After the murder, Uncle John lived in New Bedford

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:51 am

Recently, someone stated that after the murder, Uncle John went back to Iowa and never returned to the area again. New Beford City Directories list a John V. Morse boarding in New Bedford in 1895 and 1898. The house belonged, in those years, to the widow and sons of Frederick Morse, a cousin.

FairhavenGuy, Frederick's death certificate says he was born in Fairhaven (in, I believe, 1832), son of George Morse and Harriet (Andrews), who were born in Swansea.

In 1901, John V. Morse is listed as boarding at another address, 29 Fifth St. In 1903 and 1904, John B. Morse is listed as boarding at the same address. In 1910, John V. Morse is again on Fifth Street. It is possible that it could be John Vinecom Morse of Excelsior, MN (son of William Bradford Morse), but John V. Morse of Hastings, Iowa bought property in Fairhaven with Amos Caswell in 1905. Uncle John's will also mentions money he had in New Bedford banks.

I am hoping to learn more once I track down where 29 Fifth Street was. Fifth Street today, I believe, is Pleasant Street and there's no 29. The owners of the house may provide clues since Uncle John liked to board with friends and relatives.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 4:00 am

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:52 am

In the Hatchet of June/July 2004, page 22, Our Joe collected news snippets about Morse from Bev Boileau, dated 1892, 1898, 1900, 1903, 1905, 1909, 1912. Actually, he has recently found a new one about a thousand pound bull or cow?
Morse seems to have spent the winter of 1897-1898 in California, for instance.
Do you have that issue?

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:01 am

Yes, Pleasant is the old 5th street and Purchase St. is the old 4th street, as I learned researching Eli Bence this summer. The other streets still have numbers and start again at Sixth Street.

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:26 am

Well, we certainly had Morses in Fairhaven. I'll check around a bit.

My 1899 New Bedford/Fairhaven directory lists John V. Morse at 2 Richmond Street, New Bedford. Other Morses at the same address are Henry A., Mrs. Elizabeth S. a nurse, Frank S. a painter. It seems to be the home of Henry and Elizabeth with Frank and John V. boarding.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:40 pm

The California trip is no surprise. I wonder if there are San Francisoco directories from this time.

Here are names of some New England Argonauts heading for the Gold Rush;

Bark Mallory, from Fall River, Massachusetts, February 28th:(1849 to San Francisco)
R. E. Borden, Josh Case, Royal Chace, J. E. Messer, J. H. Buffington, J. C. Trafton, W. H. Watson, Frank Grey, Wm. R. Cleaveland, Isrl. Anthony, D. P. Cummlngs, N. S. Davis, A. H. Hood, Thos. Nichols, Jerome Donnelly, Geo. Holmes, J. S. Cotton, B. A. Waite, J. W. Martin, A. P. Dyer, F. B. Harris, L. Nichols, C. B. Greelash, J. C. Parry, Ellery Whiteley, Jas. Campser, T. D. Mathewsen, Marshall Baker, A. N. Dix, Thos. Pollard, Jas. Harworth, Jn. Wesley Nelson, Ern. Cooke, J. A. Bailey, L. M. Cobb, Jas. Sherman, G. T. Pierce, A. Bassett, Geo. Goodman, J. G. Bowen, Robt. Hargraves, Alfred Briggs, S. B. Barnaby, B. T. Winslow, Madison Durfee, J. P. Wilkins, N. H. Talman, Thos. Muntoon, Dd. Brayton, W. L. Lindsey, S. G. Hunt, Peleg Tripp, J. T. King, Simon Manchester, W. C. Davenport, Geo. Gray, Jos. Almy, Seril Cory, Wm. Brownell, Thos. Grinnell, W. A. Church, C. T. Bangley, W. B. Wilbor, P. S. Brownell, I. S. Brownell, J. H. Grinnell, G. R.Vinnicum, Thos. Rider, F. W. Lucas, R. T. Pope, S. D. Gray, C. R. Nichols.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: The Argonauts of California By A Pioneer, C. W. Haskins, 1890.
© 2003 Nancy Pratt Melton

Source: http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/gnl/argosea3.htm
Note the Vinnicum, the Borden, the Trafton, Manchester, Brownell, Grinnell names. Lots and lots of local names as possibilities to visit. They can't all have come back to Fall River like Hiriam Harrington.

Note: the year to check in New Bedford was in one of the "Pete Peterson" article reprints in the last The Hatchet.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:26 am

The reference to Morse in California is:
"Mr. John Morse has returned to Hastings, after spending the winter in California," The Glenwood Opinion, March 3, 1898.

Thanks for any extra info you guys!

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:49 pm

No proof of where Uncle John went in California, but I offer an area of speculation.

Ephraim Weed Morse (John Sargent, John, Benjamin, William, Benjamin, Anthony) was one of the founding fathers of San Diego.

According to the following history, Mrs. Morse was in bad health and they moved to Alpine, CA (NE of San Diego) for 6 years, with Mrs. Morse dying in San Diego in 1899.

While very distant relatives, there was a tie going back to the traditional home of the Morses, Newbury, Essex Co. and they are both from the Anthony line. San Diego presented opportunities for investment, as well. One source listed E. W. Morse as a bank president in San Diego (who else do we know is a bank president?). Insider trading was not illegal in these days. He is also a contemporary of Uncle John and Andrew.

http://members.aol.com/OTPadre/morse.html

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:30 pm

29 Fifth Street, the other New Bedford address where Uncle John boarded, is today's Pleasant St/ between Spring and School Streets (closer to the School St. end of the block).

Amos R. Caswell's stable (A. R. & Co.) was located at 27 Fourth Street (today's Purchase Street--1 block down--also between Spring and School Streets). Since they bought property together, in Fairhaven, there is some suggestion of friendship and/or business dealings between the two.

Seems that there were other people besides Pete Peterson who knew Uncle John came to New Bedford, but they found him to be a quiet and unassuming man who minded his own business. so he remained "under the radar" as they say.

P.S. This is about 6 short blocks from the Superior Courthouse where Lizzie was tried.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:50 am

Wasn't there a news story that said Morse knew the mayor (or former-mayor) of New Bedford and would have conversations with him about *The Beyond*? And he kept a small boat there?

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:17 pm

The boat is true, in fact the property in Fairhaven he bought with Caswell is overlooking the bay. I've heard the story of Morse and a psychic, but I've never heard about Morse and a New Bedford mayor discussing "The Beyond." I've been poking around in the archives, but haven't come across anything yet.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:43 pm

To date, more than forty-five people have occupied the office of Mayor during the last 150 years. Of these, Charles Sumner Ashley held the title for the longest running Mayor. Between 1891 and 1936, though not continuously, he served thirty-two years as New Bedford's chief executive officer, more than one-third of the city's existence to that point.

Quoted from History of New Bedford:
http://www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/Tourism ... yofnb.html

Seems like Mayor Ashley (probably the City's most famous mayor) is the likely candidate for

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:17 pm

What's the source of the fact that Morse bought property in Fairhaven, and where was it?

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:35 pm

Kat, do you have a source? I've been searching the archives for some reference but so far, no luck.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:46 pm

Charles Sumner Ashley was born in New Bedford on September 5, 1858, son of Joshua Ashley, owner of a carriage manufacturer, Bromwell and Ashley. The youngster was educated in New Bedford's public schools and at Friends Academy. Though his parents wanted him to attend college, he preferred entering the business world as a partner in a meat market, first in Fall River then on Purchase Street in New Bedford. At the time, Ashley was only sixteen.

From
http://www.newbedford.k12.ma.us/element ... ndbook.swf

A connection between the 2 men would make some sense. As a horse dealer, Uncle John knew carriage makers and we know he knew butchers.

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:52 pm

Okay, I Googled Caswell and it brought me back to a thread here on Jefferson Borden and John V. Morse. (It's the next to last thread in this Heritage Project section.)

Basically, the same cast as now were having this same discussion regarding Morse buying land in Fairhaven.

It's mentioned on page 77 of Rebello. Cynthia said the lot overlooked Nasketucket Bay and Morse may have been related to the Shaws of Shaw's Cove. The property was purchased from George H. Howland on October 24, 1906 and sold to Sarah E. Smith in 1909.

That time around we never got any farther than that.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:01 am

Sorry to keep you in suspense, Cynthia.
Harry was helping me out, giving me the boat source as the bio in the Glossary of The Knowlton Papers.

I did find the info tho in Rebello's book about the mayor, page 70. I notice he did not cite his source tho. It could be part of the listings at the end of the whole Morse section, pages 70-78:

Throughout his life, Morse traveled east during the summer and winter months visiting Fall River; New Bedford; Warren, Rhode Island; and Boston. He maintained a small boat in New Bedford, and he visited friends and relatives. While in New Bedford, he would spend time at the marble shop of ex-Mayor Thomas Thompson discussing the existence of life after death. John Morse was fond of fishing and had an interest in having his fortune told. He oftentimes told the story of a gypsy in Hastings who refused to tell his fortune, "You don't want it told." It was sometime after this, the Bordens were murdered.
.......
And you were very resourceful, Christopher!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:03 am

BTW: Please let me explain- I use the *astersk* when I am paraphrasing, and quote marks when quoting.

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:11 am

Interesting, Kat.

Thomas Thompson was mayor of New Bedford for just one year, 1906. That was the same year that Morse and Caswell bought the Fairhaven property.

Thompson's marble works was located at 25 Fourth St., New Bedford.

Amos R. Caswell & Co.'s stable was at 27 Fourth St., New Bedford, right next door.

nbcatlover · Post by **nbcatlover** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:02 pm

Wasn't familiar with Thompson myself. Uncle John's turning into the Mr. Rogers of Fourth Street.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:53 am

You guys are funny!

I love it!

In one of the *Bev Boileau* snippets Joe got on Morse, it says Jaime Chapin accompanied Morse as far as New York, from Iowa, 1903. I think Joe has a census page for Jaime?
Rebello, pg. 70, says Morse lived with the Chapins in 1900. Mr. Chapin was a druggist and had 3 children.
(I have the census page around here somewhere. I think it's in a file folder in my dry sink.)

joe · Post by **joe** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:50 pm

Kat @ Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:53 am wrote:You guys are funny!
I love it!

In one of the *Bev Boileau* snippets Joe got on Morse, it says Jaime Chapin accompanied Morse as far as New York, from Iowa, 1903. I think Joe has a census page for Jaime?
Rebello, pg. 70, says Morse lived with the Chapins in 1900. Mr. Chapin was a druggist and had 3 children.
(I have the census page around here somewhere. I think it's in a file folder in my dry sink.)

I have it someplace, too. Since we don't own a dry sink, I'll look elsewhere.
J

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:59 pm

I've found the (1900) census page Joe had given to me with Jamie Chapin on it.
Morse lived with the family as "boarder" including: George (Head, 44), Elizabeth (Wife 40), Clarence (son), Mary, James, and looks like Clancy? (Mother 83).

Anyway, Jamie was 11 in 1900, and if Morse took him to New York to drop him off (THe Chapin parents were from NY) on one of his own expeditions East, Jaime would only have been about 14.

I wonder how that came about, Morse and a 14 year old young man traveling together from Iowa to New York- and what form of conveyance and how long that would take in 1903?

FairhavenGuy · Post by **FairhavenGuy** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:25 pm

I imagine it would be by train, Kat. I don't know how long it would take to get from Iowa to New York.

I'd imagine if Morse made annual trips east and the Chapin son wanted/needed to go to New York, maybe to visit or live with relatives, sending the boy when the adult was going would make sense.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:50 pm

Yes it reminds me of the Morse kids from Minnesota who came to visit at the Emery's. Anna Morse was 19 and her brother George 15, when they came to Fall River. Morse went to see them the day of the murders.

That's got me wondering who brought them east? We don't know, do we?

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:28 pm

I would think they came together alone, in that day, 19 would have been considered an adult. And a 15 year old boy would have been quite capable of escorting her. And if indeed they did take a train, all the more likely.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:20 am

Well, maybe so- but stll, a 19 year old girl? I think she'd need a chaperone. I bet there's more story there!

But this Anna was a busy little body and got herself more money out of her Uncle Morse, when she visited him in his final days, in Iowa. She made out like a bandit!

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After the murder, Uncle John lived in New Bedford

After the murder, Uncle John lived in New Bedford

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