{"id":2928,"date":"2018-07-05T12:06:46","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T16:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/HatchetOnline\/?p=2928"},"modified":"2018-07-05T12:06:46","modified_gmt":"2018-07-05T16:06:46","slug":"the-elusive-john-morse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/the-elusive-john-morse\/","title":{"rendered":"The Elusive John Morse"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Glen “Joe” Carlson<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

First published in June\/July, 2004, Volume 1, Issue 3, The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

John Vinnicum Morse, Lizzie Borden\u2019s uncle, has proved to be quite an elusive character. While his wanderings in the late nineteenth century were well known, especially during the time of the Borden murders and Lizzie\u2019s trial, this is primarily due to Borden case newspaper reporters who dogged his every move. Leonard Rebello gives us a comprehensive profile of John V. Morse in Lizzie Borden: Past and Present<\/i>, based primarily on these news items and testimony about and by him at the various legal proceedings of the Borden case [1].<\/span><\/p>\n

And yet, \u201cUncle Morse,\u201d the man, mostly remains a mystery to us. All we know are various facts\u2014that he lived in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa; that he was a witness at the inquest, preliminary hearing, and the trial; that he was, for a brief period, a suspect; and that he was known as a farmer and a horse trader.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

About a year ago, I decided to find more about the enigmatic John Vinnicum Morse. Looking closely at his genealogy, this saga will address Morse\u2019s ancestry and his family history, tracing his roots back 10 generations to 1578 [2].\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, Lizzie Borden stemmed from the same Morse tree. Along the way in our ancestral tracking of the Morse line, we will meet some very interesting family members. If there is a question that insanity, lying, and scamming may have run in that family, perhaps this study will shed some light on that subject.<\/span><\/p>\n

John was born in Fall River on July 5, 1833, the seventh child of Anthony Morse [3] and Rhoda [Rhody] Morrison. Anthony and Rhoda were married on November 10, 1822 in Somerset, Bristol County, Massachusetts. John had had nine siblings by 1841: Sarah Anthony, born September 19, 1823, the mother of Emma and Lizzie Borden; possibly an unnamed child born about 1824; Hannah Morrison, born January 25, 1825; Frederick Augustus, born January 11, 1827; William Bradford, born March 1, 1829; Mary Louisa Morrison, born January 18, 1831; Orin Fowler Morse, born August 20, 1835\/36; Selecta Richmond Morse, born September 1, 1838; and Fernando Whitwell Morse, born September 22, 1841.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 1840 census was begun on June 1, 1840. The enumeration was to be completed within nine months but was extended to eighteen months. The 1840 census included the following categories: name of head of household; number of free white males and females in age categories 0 to 5, 5 to 10, 10 to 15, 15 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50, 50 to 60, 60 to 70, 70 to 80, 80 to 90, 90 to 100, over 100; number of slaves and free \u201ccolored\u201d persons in age ranges; deaf, dumb, and blind persons and aliens; town or district; and county of residence. The only name that appears in the 1840 census is that of the head of the household.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the 1840 census of Fall River, the Morse family was made up of a total of 8 people: Anthony, in the male 40-50 range, and a female in the 30-40 range, probably a wife, and six children.\u00a0 <\/span>Rhoda would be 40 in this census, and Anthony as well, both being born in 1800. For children, the census lists a female under 5 who was probably Selecta, a female age 5-10 who was probably Mary Louisa, and a female 15-20 who was probably Sarah. This census only shows two boys: one 10-15 years old who was William, and another male 5-10 years old who was John. There was an older female in the household at this time, also, between the ages of 60 and 70. We are missing Frederick and Orin, but further study finds that Frederick died in 1830, aged about 3, and Orin died in 1837, aged about 1 year. Next to the home of Anthony lived Charles Morse. This could very well have been Anthony\u2019s brother. Both are shown as working in agriculture. There is no listing for insanity among the residents of either house, and everyone could read and write.<\/span><\/p>\n

By 1850, Rhoda was no longer with the family as no further reference to her could be located. Only Anthony and five children show up in the census for that year. They are listed as living in the town of Little Compton, Rhode Island. Anthony\u2019s real estate holdings were worth $5,600. He was a farmer. Someone named Hannah, whose age is listed as 38, was living with Anthony. While there was a child named Hannah in the family, she had died in May 1840, aged 15. It appears that Anthony may have married a younger wife, Hannah, who had been born in Rhode Island\u2014she being 38 in 1850 and he 50. There are two new children\u2019s names added in this census- Arabella, 3, and Alvarado [4],\u00a0 <\/span>aged 9\/12ths. The 3 children living there from the first wife Rhoda are John, aged 17, Selecta, aged 11, and Fernando, aged 9. Apparently Rhoda had died January 15, 1843, and Anthony married Hannah Chase Almy, aged 33, on May 15, 1845 [5].\u00a0 <\/span>Hannah was the mother of the remaining children born after Fernando.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometime between 1850 and 1870, Anthony and Hannah moved their belongings to Girard, Macoupin County, Illinois. They show up at that location in the 1870 Federal census. Arabella is the only offspring\u2019s name we recognize in this census because there is now a new name added, \u201cSarah M.\u201d, aged 13, white, born in Illinois c. 1856, who also was listed as having attended school within the year. If she is their last child this means that Anthony and Hannah must have left for Illinois between 1850 and 1855. This was a time of a westward movement for many people. The Erie Canal had fully opened in 1825, and railroads were linked from Rhode Island to Boston and from Boston to points west. Passenger trains linked major cities of the east and Midwest, but they were not used for long hauls from places like Boston to Chicago until later in the century. The Canal and wagons seemed to be the major mode of transportation, and the trip on the canal was relatively inexpensive [6].\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The 1870 census for Indian Creek Township, Iowa, lists: John Davidson (future husband of Arabella), 25, works on farm, John Morse, 35 (sic 37), \u201cworks on farm\u201d, and Alvarado Morse, 20, male and white, born in Massachusetts, \u201ckeeping house.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>In the 1880 census there, Alvarado has moved out and Arabella (his sister) has moved in as \u201csister\u201d to John Vinnicum Morse, 46.\u00a0 <\/span>She is aged 33, and \u201ckeeping house.\u201d John Davidson is listed as \u201cfarmer, 35,\u201d and \u201cbrother-in-law\u201d to John.\u00a0 <\/span>Arabella, John\u2019s half-sister, and John Davidson had married in 1871.<\/span><\/p>\n

By 1870, Sarah Anthony Morse, Lizzie and Emma Borden\u2019s mother, had died in Fall River [7], the eldest child in the family of Anthony and Rhody. Sarah was ten years older than John V. and probably took care of him and played with him when he was a baby. Sarah married Andrew J. Borden on December 25, 1845 in Fall River. There are references to Sarah\u2019s disposition in The Knowlton Papers<\/i>, and Lizzie\u2019s sanity, as a \u201cMorse,\u201d was being probed as well in the correspondence between the Attorney General and Prosecutor Knowlton. The Evening Standard<\/i> printed articles calling Lizzie\u2019s mental balance into question as late as November 30, 1892 while the grand jury was in session.<\/span><\/p>\n

During Detective Moulton Batchelder\u2019s interview [8] with the 75-year-old retired sea captain James C. Stafford, Sarah was described as \u201ca very peculiar woman. She had a Very bad temper. She was very strong in her likes and dislikes.\u201d Mrs. Holland [Howland] responded similarly, adding that she had heard the Morse\u2019s were \u201csomewhat peculiar and odd.\u201d Abby Borden\u2019s half-sister, Mrs. George Whitehead, was questioned, and her response was paraphrased to say that she had never heard that the Morses\u2019 were insane, but ugly. Restcome Case used to know Anthony, Sarah\u2019s father, and he thought that \u201csome of them are worse than insane.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It appears that John V. had Morse relatives in the area around Fall River and Swansea. He testified at the inquest that he had lived with his uncle, Charles Morse, his father\u2019s brother, in Warren, Rhode Island, for a year and a half when he first returned East in April, 1890.\u00a0 <\/span>He also mentions that one time (July 10, 1892) he had visited \u201can Aunt on the Stafford Road\u2026Catherine Boudray\u201d who probably was related through Vinnicum. John told of having supper at William Vinnicum\u2019s, in Swansea, on Wednesday evening before the murders. At the preliminary hearing, John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s alibi was that on the Thursday of the murders he was visiting his niece and nephew, his brother\u2019s children, who belonged in Minnesota, and who were staying at \u201c#4 Dan Emery\u2019s,\u201d on Weybosset Street. In Morse\u2019s inquest testimony, we also learn of his visit to his niece Anna\u2019s grandmother, who was the one to tell him that Anna was in town, but had gone off with one of her cousins to Providence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anna Morse was found to be living with her father, mother, and siblings in the June, 1880 census for the Town of Excelsior, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Her father is William Bradford Morse, 42 (in 1880), a blacksmith. Her mother is Anne, age 45. Her siblings are Andrew, 22, Susan, 16, John, 11, Herbert, 7, and George, 2. The young lad John was his uncle\u2019s namesake: John Vinnicum Morse. He died on November 8, 1938 in Hennepin County, Minnesota [9].<\/span><\/p>\n

In this 1880 census, Anna is 6, which means she would be 19 c. 1892, when visiting Fall River. In 1892, George would be 15. George corresponds to the age of John\u2019s nephew who was there in Fall River on the day of the murders [10].\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In his will, Uncle John gave his niece Anna E. Morse his silverware. He also bequeathed one-third of his stocks and money to Anna E. Morse, \u201cdaughter of my brother Wm. B. Morse.\u201d In 1913, Anna sued her uncle\u2019s estate for $8,000, naming the executor, another uncle, George E. Shaw, as the defendant.\u00a0 <\/span>Anna claimed that John had left her a number of bank notes that were not enumerated in the estate\u2019s assets.\u00a0 <\/span>The notes were allegedly kept in a box that Uncle John gave to her shortly before he died.\u00a0 <\/span>Anna gave the box to the local banker.\u00a0 <\/span>When the box was opened, however \u201cone note from Alva Williams on which about $7,000 is due\u201d was missing.\u00a0 <\/span>Apparently it was not there when John gave her the box because it was found in the safe at Purcell\u2019s store, and had been there \u201cfor several years. This caused a flutter of surprise.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Anna was awarded $900 by the jury [11].\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John\u2019s brother, William Bradford Morse, married Anne Frances Mason in June, 1856 in Excelsior, Hennepin County, Minnesota.\u00a0 <\/span>It is this surviving older brother whom John lived with for a year when he first moved west in 1854, before William\u2019s marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n

John\u2019s other brother Frederick had died at the age of 3, and his surviving younger brother now was Fernando.\u00a0 <\/span>After serving in the Civil War in Company A, 32nd Illinois Infantry Regiment, where he served with distinction, First Sgt. Fernando Whitwell Morse settled in Girard, Macoupin County, Illinois, and married Margaret Lucinda Graves on December 5, 1867.<\/span><\/p>\n

John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s sister, Mary Louisa Morrison Morse, was married to Joseph L. Morse, who was a first cousin, the son of her uncle Gardner. In 1880, they lived at 45 Maple Street, Fall River, along with their daughter, Ora, 23, and son, Joseph, 15. Joseph Luther Morse worked in a carriage factory. Ora was a dressmaker. Ora and Joseph each received one-third of their uncle\u2019s investments and money, according to John\u2019s Last Will and Testament.<\/span><\/p>\n

John\u2019s sister, Selecta Morse, married Philip Shaw, Jr. of Portland, Maine on November 21, 1866, in Girard, Illinois.\u00a0 <\/span>One daughter, Selecta, visited the Fort Collins area in Colorado, where her half-uncle Alvarado had a ranch.\u00a0 <\/span>Selecta met his ranch hand, Arleigh Bee, and eventually married him. With the farm later passing to Arleigh, it has remained in the Bee Family since. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In his will, John Vinnicum Morse specified that his real estate in Mills County, Iowa, be sold after the lease expiration, and \u201cthe proceeds divided equally between my nephews and nieces not above named \u2013 except those named Borden, who are not in need of it.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Item #4 in John\u2019s last will designates that \u201cI give and bequeath to my half-sister, Arabella F. Davidson, the sum of Ten Dollars in money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With relatives living in the Midwest in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, it is no wonder that John V. sought refuge there.\u00a0 <\/span>After a year in Minnesota, John moved on to Illinois, about 1855, staying there for fourteen years. Then he meandered to Hastings, Iowa c. 1869, where he apparently remained until 1890, approximately 2 years before Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After the trial of his niece, Lizzie Andrew Borden, John Vinnicum Morse returned to Hastings, where later news of his activities would occasionally be broadcast in the local sections of the newspaper.\u00a0 <\/span>He was described affectionately as having a \u201cgenial countenance,\u201d whereas in Fall River reportage he was the first suspect in the Borden murders and painted as \u201ca tall man, who looks like a farmer.\u00a0 <\/span>He has a closely cropped beard and moustache, and his eyes are bloodshot, or have prominent veins in them.\u201d Another Evening Standard<\/i> article explained that, \u201cMorse is said to have cousins residing in this city, and he seems to be very little known by the townspeople residing in Padanaram.\u00a0 <\/span>To them he has been looked upon as a mystery, as they term it, simply because they have known nothing about him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span>Family Tree<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Morse name is believed to be of ancient origin, having developed from De Mors to Mors to Morse. A Hugo de Mors was known to have lived in England as early as 1358.<\/span><\/p>\n

John Vinnicum Morse descended from Anthony Morse, born before 1578, and his wife Christian, who had three sons, William, Anthony and Robert.\u00a0 <\/span>Anthony Morse, born May 6, 1606, and his wife Ann Cox were John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents. Anthony Morse had at least twelve children, possibly thirteen, by two different wives. Sources list the children but none of them say by which wife, and there is no agreement of names and dates. His second wife was Mary Elizabeth Waldro.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony and his brother, William, came to America from Marlborough, Wiltshire, England (no evidence of his place of residence), sailing from London on the ship James arriving in Boston, MA, June 3, 1635. Anthony settled in Newbury, MA, where he built a house in what is called \u201cNewbury Old Town\u201d on a slight \u201ceminence,\u201d in a field about half a mile south of the old cemetery [12].\u00a0 <\/span>Anthony and William were shoemakers. Anthony was made a \u201cfreeman of the Colony of Mass. on the 25th of May, 1636,\u201d and took the oath of allegiance in 1678. He and his wife were members of the Newbury, MA, church in 1674. One of the town records states that Anthony Morse, Sr. was to keep the meeting house and ring the bell and \u201csee that the house be cleane swept, and the glasse of the windows to be carefully look\u2019t unto, if any should happen to be loosed with the wind, to be nailed close again\u201d [13].<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Ipswich Quarterly Court, March 1677, appeared \u201cAnthony Mors, aged about forty-five years, deposed that some time last summer \u2018Georg Mogior cam by my houss and Ran after my boye with his gun presente at the child and hee being afraid Ran into a hogsty from him I Coming to see the matr asked him whiy he Ran aftr my bwoy: he the said Mogior gaue mee vary bad languidg and saied Ill shute the doune presently: & presente his gun at me Redy Kokd and chargd and I did loock emediatly to bee ciled: but thoro gods prouedenc wee got away his gun and then he drad his sord and swagared with it till wee got that away also.\u2019 George Major was also brought before the court for \u201cburglary and stealing pork and beef from John Knight, was fined and ordered to be branded on the forehand with the letter B and bound to good behavoir\u201d [14].<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony\u2019s brother, William, and his wife Elizabeth, were tried for witchcraft in 1679 in Salem. He was acquitted. She was jailed for almost 2 years. A grandson lied under oath, when he and a sailor, Caleb Powell, testified against her. William died soon after her release from prison. She is known as \u201cGoody Morse\u201d in the Salem story that follows, written by Carolyn Depp [15].\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWilliam Morse [1614-1683][sic born 1604] was a key figure in the only recorded case of supposed witchcraft in Newbury that was ever subjected to a full legal investigation. The principal sufferer in what Joshua Coffin (in his Sketch of the History of Newbury – 1845) calls \u2018this tragi-comedy\u2019 was William\u2019s wife Elizabeth who resided with him in a house at the head of Market St. [later actually in Newburyport] across from St. Paul\u2019s Church for which William had received in the lot in 1645. William was then 65 years of age, a very worthy, but credulous and unsuspecting man who consequently was very easy prey to the taunting antics of a very roguish grandson who lived with them. Not suspecting any deception, the good man readily attributed all his troubles and strange afflictions to the supernatural instead of carefully analyzing the actions of those around him. With a belief in witchcraft almost universal at the time, it afforded a ready solution to anything strange and mysterious. The only person to have suspected the boy as the author of the mischief was a seaman Caleb Powell who visited the house frequently enough to suspect that the Morse\u2019s troubles had human, rather than supernatural, origins. Caleb informed Goodman Morse that he believed he could readily find and the source of the trouble and solve it. To add credibility to his claims, he hinted that in his many travels he had gained an extensive knowledge of astrology and astronomy. That claim, however innocently intended, led to Caleb being accused of dealing in the black arts himself–he was tried and narrowly escaped with his own life!<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Morse, brother of William, gave the following testimony about the strange goings-on at his brother\u2019s house on Dec 8, 1679 [retaining the original spelling for its quaintness…]: \u2018I Anthony Mors ocationlly being att my brother Morse\u2019s hous, my brother showed me a pece of a brick which had several tims come down the chimne. I sitting in the cornar towck the pece of brik in my hand. Within a littel spas of tiem the pece of brik was gon from me I know not by what meanes. Quickly aftar, the pece of brik came down the chimne. Also in the chimny corar I saw a hamar on the ground. Their being no person near the hamar it was soddenly gone; by what means I know not, but within a littel spas after, the hamar came down the chimny and within a littell spas of tiem aftar that, came a pece of woud, about a fute loung, and within a littell after that came down a fiar brand, the fiar being out.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

William Morse was also asked to give testimony on the same day and reported instances of being in bed and hearing stones and sticks being thrown against the roof or house with great violence, finding a large hog in the house after midnight, and many strange objects being dropped down the chimney. Items in the barn were mysteriously overturned or out-of-place, shoes unexpectedly seemed to fly through the air as if thrown, and doors unexpectedly would open or close.<\/span><\/p>\n

The handwritten testimony concludes with the telling statement: \u2018A mate of of a ship coming often to me [ie: Caleb Powell] said he much grefed for me and said the boye [William\u2019s grandson] was the cause of all my truble and my wife was much Ronged, and was no wich, and if I would let him have the boye but one day, he would warrant me no more truble. I being persuaded to it, he Com the nex day at the brek of day, and the boy was with him untel night and I had not any truble since.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

When Caleb was finally acquitted, the judges looked for some other person guilty \u2018of being instigated by the devil\u2019 for accomplishing such pranks, and for some reason selected Elizabeth Morse, William\u2019s wife, as the culprit. [Elizabeth often served as a town midwife, and perhaps had incurred some male or professional\u2019 jealousies?]<\/span><\/p>\n

At a Court of Assistants held at Boston on May 20, 1680, Elizabeth Morse was indicted as \u2018having familiarity with the Divil contrary to the peace of our sovereign lord the King\u2019 and the laws of God. In spite of her protesting her complete innocense, she was found guilty and sentenced by the governor on May 27th as follows: \u2018Elizabeth MORSE, you are to goe from hence to the place from when you came and thence to the place of execution and there to be hanged by the neck, till you be dead, and the Lord have mercy on your soul.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, for some unexplained reason, Elizabeth was granted a reprieve on June 1, 1680, by Governor Bradstreet. The deputies of the local court did not agree with the decision, however, and complained in Nov 1680 to have the case reopened. Testimony was again heard in the general court through May 1681. William sent several petitions pleading his wife\u2019s innocence and attempting to answer the hysterical allegations of 17 Newbury residents who submitted testimony in writing offering their reasons why they had concluded that Goody Morse must be a witch and should be hung according to old Mosaic law.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading the list of \u2018reasons\u2019 today quickly strikes the 20th century mind as a dredging up of every petty annoyance, every grudge or neighborhood misunderstanding the townspeople could think of from sick cows to being snubbed in public. It was owing to the firmness of Gov. Bradstreet in his initial decision that the life of Elizabeth Morse was saved and the town of Newbury prevented from offering the first victim in Essex County to the witchcraft hysteria. Later town records and other contemporary sources fail to record what happened to the \u2018vile and roguish\u2019 grandson whose attempts to torment his elderly grandparents nearly resulted in his grandmother\u2019s untimely death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony and Ann\u2019s son, Joseph, was John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s great-great-great-great-greatgrandfather. \u201cJoseph Morse was a blacksmith and land owner in Newbury and Piscataqua, MA. When his inventory at Piscataqua was taken at his decease by Richard Abbott and Thomas Barker, both of Piscataqua, it showed that he owned a house there with the adjacent land and two blacksmith\u2019s shops.\u201d When \u201ca second inventory was given at Essex County (MA) Court by his widow, Mrs. Mary Morse, September 30, 1679, it included a smith\u2019s shop and tools at Newbury\u201d [16].<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph and Mary had six children: Sarah, Benjamin, John, Joseph, Joshua, and Mary. Their son, John, was John V. Morse\u2019s great-great-great-great grandfather.<\/span><\/p>\n

John was married to Sarah Eastman. He was born in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire in 1671, and died in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island in 1727. He and Sarah had nine children: Abigail, John, Joseph, Abiah, Mary, Benjamin, Hannah, Joshua, and Elizabeth. Their son, Benjamin, was John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s great-great-great grandfather. Not a great deal is known about Benjamin. We have no information on his wife. We know that he had five children. They were Edward, Abigail, Philip, Frances, and Joseph.<\/span><\/p>\n

John V. Morse\u2019s great-great grandparents were Joseph and Mary Tucker Morse. Mary was born January 3,1727\/28, in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts. They were married on December 2, 1744 in Newport, Rhode Island. They apparently had only one child, William, born on April 28, 1746. He married Mary Eddy.<\/span><\/p>\n

John\u2019s great-grandparents were William and Mary Eddy Morse. Mary was born on June 22, 1748, in Swansea, Massachusetts. They were married on February 18, 1768. William and Mary had ten children: Benjamin, Joseph (John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s grandfather), Stephen, Mary, Israel, William, Elizabeth, Martha, Preserved, and James.<\/span><\/p>\n

John\u2019s grandfather, Joseph Morse, was born April 4, 1770. John\u2019s grandmother was Sarah Lawton Vinnicum. Joseph was a farmer. They had six children: Gardner; born December 30, 1794, Joseph, born May 22, 1797; Anthony, John Vinnicum\u2019s father, born February 15, 1800; Sarah, born April 29, 1802 and the twins, Charles and George, born November 7, 1809.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the \u201cfinding\u201d of Anthony Morse, John\u2019s father, I\u2019ve gone full circle in this saga. There is much more to discover about the Morse family. There is more research to be found at The Morse Society website [17] and at the Ancestry website [18].\u00a0 <\/span>I would have added the census records as appendices to this saga, but the image might be small and the print would be quite unreadable. Before I take leave of my senses, however, I had better quit while I\u2019m ahead. Perhaps one of you may do further research and find missing pieces. I will gladly share records I have collected. Genealogy work is an on-going process and even now I am expecting further information from sources. Maybe together we can build, revise, and verify the Morse Family tree and find out more about the elusive Uncle John.<\/span><\/p>\n

As with all genealogy research, and the Morse family is no exception, some dates and spelling of names cannot be verified without original documentation such as birth, death and marriage certificates.\u00a0 <\/span>The Morse Society, Ancestry, The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and family records contributed to the information.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Descendents of Anthony Morse<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Anthony Morse b: Bef. 1578<\/span><\/p>\n

… +Christian<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>2 William Morse b: 1604<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>+Elizabeth b: Abt. 1602<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>2 Robert Morse b: Abt. 1608<\/span><\/p>\n

.. 2 Anthony Morse b: May 06, 1606 d: October 12, 1686<\/span><\/p>\n

……. +Ann Cox b: 1607 d: March 08, 1678\/79\/80 + Mary Elizabeth<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Anthony Morse<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Hannah Morse d: November 26, 1703<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Robert Morse b: December 27, 1629<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Joseph Morse b: 1634 d: January 15, 1677\/78\/79<\/span><\/p>\n

……….. +Mary Woodhouse b: January 14, 1638\/39<\/span><\/p>\n

………. 4 Sarah Morse b: 1677 d: July 01, 1677<\/span><\/p>\n

………. 4 Benjamin Morse b: 1668 d: July 22, 1743<\/span><\/p>\n

………. 4 John Morse b: 1671 d: 1727<\/span><\/p>\n

…………… +Sarah Eastman b: 1674 d: September 06, 1719.<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Abigail Morse b: 1702?<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 John Morse b: 1706?<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Joseph Morse b: January 11, 1692\/93\/94<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Abiah Morse b: January 09, 1693\/94\/95<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Mary Morse b: March 04, 1695\/96\/97<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Benjamin Morse b: October 24, 1698<\/span><\/p>\n

………………. +Merab (Unknown)<\/span><\/p>\n

……………… 6 Joseph Morse b: Abt. 1723<\/span><\/p>\n

………………….. +Mary Tucker b: 1727\/28<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………. 7 William Morse b: April 28, 1746 d: February 12, 1800<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………… +Mary Eddy b: 1748<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Benjamin Morse b: December 20, 1768<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Joseph Morse b: April 04, 1770 d: September 1818, \u201clost at sea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………………. +Sarah Lawton Vinnicum b: May 02, 1772 d: November 07, 1846<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… 9 Gardner Morse b: December 30, 1794 d: September 12, 1877<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… 9 Joseph Morse b: May 22, 1797 d: June 22, 1839<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… 9 Anthony Morse b: February 15, 1800 d: July 04, 1878<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………………….. +Rhoda Morrison b: December 24, 1800 d: January 15, 1843<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Sarah Anthony Morse b: September 19, 1823 d: March 26, 1863<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +Andrew Jackson Borden b: September 13, 1822 d: August 04, 1892<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 (Unknown) Morse b: Abt. 1824<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Hannah Morrison Morse b: January 25, 1825 d: May 30\/31, 1840<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Frederick Augustus Morse b: January 11, 1827 d: June 03, 1830<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 William Bradford Morse b: March 01, 1829 d: April 20, 1921<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +Anne Frances Mason b: August 06, 1835 or November 14, 1834<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Mary Louisa Morrison Morse b: January 18, 1831 d: June 09 or Sept. 06, 1911<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +Joseph Luther Morse b: May 29, 1823<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 John Vinnicum Morse b: July 05, 1833 d: March 01, 1912<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Orin Fowler Morse b: August 20, 1835\/36 d: August 27, 1837<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Selecta Richmond Morse b: September 01, 1838 d: February 27, 1888\/89<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +Philip Shaw, Jr. b: May 09, 1838 d: March 20, 1905<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Fernando Whitwell Morse b: September 22, 1840\/41 d: April 10, 1884<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +Margaret Lucinda Graves b: August 01, 1844<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… *2nd Wife of Anthony Morse:<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………………….. +Hannah Chase Almy b: February 17 or 19, 1812 d: August 27 or 29, 1870<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Arabella Frances Morse b: May 11, 1847<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +John Davidson b: October 24, 1844<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Alvarado Kossuth (Kermit) Morse b: October 22, 1850 d: January 10, 1899<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………………… +Elizabeth Filema Cotton b: April 20, 1854 d: January 04, 1917<\/span><\/p>\n

……………………………. 10 Sarah M. Morse b: 1856 (Questioned as descendent)<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… 9 Sarah Morse b: April 29, 1802<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… 9 Charles Morse b: November 07, 1809<\/span><\/p>\n

………………………… 9 George Morse b: November 07, 1809 d: October 19, 1887<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Stephen Morse b: March 25, 1772<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Mary Morse b: March 25, 1772 (Twin?\u00a0 <\/span>Questioned)<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Israel Morse b: July 21, 1776<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 William Morse b: March 11, 1778<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Elizabeth Morse b: March 28, 1780<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Martha Morse b: March 11, 1782<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 Preserved Morse b: August 07, 1783<\/span><\/p>\n

…………………….. 8 James Morse b: May 15, 1786<\/span><\/p>\n

……………… 6 Edward Morse<\/span><\/p>\n

……………… 6 Abigail Morse<\/span><\/p>\n

……………… 6 Philip Morse<\/span><\/p>\n

……………… 6 Frances Morse<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Hannah Morse b: May 22, 1700<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Joshua Morse b: Abt. 1702 (1713?)<\/span><\/p>\n

………….. 5 Elizabeth Morse b: Abt. 1703 (1705?)<\/span><\/p>\n

………. 4 Joseph Morse b: October 28, 1673 d: May 19, 1741<\/span><\/p>\n

………. 4 Joshua Morse b: 1675 d: 1754<\/span><\/p>\n

………. 4 Mary Morse b: January 21, 1677\/78 d: Feb. 05, 1677\/78<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Peter Morse b: 1637<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Benjamin Morse b: March 28 or 04, 1639\/40<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Sarah Morse b: May 01, 1641<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Lydia Morse b: May 1643 d: May 1646<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Lydia Morse b: October 07, 1647<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Mary Morse b: April 07, 1649 d: June 14, 1662<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Esther Morse b: May 08 or 03, 1651<\/span><\/p>\n

…… 3 Joshua Morse b: July 24, 1653 d: March 28, 1691\/92<\/span><\/p>\n

While John Vinnicum Morse made his home in Hastings, Iowa, various news items would appear in the local section of The Malvern Leader and the Glenwood Opinion, documenting his travels and activities. They give a snap-shot view of his everyday life in Iowa. Thanks to Bev Boileau for the snippets.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUncle John Morse has returned from his long visit east. He says Iowa is the best place yet.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Malvern Leader<\/i>, December 15, 1892.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. John Morse has returned to Hastings, after spending the winter in California.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>The Glenwood Opinion<\/i>, March 3, 1898.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn Morse and J.C. Anderson have returned from a trip through Nebraska and Kansas, driving overland. The two enjoyed themselves as much as when they were boys.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>June 14, 1900.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRussell and Scanlan are in the country this week making a barn for John Morse.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>April 2, 1903.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn Morse started last week for his old home, Fall River, Mass. He was accompanied as far as New York by Jamie Chapin, who will spend the summer there with relatives.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Malvern Leader<\/i>, May 7, 1903<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe genial countenance of our old friend, John Morse, is once more seen upon the streets of Hastings after several months\u2019 visit in the east.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>November 26, 1900 or 1903.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn Morse left for Boston last week and as usual, when John goes, the weather changes.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>February 23, 1905.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf any one should ask why we are having this cold snap just tell them John Morse has gone back to Boston.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Glenwood Opinion<\/i>, April 22, 1909.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUncle John Morse was down town Saturday for the first time in two weeks.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Mills County Tribune<\/i>, February 12, 1912.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur old friend, John Morse, has been on the sick list the past week and we are sorry to note that at present writing he is little if any improved. His many friends here hope for an early change for the better.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Malvern Leader<\/i>, February 22, 1912.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUncle John Morse continues very poorly at the home of W.E. Van Ausdale, and on Friday night Dr. Bridges, an Omaha specialist, came down to examine him. Miss Anna Morse, a teacher in the Minneapolis schools, came in Friday to be with her uncle.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Mills County Tribune<\/i>, February 26, 1912.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn V. Morse, a well known citizen of Hastings, died Friday morning at the residence of W.E. Van Ausdale, where he had made his home for some years.\u00a0 <\/span>He had been sick for several weeks with heart trouble,\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Mills County Tribune<\/i>, March 4, 1912.<\/span><\/p>\n

From John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s Probate File:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFuneral expense Leo V. Myers & Sons, Red Oak, Iowa<\/span><\/p>\n

To Casket, Vault, Embalming, Livery, etc. Funeral expense\u00a0 <\/span>$250.00\u00a0 <\/span>March 4, 1912.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Will of Anthony Morse<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I anthony Morse of Newbury in the name of god amen i being sensible of my own frality and mortality being parfit memory due make this as my last Will and testament comminding my sole to god that gave it and my body to the dust in hope of a joyful rasurixtion and as for my wourly goods I dispose of as foloieth, I give and bequeth to\u00a0 <\/span>my son Joshua Morse making him my lawful eaire all my housing and lands both upland and meddow with my freehould and privilidge in all comon lands both upland and meddow alweais provided that if the toen of Newbury dou divide any part of the comon lands that then the on halfe of my freehould shall be the lawful inheritance of my son\u00a0 <\/span>benjeman morse all so I geue to my son Joshua morse all my cattell an horsis and sheep and swuine and all my toules for the shoemaking trade as allso my carte wheles dung pot plow harrow youkes chains houes forkes shovel spad grin stone yt as allso on father bed which he lieth on with a boulster and pillo and a pair of blinkets and courlitt and ton pair of shetes a bed sted and mat a pot and a brass cetell the best of tou cettles and a belmetell scillet and tou platars and a paringer and a drinking pot and tou spoons and the water pails and barils and tobes all these about named I give to my son Joshua and his eaires of his own body begoten lawfully than then all above geven to my son Joshua shall Return to the Rest of my children upon the peayment on good peay to\u00a0 <\/span>my sons widow besides what estate she att any time brought to her husband she the said widdo shall injoy the houl estate on half year before she shall surrender<\/span><\/p>\n

also I geve to\u00a0 <\/span>my son Robert Morse Eighteen pounds or his children\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0 <\/span>my son Peter morse or children L3.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>son Anthony morses\u00a0 <\/span>children I give L3<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>son Joseph morses children I give L12<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>son Benjamin Morse or children I give L12<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>dafter Thorlo or children L12<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>dafter Stickney or children I give L12<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>dafter Newman children I geve L12.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>dafter Smith or children I geve L12<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>grand son Richard thorlo I give an sheep<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>to my\u00a0 <\/span>grandson Robard Homes I give fiev pounds<\/span><\/p>\n

allso the Remander of my housall which is not in partikelar geven to my son Joshua in the former part of this my will to all my children equeally to be devided between them and my grand children hous (who\u2019s) parents are dead, namely anthonys children, Josephs children hanahs children, allso I dou by this my last will allow and give loberty to my son Joshua morse hou is my Eaire to make sail and dispose of that land by the pine swamp which I had of Benjeman lacon of that pece of land by John Atkisons hous if he see Resan so to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

allso I du by this will apoynt\u00a0 <\/span>my son Joshua morse to be my sole executer to peay all debtes and legacies by this will given and to receve al debtes allso I dou apoynt my loving and crisian\u00a0 <\/span>frinds Cap. danil pears and Tristram Coffin and thomas noyes to be overers of this my last Will Allso I dou apoynt my Exicutor to peay my son Robard and son peter within on yeare after my death on the other to be peaid within three years the plas of peayment to be newbury my will is that my son benjeman shal have the on half of all comon lands when devided as above said\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

in witnes therof I anthony morse have hearunto set my hand and seall this\u00a0 <\/span>28 aprel 1680.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Morse (Seal)<\/span><\/p>\n

Sind selid and onid inthe presence of us James Coffin Mary Brown<\/span><\/p>\n

that whereas I anthony morse in this my will abov said geven on half of all comon lands if devided to my sonn benjeman mrs; my meaning iss that my sonn benjeman shall have the on half of my proportion of lands when devided, but my sonn Joshua to have all my rights in the lower comon this is my mind and will as witnes my seall this 20 aprel 1680<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Morse (seal)<\/span><\/p>\n

witness to this part of my will James Coffin Mary brown<\/span><\/p>\n

Proved Nov 23 1686<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Special thanks to my good friend and editor, Kat Koorey, for her continuous support and help, and to Leonard Rebello for many answers to our questions, Bill Pavao for his willingness to share his data, Bev Boileau for photos and reproductions, \u201cGramma\u201d for her interest in this project, the Glenwood Library, the Fall River Historical Society, and the Fall River Library.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

FOOTNOTES<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>1 Rebello, Leonard. Lizzie Borden: Past and Present<\/i>. Al-Zach Press, 1999.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>2 Much of the information about John Vinnicum Morse\u2019s ancestry is available on the Internet. Those sources that are copyrighted will be cited.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>3 Anthony Morse was born February 15, 1800.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>4 \u201cMorse, Alvarado K, Attorney-at-Law, Collections a Specialty, Office in Pullman Block\u201d was a listing in The Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1884-5<\/i>, vol. 3.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>5 The marriage date of Hannah Chase Almy and Anthony Morse, 15 May 1845, was supplied by Leonard Rebello from his files: April 1, 1845 Marriage Record, Fall River, Mass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>6 From \u201cSpafford\u2019s 1824 Pocket Guide for Tourist and Traveler.\u201d Erie Canal Packet Boats Fare, including board, lodging & every expense: 4\u00a2\/mi Way passengers: 3\u00a2\/mi [exclusive of board, etc] and dinner – 37\u00a2; breakfast or supper – 25\u00a2; lodging – 12\u00a2. \u201cThese packets are drawn by 3 horses, having relays every 8,10, to 12 miles, and travel day and night, making about 80 miles every 24 hours. They . . . have accommodations for about 30 passengers, furnish good tables, and a wholesome and rich fare . . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>7 March 26, 1863.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>8 Michael Martins and Dennis A Binette, Eds. The Knowlton Papers 1892-1893<\/i>. Fall River Historical Society, 1994. HK102, p. 102-105.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>9 Ancestry.com. Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2001. Original data: State of Minnesota. Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002. Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>10 New Bedford Evening Standard<\/i>, August 6, 1892: 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>11 Mills County Tribune<\/i>, Jan. 30, 1913: 1; Mills County Tribune<\/i>, Feb. 3, 1913: 1; Glenwood Opinion<\/i>, Iowa, Feb. 6, 1913.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>12 I believe it is still known as \u201cMorse\u2019s Field.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>13 Br\u00f8derbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #1219<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>14 Record and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusett<\/i>s, V. VI 1675 \u2013 1678.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>15 Broderbund WFT Vol. 16, Ed. 1, Tree #1604, Carolyn G. Depp, submitter. Transcription is exact and includes all formatting from the original Depp article.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>16 J. Howard Morse and Miss Emily Leavitt, compilers, \u201cMorse Genealogy\u201d (1903), 11..<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>17 http:\/\/www.morsesociety.org\/ The Morse Genealogy can be purchased for $65 US.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/span>18 http:\/\/www.ancestry.com. There is a charge of $29.95 a month or $199.95 annually for this service. The cost is well worth it for the family historian.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

John Vinnicum Morse, Lizzie Borden\u2019s uncle, has proved to be quite an elusive character. While his wanderings in the late nineteenth century were well known, especially during the time of the Borden murders and Lizzie\u2019s trial, this is primarily due to Borden case newspaper reporters who dogged his every move.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2938,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-john-morse"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2928\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizzieandrewborden.com\/hatchetonline\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}