My Genealogy Hound

THE MORTON FARM is a large property of 106 acres, situated near the south corner of Montgomery township. It fronts the township line road midway between Steever’s mill and the Horsham road. The buildings are at a considerable distance from the latter highway, with which a lane connects. The farm lands surrounding are only moderately undulating, and a rivulet flows eastward to join the Neshaminy. The crossroad on the northwest is the boundary on that side. The property is now held by an heir of the Morton family, a non-resident owner, who is Mrs. Matilda Morton Ayars. She has lately been a Philadelphia school teacher. A tenant has for years been the farmer.

This is an old homestead where there has been a human habitation since colonial times. Buildings, were erected as early as 1761, and probably by Jonathan West. The prior history of this territory may be told in a few words. It is the central part of a grant made to Thomas Potter in 1688, and sold to Mary Channelhouse in 1692. She married John Starkey, who died poor in 1746. Sheriff Nicholas Scull seized his property in that year and sold to Joseph Kenderdine this and the later Wilson farm comprising 216 acres. The boundary of this tract in 1761 was: Beginning at post of land of Rev. Joshua Jones northeast 204 perches; by John Griffith southeast 170 perches; by land in tenure of William Ston on southwest 204 perches; by Isaac Jones and the Horsham road northwest 180 perches to beginning. Their deed was witnessed by Joseph Kenderdine, Jr., and Ezekiel Shoemaker, before Archibald McClean. In 1761 Joseph Kenderdine divided the tract and sold the latter Morton place to John Hickman, a blacksmith, for 225 pounds. The same year Hickman sold 104 acres to Jonathan West. This deed was also signed by his wife Margaret before Samuel Esy and witnessed by Samuel Murray.

There is little known concerning West save that the first name of his wife was Ruth, which was a name common among Quaker women. West held possession for thirteen years, or until 1774, the eve of the revolution. The improvements that he made were of moderate value, for he sold the farm that year for 350 pounds to John Harry, comprising 104 acres with these boundaries: By land of the widow Griffith southeast 172 perches; by land in tenure of William Stenson southwest; by same and land of John Hickman northwest 172 perches; by land of Rev. Jones northeast 99 perches to beginning. The latter named preacher was the pastor of the New Britain Baptist church for many years.

John Harry, who was a Welshman, lived here during the Revolution and until his death long afterwards, a period of twenty-five years. During his ownership he put up better buildings. In the assessment of 1776 he was rated for 100 acres, two horses and three cows. The will of John Harry was made in 1799, and his executors were Thomas Wilson and John Harris. The name Harry is synonymous with Harris. This will directed that the place be sold, but it was seven years before this was done. He had a son Isaac then living in North Carolina. Mention is made of grandchildren, Elizabeth, daughter of John Harris, and Samuel, Benjamin, John and Jacob Harris, sons of Isaac Harris. His executor, John Harris, lived in New Britain, and the will was written by Amos Griffith of the same township. In 1806 Jacob Maderia bought the farm, but only held it four years, when in 1810 he sold to Michael Hartman for 478 pounds, besides paying off a mortgage. Hartman was only a temporary owner, as in 1811 he conveyed to Michael Stoever. The latter bought to keep, and it remained a Stoever property for a generation. In 1844 Elizabeth Stoever bought it from her husband’s estate, but the next year sold to Reuben McLaughlin, a Philadelphian, for $4556. McLaughlin was the owner for a long while. He died in August, 1864, leaving his wife, Mary Ann, his administrator. In 1867 she sold to Charlotte Morton, wife of Thomas Morton, of Philadelphia, for $9000, and the property later came into possession of her daughter, Mrs. Matilda Ayars.