John Morton
 

At first a moderate, Morton voted against an independence day;

but later sided with Wilson and Franklin

to give Pennsylvania a 'yea.'

        John Morton's father of the same name and of Finnish extraction died a few months before his son was born in Delaware.  John's mother Mary Archer later remarried to a very kind and cultured man, John Sketchley, who cared much for John and made sure he received a useful education. 

        For many years, John was a land surveyor until 1764 when he was commissioned as a justice of the peace.  He was sent as a delegate to the general assembly of Pennsylvania where he served several years as a member.  In 1765, he attended the general congress at New York and was appointed county sheriff the following year, later to attain a seat on the bench in the superior court of Pennsylvania.  As an Episcopalian, Morton was also active in many church affairs.

       He later became a member in Congress representing the state of Pennsylvania.  Upon first hearing of independence from England, he was opposed to any conflict because of divisions with "parents against children, and children against parents."  But with time and bolder injustices put upon America, he saw that being rixled under England was fast becoming intolerable and not likely to be solved peaceably.  He joined with the patriots and cast the deciding vote for a divided Pennsylvania.  With his name affixed to the Declaration, he received the expected threats from the British.  His wife Anne Justis, five daughters, and three sons had to flee from their home.

        In 1777, he became ill with a fever that brought his untimely death, making him the first of the signers to die.  His grave is located in the Old St. Paul's Cemetery in Chester, Pennsylvania.  Signers of the Declaration, Robert G. Ferris, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 1973 pg. 109-110.      

   With an awful reverence to the great Almighty God, Creator of all mankind, I, John Morton . . . being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory-thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, for all His mercies and favors-and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the times thereof, do, for the settling of such temporal estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life . . . From Will of John Morton

    "Mr. Morton was a professor of religion, and a truly excellent man. To the poor he was ever kind; and to an affectionate family, consisting of a wife, three sons, and five daughters, he was an affectionate husband and father.  His only enemies were those who would not forgive him because of his vote in favor of independence.  During his last sickness, and even on the verge of the eternal world, he remembered them, and requested those who stood round him, to tell them, that the hour would yet come, when it would be acknowledged, that his vote in favor of American independence was the most illustrious act of his life."  Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856. Page 284.

Morton Homestead
Prospect Park, Pennsylvania -- It is believed that this was the birthplace of John Morton.  Original ownership of Morton Homestead can be traced to 1672, when the property was deeded to Jan Cornelious, Matty Mattysen, and Morton Mortonson, Swedish and Finnish immigrants to the colony of New Sweden.  The Mortonson family, its name now shortened to Morton, continued to be owners until 1758. 

        From this site, the Morris family operated the Darby Creek Ferry for three generations, a ferry which was in use until 1840 when a bridge was built over Darby Creek.

 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20