New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
THE MORTONS.
STORIES OF REVOLUTIONARY TINES.


From The American Monthly Magazine.
The history am about to relate is taken from
the recollections of my grcat-aunt. Susan Morton.
afterward the wife of Josiah Quincy. of Boston,
and who was a child during the period OF which
an asked 10 write
Her father. John Norton at time in the
commisssry department of the British Army. but
his marriage with Sophia kenper he resigned
his position and became merchant He resided in
a large brick house Wa;er-st.. in New-York.
a wharf behind which situated his
warehouse and where his ships used TO unload their
valuable carg1As OF merchandise His wife came
from Germany with her parents when she only
two years old. and had a narrow escape with her
life for while on the voyage she was taken with
smallpox, whereupon the captain who had never
had the disease insisted that she should be thrown
overheard a.. II ne taken sick and died. the
passengers would be left In mid-ocean with
capable OF commanding the ship and bringing 1t
safely port, Her parents however. successfully
oombated his arguments. and her mother shut her
self up with the child in her cabin. The disease
proved of a mild type. and affected one else
board.
On reaching America the Kempers settled on the
patent Of Rober, r. Livingstone. some twenty miles
back from the Hudson River. then a perfect
wilderness. and here an incident happened which
has found its way into print. When Sophia
child of six years OF age she was accustomed 10
her bowl OF rice and milk after dinner seated
on the sill OF the house door, and heard TO
speak Of die sch0ne Schlange' 0he beautiful
snake) who came and ate her rice. Her mother
watched to see what these words meant. and to her
surprise and CONSERVATION large rattesnake
with its head in the bowl eating with the child.
who. when her visitor took more than its share.
tapped it the head with her spoon Ii
quietly away when the meal was finished. but this
intimacy too dangerous to be allowed. and Mr..
Kemper killed the snake which was very large
one. having twelve rattes.
In l7f Mr.. Kemper sold his lease and moved TO
New Brunswick, and there the children Of the faml-
ly had the opportunity of entering church for the
first time in their lives.
From the commencement OF the Revolution Mr..
Morton and his family took the side Of liberty and
the colonies and known Wings. After the
Stamp Act and Tea Tax. when seemed inevlta-
BILE. he determined to leave New-York He was
promised protection and security II he would remain
a loyal and quiet subject. but he did not hesitate
to abandon his property rather than to submit to
the unjust measures OF Government which had
become tyranncal and oppressive 10 his country:
about this time laden with valuable merchandise.
All the goods IN IN he % % hastily ackeG
Philadelphia. where they were sold for good prices
and the money thus obtained deposited In the Loan
Office. The amount thus devoted to the Of the
American Army by John Morton caused HIM to be
was not able. and his sons not old enough. to tight
the battles Of his country, he said he would pay
MIR. and Mrs: Morton sen, over se their furniture
and all their effects which could be moved to Eliza
family abandoning their comfortable home to their
enemies who soon took possession OF their pleasant
use during the seven succeeding years While living
who was named Washington a proof OF their
Chief of the American Army. This child was
the first which ever named in his honor
sS ed the of sn ns mss d ne
ant. and after a few weeks moved to Baskn-
.t.ge which was in retired. pleasant stua-
fills II secure from the British and times
Il the centre OF the American Army, Washington's
distant. The hospital wac located on Mr. Morton's
estate. Ii long. low log building and a brook
ran in front Of II and supplied the Inmates with
the Medical Department and the other physicians
had rooms I'm Mr.. Morton's house and this arrange
mutually agreeable to both parties The country
people around were not generally kind or hospable
to the exile from New-York. and enormous prices
seven years. even the most common implements Of
convenience and industry. such as needles pins ETC..
,or Instance, only one darning Of the size to
carry yarn among the families In the neighborhood
! as treasure. One day Mrs. Morton imprudentIy
| intrusted II TO little Washington to carry to
| friend, with many charges to 90 straight and be
darning needle was lost. Great was the disinay at
such an accident the neighbours turned out to search
was at length SscSSsred s sck tns
In a stump by the side Of the road. where he had
It when he stopped to Play Great were the
inlrusted to such youthful messenger.
The American troops were constantly passing the
and near headquarters. exposed the family TO great
expense. fatigue and labor. They we're frequently
obliged to bake three -four time: IN one ay
oven party Of hungry soldiers would pass by. to