Richmond County, Virginia - Margaret Beckwith
Death	1759	James City County, Virginia

Spouse	Margaret Beckwith ( - )
Child	Lucy Butler Morton (1743 - )
Child	Elizabeth McCarty "Betty" Morton (1746 - 1807)
Child	Mary Beckwith Morton (1750 - )
Child	William Jordan Morton Sr. (1754 - 1825)
Child	Margaret Sydenham Morton (1756 - 1840)
Child	Marmaduke Morton (1758 - 1760)

Spouse	Frances Colston (1720 - )
Child	Frances Morton (1738 - )

Father	Capt. John Morton ( - 1728)
Mother	Mary Mountjoy ( - )
Sibling	George Morton (1717 - 1766)
Sibling	Mary Morton (1719 - )
Sibling	Frances Morton (1720 - 1775)