Jason Coffman found
the proof of Gabriel being the son of John and Mary Morton over Christmas
break 1998. The following history was edited, byHugh Marvin Odneal,
from material sent to him by Ruth Journey Cunningham, June 1999.
The material is from Ruth’s memories, John David Measley and wife, Pat;
his son, James H. Morton, his granddaughter, Masel Park Journey, newspaper
articles, TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR VETERANS QUESTIONNAIRE and HARDISON AND ALLIED
FAMILIES, MORTON FAMILY
GRABRIEL LONG MORTON
Gabriel Long Morton, was
born Feb. 28, 1819 in Bedford, now Marshall County, TN, and died Sept.
14, 1876 in Maury Co. TN. On Dec. 15, 1840 in Maury Co., TN
he married Emily Jane Iva Hardison, the daughter of James Hardison and
Mary Smithwick. She was born Feb. 26, 1822 in the Lasea Community
of Maury County, Tennessee and died Aug. 14, 1874 in Maury Co. TN.
Gabriel was a preacher in the First Christian Church as well as a farmer.
They may be buried at Kettle Mills, TN.
In a TN Civil War Veterans
questionnaire completed by James Hardison Morton he identifies his grandfather
as John Morton and his father as Gabriel L. Morton. Records
are scarce from that time on and it is not known just where the family
lived. Some of the children married and remained in either Maury
or Marshall County. However, John Marshall Morton migrated to Texas
and Charles Dee Morton migrated to Montana.”
“On July 20, 1850, in the
Silver Creek region of Marshall Co., Gabriel Long Morton purchased two
pieces of land, one contained 318 acres and the other 50 acres.
On 14 Jan 1854 he was appointed Postmaster of Silver Creek. “Gabriel
Morton and family lived in the Silver Creek area of Marshall County, at
least until 1860 when he sold 404 acres of land. Family tradition
says that, in the last years of their lives, they moved to West Tennessee
to live nearer some of their children. They either moved to take
up land in West Tennessee or went to that area, possibly McNairy County,
to be with one of their children, who had moved there. Their son Thomas
Morton, did live in Perry County which is in the general direction of McNairy
County, before making his permanent home in Nashville, and at sometime,
date unknown, James H. Morton lived for one year near Gadsden in Crockett
County, TN, then moved back to Maury County. The location of
where they died and are buried is unknown.
If this is proven to be Mrs.
Morton’s family, a glimpse at Forks of Elkhorn Church in Lunenburg Co.
VA leads us to more generations. The church lists the John Long family,
immediately followed by Richard Long of Culpeper Co, VA.
An earlier will was also found that may
have been Richard Long’s father. Bloomfield Long deeded 118 1/2 acres to
a Reuben Long about 1746 in Spotsylvania Co., VA. Eleven years later,
1757, Reuben Long deeded 118 1/2 acres in Spotsylvania to Sara Long and
Molly Long Payne. Witnessed by Richard Long.
Some things are certain;
The importance of Kettle Mills as a historic crossroad to the history of
this family and their neighbors. Living in the Kettle were the Morton's,
Andersons, Crowell’s, Cutbirth’s and the Long families, and through marriage
of their children and grandchildren, all became part of one family. Generations
were born and raised in this rural Tennessee community.
James H. Morton states; “My
father in his lifetime owned about 17 slaves. But he never bought or sold
a negro. He evidently inherited some slaves and, of course, became
the owner and caretaker of those born to the ones he inherited.”
The father did all kinds of farm work, but he must have also been a man
of deep religious concerns. He is known to have given the land on
which Lasea Church of Christ was built in Maury County. There is
much evidence that he and our other forebears were God fearing upright
responsible people. Certainly, the sons and daughters of James H. and Maggie
Morton carried on the same strengths of character. Of his mother,
James H. said: “My mother would make and have made by spinning and weaving,
all the cloth for her family and for the negro’s. We would all get
a new suit of jeans every year.”
“The mother of James Hardison
Morton was Emily J. Hardison. She was born in the Lasea community of Maury
County on February 26, 1822. Her parents were James Hardison and
Sarah Hardison. She seems to have been a descendant, perhaps a granddaughter
of Joshua Hardison, one of the four brothers who originally came to Tennessee.”
James Hardison, was the father
of thirteen children; this daughter was the last of them. Neither
of the others, however, has given family historians more problems. It appears
that someone in transcribing the family line, must have mistakenly copied
“Iva” rather than “Emily” as the name of James Hardison’s last child. This
error (at least, we consider it to be an error) was picked up by others
and still appears from time to time in some lists. Admittedly,
documentary proof is scarce at this point. but, in an attempt to clarify
the issue to some extent, we quote from the extensive research done by
Miss Sula Hardison;
Evidence available indicates
“Iva” and Emily J. (or possibly Emily I.) were one and the same a daughter
of James Hardison, not of Joshua or William Hardison, as claimed by some.
The following information supports this;
“The 1840 Census of Maury
County shows in the household of James Hardison one female between the
ages of 15-19, apparently the Iva of some recorders of family data. This
means that she was born between 1821 and 1825.” “It is generally
agreed that Gabriel L. Morton, 1819-1876, married a daughter of James Hardison,
supposed by some to be Iva Hardison. He did marry Emily J Hardison on 15
Dec 1840, Maury County Marriages, Bk. 2, p. 492. She was born 26 Dec 1822
and so would have been 18 about the age of “Iva” if “Iva” Hardison
and Morton were ever married, it would have had to be before 1840. If they
divorced, no record has been found.”
“James Hardison died in 1842. In the settlement
of the estate Gabriel L. Morton was listed among the heirs who received
a share. His (James) daughter must have been the wife of Morton at
the time.” “The first child of Gabriel L. and Emily J. Morton born
1842, was named James Hardison Morton.”
“The name “Iva”may have been
picked up in error by someone copying family data. Penelope, a daughter
of James Hardison married a cousin (?), Ira Hardison. This name may
have caused some confusion.” “The name may have been Emily
Iva or Emily Iva J. (third names were not infrequent at the time). Examination
of the marriage record (Maury County Marriages, Bk- W-2, p. 492, married
on December 15, 1840.) shows that the name could have been Emily I., rather
than Emily J. The recorder was not consistent in writing the letter J,
usually making it with considerable flourish. In this case and some
others it is very simple, resembling more out capital T.
“Penelope Hardison and her husband, Ira,
named their daughter Emily J., and Ezra Hardison, a son of James also named
a daughter Emily J.
“T. R. Hardison in a history
of the Hardison family in 1911 stated that the children of James Hardison
(his gr grandfather) by his second wife included two daughters, Mrs. Ira
Hardison and Mrs. Gabriel Morton. He probably would have remembered Mrs.
Gabriel Morton who died in 1874, since he was born in 1856."
(From Sula Hardison's mimeographed
manuscript and handwritten notes now in possession of Mary Alice Hunter
Cathay.) In the settlement of James Hardison’s estate, one, of the
signers was Gabriel Morton and not the logical heir Emily. It is
not known why this happened, It was not highly unusual for the husband
to represent his wife in such a matter, however, thus, the evidence seems
reasonably conclusive that the youngest of James Hardison’s children was
Emily J. and that she married Gabriel Morton. “Emily Hardison’s family
are of particular interest. They were highly respected and successful businessmen
with early roots in this country. James Hardison family operated a sawmill
in Maury Co. taking up land on Flat Crack.” “Emily was the daughter
of Mary Smythwick (Smithwick) who was from an old N. Carolina family who
were government and church leaders, beginning in Chowan Co. NC in the latter
part of the 17th century. Mary’s ancestor is Hugh Smithwick, who is the
progenitor of the NC Smithwicks, who was said to have settled in the area
of Old Albamarie Co. about 1643.”
“He married Emily J. Hardison,
#1013, the youngest of the thirteen children of James Hardison, # 1000.
Their wedding was conducted by J. K. Speer, pioneer preacher of the Christian
Church in Middle Tennessee. (Maury County Marriage Book, W-2, page 492.)
This marriage has given family historians of the Hardison and Morton families
a lot of difficulty, due mainly to the way the scribe wrote the "J" in
the marriage book. Some transcriber of the past mistakenly saw an "I" and
wrote it that way. We discuss this problem more fully on pages 92 and 244.."
“Gabriel and Emily J. Hardison
Morton were parents to eight children, two of whom did not live beyond
childhood. The Bible of Maggie Hardison Morton (wife of James H. Morton),
owned a few years ago by Martha Linda Fox, lists the names, the dates of
birth and the dates of death for these children.”
MORTON BIBLE
H. & E. Phinney’s Stereotype
Edition Coopertown, N. Y., 1840. “This Bible originally belonged
to Gabriel L. Morton, and now owned by Norma M. Anderson (Mrs. James),
Waverly, Tennessee, and believed to be copied in 1968. Written inside
the front cover: "G. L. Mortons Old Family Bible, father of James H. Morton.
this book was purchased about the year 1842. Written by J. H. Morton
July 7, 1897, presented to my daughter Della Cheek.” Note by Mrs.
Anderson: "Gabriel L. Morton's Bible was given to my grandmother, Della
Morton Cheek, by her father James H. Morton, who was the oldest child of
Gabriel L. and Emily Morton. After the death of my grandmother, the Bible
was given to me by my aunt, Maycel Cheek, my Mothers (Edna Cheek Mitchum)
sister..”
Written inside the G. L. Morton Old Family Bible:
Gabriel L. Morton and Emily J. Morton were married
Dec. 15, 1840.
Eight children (this written at top of the birth
page.)
BIRTHS:
Gabriel Long Morton was born Feb. 28th, 1819.
Emily J. Hardison Morton born Feb. 26th, 1822,
wife of G.L.Morton.
James H. Morton, son of G. L. Morton & Emily
his wife was born March 10th 1842.
Elizabeth J. (?) Morton was born April
15th, 1844.
William T. Morton was born June 18th,
1847.
John M. Morton was born February 4th, 1850.
Calvin T. Morton was born March 31st 1854
Alice J. Morton was born August 28th, 1857.
(Should be Alice J.E. Morton)
Ida Park Morton born Aug. 17th, 1865.
BIRTHS: (These are believed to be slaves.)
Seller was born Match 21, 1799.
Ann was born December 26, 1825.
Jesse was born April 6, 1830.
Caroline was born January 26, 1834.
William was born October 5, 1838.
Matilda was born February 10, 1842.
Lilhey (?) was born June 11, 1842.
Baxter was born December 3, 1843.
George was born September 6,184-. (Page torn
here)
Mary was born December 20,18_ (Page torn).
Stephen was born April 12,185 L
Monday Ellen was born January 19,1853.
Elizabeth was born March 17,1853.
Andrew was born April 12, 185 5.
William D. A (rest torn) born 15 Oct. 18_ (Tom).
John Shut (?)_ (rest torn)
D (rest torn)-
DEATHS:
Elizabeth Morton departed this life October
2, 1848 and Ann departed this life April 1 day of 1856
BIRTHS:
John P. Cheek, born Dec. 9, 1873 and Della Morton
Cheek, born Jan. 29, 1874
MORTON CEMETERY
The origin of name is unknown.
Perhaps the cemetery was started by Gabriel L. Morton who lived in the
area prior to 1840. The first burial marked by an inscribed stone is that
of Effie Jane Cheek, wife of Nimrod P. Check, which occurred in 1848. That
does not mean, however, that there were not other internments before this
date. From the standpoint of number of burials, the name Hardison is most
prominent. In fact, in obituaries of many Hardisons buried here, it is
stated that they were buried in the family graveyard. Pg. 52, Maury County
cemeteries.
From Ruth Morton Journey
Cunningham:
Census of 1850: MORTON, Gabriel
30, Emily 28, James 8, Elizabeth 6, Thomas 3, John 6/12, TT, Ms-51 53.
He had 3,000 acres of land. Census of 1860: MORTON, G. L. 41 (m),
Emily J. 38, James 18, Frances E. 16, Thomas 13, John M. 10, Calvin T.
6, Alice J. 3, Mr-95-319
G L Morton 41 M Farmer 5,000
12,000 Tenn.
Emily J. 38 F Seamstress
James 18 M Farmer
Frances E. 16 F Student
Thomas 13 M
John M. 10 M
Calvin T. 6 M
Alice J. 3 F
Children of Gabriel Morton and Emily Hardison
are:
JAMES HARDISON MORTON
FRANCES ELIZABETH MORTON
WILLIAM THOMAS MORTON
JOHN MARSHALL MORTON
CALVIN T. MORTON
ALICE J. E. MORTON
CHARLES DEE MORTON
IDA EUDORA MORTON
Of these eight children, two Elizabeth
and Calvin T. died young.