Descendant of Declaration signer, Wine, honored posthumously

A Greencastle woman has been honored posthumously by the Franklin County Daughters of the American Revolution and the Falling Spring Society of the Children of the American Revolution.

Long time DAR member, Matilda A. “Tillie” Sloan Wine, who died June 23, 2009 at the age of 83, was a great great great great granddaughter of John Morton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence — one of nine signers from Pennsylvania.

A tree was planted in her memory in front of the Greencastle Presbyterian Church, 57 W. Baltimore St., where she was a member.  Near the tree is a marker noting her DAR membership and that she was a descendant of Morton.

Among those attending the Oct. 24 memorial tree dedication at the church were family members, representatives of the CAR and DAR and Greencastle Shade Tree Commission members.  

John Morton’s life spanned from 1724 to 1777.  A farmer and surveyor by training, Morton turned his attention to politics at age 30. He signed the Declaration of Independence on Aug. 2, 1776 and was chairman of the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. Morton died before the Articles were ratified and is buried in Old St. Paul’s Cemetery, Chester, Delaware County.

The CAR participates in the national project to repair and restore the “Great Essentials Exhibit Case”, which preserves and protects the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the United States and the silver inkstand used to sign the Declaration and Constitution.