George Morton (pilgrim father)
Encyclopedia
George Morton or George Mourt (ca. 1585 – 1624) was an English Puritan
Separatist. He was the publisher of, and perhaps helped write, the first account in Great Britain
of the founding of Plymouth Colony
, called Mourt's Relation
.
, South Yorkshire
, England
, and member of the Scrooby Congregation
of separatists who eventually became the Mayflower
Pilgrims. Morton, who had moved to Leyden, Holland with the congregation, stayed behind when the first settlers left for Plymouth, Massachusetts. He continued to orchestrate business affairs in Europe and London for their cause—presumably arranging for the 1622 publication of, and perhaps helping write, Mourt's Relation
. In 1623 Morton himself emigrated on the ship Anne to Plymouth Colony with his wife Juliana Carpenter and her sister, Alice Southworth, who was to become the second wife of Governor William Bradford.
George Morton died in 1624, the year after he arrived in Plymouth. His widow Juliana then married Manasseh Kempton, who had also arrived in 1623 on the Anne. After Morton's death, Governor Bradford took a keen interest in helping to raise the Morton children.
and became leaders in business and government. Among the most notable are:
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
Separatist. He was the publisher of, and perhaps helped write, the first account in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
of the founding of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
, called Mourt's Relation
Mourt's Relation
The book Mourt's Relation was written primarily by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford appears to have written most of the first section...
.
Biography
He was probably from BawtryBawtry
Bawtry is a small market town and civil parish which lies at the point where the Great North Road crosses the River Idle in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. Nearby towns include Gainsborough to the east, Retford south southeast, Worksop to the southwest and...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and member of the Scrooby Congregation
Scrooby Congregation
The Scrooby Congregation were English Protestant separatists who lived near Scrooby, Nottinghamshire. Starting in 1607/8 the Congregation emigrated to Holland in search of the freedom to worship as they chose...
of separatists who eventually became the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
Pilgrims. Morton, who had moved to Leyden, Holland with the congregation, stayed behind when the first settlers left for Plymouth, Massachusetts. He continued to orchestrate business affairs in Europe and London for their cause—presumably arranging for the 1622 publication of, and perhaps helping write, Mourt's Relation
Mourt's Relation
The book Mourt's Relation was written primarily by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford appears to have written most of the first section...
. In 1623 Morton himself emigrated on the ship Anne to Plymouth Colony with his wife Juliana Carpenter and her sister, Alice Southworth, who was to become the second wife of Governor William Bradford.
George Morton died in 1624, the year after he arrived in Plymouth. His widow Juliana then married Manasseh Kempton, who had also arrived in 1623 on the Anne. After Morton's death, Governor Bradford took a keen interest in helping to raise the Morton children.
Family
George Morton's children by his only wife, Juliana, were:- Nathaniel MortonNathaniel MortonCapt. Nathaniel Morton was a Separatist settler of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, where he served for most of his life as Plymouth's secretary under his uncle, Governor William Bradford...
(for whom Plymouth Public SchoolsPlymouth Public SchoolsPlymouth Public Schools is a school district that serves Plymouth, Massachusetts. It operates 12 schools, making it one of the largest town school districts in the state.-Elementary schools:*South Elementary School - 695 Students...
named Nathaniel Morton Elementary School) - Patience Morton Faunce (mother of famed church elder, Thomas)
- John Morton
- Sarah Morton Bonum (subject of the children's book Sarah Morton's Day by Kate Waters)
- Ephraim Morton
Notable descendants
George Morton's descendants found prosperity in the New WorldNew World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
and became leaders in business and government. Among the most notable are:
- Nathaniel MortonNathaniel MortonCapt. Nathaniel Morton was a Separatist settler of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, where he served for most of his life as Plymouth's secretary under his uncle, Governor William Bradford...
, Clerk/Secretary of Plymouth ColonyPlymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
from 1645 until his death in 1685 and publisher of the first history of New EnglandNew EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, New England's Memorial, Cambridge, 1669. - Elder Thomas Faunce, the originator of the story of Plymouth RockPlymouth RockPlymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history...
. - Perez MortonPerez MortonPerez Morton was a lawyer and revolutionary patriot in Boston, Massachusetts.-Biography:Morton was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1751, and raised in Boston. His father, Joseph Morton, worked as a tavern-keeper at the White Horse Tavern. Perez attended the Boston Latin School starting around...
, seventh Massachusetts Attorney GeneralMassachusetts Attorney GeneralThe Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
and husband of American poet Sarah Wentworth Apthorp MortonSarah Wentworth Apthorp MortonSarah Wentworth Apthorp Morton was an American poet.She was born in Boston to a successful merchant family . In 1781, she was married to Boston lawyer Perez Morton at Trinity Church, Boston, and the couple lived on a family mansion on State Street...
. - Marcus MortonMarcus MortonMarcus Morton was a lawyer, jurist, and politician from Taunton, Massachusetts. He represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and served two terms as 16th and 18th Governor of Massachusetts, as well as a portion of an unexpired term in 1825, as Acting Governor.Morton...
, fourth acting, 16th and 18th Governor of MassachusettsGovernor of MassachusettsThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
. - Levi Parsons Morton, 22nd Vice President of the United StatesVice President of the United StatesThe Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
and 31st Governor of New YorkGovernor of New YorkThe Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
. - Henry Martyn DexterHenry Martyn DexterHenry Martyn Dexter , American clergyman and author, was born in Plympton, Massachusetts.He graduated at Yale in 1840 and at the Andover Theological Seminary in 1844; was pastor of a Congregational church in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1844-1849, and of the Berkeley Street Congregational church,...
and son Henry Morton DexterHenry Morton DexterHenry Morton Dexter was an American clergyman, historian, and editor, born in Manchester, New Hampshire, son of Henry Martyn Dexter...
, prominent American clergymen, historians, and authors. - Julius Sterling MortonJulius Sterling MortonJulius Sterling Morton was a Nebraska editor who served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture. He was a prominent Bourbon Democrat, taking the conservative position on political, economic and social issues, and opposing agrarianism...
, Third United States Secretary of AgricultureUnited States Secretary of AgricultureThe United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
and founder of Arbor DayArbor DayArbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.Many...
. - Joy MortonJoy Morton, Joy Morton founded the Morton Salt Company and The Morton Arboretum.Morton grew to manhood in Nebraska City, Nebraska in Nebraska Territory. His mother, Caroline Joy, was an accomplished artist, musician, and gardener...
, son of J. Sterling Morton and founder of The Morton Salt Company. - Paul MortonPaul MortonPaul Morton was a U.S. businessman.- Biography :He served as the Secretary of Navy between 1904 and 1905. Previous to this, he had been vice president of the Santa Fe Railroad...
, son of J. Sterling Morton and 36th United States Secretary of the NavyUnited States Secretary of the NavyThe Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
. - Lydia JacksonRalph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
, second wife of philosopher, poet and TranscendentalistTranscendentalismTranscendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the 1830s and 1840s in the New England region of the United States as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian...
Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
External links
- Mourt's Relation as transcribed by Caleb Johnson