Person Page

     George Morton was born on 2 August 1585 in Bawtry, Yorkshire County, Nottinghamshire, England.² George married Juliana Carpenter, daughter of Alexander Carpenter and Priscilla Dillon, on 23 July 1612 in Leyden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. Dutch Marriage Record states: George Morton, merchant from York in England, accompanied by Thomas Morton his brother, and Roger Wilson, his acquaintance, with Juliana Carpenter, maid from Bath in England, accompanied by Alexander Carpenter, her father, and Alice Carpenter her sister, and Anna Robinson, her acquaintance. The banns were published 6/16 July, 1612. The marriage took place 23 July/2 Aug., 1612.^3,4,1 George Morton died in June 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, at age 38 years and 9 months.¹
     
George Morton was supposedly born a Roman Catholic in Bawtry, or perhaps York. It has been suggested that his parents were George Morton and Catherine Brown (b. 1556), also of Bawtry, Yorkshire County, Nottinghamshire, England, but this has not been confirmed as yet by any good documentation.

George was a merchant and an English Puritan Separatist who emigrated to America in 1623 on the "Anne," sailing from Leyden, Holland to Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Separatists (Oliver Cromwell was a well-known Separatist) wanted to separate from the Church of England and form small local churches as they believed the Church was beyond redemption due to unbiblical doctrines and teachings, whereas the Puritans wanted to purify the Church of England -- the Separatists later became known as Congregationalists. King James I began to persecute the Separatists in 1609 and many of them moved to Leyden, Holland for freedom to worship. Unfortunately, the Dutch Government became allied with James I and soon began to also put pressure on the Separatists living in Holland, and this is when the idea of starting a colony in America probably began.

George Morton was a member of the Scrooby Congregation of Separatists who in time became the Mayflower Pilgrims. He moved to Leyden, Holland with the Scrooby Congregation probably around the time his neighbor, friend, fellow Scrooby Congregation member and later brother-in-law, Willam Bradford did. Both men married in Leyden-- George marrying Juliana in 1612 and William marrying his first wife Dorothy in 1613.

In 1620 when the first settlers or Pilgrims set sail on The Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts, George stayed behind in Leyden and supposedly continued to run the business affairs in Europe and London for the group.

In 1622, the year before George sailed to Plymouth himself, he published "Mourt's Relation" in London. "Mourt's Relation" was written primarily by Edward Winslow, William Bradford and others who submitted the writings to Morton who put it all together as a journal of the first years of the colony. Morton himself contributed to the writing and editing. The book was worked on between November 1620 and November 1621 and describes in detail what happened in the settlement from the time the Mayflower Pilgrims landed, their settling of Plymouth colony, the relationships and events of the people and the colony, as well as their relations with the Indians, up to their first Thanksgiving and the arrival of the second ship, the "Fortune," in November 1621. The purpose of the book was to show the new settlement in glowing colors so as to recruit more colonists, this despite the fact that their first winter was quite horrendous.^1,5

George and his family of four children and one on the way (Ephraim who is said to have been born at sea), sailed for Plymouth on the "Anne" in 1623. If he hadn't died the following year, he would most probably have been one of the leaders of the colony.

George was given a land grant of eight acres in the 1623 Plymouth land divsion, being paired with Experience Mitchell as passengers on the "Anne." And although he was long dead, he or actually his heirs, received one share in the Dartmouth lands when this division was made.

As his son Nathaniel Morton (who inherited his father's literary talents) wrote in his book, his father was considered to be one of the principal passengers arriving on the ship and is described as "a pious, gracious servant of God, and very faithful in whatsoever public employment he was betrusted withal, and an unfeigned well willer, and, according to his sphere and condition, a suitable promoter of the common good and growth of the plantation of New Plimouth; laboring to still the discontents that sometimes would arise amongst some spirits, by occasion of the difficulties of these new beginnings; but it pleased God to put a period to his days soon after his arrival in New England, not surviving a full year after his coming ashore. With much comfort and peace he fell asleep in the Lord, in the month of June, anno 1624."^1,6,7,5

     Juliana Carpenter was born between 17 March 1581 and 1582 in Bath, Somersetshire, England.¹ She was the daughter of Alexander Carpenter and Priscilla Dillon.^2,1 Juliana married George Morton on 23 July 1612 in Leyden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. Dutch Marriage Record states: George Morton, merchant from York in England, accompanied by Thomas Morton his brother, and Roger Wilson, his acquaintance, with Juliana Carpenter, maid from Bath in England, accompanied by Alexander Carpenter, her father, and Alice Carpenter her sister, and Anna Robinson, her acquaintance. The banns were published 6/16 July, 1612. The marriage took place 23 July/2 Aug., 1612.^3,4,1 Juliana Carpenter died on 19 February 1662/63 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.¹
     Juliana Carpenter was also known as Julianna or Julia Ann.

     
     The Carpenter family has been traced back to this John Carpenter who was a member of parliament about 1300.¹

     Richard Carpenter was born in 1335, and buried in St. Martin's.¹ He was the son of John Carpenter.¹

     John Carpenter is the son of Richard Carpenter.¹
     "Brother of famous Town Clerk of London" -- that brother not listed!¹

     John Carpenter is the son of John Carpenter.¹
     No further information.

     William Carpenter was born in 1440.¹ He was the son of John Carpenter.¹ William Carpenter died in 1520 at age 80 years.¹

     James Carpenter is the son of William Carpenter.¹

     John Carpenter is the son of James Carpenter.¹

     William Carpenter is the son of John Carpenter.¹