Edward Morton, F.S.A.

Edward Morton was baptised on the 28th April 1824 at Ripon and was the youngest son of William Thornton Morton Esq. (Alderman) and Louisa Strangwayes. William had also held the position of Wakeman in Ripon. (A Wakeman was the historical chief law enforcement officer of Ripon, North Yorkshire, dating back to 886 AD. The position was created by King Alfred the Great. While the historical office ended in 1604, the daily 9:00 pm “setting of the watch” ceremony continues to this day.) He eventually became a Land Agent and worked for the Studley Estates for 42 years.

In 1850 Edward married Martha Spence on the 8th January at Trinity Church, Ripon. His occupation was Gentleman. Edward and Martha had six children: Louisa Martha 1854, Harcourt William 1859, D’Arcy Strangwayes 1861, Percy Neville 1866, Lawrence Knyvett 1868 and Howard Conyers 1870.

He was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on the 26th May 1870. The society is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It received a Royal Charter in 1871.

The Harleian Society, of which he was also a member, was a registered charity established in 1869. Its official object was the transcribing, printing and publishing of heraldic visitations of counties, parish registers or any manuscripts relating to genealogy, family history and heraldry.

Edward worked his way from a bank cashier to bank manager of The City and County Bank, Malton, in 1860. The census of 1871 has the Morton family living at 43 Market Place with a Housemaid, a Cook and a Nurse (two of the children were under 5) as befits a Bank Manager. Being a man of high standing, he was elected treasurer to the Malton Local Board of Health in 1871.

Unfortunately, he died on the 15th June 1872 in the bank from heart disease and congestion of the lungs. He was only 48 years old. Edward was buried in the New Malton Cemetery. His headstone reads:

HERE RESTS EDWARD MORTON BORN APRIL 7TH 1824 DIED JUNE 15TH 1872, AND MARTHA HIS WIFE BORN JUNE 18TH 1830 DIED FEB 20TH 1894.