The Life of William Morton

William Morton was born in the Brinscal area of Chorley and baptised at St. Chad's Roman Catholic Church in South Hill, Chorley on 26 September 1821. Sometime after the birth of his younger sister Alice his family moved back to Claughton-on-Brock, where his father died on 16 November 1840. William was 19 when his father died and would have undoubtedly shared the responsibility for looking after the family farm. At the time of the 1841 Census William was still living with his mother and siblings in Claughton-on-Brock.

Very little is known about the last six years of William's life. He died unmarried, aged 26 years, and was buried on 18 November 1847 in an unmarked grave in the churchyard of St. Helen's (C. of E.) Church in Churchtown, Garstang. He is listed in the Burial register as a Roman Catholic.