Jacob Morton (1761-1836)
Major-General & Commander of the New York Militia in the War of 1814
He was born at New York City and graduated from Princeton College. In 1789, he was the Marshal at the First inauguration of George Washington. An active Freemason, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York (1801-04). In 1804, he was promoted to Brigadier-General in the Army. The Brigade he commanded was known as "Morton's Brigade of Artillery," precursor of the 7th Regiment of New York. He was New York City Comptroller (1807-08) and clerk for the New York City Common Council. As a Major-General, he was in command of the New York Militia during the War of 1812. In 1791, he married Catherine, daughter of Carey Ludlow through whom he inherited the 26-room Ludlow mansion at 9 State Street, New York (see images) that was described as being, "emphatically the centre of intellect (and) refinement". The house was best remembered in 1824 when the Mortons hosted a ball "unsurpassed in the country at that period" for the Marquis de Lafayette. They were the parents of eleven children and were survived by seven sons and a daughter (listed).
