At the end of the period of turmoil associated with the Protestant Reformation in England, the English people became free to turn their attention to other matters and to seek new opportunities outside their tiny island. Internal stability under Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and an expanding economy combined with a bold intellectual ferment to produce a soaring self-confidence.

Ireland experienced the first impact: by the beginning of the 17th century it had been wholly subjugated by the English. Scottish and English Protestants were dispatched to “colonize” the northern provinces. Then, entrepreneurs began to look to North America, claimed by England on the basis of John Cabot's voyages of discovery (1497-99).

In 1606, the London Company, established to exploit North American resources, sent settlers to what in 1607 became Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in the New World. Sir George Yeardley, governor of the colony inaugurated the House of Burgesses in 1619, the first representative assembly in any English colony. The colonists suffered extreme hardships, and by 1622, of the more than 10,000 who had immigrated, only 2,000 remained alive.

In 1624 control of the failing company passed to the crown, making Virginia a royal colony. Soon the tobacco trade was flourishing, the death rate had fallen, and with a legislature and an abundance of land, the colony entered a period of prosperity. Individual farms, available at low cost, were worked primarily by white indentured servants (laborers who were bound to work for a number of years to pay for their passage before receiving full freedom).

Charles II was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685 during which time he granted a large tract of land in the Northern Neck of Virginia to Sir William Morton, Knight. Sir William sent to America his son John Morton who represented his father's interests. In 1694, a John Morton is found living in Northumberland County, Virginia.

The settlement of Middle Plantation (later to become Williamsburg) served as the colony's center of government during the rebuilding of Jamestown in 1698. Jamestown, never a satisfactory site for a town, soon lost its preeminence to Williamsburg, to which the capital was shifted in 1699. Williamsburg was the colony's political and cultural center and was the scene of dramatic events in the American independence movement.

During these years the House of Burgesses recorded in Journals any legal transactions of the colonists. The following transactions involving Joseph Morton appear in the Journals of 1752 through 1758:

• A Petition of the Inspectors at Gibson's, Bray's, Morton's, Falmouth, and Dixon's Warehouses, in the County of King-George, and the Inspectors at Roy's, in the County of Caroline, setting forth the Hardships they labor under by a clause in the Tobacco Law, obliging the Inspectors to open such Tobacco as shall be demanded by the Persons entitled to receive the same; and on any Tobacco being refused, directing the Justices to view it on Oath, and not to pass any that is not found, well conditioned, and clear of Trash, and praying that the Severities of that law may be moderated, were severally presented to the House and read.
  Ordered, that the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, that they examine into the several matters thereof, and report the same, with their Opinion thereupon, to the House.
• Resolved, On Consideration of the Inspectors at Gibson's, Bray's, Morton's, Falmouth, and Dixon's Warehouses in the County of King George, and at Roy's in the County of Caroline, praying that in Cases where Persons entitled to receive Tobacco, by Virtue of Inspectors Notes and Receipts, and refusing to accept the Tobacco tendered in Payment, and applying to Justices, according to Law, to view and examine the same; such Justices, if they adjudge Part of the Tobacco so tendered in Payment, to be bad, unsound, and unmerchantable, may have Power to suffer the Inspectors who passed the said Tobacco, to pick the same, and separate the bad from the good; and further praying that some Time may be limited, in which such Justices so applied to, shall view and examine any Tobacco tendered in Payment, and refused by the Person entitled thereto.
• Ordered, That an humble Address be made to the Governor to desire that his Honor will be pleased to direct to be paid to Richard Parker, Richard Barnes, Edward Franklin, Thomas Yeatman, and Joseph Morton, out of the money granted by this Colony for raising Recruits for the Royal American Regiment, so much as shall appear to be due to each of them respectively for their servants enlisted into the said Regiment; and that Mr. Charles Carter do wait on his Honor with the said Address.
• February 3, 1734 - Joseph Morton. Father & Mother and William Jordan. Richmond County Order Book 10-252. Upon motion of Captain Alvin Mountjoy, guardian of Joseph Morton, son of Captain John Morton, late of this county, deceased, and Mr. William Jordan who married the widow of the said deceased. It is therefore ordered that William Fauntleroy and Thomas W. Belfield, Gents, sometime between this and the next court divide the Negroes belonging to the said deceased's estate, as the law directs, between the said John Morton and William Jordan in right of his wife.
• July 2, 1736 - Joseph Morton, father John Morton. Indenture. Richmond County Book 9-296. Between Joseph Morton, late of County of Richmond, Parish of Luenburg, of the one part and Thomas Wright Bellfield, of the county and parish aforesaid, of the other part. For 60 pounds sterling Morton sells Bellfield 200 acres. Autograph signature. Witnesses: John Slater, John Bellfield. Sarah X Harvey. Recorded March 1st, 1741.
• August 6, 1744 - Joseph Morton. Indenture. Richmond County Book 10-237. Between Mary Bellfield, widow of John Bellfield, and William Jordan, ex'or's last will of Thomas Wright Bellfield, late of the county of Richmond, gentleman, deceased, of the one part of Richard Barnes of the said county and Joseph Morton, of King George, gentleman, of the other part. For 44 pounds sterling, parties of the first part sell to parties of the other part a water grist mill and 2 acres of land. Autograph signatures. Recorded August 6th, 1744.
• February 4, 1745 - Joseph Morton. Indenture. Richmond County Book 19-271. Between Joseph Morton, of King George, Gent., of one part and Richard Barnes, of Richmond County, Gent., of the other part. For 40 pounds current money, Morton sells Barns half interest in water grist mill in Lunenburg Parish, Richmond County, formerly belonging to Thomas Wright Bellfield. Autograph signature. Recorded February 4th 1745.
• August 1, 1746 - Joseph Morton. King George County. An instrument in writing. Under the hand and seal of Fortescue Hamilton, Esq., Lord Chancellor of England, being presented in court it is ordered that Joseph Morton, Gent., be appointed guardian to Joseph Jones. (NB: This was the Joseph Jones who subsequently became distinguished in the Revolution. Joseph Jones' will, dated February 27, 1783, mentions father Hugh Jones, mother Elizabeth Jones, sister Elizabeth, brother Morton Jones, & sister Frances Foster. William Morton was executor. Will recorded in Orange County).
• December 22, 1747 - Joseph Morton. Indenture. Richmond County Book 10-404. Between Joseph Morton, of Hanover Parish, King George County, of one part, and Hugh French, Luenburgh Parish, Richmond County, of the other part. For 130 pounds sterling Morton sells to French 294 acres in Luenburg Parish, Richmond County. Said land became property of said Joseph Morton as heir to his father, John Morton, deceased. Autograph signature. Witnesses: Wm. Brockenbrough, William Jordan, Arthur Spicer, Alvin Mountjoy. Recorded July 4, 1748.
• December 22, 1749 - Joseph Morton. Deed. Richmond County. From Joseph Morton, of King George County, conveying land formerly owned by his father John Morton.
• February 5, 1756 - Joseph Morton. Deed King George County. From Joseph Morton, of James City County, to Thomas Turner, conveying 300 acres in King George.
• December 18, 1756 - Joseph Morton. Bond. Richmond County Book 11-436. Joseph Morton, William Jordan, and Presley Thornton, gentlemen, bound unto Sir Marmaduke Beckwith, Baronet, 1000 pounds sterling on condition that Morton, Jordan and Thornton pay Beckwith 500 pounds sterling on or before December 18, 1760. Autograph signatures. Witnesses: John Champe, John Stretch, Richard Talifero, Thomas Hodge. Recorded June 3, 1757.
• December 18, 1756 - Joseph Morton. Release. Richmond County Book 11-436. Morton certifies to acceptance of loan of 500 pounds from Sir Marmaduke Beckwith in full satisfaction for future he was to have had with said Beckwith's daughter, and gives to said Beckwith absolute discharge from same. Autograph signature. Recorded January 3, 1757.
• December 20, 1756 - Joseph Morton. Richmond County Book 11-436. Sir Marmaduke Beckwith, at the special instance and request of his son-in-law, Joseph Morton, of the county of James City, Gent., hath lent said Morton 500 pounds sterling. Beckwith draws bills of exchange payable to William Jordan, one of Morton's securities in bond of date December 18, 1756, and Jordan, under penalty of 100 pounds sterling binds himself to indemnify said Beckwith from all charges and damages accruing from protest of said bills. Autograph signature. Witnesses: Thomas Hodge, William Muir. Recorded January 3, 1757.
• April 14, 1758 - Joseph Morton. Deed. King George County. Joseph Morton, Gent., of James City County, to William Bruce and Elizabeth, his wife, and George Bruce, their son, of King George County, conveying 279 acres, part of 1,240 acres, in King George, held by said Joseph Morton by right of his marriage with his first wife, Frances Colson (Colston).
• May 18, 1758 - Joseph Morton. Will. King George County Order Book 1751-65, page 202. Joseph Morton, of the county of James City, Gent. Mentions Frances Morton, daughter; Mrs. Bellfield, my first wife's mother; son, William Jordan Morton. Daughters, Molly Beckwith Morton, Betty McCarty Morton, Lucy Butler Morton, Margaret Sydenham Morton; son as yet not christened. Land bought by Dr. John Dixon in James City county, about 1,000 acres; conveyance to Mr. Benjamin Waller, of lands and slaves; wife settled on tract of land in Orange County. Executors: Col. Presley Thornton, William Brockenbrough, Jonathan Beckwith, Lawrence Butler, Samuel Apperson. Autograph Signatures.