Edward Dean Morton
| Edward
after the turn of the Century |
All that is known of Edward and Tat 
is derived from public records and brief mention by Aunt Nancy. The 1901
census reported that the two nieces, Eveline and Emily were still living
with them. Harry, now 23, was working as a bank clerk, and 29 year old
Ernest declared no job. The household included two domestics -- Mary and
Lizzie Wiggins.
Three events of note occurred after the turn of the Century. |
Aunt
Tat dies
1911 |
Arabella Anna Morton (nee Laughton), otherwise known as Aunt Tat, died
New Year's Day, 1911 at noon. Cause of death was marasmus, also stated
as general debility -- the same as her sister Cornie in 1893. Marasmus
is most often associated with young children, and is the slow emaciation
due to faulty assimilation of food -- starvation would be the eventual
end, and Tat suffered for three years until passing at age 72. The registration
of death was made by her physicians, husband Edward and his colleague,
Dr. A.T. Little. She was buried in Captain Laughton's vault, immediately
down the hill on the left of the Morton plot.
The probate application was made by sons William and Walter. The contents
of her estate were to be divided as follows -- one fifth portion of her
stocks and cash to each son except Ernest (never mentioned), and:
|
| Tat's
will not executed |
Apparently this will, though, was never properly executed. It wasn't
until after the Great War in 1918, that concerns were raised and legal
matters taken. Several letters exist in the probate file to tell what happened
next.
In October, Henry has returned from Europe, and asks William and Walter
to account for the execution of their mother's will. William replies that
Walter was responsible for handling the money, and that he had even brought
action against (i.e. sued, I believe) their father's family regarding the
silver acorn urn. Dr. Edward and Francis of Tinahely had died by this time,
so their "father's family" could only have referred to the five remaining
children of Francis and Mary.
The last entry into the file was the November 1918 order by the Judge,
to Walter of 21 Hawthorn Drive, Toronto, and William, a barrister now in
Sault Ste. Marie, to make account. No resolution is recorded, and we're
left wondering what ever happened to the contents of the will -- especially
the silver acorn urn. |
Edward
remarries
1912 |
 As
stated by Aunt Nancy in her history (p 3), Edward remarried late in life.
His second wife, joined 27 Apr 1912, was Annie May – previously Mrs. Percy
Vivian. They were married at St. James’ Cathedral in Toronto, attended
by immediate relatives and friends. Later in the day they left for New
York and then on to a year-long world tour aboard the Mauretania only two
weeks after the sinking of the Titanic. He was around 76 at the time. |
| Edward's
death in 1916 |
 Edward
died 4 Aug 1916 of senility and heart weakness at age 83 years in Barrie.
The informant was son Henry, and we can only assume that the entry for
Edward's mother, simply the name Barrett, was made by him in ignorance.
I believe it is less likely that the maiden name of the Morton brother's
mother in Ireland, Elizabeth, was Barrett. As stated in brother Francis'
1911 death registration, it's more likely to be Dean, simply because so
many descendants were middle-named Dean (sometimes Deane), and there was
no-one left alive who would remember better for Edward's registration in
1916. Barrett does occur, but only in William E.D.B. Morton's name, and
it comes last in the sequence. Barrett was undoubtedly a maiden name of
an ancestor in Ireland.
Edward's estate probate was applied for by Annie May Morton, Edward's
second wife.
The contents of the will valued at over $28,400 were:
-
properties on Dunlop and Peel Streets in Barrie, and Vespra township
-
a property in Innisfil township known as Clonmore Farm, houses and 3 lots
in Toronto and Barrie given to Henry
-
$1000 to sister Elizabeth in Ireland, and $1000 to niece Genevieve (of
James), both of whom still lived in County Wicklow, in a town named something
like Cobrae or Coulrae
-
all else went to second wife, Annie May, to whom he could not have been
married to for more than five years
The history of Edward's sons remains fairly unknown. All that the wills
indicate are last known locations and apparently, that there was a split
in the family such that Ernest was excluded from Tat's wishes, and all
but Henry and Annie May were excluded from Edward's. We'll use our imagination
to fill in the rest.
More about Edward's descendants  . |
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