Person Page

     Alice I. Carter was born on 25 May 1874 in Hyde Park, Cook Co., Illinois. (Her death notice lists her age as 17 years 8 months 10 days, which corresponds to a birth date of 10 August 1873.)^3,1 She died on 20 April 1891 in Mahomet, Champaign Co., Illinois, at age 16 from tuberculosis.^1,4 She was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.⁵
     After their mother's death in 1883, she, her sister Phoebe, and her brother Preston were taken in by their mother's sister Anna and her husband Harvey Seth Tryon.⁶ She was "full of fun and laughter," and together constantly with her cousin Helen.⁷
     In the fall of 1889, a little over a year after her sister Phoebe's death from tuberculosis, she contracted the disease herself.^8,9 The family moved to Lawtey, Bradford Co., Florida, about December 1889, hoping the warmer climate would improve her health.^9,10 They all grew homesick, however, and she did not get any better, so they soon returned home to Mahomet, Champaign Co., Illinois. She died there about a year later.^{9,11,12,13,4,14}

     James Preston Carter was born on 20 August 1875 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.⁴ He married Lena M. Chapman, daughter of Thomas Chapman and Cora (?), on 11 August 1917 in Cook Co., Illinois.⁵ He died on 28 February 1937 in Buck Twp., Edgar Co., Illinois, at age 61.¹ He was buried on 3 March 1937 at Edgar Cemetery in Paris, Edgar Co., Illinois.¹
     He went by his middle name Preston, at least as a child.^2,6
     After their mother's death in 1883, he and his sisters Phoebe and Alice were taken in by their mother's sister Anna and her husband Harvey Seth Tryon.⁷ Phoebe died from tuberculosis in June 1888, and Alice developed the same disease in late 1889. The family moved to Lawtey, Bradford Co., Florida, about December 1889, hoping the warmer climate would improve her health.^8,9 They all grew homesick, however, and Alice did not get any better, so they soon returned home to Mahomet, Champaign Co., Illinois. Alice died there about a year later.^{8,10,11,12,13,14}
     He went "out West" to live with his father's family for a couple of years, then moved back to Mahomet, where his father bought a farm for him.¹⁵
     After his father's death in 1914, he was left the bulk of the estate, worth about $87,500.¹⁶

     Effie Ritnour was born on 3 January 1876 in Stanford, McLean Co., Illinois.² She married William B. Tryon, son of Harvey Seth Tryon and Anna Elizabeth Rudolph, on 20 November 1902 at the bride's home in Stanford, McLean Co., Illinois.¹ She died on 22 September 1950 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 74.² She was buried at Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.⁴
     She and her husband William moved to a farm in Michigan that had been purchased by her father-in-law, where they lived for several years.⁵ They are listed in Emerson Twp., Gratiot Co., Michigan, in the 1910 census⁶, and in Breckenridge, Gratiot Co., in the 1920 census.⁷
     By 1930 they had moved to Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, perhaps to care for William's parents, or for his father after his mother's death in 1929.⁸ They are listed there at 611 Paris Ave. S.E. in the 1930 census, and William's father Harvey, age 94, was living with them.⁸ Harvey died about a year later, and in 1940 she and William were living in an apartment at 9 Goodrich St. in Grand Rapids.⁹

     Thomas Gardner was born say 1614 in England.² He married first (?) Hapscott by 1643.² He married second Elizabeth Horne, daughter of John Horne.² He died in 1682.¹

     Thomas Gardner was born about 1592.¹ He probably married as his second wife Margaret (?), by 1639.¹ He married third Damaris (?).¹ He died on 29 December 1674 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He came to New England in 1624, settling in Cape Ann, Massachusetts,¹ where he served as overseer of planting.^1,2 He moved to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1626¹ and became a freeman there on 17 May 1637.¹
     He served as deputy from Salem to the General Court on 26 September 1637, as fenceviewer in 1636, constable in 1639, and rater in 1639/40. He also was a frequent juryman, selectman, and highway surveyor.¹
     He was an innkeeper in Salem. In June 1667 his license was modified to only allow him to sell to "strangers" (i.e., non-residents).¹
     He was probably married three times, but the name of his first wife, who he married by about 1614 and was the mother of his children, is unknown. She probably died in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1636, possibly during childbirth. This conclusion is based on the fact that in 1637 he received a land grant in Salem for a family of seven, but at that time he had seven children too young to be on their own, indicating that he may not have had a wife living at that time. Further, on 24 March 1639/40 a Margaret Gardner was admitted to the church in Salem. If she were Thomas' first wife, she would presumably been included in a list of church members compiled in 1636.¹
     His will was dated 7 December 1668, and proved on 29 March 1675. He left his wife Damaris the portion of the estate that she had brought to their marriage, plus £8/year to be paid by his six sons provided she relinquish her rights to his housing and land. He also left £15 each to his daughters Sarah and Seeth; £5 to his granddaughters Miriam and Susanna Hill, children of his daughter Miriam, at their marriage or age 18; a salt meadow worth £20 to his sons George and John; and the other part of his salt meadow to his sons Samuel and Joseph. The remainder was to be divided into seven equal parts, with two going to his son Thomas who was to pay his "mother-in-law" (i.e., stepmother) 46s/year, and one going to each of his other sons who were to pay her 23s/year.¹ His estate was inventoried on 4 January 1674/75 ("4:11m:1674") and valued at £274 16s, of which £201 was real estate, including an old house with 10 acres of land, 10 acres in Northfield, 100 acres of upland and meadow, 20 acres of woodland, and 2 3/4 acres of salt marsh.¹

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration
  
• Thomas Gardner (planter).
  

     Elizabeth Turner was born in 1704.¹ She married Thomas Berry.¹

     Thomas Berry married Elizabeth Turner, daughter of John Turner and Mary Kitchen.¹

     John Turner was a merchant in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and lived at the corner of Essex and Beekford Streets.¹ He held a lease on Baker's Island for 1000 years at £3 per year.¹ His estate was valued at £6,788.¹

     John Turner was born in 1608 in Barbados, West Indies.¹ He died on 13 October 1668 in Barbados, West Indies.¹
     He lived in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and was engaged in the "Barbados Trade."¹

     Anthony Morse was born on 22 December 1753 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.⁴ He married Huldah Taylor, probably in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.^2,4 He died on 22 March 1803 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, at age 49.⁵ He was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery (Upper Terrace) in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.⁵
     Anthony Morse moved with his uncle Moses Morse to Worthington, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, in 1760.⁴
     He may have participated in the Boston Tea Party on 16 December 1773. In 1822 his son Lewis was quoted as saying that his father and Joseph Roby were "active in destroying the tea in Boston Harbor."⁶ However, although he later served in the Revolution and was active politically, he was not quite 20 at the time, and his biographical sketch in the New England Historic Genealogical Society's database on tea party participants notes that other than his son's statement, "no information was found explaining Anthony’s presence in Boston as a young man."⁷
     He was a drummer in Capt. Ebenezer Webber's company from Worthington, Massachusetts, from 20 to 27 April 1775, responding to the Lexington Alarm. He then formally enlisted on 27 April in Capt. Webber's company, Col. John Fellows 17th Massachusetts Regiment (redesignated as the "8th Regiment of Foot" in August 1775), where he served as a sergeant from April to November 1775. They were stationed at Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts, during the Siege of Boston. From April to December 1776 he served in the 26th Continental Infantry. He was commissioned as an ensign in the 9th Massachusetts Regiment under Col. James Wesson on 1 January 1777, and left the service on 14 February 1778 due to ill health.^8,9,4,10,11
     The Morse genealogy says he became a sergeant under Capt. Webber, then a captain, was brevetted at the Battle of Bennington, fought at Bemis Heights as a major, and was present at the surrender of British Gen. John Burgoyne on 17 October 1777.⁴
     He and his wife Huldah moved to Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, in 1782 or 1783.⁴

More Information / Background

• Boston Tea Party
  
• Battles of Lexington and Concord
  
• Siege of Boston
  
• Fortification of Dorchester Heights
  
• Battle of Bennington
  
• Second Saratoga: Battle of Bemis Heights (October 7)
  
• Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne
  
• Massachusetts Line
  
• 26th Continental Regiment
  
• 9th Massachusetts Regiment.
  

     Huldah Taylor was born about 1757 (based on her age at death of 68).⁴ She married first Anthony Morse, son of Nathaniel Morse and Mary Morgan, in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.^2,5 She married second Caleb Fuller, son of Young Fuller and Jerusha Beebe, on 25 December 1805 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^6,7 They apparently divorced, as Huldah was remarried before Caleb's death.⁸ She married third John Whitten on 31 January 1810 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.⁸ She died on 3 January 1826 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, at age 68.^9,4 She was buried beside her first husband Anthony Morse at Pine Hill Cemetery (Upper Terrace) in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.⁹
     She and her first husband Anthony moved to Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, in 1782 or 1783.⁵
     Her second marriage, to Caleb Fuller in December 1805, was short. She was named as Huldah Fuller on 12 November 1806 when she and Caleb sold land in Sharon to her son Wareham Morse, including two acres that were sold to her first husband Anthony Morse by James Marsh.¹⁰ On 2 November 1807, as Huldah Fuller but without Caleb, she bought part of this parcel back from her son Hiram, who had acquired it from Wareham.^11,12 A year after that, on 20 December 1808, she was called Huldah Morse when she leased two 40-acre lots to her son Hiram.¹³ She was also called Huldah Morse on 2 January 1810, when she purchased land from Jason Downer.¹⁴
     Her third husband John has not been positively identified in the 1810 census. He may be the John Wheaton listed five lines above Huldah's son Wareham Morse in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, with one male aged 16-25, one male over 44 (John), one female 10-15, one female 16-25, and one female 26-44 (Huldah).¹⁵
     On 13 May 1813, as Huldah Whitten, she purchased 1 1/4 acres from her son Wareham, adjoining the land she received from the estate of her first husband Anthony Morse.¹⁶ On 13 October 1819 she and her third husband John sold land to her son Lewis Morse¹⁷, and on 28 December 1819 they leased their farm, where they were then living, to John & Solomon Downer for one year, starting 1 April 1820.¹⁸ On 3 October 1820 they sold several parcels, including all of the land Huldah received from her first husband, to her son Wareham.¹⁹
     In the 1820 census, enumerated on 7 August, Huldah is listed by herself in Sharon, age 45 and above.²⁰ Her husband John John may be the John Whitten listed by himself in Rochester, Windsor Co., Vermont, age 45 and above²¹, although he is listed as being "of Sharon" in the land transactions described above.

     Wareham Morse was born on 14 December 1778 in Worthington, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Elizabeth Lathrop, daughter of Oliver Lathrop and Eunice Hough, on 22 May 1811 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^3,2 He died on 14 June 1837 (his cemetery marker says 13 June) in Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, at age 58.^4,5 He was buried at School Street Cemetery (Plot 438) in Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire.⁵
     He is listed in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, in the 1810 census, with one male age 10-15, one male 16-25, one male 26-44 (Wareham), one female 10-15, and one female 16-25⁶, and in Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, in the 1830 census, with one male age 10-14, one male 15-20, one male 40-49 (presumably Wareham, although he was actually 51), one female 10-14, two females 30-39, and one female 50-59.⁷
     He was a merchant, bank official, and ran a stage route.^4,8 He helped found the Lebanon Academy⁴, and in February 1836 was listed as one of its trustees.⁹
     He died intestate, and Robert Kimball was appointed administrator of his estate on 27 June 1837.¹⁰ The estate inventory was presented in court on 1 August, and included real estate worth $10,500 and personal property worth $17,782.29. The real estate consisted of the 135-acre "Abbot Farm" south of Lebanon; a tavern, stand, and barn known as the Rising Sun Hotel; his dwelling house, including a store; plus two other properties. His widow Elizabeth was allowed to choose any articles from the personal estate for her comfort and support, totaling $1000.¹¹
     On 31 January 1838 claims against the estate totaled $18,646.85, meaning the estate was insolvent.¹¹ The real estate was sold at public auction on 10 April 1838, raising $6145, and submitted to the court 1 February 1840. When the estate was finally settled on 5 May 1840, it was worth $17,463.64, with claims against it totaling $19,404.05, and each creditor was paid 90 cents per dollar owed.¹²

     Hiram Morse was born on 26 December 1781 in Worthington, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 He married Clarissa (?).³
     The identification of Hiram Morse's wife as Clarissa, and their son as Wareham, is tentative, and based on circumstantial evidence.
     According to the Morse genealogy by Henry Dutch Lord, Hiram Morse's wife drowned in a pond in West Brattleboro, Windham Co., Vermont, and he died shortly afterward, leaving a son.⁴ The Morse genealogy by Morse and Leavitt doesn't say anything about his death, but does say that he married and left one son, who lived in West Brattleboro, Vermont.²
     However, there's a Wareham Morse, born 1815 in Chateaugay, Franklin Co., New York, who married Elizabeth Potter.^5,6 Elizabeth drowned on 7 August 1879 in West Brattleboro, and Wareham died there from a drug overdose about seven months later.^7,8 So, the information about Hiram's death is very likely wrong. Lord's source for Hiram's death was either confused, or Lord misinterpreted the information. Given that Hiram had a brother with the somewhat unusual name Wareham (born 1778)⁹, it's likely that this Wareham (born 1815) is related to the family. Further, given that the Morse genealogy by Morse and Leavitt says Hiram's son lived in West Brattleboro, and given that Wareham died there, it seems likely that Wareham was Hiram's son.
     From a newspaper article about Elizabeth's death, and from the 1880 U.S. Census Mortality Schedule, Wareham and Elizabeth moved to Windham Co., Vermont, from Canton, St. Lawrence Co., New York, about 1872,^7,10 and they are listed in Canton in the 1860 and 1870 censuses, along with their son Henry.^11,12 In 1850, Wareham, age 33, is listed in Canton with a Clarissa Morse, age 53, born in Vermont.¹³ In Wareham's death record (which is a transcription) his father's first name is a little difficult to read, but looks like Henry, and his mother is listed as Clarisa.¹⁴
     Finally, there's a grave marker at Porter Hill Cemetery in Hermon, St. Lawrence Co., New York, that reads "Clarissa Blanchard, former wife of Hiram Morse, died Jan. 12 1868." Her age is also inscribed, and appears to be 73 or 78, but the marker is worn and difficult to read.¹⁵
     From the above evidence, it appears that Hiram Morse married Clarissa (--?--), and they had a son Wareham in 1815. Hiram probably died not long afterward, and Clarissa was remarried to (--?--) Blanchard. (Hiram and Clarissa may have divorced, but if so, it seems unlikely that Clarissa's grave marker would name him.)¹⁶

     Rebeckah Morse was born on 9 April 1784 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.¹ She died unmarried at "the residence of Charles Gilman," her sister Ruth's husband, about May 1833 in Sanbornton, Belknap Co., New Hampshire.^2,3
     According to the genealogy by Morse and Leavitt, she was known for her beauty, and called the "Rose of Sharon." It also says she founded a ladies seminary in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, but no other source supporting that has been found.⁴
     She is listed in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, in the 1830 census, with one female age 40-49 (Rebecca) and one age 5-9.⁵

     Anthony Wooster Morse was born on 29 March 1788 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^1,2,3 He married Electa Russell Wellman, daughter of Lemuel Wellman and Esther Steele Russell, on 25 November 1822 in Salem, Washington Co., New York.^4,2,3 He died on 6 August 1843 in Cape Girardeau, Girardeau Co., Missouri, at age 55.^5,6,3
     He was living in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, on 6 January 1812, when he gave his brother Wolcott a mortgage for $400 on a forty acre lot in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont,⁷ and in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, on 5 April 1814, when he bought a 40-acre lot in Sharon (perhaps the same lot?) from Wolcott for $500.⁸
     He moved to Hanover, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, sometime before 23 January 1822, when he began buying his siblings' interest in two 40-acre lots in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, that had been set off as part of his mother Huldah's dower in the estate of her deceased husband Anthony Morse, that was then occupied by her. He bought the rights from Hiram on 23 January for $50⁹, from Lucinda on 30 January for $30¹⁰, from Ruth on 6 February for $30¹¹, from Lewis on 8 February for $50¹², from Henry on 23 March for $50¹³, from Rebeckah on 5 May for $30¹⁴, and from Huldah on 17 June for $30.¹⁵ His brother Wolcott sold his rights to those lots, along with any other rights to their mother's estate, to their brother Wareham on 4 February 1825 for $100.¹⁶ How Anthony acquired Wareham's interest in the lots is unknown, but he sold the property to John Wright on 25 April 1825 for $500.¹⁷
     He moved to Vicksburg, Warren Co., Mississippi, about 1826, where his brother Henry had moved earlier. Anthony is first mentioned there as a witness to the purchase by Henry of a female slave named Omey, about age 20, from Fountain Perry for $320.¹⁸
     On 25 December 1826 he bought a lot in Vicksburg from the estate of Joseph Edmonds for $1080, with his brother Henry signing as security.¹⁹ He bought four parcels of land in Vicksburg in 1827 - one from Jordan Prim for $400 on 21 February²⁰, an adjoining one from Benjamin Walton for $1600 on 26 February²¹, and two from John Vick "for a valuable consideration and one dollar" on 19 September.²²
     He appears to have helped his brother Henry when he was having financial problems in 1828. On 7 January 1828 some of Henry's property in Vicksburg was sold at auction after being seized by the court as result of a suit for an unpaid debt, and Anthony was the buyer, for $3695.²³ A little over two months later, on 21 March, Anthony sold a house and land in Vicksburg to Evans Rogers, et. al., for $9686.26, payed "by a transfer of certain claims by Sam'l W. Vakey, Thomas Baron, and Rogers Slocomb ... against my Brother Henry Morse."²⁴ But then about two weeks after that, on 6 April, Anthony sold five parcels of land in Vicksburg to Henry for $5000.²⁵
     In 1828 Anthony was taxed $20.50 in Warren Co. for three lots in Vicksburg worth $3500, $4,000 in sales of merchandise, and two slaves.²⁶
     On 5 October 1829, as a result of suit by John Hayan & Company of New Orleans against both Anthony and Henry for $2070 plus interest from 1 January 1828, and $48 in costs, part of their property in Vicksburg was sold at auction to Redding B. Herring for $2444.12.²⁷
     He moved back to Grafton Co., New Hampshire, by 1830, and is listed there in the census in Piermont in 1830, and in Hanover in 1840.^28,29
     He also apparently lived in New York City for a time. His obituary in the New York Tribune refers to him as "Anthony W. Morse, Esq., late of Hanover, New Hampshire, for several years a resident in this city."⁵ His name appears several times in New York newspapers in 1833 and in 1840-1841, in lists of unclaimed letters³⁰, and in January 1843 in a list of those declaring bankruptcy.³¹

     Wolcott Morse was born on 4 February 1790 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^1,2
     Very little is known about Wolcott Morse. He may have served in the New York militia in the War of 1812. In the index to War of 1812 service records, there are entries for Wolcott Morse as a private in the 20th (Allen's) Regiment, and for Walcott Morse as a private in the 18th (Dobbin's) Regiment.^3,4 In the payroll abstracts for the New York militia, Wolcott Morse is listed as a private in Capt. John Brown's Co., Col. Peter Allen's Regt., in 1812, with the notes "Absent" and "In service at Lewiston, N.Y." And Walcott Morse is listed as a private in Capt. Joel S. Hart's Co., Col. Hugh W. Dobbin's Regt., on 19 Oct 1812, with the notes "also Wolcott" and again "Absent."^5,6
     He was living in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, in 1812 and 1814, when he was involved in land transactions with his brother Anthony. On 6 January 1812 he took out a mortgage with Anthony for $400 a forty acre lot "that John Nelson was the original grantee of and the same that I this day deeded to the sd Wolcot Morse." in Sharon. The money was to be repaid in yearly installments of $100 plus interest starting 1 March 1812.⁷ And on 5 April 1814 he sold the 40-acre lot in Sharon "drawn to the right of Joseph Parkhurst, and one half of the undivided right of Timothy Wheeler, called the last division" to Anthony for $500.^8,9
     His name appears in a 1916 newspaper article about the 1812 (or possibly 1816) disappearance and murder of a Mrs. Miller near Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., New York. According to the article, her presumed body was found several years later when "one spring day a settler named Wolcott Morse, who had pitched a claim up the St. Regis above the then growing village of Parishville, followed his strayed oxen beyond the scarred ledges of the St. Regis, and in searching for them glanced down into a fissure of the rocks, where he noticed what seemed to be a weathered bundle of white cloth. On investigation this proved to be the rags of what had been a woman's night gown, lying near a human skull and other bones."¹⁰
     He was living in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York, in 1825, when on 4 February he sold his interest in two 40-acre lots in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, that had been set off as part of his mother Huldah's dower in the estate of her deceased husband Anthony Morse, along with his interest in any other part of his mother's estate at her death, to his brother Wareham for $100.¹¹ He is listed in the 1827 directory for Rochester as "Morse, Wolcott, boat-builder, Third Ward, Troup-st."^12,13

     Huldah Morse was born on 26 January 1792 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^1,2 She married Alfred Carpenter Mosher, son of Thomas Mosher and Irene Carpenter, on 1 July 1811 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.³ She died on 5 December 1825 in Troy, Rensselaer Co., New York, at age 33.^4,5,6
     She and her husband Alfred may have had a rocky start to their marriage. In February 1813, about five months after the birth of their first child, Alfred placed a notice in a Windsor, Vermont, newspaper saying that as of 18 February he would not be responsible for his wife Huldah's debts because she "has left my board and protection and refuses to live with me & perform the duties of the marriage covenant." They apparently reconciled, however, and had five more children together.⁷

     Henry A. Morse was born on 31 December 1793 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^4,2 He married Eliza White Vick, daughter of Newitt Vick and Elizabeth Clark, on 10 March 1822 in Warren Co., Mississippi.^5,6,3,7 He died in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, (an unknown value) on 20 February 1857 at age 63. ( (an unknown value))^8,9,10 He was buried at Firemens Cemetery (now Cypress Grove Cemetery) in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, according to his burial record; however, there's a Find A Grave memorial for him at Masonic Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans.^9,11
     His birth record lists his given name as Harry, but all other records found online show it as Henry.^4,1 He was also sometimes referred to with the honorary title of "Col."^12,13
     He probably served during the War of 1812, possibly with the U.S. Navy. In an application for a widow's pension, his widow Eliza stated that he served in a Massachusetts regiment during the War of 1812, joining possibly in Boston. He was captured by the British, possibly at sea, and spent nearly two years in Dartmoor Prison in England before being released in a prisoner exchange. His son Henderson added that he saw the papers of exchange, signed by the Commissioner of Exchange. But his widow didn't know his rank, unit, or dates of service, and any papers he had confirming his service had been lost.^6,14
     He moved to Wilkinson Co., Mississippi, by 1821, when he was taxed there for $2.45 on sales of $850 in merchandise.¹⁵ On 23 March 1822, about two weeks after his marriage, he was described as being "of Pinckneysville," Wilkinson Co., with the occupation trader, when he sold his interest in the part of his father's estate that had been set off to his mother in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, to his brother Anthony for $50.¹⁶
     He and his wife Eliza may have then moved to New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, for a short time. They are listed as being from there when they sold land in Vicksburg, Warren Co., Mississippi, to John W. Hyde, et. al. on 10 May 1824 for $800.¹⁷ Later that year, however, they were living in Vicksburg when on 17 September 1824 Henry, "in behalf of his wife Eliza" bought land there from her father's estate for $160.^18,19
     On 1 September 1825 he bought four contiguous parcels of land in Warren Co. from the federal government, in what is now the Youngton area, totaling about 566 acres. At $1.25/acre (the price under the 1820 Land Act), the cost would have been about $707.²⁰ He apparently didn't move there however. He continued to buy and sell land in Vicksburg²¹ and work as a merchant, and in 1827 was taxed $34 on sales of $13,400 in merchandise.²²
     He ran into financial problems starting late in 1827. Some of his property in Vicksburg was seized by the court as result of a suit by Monroe V. Walton, who was owed $3528.21 plus $109.38 in costs, and was sold at auction for $3695 on 7 January 1828. The buyer was his brother Anthony.²³ A little over two months later, on 21 March, Anthony sold a house and land in Vicksburg to Evans Rogers, et. al., for $9686.26, payed "by a transfer of certain claims by Sam'l W. Vakey, Thomas Baron, and Rogers Slocomb ... against my Brother Henry Morse."²⁴ But then about two weeks after that, on 6 April 1828, Henry bought five parcels of land in Vicksburg from Anthony for $5000.²⁵
     His financial problems continued, however. On 2 October 1828 he put his brick house in Vicksburg up for sale or rent.²⁶ Various additional plots in Vicksburg were seized by the court as result of a 10 October 1827 judgment in two separate suits, with debts of $3783 plus $32.62 in costs. Some of those were sold on 6 October 1828 to four different parties^27,28,29,30, and some on 21 May 1829.³¹ On 30 January 1829 he and Eliza sold a house and land in Vicksburg for $10 and "diverse other causes and considerations."³² More of Henry's property, jointly owned with his brother Anthony, was seized by the court as a result of yet another suit, this time for debts of $2070 plus interest and $48 in costs, and sold on 5 October 1829.³³ In 1829 he was taxed $10.50 on three lots in Vicksburg worth $3500, and two slaves, but no land, and no merchandise sales.³⁴
     He and Eliza apparently moved away from Warren Co. for a time. On 23 May 1829 Henry gave power of attorney to William Vick for his affairs during his absence from the county.³⁵ On 18 January 1830 he and Eliza sold the land in Warren Co. that Henry had acquired from the federal government in 1826, for $850.³⁶ They sold several other parcels of land in Vicksburg in 1830 and 1831, and they are named as being of Warren Co., Mississippi, in those deeds³⁷, but they do not appear in the Warren Co. tax rolls for 1830-1835.³⁸ Further, news articles on 30 December 1831 and 26 December 1832, in which they're listed as defendants in law suits against various parties, say that they were then living out of state.^39,40 They may have been in New Orleans. In 1834 Eliza was listed as being of New Orleans when she renounced her dower rights to land in Vicksburg that her husband Henry Morse sold to John W. Vick on 19 September 1827.⁴¹ And their daughter Emily was born in New Orleans on 9 May 1834.³ They also may have been in Texas. When Eliza applied for a pension based on her husband's service during the War of 1812, she said they had lived in Vicksburg, Texas, and New Orleans.⁶
     They were back in Warren Co., Mississippi, by August 1835, when their 12-year-old son Henry Jr. died there "at his residence, Old River," on 17 August.¹² Henry bought about 370 acres of land there on 7 December 1835 for $3.50/acre⁴², and 321 acres on 28 December for $626.⁴³ He bought 280 more acres a little over a year later, on 28 January 1837, from William Vick for $1000.⁴⁴ (There's a second entry in the Warren Co. Deed Book for this same transaction, but dated 19 June 1838.)⁴⁵
     He seems to have again ran into financial problems. On 17 November 1837 he and Eliza put their 900-acre plantation on Old River north of Vicksburg up for sale.⁴⁶ There were apparently no buyers, and on 17 April 1839 they took out a $31,100 mortgage on the property in Warren Co. with the Mississippi Union Bank.⁴⁷ On 19 September 1839 they sold their mortgaged land on the Old Yazoo River, and seven slaves, to William Vick for $2960, plus $14,264 to be paid by Vick covering various notes and certain court judgments against him.⁴⁸ Henry also sold to William their household furniture, three cows, three calves, two horses, and two drays, for $600 and "further consideration of certain large sums of money assumed [by him] ... on my account."⁴⁹
     The bank released them from their mortgage on 4 December 1839⁵⁰, and on 12 June 1840 William Vick sold back to Eliza the furniture and livestock, and six of the seven slaves, that he had bought from them the previous September.⁵¹ On 10 November 1840 Henry bought about 16 acres in Warren and Issaquena Cos. from the federal government.⁵² However, about a year and a half later, on 6 May 1842, he filed for bankruptcy⁵³, and notes owed by him were offered for sale at auction on 17 April 1843, and 30 October 1843.^54,55
     He is listed in Vicksburg in the 1840 census, with two males under 5 (one would be his son Alexander, the other unknown), one male 40-49 (Henry), two females under 5 (daughters Emily (although she was actually 6) and Lucinda), one female 10-14 (daughter Eliza), and one female 30-39 (wife Eliza).⁵⁶ On 11 September 1844 he was appointed one of three judges in Vicksburg for the 1844 presidential election.⁵⁷ He resigned his position as superintendent of city hands in Vicksburg on 2 September 1845⁵⁸, then was elected to the same position on 7 January 1847.⁵⁹
     By 1849 he and Eliza had moved to New Orleans. Henry then traveled to California during the peak of the gold rush. On 15 October 1849, from San Francisco, he gave Eliza his power of attorney to buy and sell land in Vicksburg, and on 24 January 1850 she sold property there to Edwin G. Cook for $2000.⁶⁰ He returned to New Orleans later that year, arriving on the steamship Falcon, from Chagres in Panama on 23 September 1850.⁶¹
     As noted above, Henry and Eliza were slave owners in both Mississippi and New Orleans. In the Warren Co., Mississippi, tax rolls, Henry was taxed for two slaves in 1825⁶² and 1829³⁴, eleven in 1836⁶³, four in 1838⁶⁴ and 1839⁶⁵, and five in 1845.⁶⁶ Eliza was taxed for four slaves in 1842⁶⁷ and 1843⁶⁸, six in 1844⁶⁹, and five in 1848.⁷⁰ In the 1840 census their household included seven slaves - one male under 10, two males 24-35, two females under 10, and two females 24-35.⁵⁶ In 1850 (when Henry was in California), Eliza is listed in the slave schedule in New Orleans with seven slaves - five males (ages 50, 28, 30, 7, and 4), and two females (58 and 8).⁷¹
     On 14 December 1826 Henry bought a female named Omey, about age 20, from Fountain Perry for $320, with his brother Anthony as a witness⁷², and on 7 January 1828 he sold a slave named Beckey, about 23, to Artemore Hill for $717.35.⁷³ On 5 April 1836 he offered a reward of up to $40 for the return of two slaves - Elam, about 20, and Israel, about 35 - who had escaped two days earlier.⁷⁴ Both were apparently recaptured. Elam escaped again on 5 September 1837, and a reward of up to $25 was offered for his return.⁷⁵ He was again recaptured, and two years later, on 19 September 1839, he and Israel were among the seven slaves sold to William Vick when Henry was having financial problems. The others were Betsey, about 27, her son Ned, about 6, and her infant daughter, and Sally, 26, and her infant son Peter.⁷⁶ On 12 June 1840, when William sold back to Eliza the furniture, livestock, and six of the seven slaves that he had bought from Henry and Eliza the previous September, Elam was the one missing.⁵¹ And in 1854, when they were living in New Orleans, Henry offered a $10 reward for the return of Henry, also known as Armstrong, who had escaped around the first of May.⁷⁷

     Lewis Richard Morris Morse was born on 10 January 1796 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^1,2 He married Mary Dana, daughter of Henry Dana and Sarah Wilson, on 19 June 1821 in Brighton, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts (Henry Lord's Morse genealogy says in Woodstock, Windsor Co., Vermont).^2,3
     He was named after Lewis Richard Morris, a hero in the Revolutionary War.³ He was a merchant in Woodstock, Windsor Co., Vermont, with his partner Oliver Marsh, in the firm Morse and Marsh. The partnership was dissolved on 19 July 1821 and he continued the business on his own.³ He moved to Brighton, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and later moved to the South.³

     Ruth Phelps Morse was born on 2 December 1797 in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont.^1,2 She married Charles Gilman, son of Bradbury Gilman and Hannah Gilman, on 16 December 1830 at Mr. Curwin's house in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^3,4,5,6,7 She died on 15 August 1835 in Baltimore, Maryland, at age 37.^8,2
     Before her marriage, Ruth Phelps Morse established a private School for Young Ladies in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^2,7 After their marriage she and her husband Charles lived in Sanbornton, Belknap Co., New Hampshire.² They moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1833.⁹

     Samuel Stickney Jr. was born on 6 November 1771 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^4,5 He married Edith Wallis, daughter of Bartholomew Wallis and Edith Wood, on 14 December 1794 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,5,2 He died from an apparent heart attack on 23 August 1859 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 87.^3,6,7
     He was a cabinet maker in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^3,6 He served as an ensign in the First Light Infantry Co. of Beverly, which was established 2 June 1801.⁵ He was also a member of the Massachusetts Missionary Society, an original member of the Salem Mechanic Association, established 1 October 1817, and a life member of the Beverly Mechanic Association, established 22 March 1836.⁵
     He was administrator of the estate of his brother Josiah, who died at sea in 1802.⁸
     He apparently had financial problems late in his life. After his death his granddaughter Martha wrote "He left no will and little if any property. One half of his side of the house belonged to him and the other half to Grandma. ... His half may have to be sold to pay his debts." and "He sold all his furniture with the exception of enough to furnish one room, and let the rest of the house." She later wrote "Grandpa's estate is being settled but there are so many debts I doubt if anything comes to us. For a man that has worked as steadily as he has and been so industrious every way, I do not understand why he did not leave some little property." She added, perhaps unfairly, "He must have been very careless about his accounts."⁹
     In a letter to her sister Elizabeth, Martha described his death as follows.

     He died intestate, and on 6 September 1859 Jonathan Batchelder of Beverly was appointed administrator of his estate. On 7 January 1862 James Hill and William D. Crossfield were appointed to examine claims of creditors against the estate. Their account, filed on 4 August 1862, showed claims totaling $1689.88, of which $1571.09 was allowed. Creditors included the Beverly Bank ($842.05), his brother-in-law Bartholomew Wallis ($90), and Dr. Augustus Torrey ($45.25). Preferred debts (funeral expenses, taxes, probate administration costs) totaled $120.70.
     The administrator's final account was presented in court in Salem on 7 October 1862. At sale his real estate brought in $532.50, and his personal estate $234.90. After payment of preferred debts and administrative costs the final estate value was $611.62. Since claims against the estate totaled $1571.09, the estate was declared insolvent, and each creditor was paid $0.38 per dollar, with $14.71 left to the administrator for future charges.⁶

More Information / Background

• The Massachusetts Missionary Society and The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.
  

     Edith Wallis was born on 30 January 1774 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^3,1,4,5 She was baptized on 15 August 1779 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^6,7 She married Samuel Stickney Jr., son of Samuel Stickney and Rebecca Raymond, on 14 December 1794 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^8,4,1 She died of dysentery on 24 September 1855 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 81.²

     Bartholomew Wallis was born on 25 August 1753 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,3 He was married by Rev. Joseph Willard to Edith Wood, daughter of Israel Wood and Judith (?), on 3 October 1773 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^4,2,5 He died on 26 November 1829 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 76.⁶ He was buried at Central Cemetery in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁷
     He served during the Revolutionary War, first as a Sergeant in Capt. Joseph Rea's Company from 25 July 1776 to 28 October 1776, charged with defending the seacoast in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He enlisted twice more for service along the Beverly coast, both times in Lt. Joseph Wood's Company, first on 25 November 1776 and later on 12 May 1777.^8,3

     Edith Wood was born on 16 July 1754 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ She was married by Rev. Joseph Willard to Bartholomew Wallis, son of Caleb Wallis and Rebecca Giles, on 3 October 1773 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2,3 She died on 27 November 1836 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 82 from "lung fever."⁵ She was buried at Central Cemetery in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴

     Samuel Stickney was born on 9 August 1741 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁵ He married Rebecca Raymond, daughter of Benjamin Raymond and Mary Trask, on 25 January 1766 (another record says 23 January 1766) in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^6,7 He died in March 1802 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 60.⁵
     He served as an apprentice to Robert Dodge Jr. of Beverly, and became a shoemaker.⁵
     On 2 April 1759 he enlisted for the invasion of Canada during the French and Indian War as a member of Capt. Israel Davis's foot company, Col. Jonathan Bagley's regiment, under the command of Gen. Jeffry Amherst, and served until 1 November 1759. He re-entered the same company the next day, and served at Louisburg from 1 January 1760 to 14 April 1761.⁵
     On 12 April 1769 he and his wife Rebecca sold the real estate that had been left to him by his father, to his brother Jedediah for £340.⁸ He lived in Beverly until about 1770, when he returned to Boxford. After one or two years he moved to Danvers, then to Wenham, and finally back to Beverly.⁵
     While living in Danvers he served as a private in Capt. Jeremiah Page's company at the Battle of Menotomy on 19 April 1775, engaging the British as they retreated to Boston after the Battles of Lexington and Concord.^5,9 On 16 February 1776 he was a corporal in the same company, and received two days wages.⁵
     After his death, guardianship of his minor sons Ebenezer and Amos was granted to Francis Lamson.⁵

More Information / Background

• French and Indian War
  
• Battle of Ticonderoga (1759)
  
• Fortress of Louisbourg
  
• Battles of Lexington and Concord
  
• Battle of Menotomy.
  

     Rebecca Raymond was born on 13 January 1742.³ She married Samuel Stickney, son of Joseph Stickney and Hannah Goodridge, on 25 January 1766 (another record says 23 January 1766) in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^4,5 She died on 18 January 1825 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 83.³
     On 12 April 1769 she and her husband Samuel sold the real estate that had been left to Samuel by his father, to Samuel's brother Jedediah for £340.⁶

     Benjamin Raymond married Mary Trask.¹

     Mary Trask married Benjamin Raymond.¹

     Joseph Stickney was born on 8 October 1705 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He was baptized on 1 April 1706.³ He was married first, by Thomas Hale, Esq., to Jane Pickard, daughter of Samuel Pickard and Elizabeth Hale, on 26 December 1727.³ He married second Hannah Goodridge, daughter of Samuel Goodridge and Hannah (?), on 7 November 1737 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He died in March 1756 at age 50.³
     On 12 June 1722 Joseph Stickney's grand-uncle Andrew Stickney, who he was living with, gave him eight acres of land in Bradford Street Lotts "for his services and care for me," with possession of the land to transfer upon Andrew's death.³ On 20 November 1729 Joseph transferred this land to his "Honored father-in-law, Samuel Pickard of Rowley, gentleman," in return for 100 acres of land and meadow in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts, where he was then living.³ On 8 January 1733/34 he and his wife Jane received 19 acres of land in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from her father Samuel Pickard "for parental love and affection to his son-in-law, Joseph Stickney, and daughter Jane ... and as a payment of £17, 10s., to make his said daughter up the full sum of £100."³ On 5 July 1736 he sold "the 2d Lot on range J, lying in middle commons" in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts, to his father Benjamin Stickney for £10.³
     He was named deputy sheriff of Essex Co. on 13 June 1737, and juryman on 28 March 1738.³
     His will was dated 29 March 1756 in Essex Co., Massachusetts, and proved 12 April 1756. To his wife Hannah, who was named executrix, he left his real and personal estate for her use while raising their children (the youngest was one year old) until they reached the age of 14. At that time she was to return his stock and husbandry tools to his sons Joseph and Samuel. He left 20s each to his son Moses and daughter Jane, "they having received their full portion." His son Joseph was to receive "one-third of all my lands, upland, meadow and swamp, and one-third of all my barn," 13 years from the date of the will (i.e., when the youngest child became 14). Joseph was also left "timber and stuff" to be used for an addition to his house. His son Samuel was to receive the remaining two-thirds of his land and buildings, again after 13 years. His son Jedediah received his interest in a saw mill he owned with Jonathan Wood, plus £13, 6s., 8d., to be paid after 13 years. His sons Lemuel, Eliphelet, Amos, Asa, and Thomas were each left £13, 6s., 8d. Lemuel and Eliphelet were to receive their share after 13 years, and the others at age 21. His daughters Hannah, Abigail, Susanna, and Anna were each left £8, to be paid after 13 years, plus two-thirds of the household goods. His clothing, clock, and books were to be equally divided among his sons.⁴
     His estate was inventoried on 12 June 1756 and consisted of 110 acres of land, a sawmill and other buildings, and other property valued at £453, 6s., 6d. The total value was £617, 0s., 8d.⁵

     Hannah Goodridge was born on 1 February 1712 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married first Joseph Stickney, son of Benjamin Stickney and Mary Palmer, on 7 November 1737 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married second James Barker, intentions published on 23 June 1764 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 4 November 1806 at age 94.¹