Ezekiel Morton of Montgomery Co, NC

Ezekiel is on the lower left, Elizabeth is on the right. The monument in the middle was erected in 1962 by Claud Bryan Morton and Bethie Almond Morton

 

Ezekiel Morton was born c1770  possibly to Carr Morton.  He was a Revolutionary War Soldier from what is now Stanly Co, NC.  Then, this area was part of Montgomery Co, NC.  He married Elizabeth Brumbelow c1798.  She was born 1775 to Edward and Elizabeth Brumbelow.  There has been a lot of information floating around as to whether or not Elizabeth Brumbelow was a "Cherokee Princess" or not.  It is told by many descendants that her father was also known as "Judge Brumbelow" and that he was of the Eastern Cherokee Nation.  But, the family lines seem to trace her heritage back to Virginia.  The reason for most of this argument came about in 1906 when Cherokee descendants were receiving land grants based on their descent from the Indian Nation.  Many Brumbelow descendants applied for this claim.  Their claims were rejected.  A grandson of theirs, David Stanly Morton, a Baptist minister from Stanly Co, NC stated in an article:

 

The Stanly Enterprise

  29 August 1907

  Denies Indian Relationship.

  Rev. D. S. Morton denies that his grandmother was related to the Indians,

  and writes interestingly as to the news reference made in our issue last

  week to those who were seeking to establish claims. Mr. Morton offers no

  argument, but says:

  "I remember Grand-mama very well. She was a devout Christian. Her maiden

  name was Bromblo, but she was not the only one of that name who lived in

  this country. In the year of 1870, I met people, living in Union county by

  the name of  Bromblo, who did not look like Indians. Grand-mama was dark

  complected but no darker than many other people whom I have seen. She

  possibly might have been related to the Indians. I do not know; but I do

  know that she was not an Indian.

  I never heard that we were related in any way to the Indians, until a few

  years ago when some parties were trying to set up a claim in the Indian

  Territory upon such a relationship. Of course, they failed and justly

  received a reprimand for filing false claims.

  Now, I hope our people will not be mislead by such a legendary story, and

  dance to the music of some designing trick, while some fellow gets well

  greased, smacks his lips, and chuckles in his sleeves.

  If I am related to the Indians I am not ashamed of my relationship."

  As to the correctness of the affidavits we know nothing: but attorney J.

  R. Price, who is representing the Brombello descendants, has a number of

  certificates from aged and reliable men of the county who certify that the

  Mrs. Morton was an Indian and of the Eastern Cherokee Nation. And there

  are those who think with Mr. Morton that there is nothing to show that

  such a relationship existed.

  The evidence which seeks to establish the claims is of a secondary and

  traditional nature, but Mr. Price seems confident of the proof which he

  has in hand.

  August 31th is the limit for filing the claims, and those will be passed

  upon in the department of Indian affairs at Washington.

 

 Ezekiel may or may not have married an "Indian Princess."  It seems doubtful.  But, the story is fun, nonetheless!  He died 14 Jan 1834 in Montgomery Co, NC and Elizabeth Brumbelow Morton died 22 years later on 21 Mar 1856 in Stanly Co, NC.  The couple are buried side by side in the Morton Family Cemetery on #1222 on Chesley Burris farm, 1/2 mi. N in the woods.

 

Check also The Descendants of Ezekiel Morton (a Family Tree Maker website… very thorough dealing of the Mortons)

 

Another Family Tree Maker Site is from Bryan Morton

 

Leah Sims has championed the cause of proving or disproving Indian myths, especially with the Morton/Brumbelow clan.  See her work on Indian Myths as well.  You may recognize her as the webmaster for Stanly Co, NC.

 

Children of Ezekiel and Elizabeth Brumbelow Morton:

 

John Morton b. 31 Mar 1799 Montgomery Co, NC d. 29 Sep 1886 Stanly Co, NC

     m. Sarah A. Hathcock b. 3 Jun 1805 d. 9 Sep 1869 Stanly Co, NC      

     m. Eliza ____ b. c1823 d. 8 Aug 1872 Stanly Co, NC

         

Joseph Morton b. 24 Feb 1801 Montgomery Co, NC d. 19 Oct 1889

     m. Margaret Peggy Hatley b. 1805 d. 27 May 1884

    

William Morton b. 1801 Montgomery Co, NC

     m. Frances ____ b. 1805

 

Hezekiah Morton b. 1803 d. Nov 1846 Stanly Co, NC

     m. Susana Hathcock m. 1825 b. 1812 d. 1855

 

Rebecca Morton b. 1810 Montgomery Co, NC d. 1858 Stanly Co, NC

     m. John Needham Whitley m. <1834 Montgomery Co, NC  b. 1813

 

Jesse Morton b. 11 Mar 1811 Montgomery Co, NC d. 16 Feb 1863 Stanly Co, NC

     m. Elizabeth Burris m. 1833 b. 23 Aug 1814 d. 27 May 1899 Stanly Co, NC

    

Dicey Morton b. 1813

     m. Green Morgan b. 1813

 

Nancy Morton b. 26 Feb 1816 Montgomery Co, NC d. 7 Mar 1886 Stanly Co, NC

     m. Mark Morgan m. BEF 1836 North Carolina 

 

Susannah Morton b. 1818 Montgomery Co, NC d. 13 Jun 1878

 

I. W. Morton b. 1820

    

Ezekiel John Morton b. 1822 Montgomery Co, NC

     m. Polly Ann Reed

 

L. C. Morton b. c1825 Montgomery Co, NC

 

Allen Green Morton b. 1827 Montgomery Co, NC

     m. Elizabeth Burris m. BEF 1847 North Carolina 

 

 

 

 

Records found for Ezekiel Morton:

 

1810 Montgomery Co, NC census

20 Sept 1816 - Petition Concerning the Site of Montgomery Co. Courthouse

1830 Montgomery Co, NC census

Marriage records of Stanly Co, NC