by Sarah Lindecke  |
“The Lovers Tryst” by artist Charles Joseph Frederic
Soulacroix. The pair in this |
There is not a lot known about
George Washington Morton, or Washington Morton as he is most often called. He
is said to have been born in Essex, New Jersey in 1776, to John Morton
(1711-1781) and Maria Sophia Kemper Morton (1738-1832). His birth month and
date are not known, but he was the last of six children in the Mortons’
marriage. Despite the minimal knowledge of Washington Morton himself, his
father is well known because he was a financial backer for the Continental
Congress. John Morton was often referred to as the “Rebel Banker” because he
liquidated much of his personal business holdings and funneled his funds to the
Continental Congress. This was not officially sanctioned by the rules of the
Continental Congress, but it lent John Morton credit as an “alternative funding
source for the rebels,” something greatly appreciated at the time.[1]
His family also appeared to have supported the rebel military. They furnished the
rebel encampment near their home in New Jersey with some supplies while also establishing
an army hospital.[2]
Washington Morton was a lawyer by trade. He trained at Princeton, where he graduated in 1792. It is not known where or how he finished his studies to become a lawyer. The 19th century book, History of the City of New York: Its Origin, Rise and Progress by Martha Joanna Lamb and Mrs. Burton Harrison, support the claim that he went to Princeton, but the work also heavily romanticized the details of Washington Morton’s younger years, and is one of very few sources that can speak to his history. The authors suggest:
As a youth, more of his time was given to the pleasures of
the world than to its affairs. His fondness for athletic exercise led him on one
occasion to test his powers of endurance by walking to Philadelphia for a
wager. … Upon returning to New York he was lionized.[3]
These details of Washington Morton’s life are generally parroted by other sources, but there are no primary sources to back them up. Furthermore, these authors butchered and rewrote the story of Washington Morton’s elopement with Cornelia, significantly hindering their credibility.
Though we still don’t know everything about Cornelia and Washington Morton’s choice to elope, there is a first-hand account written by Washington Morton, which he wrote to his sister, Eliza Susan Morton Quincy (1774-1850), in the days directly following the event. The letter is dated October 14th, 1797, and was written from Albany:
I never could excuse it to my ever Dear sister were I permit
any time to elapse without informing her of the alteration in my Situation—On
Saturday evening the 8 of October Miss Cornelia Schuyler consented to unite her
fate with mine—The manner in which she did it flatters me though it must have
pained her; Her mother and myself had a difference which extended to the father
and I had got my wife in opposition to them both—She leapt from a Two Story
Window into my arms and abandoning every thing for me gave the most convincing
proof of what a husband most Desires to Know that his wife Loves him—We were united
at Stockbridge and spend two days with Mr. Sedgewick—We returned to the Manor
of Livingston where I Left my wife with her godmother Mrs. Livingston and came
hither to arrange some Business—On Monday I leave for the […] whence I shall go
immediately home […]
Thus my dear sister I am at length Lost and the vast field of
matrimony is doomed to be my habitation—Also the rest of the family are my warm
friends and you must not permit the present difference [existing] between some
of us give you uneasiness—for it will be but for a moment.[4]
 |
| George Washington Morton painted by Gilbert Stuart. Part of the set with Cornelia. |
The Schuylers themselves never made
official or direct reference to what their concern was with Washington Morton. The
first mention of Morton was written by Cornelia’s father, Philip Schuyler, to her
older sister, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton (1751-1854), on November 26th,
1797, just a month after the wedding had occurred. The section about Cornelia
reads:
I have by the mail that conveys this written a letter to my
unhappy Cornelia and in the spirit which you wish. I hope it will restore peace
to her mind, if she can possibly enjoy it, with a man of such untoward disposition
as her husband – I apprehend very much that he will render her miserable, and
increase my affliction, - interpose your advice to her, and intreat my Hamilton
to exert his endeavors to bring her husband to reason perhaps that he may still
be reclaimed and become intitled to our attentions.[5]
Here no direct mention is made to
the disagreements between the Schuylers and Mortons, but, evidently, even
within a month of their wedding, there were significant issues within the
family. One thing to keep in mind is that we cannot be sure if Philip Schuyler was
projecting his own unfounded thoughts about the couple or accurately predicting
Cornelia’s future in this letter to Eliza. Philip Schuyler feared for his own
health should his daughter’s marriage prove to be as unhappy as he suspected,
but instead of pushing his daughter away, he hoped to see their relationship
repaired.
There are more references made to Washington
Morton’s “incorrigible” behavior, as Philip Schuyler called it. Washington
Morton’s conduct appeared to remain something of a spectacle for the well-to-do
Schuylers who were personally concerned about their daughter and the life she
would lead with Washington Morton. In a letter written by Philip Schuyler to
his son Philip Jerimiah Schuyler (1768-1835) on November 20th of
1801, he stated:
Mr. Morton and your sister leaves this to morrow [sic], his
conduct whilst here has been unusual, most preposterous. Seldom an evening at
home, and seldom even at dinner – I have not thought it prudent to say the
least word to him on the occasion, as advice on such an irregular character is
thrown away.[6]
The Schuylers concerns about the Mortons
remained somewhat vague. Philip Schuyler wasn’t making a lot of effort to lump
Cornelia in with the irregularities, but still refered to the Mortons as a
unit. It appears that Schuyler took more issue with Washington Morton’s choice
to balk tradition because his choices pushed against usual social conventions.
Yet for all the issues he took with Washington Morton’s actions, Philip
Schuyler appeared to be so disinterested in correcting the wrongs that he couldn’t
be bothered to speak with him, even to offer advice.
When read together, these letters
suggest that Cornelia’s family disliked Morton from the outset no matter the
arguments or promises Cornelia could make to her family. Despite this rather
negative view of the marriage, it was still a productive one as Cornelia had
five children with Washington Morton before her passing in 1808.
Coming soon, check out the final blog in our Cornelia series where her untimely death at thirty-three years old will be discussed, as well as what would come of her family in the following years.
[1] John Morton - General Washington's Rebel
Banker Hid in Basking Ridge - Mr. Local History Project (mrlocalhistory.org) and John Morton (1711-1781) -
HouseHistree
[2] John Morton - General Washington's Rebel
Banker Hid in Basking Ridge - Mr. Local History Project (mrlocalhistory.org) and John Morton (1711-1781) -
HouseHistree
[3] From
the History of the City of New York: Its Origin, Rise and Progress Volume
3 by Martha Joanna Lamb and Mrs. Burton Harrison
[4] Letter
from Washington Morton to Eliza Susan Morton Quincy from Albany on October 14th,
1797, Quincy Papers in the Massachusetts Historical Society.
[5]
Letter from Philip Schuyler to Eliza Schuyler Hamilton from Albany on November
26th 1797, in the Library of Congress Hamilton Papers: 2017
Addition: covering years 1796-1799.
[6]
Letter from Philip Schuyler to Philip Jerimiah Schuyler from Albany on November
20th, 1801.
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