In 1870, he was living in the household of Vincent Lea Morton.

He owned 25 slaves in 1863, valued at $15,702.00
He was a slave owner. [Latham Mark Phelps]
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530 acres--@9.00 per acre---$4770.00
63 acres--@15.00 per acre--$945.00
104 acres--@6.00 per acre---$624.00
25 Slaves valued at -----------$15,702.00

His tax that year of 1863 was: $88.26 State Tax
$66.20 County Tax
$154.46 Total
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[from Latham Mark Phelps]

Elijah Morton was a prominent farmer and citizen of Leasburg as well. In 1825 when the Racetrack opened north of Leasburg, Elijah Morton enjoyed regional fame for his five Arabian stallions known as "Morton's Bays."According to William S. Powell, who wrote a book on the history of Caswell County, Elijah Morton also owned this Racetrack. He was also a Caswell District Patroler, meaning he chased down runaway slaves.

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Elijah Morton to Vincent L. Morton
January 21st, 1869
Caswell County, North Carolina

State of North Carolina Caswell County
This Indenture made and _______this the 21st day of January 1869. Witnesseth that for and in consideration the natural love and affection which Elijah Morton bears his Son Vincent L. Morton and for and in consideration of a bond executed and delivered by said Vincent L. Morton to support and maintain the said Elijah Morton and for other good causes and considerations the said Elijah Morton hath given granted bargained Sold & delivered to the said Vincent L. Morton his heirs and assigns the tract of land whereon he the said Elijah Morton now lives containing five hundred 500 acres more or less adjoining the lands of John S., Wm. Peterson, William Stephens and others to have and to hold the Said tract of land to the only proper use & behoof of the said Vincent L. Morton his heirs and assigns forever.
Elijah Morton *Seal*

Witnesses
Wm. Paylor Jr.
A.W. Garner
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Last Will of Elijah Morton

Caswell County Court 1875

I Elijah Morton, being of sound mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of
Life do make publish and declare my last Will and Testament as follows:

My desire is that all just debts and funeral expenses be paid and all my other property,
Money and estate be divided between my four children, Vincent L. Morton, Phoebe L.
Stanfield, Maranda R. Love and Barbara Baynes I hereby appoint my son Vincent L
Morton my executor to this my Last Will and Testament.

Signed and acknowledged in the presence of this 21st day of January 1869.

William Paylor Jr. Elijah Morton (Signed)
A. W. Graves


Record of Wills Caswell County Page 173

Vincent L. Morton being sworn, doth say that Elijah Morton late of said county, is dead,
Having first made and published his last Will and Testament and Vincent L. Morton is
The executor named therein. Further that the property of the said Elijah Morton
Consisting of Lands, Goods, Chattels, Bonds, and Monies, is worth $4000.00 so far
As can be ascertained at the date of this application and this V. L. Morton, Phoebe L.
Stanfield, Maranda R. Love and Barbara H. Baynes are the parties entitled under said
Will to the said property.

V. L. Morton (Signed)

May 1875
G. H. Kerr
Probate Judge


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The Morton Family in Caswell County, N.C.
Written and contributed by Mark Phelps
 
The Morton Family had been living in Caswell County since the late 1700's and  married into the Lea Family who had settled in Caswell (then Orange County) in  the the late 1740's or early 1750's. Meshack (Mesheck) Morton was recorded in  the first Federal Census in 1790 in Caswell Co. and also the N.C. State Census of the 1784-1787 time period. Meshack migrated to Caswell Co. from Virginia where he was born in 1766. He served in the American Revolution; See North Carolina  Revolutionary Army Accounts, Vol.1, Page 60, Folio 4.

Meshack married Nancy Ashburn in December of 1785. Meshack appears in the N.C. Taxpayers List (1679-1790) in the years 1784 and 1786. On Sept 10th 1797 Gabriel Lea is listed as Guardian to orphans of Meshack Morton to wit: Lewis, William,  Meshack, Paton, Any, Jacob, Martin, Ezekiel----to Thomas Wiley for 232lbs 448  acres South Fork Country Line Creek Adj; Mitchells Branch---Deed also signed by  Anderson Morton-Caswell County Deed Book K Page 112-3. The Gabriel Lea that was  appointed as Guardian to the orphans of Meshack, was my 4th Great-Grandfather,  as well as was Meshack my 4th Great-Grandfather. Gabriel Lea married Elizabeth Ashburn, who was very probably a sister of Meshack's wife Nancy, and were  probably both daughters of John Ashburn. Reference a Deed Oct.23,1810-Caswell Co  Page 167-8: Gabriel Lea to Drury Burton For 200.00 45 acres on N. Hico being part of tract granted by state to John Ashburn.- Meshack's Son Elijah Morton married  Gabriel Lea's daughter Mary as well. On May 25th 1830 Gabriel Lea deeded 150  acres to Elijah Morton For the sum of 500.00-This transaction is also mentioned  in Gabriel Lea's Will of 1834.

Elijah Morton (son of Meshack) married Mary (Polly) Lea (dau. of Gabriel) November 5th 1811. In 1825 when the Race Track opened north of Leasburg, Elijah Morton  enjoyed regional fame for his five Arabian stallions known as Morton's Bays. He  was also Caswell District Patroler - meaning he chased down runaway slaves. In a  December 1856 Court record he paid the Clerk 15.00 for old timbers from Love's  Ford on Hyco. In October 1857 Elijah was a bondsman (witness) for William Lea as  adminstrator for the estate of William Lea Jr. Along With Elijah was Solomon Lea  as bondsman. In October Court 1825 he was Administrator in account current with  the estate of Martin Morton, deceased. Caswell Co. Wills Book K Page 289.

There is reference made to Elijah Morton in the List of Taxables in the Richmond District of Caswell County of 1838,the listing reads as follows: Elijah Morton 723 acres valued $2.75 per acre, total land value $1988.00. he also had 5 slaves and his tax that year was $5.49. In the List of Taxables for the year 1863, his property was less in acreage, but substantially more valuable.  However this being 25 years later and in the midst of the Civil War we see the  listing:

Elijah Morton


530 acres--@9.00 per acre--$4770.00
63 acres--@15.00 per acre--$945.00
104 acres--@6.00 per acre---$624.00
25 Slaves valued at ----$15,702.00


His tax that year of 1863 was:


$88.26 State Tax
$66.20 County Tax
$154.46 Total


As a point of historical reference, The Battle of Gettysburg took place in  July 1863, the year of this Tax Listing. In the Census of 1860 of Caswell  County, one year prior to the start of the Civil War, Elijah Morton is listed in the District of Milton. His wife Mary died the following year, three months  after the beginning of the War between the States. The household is listed as:


Elijah Morton---71-Male-Farmer
Mary Morton-----71-Female
V. Lea----------82-Male-Farmer
E. Love---------16-Female
A. Love---------11 or 14-Male
Value of Real Estate---$10,100
Value of Personal Estate--$27,400.00


 © 2002 Latham Mark Phelps
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Gabriel Lea to Elijah Morton Land Deed
Caswell County , N.C. May 25th 1830
This Indenture made this twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty, between Gabriel Lea of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina of the one part; and Elijah Morton of the County and State aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth that the said Gabriel Lea for and in consideration of the sum of Five hundred Dollars to him in hand paid by the said Elijah Morton, the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath given, granted, bargained and sold, and doth by these presents give grant, bargain and sell---- --------release and confirm unto the said Elijah Morton his heirs and assigns forever, a certain tract or parcel of Land situate, Lying and being in the said County of Caswell on a prong of Killgore’s branch of North Hyco: Beginning at a white oak at said branch an running thence north forty five degrees East nine chains to a Red Oak. Thence South eighty three degrees East seven chains and fifty links to Pointers, Thence North sixty seven degrees east five chains to a Red Oak, Thence North forty five degrees East seven chains and fifty links to White Oak by a drain, Thence North seventy six degrees East five chains to a small White Oak and pointers. Thence North fifty four degrees East thirteen chains and forty links to a Pine near a mud hole, Thence East five chains and ten links to Hickory on William Lea’s line, Thence South with his line twenty nine chains and eighty links to a Pine, Thence West four chains and twenty links to pointers, Thence South five degrees east twenty one chains and fifty links to a stake in the road, Thence South eighty two degrees West twenty six chains to a Spanish Oak, on the said branch, Thence down the branch as it meanders fifty chains and fifty links to the Beginning, Containing One hundred and fifty Acres, be the same more or less, and said Gabriel Lea doth hereby for himself, his heirs executors etc. covenant with the said Elijah Morton that he will warrant and forever defend the above bargained land and premises from the claim of all other persons whomsoever to the only proper use and behalf of him the said Elijah Morton his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said Gabriel Lea, hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above written.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of: Gabriel Lea { Seal }
Solomon Lea
William Lea Jr.
James Lea
Transcribed by: Latham Mark Phelps 2003
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