My Interest in the Morford Family
Morford historians suggest a connection between the Morford family and the Alley family. Various trees, including at familysearch.org, have suggested that Agnes Morford married Jonathan Buford Alley, and died in 1790 in Metamora County Indiana with no children identified before Jonathan married a second time (https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/L5YK-TZ8). But I think that is a case of mistaken identity. Instead notes in the Morford Historian newsletter suggest that Agnes married a John Alley (Jr.), and there are records that suggest that that John lived in Greene County PA along with several of the Morfords.
Biography of Daniel Morford
"Daniel, born Oct. 1740, probably in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co. (His Revolutionary War pension application, S-16209 NJ, made 1 May 1833 when he was past 92 years of age, and admittedly forgetful, gives the county name as "Woodford" even though his service was in Middlesex Co.); died in Brown Co., Iowa, 1 July 1833. His wife was Rachel, her surname not learned. They moved to Virginia (the part which a few years later became Mason and Bracken Counties, Ky.) about 1787, remaining there 40 years; in 1827 moved to Brown Co., Ohio. Neither the DAR nor the State of Ohio has record of his burial place; it is likely that his body was brought back to Kentucky and interred in a family cemetery near Locust Creek, Bracken Co. He had a large family, his known or presumed children being: Daniel Jr., born ca. 1761, m. Margaret -- --, both living 1850; John D., ca. 1763-1840, m. 1st Rachel -- --, m. 2nd Mrs. Mary Lewis; James, 1766-1839, m. 1st 1790 in Va. Jane (or Jean) Kennedy, m. 2nd ca. 1838 Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, he was a Pioneer of Greene Co., Pa.; a dau. who prob. m. John Alley Jr. ; Miles, died 1842, m. Polly Alter, lived in Clermont Co., Ohio; Elizabeth, m. 1796 Thomas Selvage; Sarah, 1777- 1852, m. 1798 James Rice and moved to Brown Co., Ohio; and perhaps others."
https://34hotrod.com/genealogy/morford-help/WhoseMorford.htm
Morford-Alley Connection in Greene County
Also, records in Greene County are consistent with the Alley-Morford connection, including a deed between John Alley and James Morford in 1813, as noted in another issue of the Morford Historian: "ALLEY-MORFORD: John Alley of Wayne Twp., Greene Co. Pa., agreed 25 Dec 1813 to make "deed of inheritance" to James Morford of the same place, for 255 acres of land "where Alley now lives", in Wayne Twp. Did this imply that Alley was A relative of Morford?" https://www.34hotrod.com/genealogy/morford-help/vol1-no1.pdf
Transcription of the 1813 agreement between John Alley and James Morford:
Articles of Agreement
Made and concluded on the twenty-fifth day of December, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, between John Alley of Wayne Township in Greene County of the one part, and James Morford of Greene Township in Greene County of the other part.
Witnesseth:
That the said John Alley doth hereby covenant and agree to make and deliver unto the said James Morford a good, clear, indefeasible deed of inheritance of and to two hundred and twenty-five acres of land, situate in Wayne Township, adjoining lands of John Irwin, James Lemmon, Elijah Burge, and Thomas Lemmon—being the same tract of land whereon the said Alley now lives.
The said John Alley also conveys and assigns over unto the said James Morford all his right and title in and to a piece of land adjoining the above-described tract, containing thirty-five acres (more or less), which vacant land was bought by said Alley of Adam Cox.
If there should be more than four hundred and twenty-five acres in the above-described tract, the said Morford agrees to pay Alley for the overflow at a proportionable rate to the whole price herein mentioned. If there should be less than 225 acres, then Alley agrees to make a proportionable deduction.
The deed is to be made on or before the first day of March next.
For and in consideration of which, the said James Morford doth hereby agree to pay the said John Alley one thousand dollars lawful money of Pennsylvania, payable as follows:
- One hundred and ten dollars on hand
- Two hundred and ninety dollars on the first day of April next
- One hundred and twenty dollars yearly thereafter until the remaining six hundred dollars is fully paid
For the performance of the above, the parties bind themselves each to the other in the penal sum of one thousand dollars.
At the making of the deed, the said James is to secure the residue of the purchase money by mortgage on the land, if required by said Alley.
Witness our hands and seals:
- Witness present: A. Buchanan
- John Alley (seal)
- James Morford (seal)
Receipts and Acknowledgments:
Sept. 28, 1813: Check of James Morford, one hundred and ten dollars—the first payment called for by the within article.
Test: A. Buchanan
Signed: John AlleyJan. 25, 1814: James Morford paid John Alley on account of the within article one hundred and ten dollars and sixty cents.
Signed: John AlleyFeb. 17, 1816: Before me, William Hunter, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, personally came Andrew Buchanan, the subscribing witness to the within instrument, and being duly sworn, did depose that he was present and saw John Alley and James Morford sign and seal the within instrument of writing and declare the same to be their act and deed, and did thereupon subscribe his name as a witness to the same.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.
Family of John Alley Jr. (needs further verification)
1.John Alley Jr b: abt 1766 in Virginia, USA. d: Aft. 1830 in Lynn Camp, Augusta County, later Marshall County, Virginia, USA (Mt. View Cemetery-Dallas, WV); age: 64.
+ Agnes Morford b: 1764 in Virginia. [possibly m: 1785 in Lyn Camp, Virginia (West Virginia). d: 1825 in Ohio County, West Virginia].
2.Martha Ann "Minnie" Alley b: 7 Oct 1793 in Greene, Pennsylvania, USA. d: 14 May 1873 in St Marys, Pleasants, West Virginia, USA; age: 79.
+ William Enoch Bills b: 15 December 1784 in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States of America. d: 11 October 1850 in Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 65.
3.Elias Bills b: 16 June 1810 in Virginia, United States of America. d: 27 November 1857 in Macy, Miami County, Indiana, United States of America; age: 47.
3.Aaron Walter Bills b: 1 April 1811 in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States of America. d: 18 May 1885 in Promise City, Wayne County, Iowa, United States of America; age: 74.
3.Joseph Bills b: 8 April 1813 in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States of America. d: 30 September 1887 in Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 74.
3.Ruth Bills b: 12 August 1815 in Virginia, Virginia, USA. m: 1835 in Marshall County, Virginia (now known as West Virginia), USA. d: 27 June 1880 in West Virginia, West Virginia, USA; age: 64.
+ Thomas H Brown b: 6 Sep 1816 in Franklin, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. m: 1883 in Marshall County, West Virginia, USA. d: 13 Apr 1883 in Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA; age: 66.
+ Isaac Brown b: 1826. d: 1874; age: 48.
3.Nancy Bills Ruckman b: 26 August 1816 in Virginia, United States of America. d: 12 January 1909 in Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 92.
3.Rebecca Bills LaRue b: 22 November 1817 in Saint Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America. d: 13 September 1898 in Saint Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 80.
3.Solomon Bills b: 28 March 1819 in Marshall County, West Virginia, United States of America. d: 30 April 1884 in Saint Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 65.
3.Martha Ellen Bills b: 23 September 1822 in West Virginia, United States of America. d: 19 August 1904 in Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 81.
3.Elizabeth Bills b: 7 Oct 1824 in West Virginia. d: 16 Oct 1909 in Liberty, Fulton, Indiana, USA; age: 85.
3.Cassandra Bills b: 13 May 1830 in Marshall County, West Virginia, United States of America. d: 24 Jun 1916 in Saint Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia, United States of America; age: 86.
+ Isaac O Reynolds b: 22 June 1827 in St Marys, Virginia, West Virginia, United States. m: 28 January 1847 in Tyler, Charles, Virginia, United States. d: 1 October 1867 in St Marys, Virginia, West Virginia, United States; age: 40.
3.Mahala Reynolds b: 26 December 1832 in Marshall County, West Virginia, USA. d: 15 April 1920 in Newell, Hancock, West Virginia; age: 87.
3.Charles Ward Bills b: 4 Jan 1839 in Marshall County, West Virginia, United States of America. d: 1 Oct 1922 in Pleasants, West Virginia; age: 83.
Census Records
| Name | John Alley |
|---|---|
| Home in 1790 (City, County, State) | Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over | 1 (?) |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 16 | 1 (John) |
| Free White Persons - Females | 2 (Agnes and a daughter?) |
| Number of Household Members | 4 |
| Name | John Alley (is this John Sr. rather than Junior?) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Type | Census | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Date | 1800 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Place | Whiteley, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Place (Original) | Whiteley, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Page Number | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliate Publication Number | M32 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliate Name | The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
|
| Name | John Ally | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Type | Census | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Date | 1810 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Place | Wayne, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Place (Original) | Wayne, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page Number | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliate Publication Number | M252 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliate Name | The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
|
