Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 104

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 978

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Capt. Suter was engaged prior to the Civil War as a telegraph operator. He was First Lieutenant in Capt. John M. Power's company, known as the Johnstown Zouaves, when the war began. His company was tendered and accepted by Gov. A. G. Curtin, and left Johnstown for Harrisburg, April 17, 1861, within forty- eight hours after President Lincoln's call was made known. His company and that of Capt. Lapsley were the first to enter Camp Curtin.

April 20 it was mustered in as Company K. Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under command of Col. Francis P. Minier, for three months' service. At that time Capt. Power was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lient. Suter was

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made Captain. His company served in Maryland, Virginia, and on the border of Pennsylvania for the term, and was mustered out July 30, 1861.

He immediately raised another company in Johnstown, which became Company A, Fifty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, under command of Col. J. M. Campbell. He was mustered in at Harrisburg, August 6, 1861. On February 27, 1862, his regiment was taken to Washington City for the defence of the capital. and entered camp near Bladensburg. On March 29, it was ordered to Harper's Ferry, Virginia ; his company was located at the South Branch bridge, on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, to guard that great military highway; it continued along this line until January 5, 1864, when it was taken to the defence of Cumber- land, Maryland, where it remained and in that vicinity until May 2, 1864.

On that day, in pursuance of the broad and energetic plan of Gen. Grant for a movement of all the armies all along the line for the campaign of 1864, his regi- ment being in the Third Brigade, Third Division, Department of West Virginia, under command of Major Gen. Franz Sigel, entered the Shenandoah Valley, who was succeeded by Major Gen. David Hunter, who was also succeeded by Major Gen. George Crook, when his regiment was transferred to the Third Brigade of the Second Division.

He participated in all the engagements of his company and regiment while in the service, as follows: Back Creek, Virginia, September 11, 1862; North Moun- tain, Virginia, September 12, 1862; Back Creek Bridge, September 21, 1862; Purgitsville, Virginia, April 4. 1863: New Market, Virginia, May 15, 1864; New Market, Virginia, May 26, 1864; Piedmont, Virginia, June 5, 1864; Lexington, Virginia, June 11, 1864; Lynchburg, Virginia, June 17 and 18, 1864, and the terri- ble retreat across the mountains to Camp Piatt, Snicker's Gap, Virginia, July 18, 1864; near Winchester, Virginia, July 19, 1864: Kernstown, or Island Ford, Vir- ginia, July 23. 1864 ; Winchester, Virginia, July 24, 1864; Martinsburg, Virginia, July 25, 1864; Berryville, Virginia, September 3, 1864; Opequon Creek, Virginia, September 19, 1864: Cedar Creek, or Winchester, Virginia, October 19, 1864; and Fisher's Hill, Virginia, October 19, 1864, in Sheridan's brilliant victory. Owing to the casualties at and in the vicinity of Winchester, July 23-25, he was senior officer and commanded the Third Brigade, Third Division. He also commanded the Fifty-fourth Regiment at the battles of Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill, under Major Gen. Sheridan.

Capt. Suter was a gallant officer and a superb tactician, and for these and other gentlemanly qualities Major Gen. George Crook, under whom he served, gave him this document :-

Headquarters Department West Virginia.

His Excellency A. G. Curtin, Governor of Penna.

Cumberland, Md., Feb. 3d, 1865.

Governor: I take pleasure in recommending to your consideration Jno. Suter, late Cap- tain Co. A. 54th Penna. Vol. who served under my command through the entire campaign in the Shenandoah-commanding his regiment at the battles of Opequon-Fisher's Hill & Cedar Creek.

He is worthy and a gallaut officer. I commend him to your Excellency-any position you may see fit to give will he worthily bestowed.

I am, Governor, very respectfully,

your obedient servant, George Crook, .

Maj. Gen. Comm'g.

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Capt. Suter was honorably discharged on the expiration of his enlistment. December 15, 1864, and at the solicitation of Andrew Carnegie, who was then superintendent of the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad, he entered the train-master's office. February, 1865, and October following was appointed chief operator of the telegraph department of that division, where he served until his death.

He was connected with the New Jerusalem Church of Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania, and a member of McPherson Post, No. 117. Grand Army of the Republic, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

In his view of fidelity to his country and the railroad company, he assumed a prominent part in the suppression of the revolution in Pittsburg, known as the railroad riots, July, 1877. which was the most trying incident of his life. The horrible acts and scenes which he saw and passed through produced a partial collapse of his mind, which caused his death.

For further military particulars, see the history of the Fifty-fourth Regiment and other military organizations from Cambria county, and the graphic war let- ters of Capt. Suter in another volume of this work. Also in the Century edition of the "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War." volume iv. pages 489 and 531, and elsewhere therein.

MORTON FAMILY.

GEORGE MORTON, who with his elder brother John came to Philadelphia in 1773. was a son of Thomas and Hannah (Simons ) Morton, born at Mountrath, Queen's county. Ireland, November 29, 1756.

His great-grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth Morton, were residents of Mountrath, prior to 1700, and the former died there November 17, 1729. In his will dated "sixteenth Nov" 1729" he leaves to "Daughter Elizabeth Morton" £100, to "Daughter Mary Morton" £80, to "Daughter Ellifs Morton" £60, to "daughter Jane Morton" £60. To "Sons James Morton and ffrancis Morton the Sleat houfe and houlding thereunto belonging for Ever. I further Bequeath unto my son James the Shop he now has for Ever," to "Son John Morton the remaining part of all my Substance Together with the Leafe of the Houlding I now Live in in Mountrath, the Leafe of Clonbarrow and Knocknaninagh Except the Shop bequeathed to my son James Morton" to "son George Morton that houfe that I hould from Wm. French Esqrs" to "Son Thomas Morton my Silver hilted Sord" "Sons Thomas and John Morton To be Sole Exrs." "I likewise Bequeath to my four Daughters halfe of the househould goods that I am now posesed of."

Besides what he left in the above will to his eldest son George, he gave him at the time of his marriage to Ann Jones in 1723, as a marriage portion, "the Sume of one hundred pounds ster. and allsoe" "a plott of Ground lying in the said town of Mountrath." An exchequer bill of February, 1741, also states that Thomas Morton left "plate, jewels, linnen, household goods, horses, cows, bullocks, sheep, young cattle of different kinds to the value of £100o."

This Thomas Morton, who with George and James Morton were in Mountrath in 1699, is said to have arrived in Ireland with William of Orange (an oil portrait of the King still hangs in the Dining-room at Little Island, Clonmel) and their connection with the Moretons of Moreton Hall, Cheshire, is not doubted by the family as tradition states that they were related to William Moreton, Bishop of Meath, and as the coat-of-arms always used by the family corresponds to that of the Cheshire Moretons, a grey hound courant, crest a wolf's head, while that of the county Wicklow Mortons descended from George Morton, of Mountrath, is exactly the same as the English family.

Issue of Thomas and Elisabeth Morton:

GEORGE MORTON. b. 1698; d. Dec. 16, 1746; m. Ann Jones, in 1723, and had issue; of whom presently;

James Morton, d. in 1761 ;

Adam Morton, not mentioned in his father's will;

Francis Morton, d. 1759; m. Anne, dau. of Isaac Simons; she d. Ang. 19, 1759;

John Morton, d. s. p., June 5, 1735;

Thomas Morton, d. May 11, 1745; m. Sept. 9, 1728, Alice, dan. of Richard Segar, of Ringstown, who m. (second) James Calcutt ;

Elizabeth Morton, d. prior to 1756; m. Dr. William Edmundson (d. 1756), son of Will- iam Edmundson, an early Quaker preacher in Ireland, who visited America in 1672; Mary Morton, m., Feb. 8, 1737-38, Andrew Buchanan ;

Ellis Morton, m. Richard Carroll;

Jane Morton, m., June 7, 1739, Robert Bates.

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GEORGE MORTON, eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth, born 1698, married, 1723, Ann Jones, (who married (second), 1755, Jacob Cantrill). George Morton died intestate leaving besides his property very little but debts behind him, but his widow had her marriage portion from her uncles, John Jones and Robert Lewesly (or Lowesly), and also inherited half of the estate of the above mentioned uncle, John Jones, of Avoly, the other half coming to her on the death of her brother, John Jones, of Rosenallis, who died without issue, leaving everything to his sister and her children. Her son Thomas also inherited land and money from his uncle, John Morton, and in 1771 from his elder brother. Jones Morton.

Issue of George and Ann (Jones) Morton:

Jones Morton, d. s. p., 1771 ;

THOMAS MORTON, b. 1729; d. Dec. 5, 1804; m. Mrs. Hannah ( Simons) St. Clair, b. 10, 21, 1729, d. before 1785; of whom presently ;

George Morton, m. Elizabeth Phelan ;

Mary Morton, m. William Smyth (before her father's death).

THOMAS MORTON, son of George and Ann (Jones) Morton, born in 1729, mar- ried, March 22, 1753, Hannah St. Clair ( widow of Robert) and daughter of Jacob Simons, (born 6mo. 23, 1682, died 5mo. 28, 1741) by his wife, Honor (Neale) Chesterman (died July 19, 1771), whom he married in Dublin 3mo. 7, 1728. She was a daughter of Samuel Neale and Honor Rice. Jacob Simons was a son of William Simons, who married at Caven, 1679, Hannah Fayle, of a family that came from Lancashire, England. John and Jane Simons, the parents of Jacob, came from the Isle of Man.

About 1722 Thomas and Hannah Morton and their children removed from Mountrath to Clonmel in the county Tipperary, where some of their descendants still reside ; the present head of the family being Villiers Morton, Esq., who came into the Queen's county, Waterford and Tipperary property on the death of his father, Captain Matthew Villiers Sankey Morton, who died at Little Island, Clon- mel, on the 3Ist of October, 1907.

Thomas Morton died December 5th, 1804, leaving a will dated 22nd July of the same year: To his son James Morton £113/15. To "Grand-children Samuel Morton and Anne Morton, son & Daughter of my Son George Morton late of Philadelphia deceased" £550 each, fioo to their mother Jane Morton. To grand- niece Jane Jones £113/15. Everything else to son Samuel Morton, his heirs and assigns. Executors sons Samuel and James Morton.

Thomas Morton is buried in old St. Mary's Churchyard, Clonmel ; on his tomb- stone is inscribed :

"Here Lyeth the Body of Thomas Morton of Clonmel who departed this life the 5th Day of December 1804 in the 76 Year of his Age."

Thomas and Hannah (Simons-St. Clair) Morton had issuc:

John Morton, b. at Mountrath, Queen's co., Jan. 25, 1754; came to America, with his brother, George, in 1773, and d. March 14, 1774; is bur. at Second River Church, near Newark, N. J .;

GEORGE MORTON, b. Nov. 29, 1756, at Mountrath; d. July 27, 1799, in Phila .; m. Jane Cum- mings, b. 6mo. 14, 1766, d. 12mo. 5, 1816; of whom presently ;

Thomas Morton, b. at Mountrath, Sept. 10, 1758; d. inf. ;

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Jones Morton, b. at Mountrath, Dec. 22, 1760; bur. July 1, 1771, at Mountrath;

James Morton, b. at Mountrath, Nov. 5, 1762; d. May 15, 1840; m. Elizabeth Airey, who is bur. at St. Mary's Clonmel; d. Dec. 31, 1828, in her sixty-eighth year;

Samuel Morton, b. at Mountrath, Dec. 4, 1764; d. at Clonmel, May 11, 1830; m. Anne Senior ;

Hannah Morton, b. at Mountrath, Dec. 24, 1765; bur. April 7, 1770, at Mountrath; Jane Morton, b. at Mountrath, Dec. 23, 1766; bur. Nov. 12, 1769, at Mountrath;

Jacob Morton, b. at Mountrath, Dec. 15, 1769; d. Aug. 17, 1773, at Clonmel.

GEORGE MORTON, the second son of Thomas and Hannah, born at Mountrath. November 29, 1756, was baptized at St. Peter's Church there, "10 ber 5, 1756." Of his early life little or nothing is known. After the removal of the family to Clonmel, it appears from a letter in possession of the Philadelphia family that he was for a time under the tutorship of Thomas Chaytor, a schoolmaster of Clonmel. In 1773, when only seventeen years of age, with his elder brother. John Morton, he sailed in the ship, "Charlotte," Captain Curtis, for Philadelphia, where they landed July 4, 1773, after an arduous voyage, enlivened apparently by a mutiny of the crew, as their father, Thomas Morton, writing them under date of September 8, 1773, says: "we Can't be thankfull Enough for your preservation, not only from the Boisterous Seas, but from them Abandoned Villains who Sought your distruction for A Short & Ill purchased liberty by which they would have buried in the deep near 80 Souls, but providence Enterpofed and discoverd their dark design, Nothing apears too defperate for some of our Wicked Country men to Attempt, no Wonder they should be held in Derision in America as the greatest part that goes is the Very Scroff of the Nation."

The two hoys brought a letter of introduction and recommendation to Israel Pemberton from their relative, Samuel Neale, and with him John secured a posi- tion, while George was with Levi Hollingsworth ; in 1775 he appears to have been with Reuben Haines.

Less than a year later John, who had not been strong, contracted a cold from the effects of which he died March 14, 1774, at the house of Benjamin Booth, near Newark, New Jersey, whither he had gone in search of health, and was buried in "Second-River Church Yard upon the bank of the paswick in New Jersey."

In 1778 George was Assistant Commissary of Issues at Philadelphia, as is shown by the certificate of Allegiance to the United States, sworn to before Gen- eral Nathaniel Greene, and one year later before Isaac Howell. Some of the papers, still in the possession of his great-grandchildren, are interesting as to what many of the citizens, as well as those in the army, received from the department, and as examples of neatness and good penmanship. In 1784-85 he was in the shipping business with Dean Timmons and was the owner of the "Mary Ann," "St. Patrick" and other sailing ships.

In 1784 he returned to Ireland for a few months, and before his marriage lived some short time in New York, and had business relations with John Franklin, who married Deborah Morris, of Philadelphia, she being the intimate friend of his future mother-in-law-their friendship being inherited by their two daughters, Sarah Franklin and Jane Cummings.

On February 23, 1785, at eight o'clock in the evening, George Morton and Jane Cummings were married by the Rev. Dr. Blackwell, of St. Peter's Church. Jane Cummings was the daughter of John Cummings and Margaret Hinman (whose marriage is recorded at Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia, July 13, 1755). The

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courtship seems to have lasted for some time, and his letter asking for her hand in marriage is quaint and old fashioned "give me Jennie-give her what you please --- or give her nothing." In writing to Samuel Neale in 1784 he says, "In my opinion there is as much nicety in chusing a Partner in Trade as there is in chusing a Wife -if there is not a similarity in their dispositions and pursuits you seldom find that such Connections are permanent-Apropos-Before this reaches you I shall in all probability be engaged with a partner for Life. I have chosen her on the above principles and tho' she is not destitute of Fortune I can assure you with great Sincerity that Interest has not had the least influence in the Choice."

As a merchant George Morton does not appear to have been successful. After 1790 we find his letters from Ireland addressed to the Treasury Department, Phil- adelphia, and the City Directory calls him "Clerk in the Custom Department."

At the time of his death (of yellow fever in 1799) he was again in business and living at the southwest corner of Eleventh and Walnut streets, which property he bought in 1797-8. Letters of administration were granted to his widow, Jane Mor- ton, Philip Redmond (who married Hannah Cummings), Forman Cheesman (married Ann Cummings) and Thomas Cummings.

Shortly after this event his widow moved to Westchester, New York, where the Cheesmans were then living, and in 1800 her eldest son James embarked for Ireland, having been sent for by his grandfather, Thomas Morton, and was eventually adopted by his uncle, James Morton, of Clonmel; on the voyage over and during the journey to Clonmel he kept a diary and his letters home are enter- taining ; he died quite unexpectedly a few years later.

George Morton's widow joined the Society of Friends shortly after 1800 and became a Minister in the Society ; she lived in Westchester, New York, until 1811, when she married at Purchase Meeting, Thomas Rogers, of Philadelphia (son of Thomas Rogers and Elizabeth Craig, and grandson of Nicholas Rogers), whose first wife was Anne Dawson, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sugar ) Dawson. Jane Morton Rogers died in Philadelphia, December 5, 1816.

Issue of George and Jane (Cummings) Morton:

Thomas Morton, b., Phila., Feb. 14, 1786; d. July 16, 1786; Margaret Morton, b., Phila., Aug. 5, 1787; d. Aug. 28, 1787; James Morton, b., Phila., March 7, 1789; d. Oct. 23, 1803; Anna Morton, b., Phila., April 26, 1790; d. Sept. 26, 1857: George Morton, b., Phila., July 7, 1791; d. July 19, 1791 ; George Morton, b., Phila., March 3, 1793; d. Nov. 10, 1796;

Margaret Morton, b., Phila., June 14, 1794; d. June 27, 1794;

Thomas Morton, b., Phila., Oct. 2, 1797; d. Feb. 1, 1798; SAMUEL GEORGE MORTON, b., Phila., Jan. 26, 1799; d. May 15, 1851.

Of this large family only two were living in 1804, Anna, who never married, and Samuel George Morton, the only one in this country to carry on the name.

SAMUEL GEORGE MORTON, only surviving son of George and Jane (Cummings) Morton, was born in Philadelphia, January 26, 1799. He spent most of his early childhood at Westchester, New York ; after his mother's return to Philadelphia hc was placed at Westtown Boarding School, Chester county, and he finished his ele- mentary education at Gummere's Classical Academy at Burlington ; after which he began the study of medicine with Dr. Joseph Parrish, of Philadelphia, and entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated

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in March, 1820. He then went to Ireland on an extended visit, and later took a course at the University of Edinburgh, from which institution he received his diploma in August, 1823.

After studying for some months in Paris and attending "the clinical lectures of the celebrated Laennec," he visited Italy and returned to Philadelphia by way of Ireland in 1824 and there began the practice of medicine.

"That he possessed in some manner the confidence of the public, as a practi- tioner, is shown by his appointment, in the year 1829, as one of the physicians to the Philadelphia Almshouse Hospital."

In January, 1830, "The Philadelphia Association for Medical Instruction" was started. The first lecturers being Dr. Joseph Parrish, Dr. Franklin Bache, Dr. John Rhea Barton, Dr. George B. Wood and Dr. Samuel George Morton : and in 1839, he was elected Professor of Anatomy in The Pennsylvania Medical College.

While Dr. Morton became a successful and prominent physician and surgeon, it was in the less restricted paths of science that he achieved special distinction. He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences in 1824, was its recording secretary in 1825, and its president in 1849, which position he held until his death in 1851.

He also became one of the most active members of the American Philosophical Society and was a prolific writer on scientific subjects. His first scientific essay, entitled "Observations on Cornine, a New Alkaloid," was published in the Medical and Physical Journal for 1825-26. In 1827 he communicated to the Academy of Natural Sciences an "Analysis of Tabular Spar from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with a Notice of Various Minerals found in the same Locality." During the same year he contributed to the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadel- phia, a "Description of the New Species of Ostrea with some remarks on the Ostrea Convexa of Say." These papers were followed in rapid succession by many other scientific communications, and the Journal of the Academy continued to be enriched by his labors until within a short period of his death. There were not less than forty of these communications, besides others published in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society and the American Journal of Science and Arts, edited by Professor Silliman. These articles, by their varied range, exhibited great versatility of talent, treating as they did upon subjects of anatomy, ethnology, archaeology, geology, paleontology, zoology, and mineralogy. His celebrated monograph on the "Cretaceous Group of the United States" was received, at the time of its publication, with great favor by the most eminent geologists of Europe. In 1834 he contributed to medical literature an important work on "Illustrations of Pulmonary Consumption ; its Anatomical Characters, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment." He early began to make his celebrated col- lection of crania, and up to 1840 had, with great labor and cost, succeeded in col- lecting no less than fourteen hundred and sixty-eight crania. In 1839 he gave to America his "Crania Americana," and in 1844 his "Crania Egyptiaca," both of which were very favorably received. In 1849 he published a "System of Human Anatomy."

He was referred to as the "Humboldt of America." In the annals of science his name will always be associated with that of Blumenbach, the founder of human craniology. To this study he gave a powerful impetus by demonstrating the pre- cise method in accordance with which it should be pursued, and by indicating its

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capability of throwing light upon the origin and affiliations of the various races of men.

Dr. Morton's correspondence with scientists at home and abroad was believed to be larger than that of any other man in this country. He was in communication with Baron George Cuvier, Alexander Humboldt, Bunson, Lepsius, and a host of other distinguished men of science and letters.

The following translation of a letter, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of "Crania Americana," shows the kindly feeling which existed between Dr. Morton and the author of "Cosmos :"

"Sir :-

The close bonds of interest and affection that have for the past half-century connected me with the hemisphere in which you reside, and of which I flatter myself that I am a citi- zen, have added to the impressions made upon me by the receipt, almost at the same moment, of your great work upon Philosophical Physiology, and the admirable History of the Con- quest of Mexico by Mr. Wm. Prescott. Works of this class, which extend by very different means the sphere of our knowledge, serve to add to the glory of one's country. I cannot sufficiently express my deep gratitude to you.

At my advanced age, I am peculiarly gratified by the interest still preserved for me be- yond the great Atlantic valley over which a bridge has, as it were, been thrown by the power of steam.

The craniological treasures which you have been so fortunate as to unite in your collec- tion, have in you found a worthy interpreter. Your work is equally remarkable for the profundity of its anatomical views, the numerical detail of the relations of organic conforma- tion, the absence of those poetical reveries which are as the myths of modern physiology, and the generalizations with which your Introductory Essay abounds.

Being at present occupied in the preparation of the most important of my works, which will be published under the imprudent title of "Cosmos," I shall know how to profit by so many excellent views upon the distribution of the races of mankind that are scattered throughout your beautiful volume. One cannot, indeed, be surprised to see in it such evi- dences of artistic perfection, and that you could produce a work that is a fitting rival of whatever most beautiful has been produced either in France or in England. I pray you to accept the renewed expression of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient, humble servant,

Berlin, 17th January, 1844. ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT."

Dr. Morton was elected an honorary member of many scientific societies in various parts of the United States, in Europe, and in the East, among which are the following: The Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia ; Philadelphia Medical Society ; College of Physicians, Philadelphia; American Philosophical Society ; American Medical Association ; Massachusetts Medical Society ; Western Academy of Natural Sciences, at St. Louis ; Georgia Historical Society ; American Oriental Society, at Boston ; American Ethnological Society, at New York; Medical Society of Sweden ; Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries at Copenhagen ; Acad- emy of Science, Letters and Arts de Zelanti di Arcireale; Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow ; Medical Society of Edinburgh ; and Senckenburg Natural History Society of Frankfort-on-Mayne. He died May 15, 1851.

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Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 104

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 978

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 978