mums185 Cyrus Morton Account Book, 1828-1838 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Kimberley Foster. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA
2003

University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Cartier. 2003-07-28 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu201 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Cyrus Morton Account Book, 1828-1838 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 185 Compiled by Kimberley Foster Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

2003 University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Morton, Cyrus Cyrus Morton Account Book1828-1838 MS 185 1 volume (0.25 linear ft.) Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst The physician Cyrus Morton, (1797-1873) came from a notable medical family from Plymouth County, Mass. His father Nathaniel and son Thomas were both physicians, and his sister-in-law, Julia A.W. (Drew) Winslow was one of the first female medical doctors in the Commonwealth. Morton's second wife, Lydia Hall (Drew) Morton, was one of the first teachers at the Perkins School for the Blind, and a member of the first graduating class of the Lexington Normal School. Morton died in Halifax on May 18, 1873. Mortons account book contains records of frequent visits to his patients, dispensing medicine, his fees and receipts for payment (often received in kind as pigs, fish, beef, hay, wood, the use of a horse, spinning done by widows or wives, digging a well, carpentry, etc.), and a copy of a prayer in Mortons hand. Among Mortons patients were Timothy Wood, Stafford Sturtevant, Jacob Thompson, Capts. Knapp and Cushman, and Cyrus Munroe. English.

On January 14, 1797, Cyrus Morton was born into a notable medical family from Plymouth County, Mass. His father Nathaniel and son Thomas were both physicians, and his sister-in-law, Julia A.W. (Drew) Winslow was one of the first female medical doctors in the Commonwealth. Mortons second wife, Lydia Hall (Drew) Morton, was one of the first teachers at the Perkins School for the Blind, and a member of the first graduating class of the Lexington Normal School.

After receiving his medical degree from Brown University in 1820, Morton practiced for many years in Halifax. A generalist, Morton visited patients in wide area including not only Halifax, but Plymouth, Middleboro, Hanson, Bridgewater, and Duxbury. He continued to practice up until his death in Halifax on May 18, 1873.

Dating from the years 1828-1838, Cyrus Morton's account book is the third of several kept by the physician. It includes careful records of visits to his numerous patients, sometimes every day in times of need, and records of dispensing medicine. Tucked inside the book is a prayer in Morton's hand asking, "Is the love of God the governing principle of my life?"

The volume records the dates and fees for visits for each patient, but rarely specifies the illness treated or medicine dispensed, with only a few exceptions (e.g., extracting teeth, "delivering your wife"). Payment frequently came in the form of goods and services: pigs, fish, beef, hay, wood, the use of a horse, spinning done by widows or wives, digging a well, carpentry, etc. Among Morton's patients were Timothy Wood, Stafford Sturtevant, Jacob Thompson, Capts. Knapp and Cushman, and Cyrus Munroe.

The collection is open for research.

Cite as: Cyrus Morton Account Book (MS 185bd). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Charles Apfelbaum, 1987.

See also the account books of a contemporary and fellow medical graduate of Brown, Amory Gale (MS 259bd).

Processed by Kimberley Foster, 2003.

 Morton, Cyrus, 1797-1873. Physicians--Massachusetts--19th century. Halifax (Mass.)--Social life and customs--19th century. Account books.