Morton/Murton

[andygmandrew]

Yes, the Morton/Murton thing is very prevalent in Northumberland owing to the way the Northumbrians prononounce the O 'owe' and U 'oe'.

Having checked my records again I found George's burial - 'George Murton, Brunton Row, 60 years, buried 8th of March 1842' - Gosforth. That means he was born between 9/3/1781 and 8/3/1782. there's only one Yorkshire baptism which fits:

'27th of July 1781, Geo. son of Major Morton, Mason baptised' - Sheffield

Major appears to have been a name, not a rank!

The marriage register of Sheffield Cathedral has the following marriage:

'Major Morton of this Parish, Batchelor and Mary Booth of this Parish, Spinster were married in this church by Licence this sixteenth day of July in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy [both sign] in the presence of John Darling and Samuel Booth' [the Licence is in the York records].

Major Morton was also the son of a Major Morton who married at Sheffield in 1743:

'6 February 1743 Major Morton of Ecclesfield prish. & Sarah Evans certified by Mr Butterfield'

The only uneasiness I have about this is that none of George's sons were called Major, which would be unusual in Northumberland where there were fairly set naming patterns.

[andygmandrew]

You may be interested in this item.

'News: At the Moot Hall, on Saturday the 17th instant, George Murton, of Brunton Row, pitman, was convicted of snaring hares, at the parish of Gosforth, and was ordered to be confined 6 weeks to hard labour, in the house of correction, at Morpeth.' (Newcastle Courant, 31st of October 1829)

[chrismort72]

That all seems to fit, thanks Andrew! There is a discrepancy between George's age of 55 given in the 1841 census and his age at death of 60 in 1842 burial register, but I presume these things can't be relied on that much and it must be him. Never come across Major as a given name before, that's strange. Perhaps too strange for George's wife to let him use it for his own sons!

[andygmandrew]

The reason for the discrepancy is that the 1841 census rounded down the ages of adults to the nearest five years, so someone of 59 would be recorded as 55.

[andygmandrew]

Here's another fragment for you. George married Mary Rutter on 8th of September 1806 and we know that in 1807 he was described as a soldier. I have the following excerpts from the Newcastle Courant:

10 May 1806:

'The third West York (except the two rifle companies, which are gone to Whitburn) have arrived in this town.'

[on the 8th of September they marry]

17 September 1806:

'On Friday next, the 3d West York militia march from this town to Sunderland'

This is pretty good evidence that he was in the 3rd West York Militia and must have been a quick worker to have wooed and won his lady in such a short time!

[chrismort72]

That's great research. Sounds like a time honoured story of soldiery. But they obviously settled down for quite a while. It's amazing to think how many Geordies might be descended from this Sheffield militiaman.

[Tickettyboo]

Hello Andrew

I am looking to find the parents of a Mary MORTON born c 1754-1758, possibly in or near Whittingham. Witness at her marriage was Wm MORTON, could be her father/brother/uncle /cousin/passerby who had the same name :-)

I have the following records:
30 April 1783 Marriage Licence and Bond for
Robert MAVING , of the Parish of Tynemouth, Bachelor, Joiner of the age of 31 years and upwards
to marry
Mary MORTON, of the Parish of Whittingham, Spinster of the age of 25 years and upwards

Whittingham Parish Church, Parish Register, Marriages, 1783
Robert MAVING of Tynemouth Parish & Mary MORTON of this parish were married in this Church by Licence this 4th day of May in the year of Our Lord 1783 by me J Twentyman. This marriage was solemnized between us [Robert Maving signed, Mary Morton signed]
In the presence of George MORRISON [signed], Wm MORTON [signed]

After this the surname morphed into being MAVIN (no g)
They had 8 children,  John (born 1783), Richard (born 1785), Elizabeth (born 1786), Margery (born 1788), Robert (born 1790), George (born 1792), William (born 1794) and Thomas (born 1798)

Mary died in 1802 at Glanton.
Burial record from Whittingham Parish says Mary MAVIN, Glanton, wife of Robert Mavin, farmer, aged 48 years, died 11th March 1802, buried 13th March 1802.

and that is it, other than she was my 4x Great Granny, that's all I know about her.

Any clues would be gratefully received, no rush, she's been on my list for a good while, she can sit there a while longer.

thanks

Boo

[andygmandrew]

Hi there,

This is a strange one!

Whittingham Monumental Inscriptions has:

'John Morton of Glanton 9-8-1774 age 55. Elizabeth his wife 9-5-1783 age 64. John their son 16-7-1764 age 6. Elizabeth their daur. 30-7-1764 age 4. Mary their daur, & w. of Robert Mavin of Glanton 16-4-1833 age 84'

So, the parish registers have:

John Murton of Glanton, Buried 12th of August 1774 - Whittingham

Elizabeth Morton of Glanton, Buried 12th of May 1783 - Whittingham

John, Son of John Murton of Glanton, Buried 5th of August 1764 - Whittingham

Elizabeth daughter of John Murton of Glanton, buried 19th of July 1764 - Whittingham

which all tally with the headstone, but the inscription for Mary doesn't accord with the Burial Register entry.

However, Whittingham Burial register has :

18 April 1833, Robert Mavin, Glanton, 81 years

which is correct as to date and almost correct as to age. I suspect that whoever carved the stone has got mixed up. What it does prove is the link between Robert and Mary and that she was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Murton of Glanton. I have the baptismal entries for the family:

William son of John Murton, baptised 17th of April 1756 - Whittingham

Elizabeth daughter of John Murton by his wife Elizabeth, baptised 16th of October 1758 - Whittingham

John son of John Murton, baptised 5th of January 1761 - Whittingham

George, Son of John Murton of Glanton, baptised 25th of November 1765 - Whittingham

John Morton married Mary Reveley at Chatton:

1 January 1754, John Morton and Mary Reveley, both of this parish - Chatton

This is the only John/Mary marriage which fits the timescale and as, according to Family Search, she was baptised at Alwinton, Northumberland on 20 Oct 1737 (this is the only baptism at that time of a Mary Reveley/Reavley) it fits her age at death. Her parents were Robert Cramond and  Isabel Reavely, presumably an illegitimate birth.

Turning back to the marriage of Robert and Mary, Robert's age as given in the marriage licence tallies with his age at death, suggesting that the licence age was accurate. if we assume that this means that Mary's age must also be correct on the marriage licence, that gives a birth date between 1 May 1757 and 30 April 1758. She  must have been born after the middle of February 1757 as her brother William was baptised on 17/4/1756 and before the end of 1757 as her sister Elizabeth was baptised on 16/10/1758. unfortunately there is no matching entry in Whittingham parish and no entry in other parishes which matches. Perhaps she was never baptised.

I have some further details:

Advertisement: To be SOLD to the best Bidder, At the house of Mr Joseph Turnbull, at the Angel Inn, in Alnwick, on Saturday the 14th day of July instant, between the hours of 3 and 5 in the afternoon, A Compact FREEHOLD ESTATE, in the township of Glanton, in the parish of Whittingham and County of Northumberland, at the clear yearly rent of 70l. the tenant’s Lease expires on the 12th day of May next. For further particulars, enquire of Mr Alder, of Adderstone. Part the money will be left in the purchaser’s hands, if required. Mr John Morton, the present tenant, will shew the premises. (Newcastle Courant, Saturday 7th of July 1770)

Advertisement: We, William Marshall, Simon Dodds, and George Chisholme, Gentlemen, the Commissioners, named and appointed in and by an Act of Parliament made in the 15th year of the reign of his present Majesty, for dividing and inclosing a Moor, called Alnham Moor or Alnham Common, as also the infield Grounds of the Township of Alnham, in the parish of Alnham, in the County of Northumberland, to hear by give Notice, that we have prepared a draught of our intended award of Division of the said Moor or Common and infield Grounds, and that meeting will be held at the house of widow Murton of Glanton [Elizabeth Morton, widow of John Morton of Glanton], in the parish of Whittingham, in the County aforesaid, on Thursday the 15th day of August next, for reading and settling the said draught, [etc.] Dated 24th of July 1776. (Newcastle Courant, Saturday 3rd of August 1776)

A LIST of the Names and Residences of every person between the Ages of Fifteen and Sixty Years (not engaged in any military capacity) dwelling with the township of Glanton: William Murton, Glanton, no carts or cart horses, 28th of February 1798 (Northumberland Archive, Return of Men and Carts 1797, Q/S/B/90)

To be continued

[andygmandrew]

Advertisement: Stolen, from Edington, near Morpeth, on Monday Night, August 30, a Bay FILLY, rising four Years old, near fifteen Hands high, with a bright Star on her Fore-head, a little white on her far hind foot; high-hoofed on the Fore Feet, bare legged, a short Mane, switch Tail, and goes very well. Whoever can give an Account of the said Filly, so as she may be had again to Wm Morton, of Edington, aforesaid, shall have Five Guineas Reward, and all reasonable Charges. (Newcastle Chronicle, Saturday 4th of September 1773)

Mary's father John was baptised at Mitford:

John son of William Morton, baptised 14 May, 1719 [buried at Whittingham 12th  of August 1774] - Mitford

William's entries:

William son of William Morton of Edington, baptised 9 June, 1709 - Mitford

Henry son of William Morton of Edington, baptised 9 January, 1711 - Mitford

George son of William Morton of Edington, baptised 30 December, 1712 - Mitford

Ann daughter of William Morton of Edington, baptised 6 March, 1715 - Mitford

Ann Morton, daughter of William Morton, Edington, buried 8 March, 1715 - Mitford

John son of William Morton, baptised 14 May, 1719 [buried at Whittingham 12th  of August 1774] - Mitford

Henry son of William Morton of Edington, baptised 13 June, 1720 - Mitford

Mary daughter of William Morton of Edington, baptised 23 November, 1721 - Mitford

Henery Morton, son of William Morton of Edington, buried 16 September, 1723 - Mitford

William Morton, Edington, buried 28 July, 1741 - Mitford

William Morton of Edington appears to have been the son of another William who lived at the Gudgeon in Mitford parish (Edington and the Gudgeon or Gubeon are next to each other to the south of Mitford). Here are his parish register entries:

William Murton and Ann Taylor, married 12 May 1664 - Morpeth

Mary daughter of William Morton, baptised 27th of August 1665. Sureties: John Morton, Urseley Wilson, Phillydolpha Tailer - Morpeth

Mary Murton daughter of William Morton, buried 25 June 1666 - Morpeth

George son of William Murton, baptised 13 September 1667 - Morpeth

John son of William Morton, ye Gudgeon, baptised 14 August, 1670 - Mitford

Isabel daughter of William Morton, ye Gudgeon, baptised 24 April, 1673 - Mitford

William son of William Morton, Gudgeon, baptised 20 February, 1675 - Mitford

Ann daughter of William Morton, ye Gudgeon, baptised 27 March, 1679 - Mitford

Isabell Morton, ye Gudgeon, buried 15 July, 1681 - Mitford

Anna, uxor William Murton, Gudgeon, buried 2 November 1693 - Mitford

I also have:

1668: Tenants in the Baronia de Mitford; Edington:...William Morton...(Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Vol. 9, p. 86 - Court Roll of Stainton, Northumberland)