John Morton, signer of the "Declaration of Independence"

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2781/john-morton

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA - SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. DAR Ancestor # A081814

John Morton (1725 – April 1, 1777) was a farmer, surveyor, and jurist from the Province of Pennsylvania. As a delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolution, he provided the swing vote that allowed Pennsylvania to vote in favor of the United States Declaration of Independence. Morton signed the Declaration and chaired the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation.

family

• Born: 1724
• Birthplace: Ridley, Pennsylvania
• Parents: John Morton and Maria Archer
• Education: Informal (Judge)
• Work: Elected to Provincial Assembly, 1756-1775; Delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, 1765; President of the Provincial Assembly, 1775; Offices in Pennsylvania: Justice of the Peace, High Sheriff, Presiding Judge of the General Court and the Court of Common Pleas, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774-77.
• Died: April, 1777

from "Chester (And Its Vicinity,) Delaware County, In Pennsylvania". 2017. Google Books. Accessed March 28 2017. page 141

John Morton, the signer, married Ann Justis, of Chester County, and they had issue, as appears by his will duly registered at West Chester, Aug.26, 1778, three sons and five daughters;

1. Aaron,
2. Sketchley,
3. John,
4. Mary,
5. Sarah,
6. Lydia
7. Ann, and
8. Elizabeth.

biography

From http://colonialhall.com/morton/morton.php

John Morton was born in Ridley, PA in 1724. In his youth he was noted for his quick intelligence and his habit of hard work. His stepfather, a well educated surveyor from England, gave him a sound education in practical matters and in surveying. In 1756 Morton was elected to the Provincial Assembly, and was elected president of the Assembly in 1775. He attended the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. He filled numerous civil offices in Pennsylvania, including Justice of the Peace, High Sheriff, Presiding Judge of the General Court and the Court of Common Pleas. In 1774 he was appointed Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. That year he was elected to the Continental Congress where he was a member of several committees and chairman of the committee which reported the Articles of Confederation. He died soon after that report was presented to Congress, at the age of 53.

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John was a Pennsylvania Representative

He arrived late when the Continental Congress was voting over independence. He was allowed to vote and did so in favor of Independence; his was the deciding vote.

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Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson

Birth: 1727..Declaration of Independence Signer. orn in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, his father died before he was born. When he was about seven years old, his mother remarried. John attended formal school only for about 3 months; most of his education he learned from his step-father, who taught him many subjects, including law and surveying. John Morton would grow up to become a farmer, a surveyor, lawyer, and judge. He married Ann Justis, and they would have five daughters and four sons. Morton began his political career in 1756 as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, serving in the Assembly for 17 years. He was one of four Pennsylvania delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. In 1774, he was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and the following year, to the Second Continental Congress. Although most Pennsylvanians in his home area were Loyalists, Morton favored independence. Of the seven Pennsylvania delegates to vote for independence on July 2, 1776, two voted against it, two voted fo it, and two did not vote, leaving the decision to John Morton. His decision to vote for independence swung the decision of the colony to independence. As a result of his vote, friend, neighbors and even relatives turned against him. By early 1777, he became extremely ill, suspected to be tuberculosis. As he lay dying, he predicted that one day, people would realize that his voting for independence was "the most glorious service I have ever rendered my country." John Morton was the first of the 56 signers to die, passing away at his birthplace on April 1, 1777.

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John Morton was born in 1725 in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania and died April 1, 1777 at the age of 51 of tuberculosis. He was the son of John Morton senior and Mary Archer. Mary Archer’s family is traced back to Bartle Eschellson, whose name was first found in the records of 1644. He may have immigrated to Pennsylvania earlier making him one of first settlers in this region. The Morton side of the family arrived shortly thereafter. His great, great grandfather Martti Marttinen, or as in Swedish style, know as Martin Martinsen was born in Rautalampi, Finland and arrived in Pennsylvania on the ship the Eagle in the 1650’s. Both sides of John Morton’s family immigrated from “Sweden and/or Finland”. He was the first of the fifty-six signers to die and cut short what was promising to be a much greater role in Pennsylvania and national politics.

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Amerikan Yhdysvaltoja ei olisi ehkä olemassa ilman Suomea?

• https://www.paivanlehti.fi/tiesitko-etta-amerikan-yhdysvaltoja-ei-o...

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Signer of the Declaration of Independence

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-15A

Declaration of Independence Signer. Born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, his father died before he was born. When he was about seven years old, his mother remarried. John attended formal school only for about 3 months; most of his education he learned from his step-father, who taught him many subjects, including law and surveying. John Morton would grow up to become a farmer, a surveyor, lawyer, and judge.

He married Anne Justis, and they would have five daughters and four sons. Morton began his political career in 1756 as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, serving in the Assembly for 17 years. He was one of four Pennsylvania delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. In 1774, he was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and the following year, to the Second Continental Congress.

Although most Pennsylvanians in his home area were Loyalists, Morton favored independence. Of the seven Pennsylvania delegates to vote for independence on July 2, 1776, two voted against it, two voted for it, and two did not vote, leaving the decision to John Morton. His decision to vote for independence swung the decision of the colony to independence. As a result of his vote, friend, neighbors and even relatives turned against him. By early 1777, he became extremely ill, suspected to be tuberculosis. As he lay dying, he predicted that one day, people would realize that his voting for independence was “the most glorious service I have ever rendered my country.” John Morton was the first of the 56 signers to die, passing away at his birthplace on April 1, 1777.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson

John Morton (* 1724 in Ridley Township, Chester County heute Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Kolonie des Königreichs Großbritannien heute USA; † 1. April 1777 in Ridley Park, Delaware County, USA) war der Delegierte, der die entscheidende Stimme zu Gunsten der Unabhängigkeitserklärung der Vereinigten Staaten abgab. Er gilt als einer der Gründerväter der USA.

Leben

Mortons Urgroßeltern Martti Marttinen Sr. (Schwedisch: Mårten Mårtensson) aus Rautalampi (Finnland) und „Justis“ Marttinen aus Savo (Finnland) kamen 1651 mit Mortons damals achtjährigen Großvater Martti Marttinen Jr. auf dem neuen Kontinent an. Sie gehörten zu den ersten Emigranten, die sich an den Ufern des Delaware River niederließen, wo Martti Marttinen Sr. schon 1641 die 1638 von einer kleinen Gruppe Finnen und Schweden gegründete Siedlung besucht hatte. Von 1638 bis 1665 kamen in zwölf Expeditionen neue Siedler. Über 80 % von ihnen waren Finnen. Die Siedlung wurde als „Neu Schweden“ bekannt, weil zu dieser Zeit Finnland zu Schweden gehörte.

Mortons Vater, der ebenfalls John hieß, starb wenige Monate vor dessen Geburt auf der Ammansland Plantage, die er von seinem Onkel John Bärtilsson erhalten hatte. Mortons Mutter heiratete wenig später einen Engländer, der über eine überdurchschnittliche Bildung verfügte und der, mit viel Liebe, als Morton in das entsprechende Alter kam, dessen Ausbildung zu Hause beaufsichtigte und lenkte. 1753 heiratete er seine Cousine zweiten Grades Anna Justis, ebenfalls eine Urenkelin von Martti Marttinen Sr., und ließ sich in Calcon Hook nieder. Das Ehepaar hatte drei Söhne und fünf Töchter.

Morton wurde in die Provinzialversammlung gewählt, wo von 1756 bis 1775 arbeitete. Einige Zeit war er sogar Sprecher des Repräsentantenhauses. Morton war 1765 Delegierter auf dem Stempelgesetzkongress. Er hatte verschiedene Ämter inne, darunter Friedensrichter, High Sheriff, Vorsitzender Richter am Allgemeinen Gericht und am Appellationsgericht. Morton wurde 1774 Beisitzender Richter am Obersten Gericht von Pennsylvania und wurde in den Kontinentalkongress gewählt, wo er Vorsitzender des Komitees wurde, das die Konföderationsartikel vortrug. 1775 wurde er Präsident der Provinzialversammlung.

An einem bedeutsamen Punkt der Unabhängigkeitsbewegung im Kontinentalkongress fand sich Morton unerwartet in einer delikaten und entscheidenden Situation. Vor dem 4. Juli 1776 hatten die Staaten Delaware und Pennsylvania gegen die Unabhängigkeitsbestrebungen gestimmt. Darum kamen bei den anderen Delegierten des Kongresses große Zweifel auf, wie sich Pennsylvania und Delaware verhalten würden. Es hing offensichtlich viel von ihnen ab, und es wurde befürchtet, dass wenn diese zwei Staaten gegen die Unabhängigkeitserklärung der USA stimmen würden, das Ergebnis sehr unglücklich ausgehen würde. Tatsächlich waren die Stimmen beider Staaten um Längen zugunsten der Unabhängigkeit gesichert. Aber, als die Stimmen der Delegation von Pennsylvania genau getrennt wurden, fiel es Morton zu, die entscheidende Stimme abzugeben. Er gab seine Stimme zugunsten der Freiheit seines Landes.

Im folgenden Jahr half Morton, ein System der Konföderation zu organisieren, und war Vorsitzender des Komitees für das Ganze, als es am 15. November 1777 angenommen wurde. Im selben Jahr war er von einem entzündlichen Fieber ergriffen worden und starb im Alter von 54 Jahren. Morton war Religionsprofessor.

Während seiner letzten Krankheit auf der Schwelle zum Tode erinnerte er sich seiner Feinde und forderte die um ihn Stehenden auf, ihnen zu sagen, dass die Stunde kommen würde, zu der es anerkannt werden würde, dass sein Abstimmen zugunsten der amerikanischen Unabhängigkeit der bedeutendste Augenblick seines Lebens gewesen sei.

John Morton (1725 – 1. huhtikuuta 1777) oli pennsylvanialainen suomensukuinen poliitikko, yksi Yhdysvaltain itsenäisyysjulistuksen allekirjoittajista.

Sukutausta

Mortonin isoisoisä Martti Marttinen oli kotoisin Rautalammilta. Hän muutti Amerikkaan Uuden Ruotsin siirtokuntaan vuonna 1654. Hänen mukanaan oli hänen vaimonsa ja poikansa, myöskin nimeltään Martti Marttinen. Nuoremman Marttisen poika Johann muutti lähtilalle ja vaihtoi nimekseen John Morton mennessään naimisiin englantilaisnaisen kanssa. John Morton vanhempi ehti kuolla ennen poikansa John Morton nuoremman syntymistä. Pojan äiti meni uudelleen naimisiin englantilaismiehen kanssa.

Ura

Nuori John Morton tunnettiin nopeaälyisenä ja kovasti uurastavana miehenä, joka sai maanmittauskoulutuksen isäpuoleltaan. Hänet valittiin 32-vuotiaana maakuntaneuvostoon ja myöhemmin sen puheenjohtajaksi. Hän toimi useissa viroissa Pennsylvaniassa, muun muassa rauhantuomarina, yliseriffinä, oikeuden tuomarina ja korkeimman oikeuden tuomarina. Vuonna 1774 hänet valittiin Pennsylvanian valtuuskunnan jäseneksi mannermaakongressiin, joka hyväksyi Yhdysvaltojen itsenäisyyden heinäkuussa 1776.

Mortonin antaman äänen kerrotaan ratkaisseen itsenäisyyden yksimielisen hyväksynnän, sillä vielä kesäkuussa 1776 hän kuului Pennsylvanian valtuuskunnan itsenäisyyttä vastustavaan vähemmistöön.

Kun kongressi äänesti 1. heinäkuuta 1776 alustavasti itsenäisyydestä, Morton oli muuttanut kantansa, mutta Pennsylvanian valtuuskunta oli vielä äänin 4–3 itsenäisyyttä vastaan yhdessä Etelä-Carolinan kanssa. Seuraavana päivänä lopullisessa äänestyksessä itsenäisyyttä vastustavat John Dickinson ja Robert Morris eivät osallistuneet kongressin istuntoon, jolloin Pennsylvanian valtuuskunnan ääni siirtyikin itsenäisyyden hyväksymisen puolelle. Kun Etelä-Carolinan valtuuskunta oli yön aikana muuttanut mielensä, voitiin itsenäisyys hyväksyä ilman vastustusta. Virallinen yhdysvaltalainen historiantutkimus ei tarinaa tunne, vaan sitä pidetään vain suomalaisten siirtolaisten keskuudessa olevana perimätietona.

Itsenäisyysjulistuksen hyväksymisen jälkeen Morton toimi puheenjohtajana komiteassa, joka valmisteli Yhdysvaltain ensimmäisen perustuslain eli konfederaatioartiklat. Hän kuoli luultavasti tuberkuloosiin maatilallaan 1. huhtikuuta 1777.

Mortonin puoliso oli Anna Justis (mahdollisesti o.s. Juustinen).

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Amerikan Yhdysvaltoja ei olisi ehkä olemassa ilman Suomea?

• https://www.paivanlehti.fi/tiesitko-etta-amerikan-yhdysvaltoja-ei-o...

John Morton (1725 – 1 de abril de 1777) foi um fazendeiro, topógrafo, e jurista da Província da Pensilvânia e um dos Fundadores dos Estados Unidos. Como um delegado para o Congresso Continental durante a Revolução Americana, ele foi um dos signatários da Associação Continental e da Declaração de Independência dos EUA. Morton obeteve o voto de desempate que permitiu a Pensilvânia votar a favor da Declaração de Independência. Morton presidiu o comitê que escreveu os Artigos da Confederação.

Início da vida

Morton nasceu em em 1725 - a data exata é desconhecida - em Ridley Township, Condado de Chester, na Pensilvânia, que agora faz parte de Delaware County. Seu pai, John Morton (Sênior), era finlandês, de onde posteriormente se tornaria parte do Reino da Suécia. Com isso, seus nomes seriam modificados. Por exemplo, o nome de seu bisavô, Martti Marttinen, ou Måns Mårtensson (em sueco) mais tarde seria traduzido como Morton.

Morton era o único filho de seu pai, que morreu em 1724, antes de Morton nascer. Quando ele tinha cerca de sete anos, sua mãe casou-se com John Sketchley, um agricultor de ascendência inglesa. Por volta de 1748, Morton casou-se com Ann Justis, a bisneta de colonos finlandeses para a Novo Suécia. O casal teria nove filhos. Morton foi um membro ativo da Igreja Anglicana no Condado de Chester.

Carreira política

Morton foi eleito para a Assembleia Provincial de Pensilvânia, em 1756. No ano seguinte, ele também foi nomeado juiz de paz, cargo que ocupou até 1764. Ele serviu como delegado para o Congresso da Stamp Act em 1765. Ele demitiu-se da Assembleia em 1766 para servir como o xerife do Condado de Chester. Ele voltou para a Assembleia, em 1769, e foi eleito Orador em 1775. Enquanto isso, sua carreira judiciária atingiu o seu auge com a sua nomeação como adjunto de justiça da Suprema Corte da Pensilvânia, em 1774.

Morton foi eleito para o Primeiro Congresso Continental em 1774, e para o Segundo Congresso Continental em 1775. Ele cautelosamente ajudou a mover Pensilvânia em direção à independência, apesar de oposição radical da Constituição de Pensilvânia de 1776. Em junho de 1776, o Congresso começou o debate sobre uma resolução da independência, e a delegação de Pensilvânia ficou dividida, com Benjamin Franklin e James Wilson em favor de declarar a independência, e John Dickinson e Robert Morris em favor dos britânicos. Morton mostrou-se indeciso até 1º de julho, quando ficou do lado de Franklin e Wilson em prol da Independência. Quando a votação final foi feita no dia 2 de julho, Dickinson e Morris abstiveram-se, fazendo com que a delegação de Pensilvânia apoia-se a resolução de independência, sem discordância. Morton assinou a Declaração de no dia 2 de agosto com a maioria dos outros delegados.

Morton foi presidente do comitê que escreveu os Artigos da Confederação, mas ele faleceu, provavelmente de tuberculose, antes de os Artigos serem ratificados. Ele foi o primeiro signatário da Declaração da Independência a morrer, e foi enterrado no cemitério da Velha Igreja de São Paulo (também conhecido como o Cemitério do Velho Sueco), na cidade de Chester, na Pensilvânia.[5] Seu túmulo permaneceu sem marcação até outubro de 1845, quando o obelisco de mármore, que continua lá até hoje, foi erguido por seus descendentes

Vida pessoal

Morton se casou com Ann Justis do Condado de Chester, Pensilvânia, e juntos eles tiveram três filhos e cinco filhas: Arão, Sketchley, João, Maria, Sara, Lídia, Ana e Isabel.

O segundo filho de Morton, Sketchley, foi um Major na Milícia da Pensilvânia do Exército Continental durante a Guerra de Independência dos Estados Unidos.

John Morton, född 1725, död 1 april 1777, var en amerikansk politiker.

Morton härstammade från en finländare, som på 1600-talet utvandrade till Nya Sverige.

Morton föddes i grevskapet Chester i kolonin Pennsylvania, nära Philadelphia, var fram till sitt 30:e år jordbrukare och lantmätare. Han var medlem av Pennsylvanias lagstiftande församling 1756-66 och 1772-77, flera gånger dess talman. Fredsdomare 1764, medlem av stämpelaktkongressen i New York 1765, var han grevskapets sheriff 1766-70 och flera år president i dess civildomstol. Ledamot av Pennsylvanias högsta domstol i april 1774, var Morton 1774, 1775 och 1776 medlem av kontinentalkongressen.

Härunder avgjorde han som ordförande i Pennsylvanias delegation dess deltagande i självständighetsförklaringen 1776, som han undertecknade. Därefter var Morton ordförande i den kommitté, som skulle utarbeta grundlagen eller konfederationsartiklarna. Mitt under arbetet härmed dog Morton.