Saga of Admiral Mortier & Admiral Tinker
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! 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 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 Sepetmber 1698"? Because if is, we have a French Connection; and the reason for this website is to find out!
I found the agreement between my father George, and his elder brother Jack, fascinating; particularly, as later on in my research, the Huguenot reference is reaffirmed by a Karen Mann! But what is more interesting is: In the tree filled in by Daphne, My Great, Great Grandfather Meshack was married to a "Harriet Maria TINKER"! OK, this could be just my father and his brother passing on the same information to our respective families, same generation; until I got a phone call from a `Robert Morter` later that week!
At this stage, all I am saying is "Harriet Maria Tinker" is citied as the wife of a Meshack Morter in Roberts` "64 Page Dossier", as well. This is definite independent proof, of a `Tinker` in the family!
UPDATE
Hi My name is Con Fitzpatrick of Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada. I am the Director of the Marystown Heritage Museum here and we are currently researching the history of our town. Marystown is situated in Mortier Bay. It is a large, deep ice free harbour and has a long tradition of shipyards and shipbuilding as well as fishing back to the 1800’s. The local legend is that Mortier Bay was discovered and explored by an Admiral Mortier in the 1700’s and was named for him. I wonder if the Admiral Mortier in your ancestory was one and the same. Did he travel and explore this part of the world? We have maps proving that Capt. Cook also mapped and explored here in the 1700’s. On his maps it is also identified as Mortier Bay. Any information you can send will be acknowledged and appreciated. You can view our harbour on Google Earth or the website Town of Marystown, Nfld. We are on the southern tip of the island on the Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland.
My email is: s.fitzpatrick@nf.sympatico.ca
Further Mortier Bay News from Con Fitzpatrick to Jack Morter Email 9 April 10
Hello Jack: The local legend that Mortier Bay, Newfoundland was named for an Admiral Mortier (French Admiral) has been told here for generations. We have no historical records to confirm this so far. At some of our public events for tourists we have a person in period costume as Admiral Mortier and use images of him to promote Mortier Bay and Marystown. As you know Newfoundland was fought over by the English and French since its discovery by John Cabot in 1497. The capitol of the province now is St. John's but at one time when Newfoundland was occupied by the French the capitol was Placentia. The ruins of the French fortifications and cannons are now a tourist attraction. Placentia and Mortier Bay are within Placentia Bay on the southern part of the island about 60 miles apart. The Newfoundland archives have many documents of the English and French occupations during those time periods. I haven't researched them as yet but there may be references to Admiral Mortier. This may be a lead for your research also. You can forward this email to Peter Morter also. Con Fitzpatrick, Director, Marystown Heritage Museum. Marystown (Mortier Bay) Newfoundland.