The Story goes: "An Admiral Mortier from France, fled the`Huguenot` persecutions between 1650-1750 from a Chateau on the banks of the Oise or the Loire, to relatives in Norfolk; in particular, Beccles". Huguenots were the French Protestants, who at that time were been persecuted by the Catholics.http://www.museedudesert.com
This much my father told our family. He even asked me to check this out, when I was working in Cannes in 1975. However before he died, and as I was needed at home immediately after his death, I was not able to do this, until 2 years ago. As I had time on my hands then, and after a series of coincidencies, I decided to do my own research.
Sometime during the 1980`s I received an empty Family Tree to be filled in from a Vicar, who lived in Norfolk. I filled in what I could and returned it to him; keeping a copy for myself, out of interest. It showed my father`s line going right back to 1700! When I started my research, I sent a standard letter to all immediate relatives here and abroad, and to as many Morters living in Norfolk, Suffolk, parts of Essex and London as I could, about 80 of them! Standard Letter. As you can see from the letter, I wanted as much information as possible about our line!
I got loads of replies, but the first one of real interest came, immediately from my cousin Dathne Kerr, who is living in Reading,and is the daughter of my Uncle Jack (Eugene), who died sometime ago. She sent me the same Family Tree that the Vicar sent me, filled in by her, in much more detail. She identified the vicar as a Reverend Crusha, and gave me interesting infomation, about other family members whom I shall refer to in a later Link. However, the most important piece of information was about an `Admiral Tinker`!
Daphne agreed with my father`s account but added, and I quote: " The Mortiers had to escape from France for fear of persecution and the head of the family was an Admiral who had friends in England on the East coast, and was helped to escape by an Admiral Tinker and his family. The story went on, that a son, by now Morter, married a daughter of this Tinker family and created the Morter line in England".
Was this "son", 'PHILIP MORTER` who MARRIED CATHERINE LINCOLNE at MORNINGTHORPE, Norfolk on the 20TH of SEPTEMBER 1698"? Because if he is, we have a French Connection; and the reason for this website is to find out!
I found the agreement between my father, his elder brother Jack and sister Daphne, fascinating. OK, this could be just my father and his family passing on the same information to our respective families ie same generation; but later on in my research, the Huguenot reference is reaffirmed by Laurence Mann! Also, what is interesting is: In the tree filled in by Daphne, my Great, Great Grandfather Meshack was married to a "Harriet Maria TINKER"!; so it seems, that a Tinker became part of the Morter line generations later!
What became even more interesting, was later on that week, I got a call from Robert Morter! At this stage, all I am saying is My Family Line is completely validated by Robert`s "64 Page Dossier!"; and Meshack is cited in the dossier as well, and I quote: "1828, born May 11th, baptised June 8th, Meshack son of John and Elizabeth, (late E.Wells.) Mortar, Hethersett, Labourer."
However, no mention of Harriet Maria Tinker in the above reference or, any other Tinker in the whole of the Dossier!
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