Person Page - 464

     Martha Ford was born in 1619 in in England.¹

Martha married William Nelson on 29 October 1640. William and Martha had 2 sons and 2 daughters..¹

Martha died on 20 December 1683 in in the Town of Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.²

     Ephraim Morton was born in 1623.¹

Ephraim married Ann Cooper on 18 November 1644.^2,3 Ephraim became a freeman on 7 June 1648 and was Constable for Plymouth in that year. On 7 March 1652, he was involved in the division of the land that became Dartmouth. He was a member of the grand inquest 1n 1654 and was elected representative to the Plymouth court in 1657. He was a member of the court for 20 years and elected again when Plymouth was merged into Massachusetts Bay Colony under the new charter in 1691-92.

A Memorandum dated 21 February 1660 states "Manasses Kemton of Plymouth does freely give over unto Ephraim Morton of Plymouth.... one halfe of all that was his lot or share of land Comonly Called the Purchase land lying att Achushena Coaksett and places adjacent both upland and meddow with all the woods water and all other appurtenances and priviliges belonging thereunto."

On the same day "Ephraim Morton planter gave to Nathaniel Morton and John Morton all that was his right: which hee hath or ever had in the lott or portion of land which was the land of George Morton deceased lying and being at Achushena Coaksett and places adjacent Comonly Called the Purchase land." (Both memos are condensed from Mayflower Descendants, Vol. XV.)

Ephraim Morton was sergeant in the Plymouth militia. In 1664 he was elected lieutenant, and in 1671 was chosen member of the council of war, in which he was of much service for many years, including King Phillip's War. One note states he was Colonel of his regiment.

In 1669, after the ordination of Mr. Cotton at Plymouth First Church:the cch not having then a Deacon, the Elders called upon them to choose some of that office. Accordingly... on August 1, Robert Finney and Ephrain Morton were chosen deacons in the publick Assembly on the Sabbath, and then ordained by the Elders." George was Deacon of the Old Colony 1669-1693. He was succeeded in that office by his son George (who died one month after his father).

Some of the purchasers and sharers of... the lands of Sepican (Scippican, Sipppican, Seppican) brought complaint "against Leift. Ephraim Morton of Plymouth in an action of trespass... to the damage of (pounds)200." He was accused "under pretense of being an agent of the town of Plymouth, did, and with others on the 12th day of May 1680 forcibly enter upon the lans of Sepican"..."and he the sd Ephraim Morton being the chief actor and aider of the rest did then and there...commit divers wrongs...against the publicke peace by disturbing some of sd purchasers...defaming their title to the said lans soe fairly purchased...and mor particularly did deface (some of) the bound marks." The jury found for the complainants and entered 20s damages and cost of the suit (NEHGR Vol. CXIX:170)

On the first of May 1683, Ephraim was one of the signers of the agreement with Charles Stockbridge, who was to operate the "Old Mill" which had been operated by John Jenny (an ancestor).

Ephraim was head of the Board of Selectmen for 25 years, and magistrate of the colony in 1683. In 1689 he is called Associate of William Bradford. He was servicable to the church in the office of deacon, and was "principally imployed in the civill and military services of the town for many years." At the time of his death, he was justice of the court of common pleas.

Ephraim married Mary Shelley on 18 October 1692. They signed a pre-nuptial agreement that protected her dower right in William's estate, while she quitclaimed her dower right in Ephraim's estate..^1,4

Ephraim died on 6 September 1693 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His original will is still on file (in 1915) though in bad condition (citing Mayflower Descendants, Vol. 17:47).^5,3

     Ann Cooper was born in 1625 in England.¹

Ann married Ephraim Morton on 18 November 1644.^2,3

Ann died on 1 September 1691 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.^2,1

     Nathaniel Morton was born in 1613 in Netherlands.^1,2 After the death of George Morton, Gov. Bradford took on the responsibility for his sister-in-law and her 5 children. Whether they moved to the governor's house or kept a separate residence is not known. After his mother's marriage to Menassah Kempton (sixteen years her junior), Nathaniel remained in the Bradford household, and was closer to his aunt, Alice, than to his own mother.

Under Bradford's tutelage, Nathaniel learned to write and keep records, becoming Bradford's clerk at the age of 18. He was "very religiously careful in his observation of the Sabbath Day and of speaking truth." He went on to become clerk (or secretary) of the town, colony, and church in 1645 and kept the records until his death in 1683. In a period when clerical abilities were given a high rating, he received grants of land and became a man of wealth. As author of "New Englands's Memorial" (166), he preserved information about Plymouth, and it was an important source book of Plymouth history.

Nathaniel married Lydia Cooper on 25 December 1635 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.^3,4

Nathaniel died on 29 June 1685 in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.^5,2

     Lydia may have been the sister of Ann Cooper who married Nathaniel's brother Ephraim. Lydia Cooper was born in 1618?.¹

Lydia married Nathaniel Morton on 25 December 1635 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.^2,3

     Mary Shelley was born in 1639 in Massachusetts. Mary was the daughter of Robert Shelley of Scituate and Judith Garnett Shelley..¹ She was baptized on 2 November 1639 in Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.¹

Mary married Sgt William Harlow on 24 January 1665/66 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. She was his third wife..²

Mary married Ephraim Morton on 18 October 1692. They signed a pre-nuptial agreement that protected her dower right in William's estate, while she quitclaimed her dower right in Ephraim's estate..^3,2

Mary married Hugh Cole on 30 January 1693/94 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.⁴