John Morton - Signer of the Declaration

Quotes

From the Will of John Morton, as reported by WallBuilders

With an awful reverence to the great Almighty God, Creator of all mankind, I, John Morton . . . being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory-thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, for all His mercies and favors-and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the times thereof, do, for the settling of such temporal estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life . . .

Tibits

John Morton cast the decisive ballot that swung his State over to an affirmative vote for independence in the Continental Congress.

He was the first of the signers to die in 1777.

Bio

Congressional Biographical Directory

MORTON, John, a Delegate from Pennsylvania; born near the old Morris Ferry (now the Darby Creek Bridge), Ridley Township, Delaware County, Pa., in 1724; attended the common school for about three months and received some tutoring in surveying; a land surveyor for many years; became justice of the peace in 1757; member of the colonial general assembly 1756-1766 and 1769-1775 and served as speaker 1771-1775; member of the Stamp Act Congress in 1765; high sheriff 1766-1770; appointed as a judge in 1770, serving as president judge of the court of general sessions and common pleas of the county, and in April 1774 was appointed an associate justice of the supreme court of appeals of Pennsylvania; member of the Continental Congress 1774-1776; was a signer of the Declaration of Independence; died in Ridley Park, Delaware County, Pa., in April 1777; interment in St. Paul’s Burial Ground, Chester, Pa.