Hi Morey Listers,

The Morey Forum has just disentangled three Morey clans in California. KLN Penelope Chapman probably originated in Dorset and migrated to Connecticut, moved up into Maine. Cyrus Morey crossed into Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada where his Morey line appears to have faded out A Napoleon Morey was in Charlotte, NB, CAN, but dips under the radar. From Maine a Napoleon Bonaparte Morey a blacksmith in Machias, Washington, ME, USA 1850 aged 22 (ME CEN 1850 273 017) moved to Grass Valley, Yuba, CA, USA where he was a miner. The 1850 Californian census was three and a half months after the 1850 Maine census, so narrows down the migration West. His father William Morey was in both censuses with him, but moved back to Maine.

Napoleon Bonaparte Morey was born 14 Mar 1827 Bideford, York, ME, USA. The Morey Forum knows his wife as Sarah A Of Oakland born 1846 in England. They had three known children:

Morey Forum Email 1028:
Occupation: Blacksmith, 1850
Carpenter, 1870 &1880

1860 census, Soap Creek, Benton, OR:
Napoleon B. Morey, 40, ME, Carpenter

1870 census, Oakland, Alameda, CA, USA page 45
Morey, N. 42, ME Carpenter
Morey, Sarah A. 24, ENG At home
Morey, Mary E. 2, CA At home

1880 census, Garibaldi, Tillamook, OR, USA:
Morey, Napoleon B. Father 52, ME, ME, ME Carpenter
Morey (sic) E. Dau 12, CA, ME, ME Keeping House
Morey, William B. Son 5, CA
Morey, Hannah L. Dau 3, CA

1900 census, Tillamook City, OR, USA:
Morey, M.B. (sic) Mar 1822, age 78, widow
Boarder B: ME F: ME M: ME no occupation.

We thought we had found Mary Eldon Morey married to Thaddeus Joy 1920 aged 52 B: ME F: ME M: ME living Oakland, Alameda, CA, USA (CA CEN 1920 056 707)

1920 census, Oakland, Pct 71, 823 53rd St.
Joy, Thaddeus R. head 52, ME, ME, ME; Collector, water co.
Joy, Mary E. wife 52, CA, ME, ME
Joy, Harold Y. son 22, CA, ME, CA; stage hand, theater
Morey, Morice A. aunt-in-law 92, ME, ME, ME; wid.

But this Morice A Morey aunt in law 1920 aged 92 does not belong to KLN Penelope Chapman. She belongs to KLN RI Ezekiel also from Maine originating in Rhode Island. Therefore Mary E Morey is not Mary Eldon Morey of KLN Penelope Chapman. She is somehow connected with KLN RI Ezekiel – how we do not know.

Morice A Morey 1920 aged 92 was really Melissa A Hobbs. We know this due to her 02 Apr 1856 marriage to Harvey Chapman Morey in Genesee, Henry, IL, USA. Until he died 22 Dec 1907 Gilroy, Santa Clara, CA, USA we find her in these censuses with him

1860 Melissa A HOBBS F B 1860 aged 32
1827 Melissa A HOBBS F B 1870 aged 43
1827 Melissa A HOBBS F B 1880 aged 52
1827 Melissa A HOBBS F B 1900 aged 72
1827 Melissa A HOBBS F B 1910 aged 82
1828 Melissa A HOBBS F B 1920 aged 92

1850 Harvey Chapman MOREY M CEN 1850 aged 24
1856 Harvey Chapman MOREY M M 02 Apr 1856
1860 Harvey Chapman MOREY M CEN 1860 aged 33
1870 Harvey Chapman MOREY M CEN 1870 aged 43
1880 Harvey Chapman MOREY M CEN 1880 aged 53
1900 Harvey Chapman MOREY M CEN 1900 aged 74
1907 Harvey Chapman MOREY M D 22 Dec 1907

Harvey Chapman Morey (doctor) is a well known son of John Morey the Methodist Minister and Fanny Atkins. Harvey Chapman Morey and Melissa A Hobbs had no children but Josephine Morey 1870 aged 13 was living with them at Gilroy Las Animas, Santa Clara, CA, USA.

Now comes in Daniel Morey, Head Wagonmaker, B: NY KLN Rebecca Jose, living in San Jose, Santa Clara, CA, USA:

1850 Daniel MOREY M CEN 1860 aged 36
1850 Rebecca Of San Jose F CEN 1860 aged 32
1850 R H MOREY M CEN 1860 aged 11
1850 Georgie Ann MOREY F CEN 1860 aged 08
1850 Viola MOREY F CEN 1860 aged 07
1850 Josephine MOREY F CEN 1860 aged 04
1850 John A MOREY M CEN 1860 aged 02

The Morey spelling of KLN Rebecca Jose in 1860 was Mowrie. We have not found them in census again, except for Josephine Morey living with Doctor Harvey Chapman Morey. There was a Daniel Morey in 1850, painter B: NY who might fit this family. It is rather compelling to consider Daniel Morey is a never yet seen son of the Methodist Minister John Morey and Fanny Atkins; and brother of James Killam Morey who we tracked back many years ago to Rhode Island via New York and Maine. This family will get more research.

So Mary E. Joy in 1920 is a niece to Melissa A Morey, but it is not clear if paternal or maternal. It is clear this family is not KLN Penelope Chapman, and Mary E. Joy, while the birth year is right, is not Napoleon Morey’s daughter but is affiliated with KLN RI Ezekiel.

Kind regards, Geoffrey
Morey Forum New Zealand