1814 Birth:1242,2222 A petition dated 5 September 1833 to sell land in connection with the estate settlement of father Abraham Morey indicates Franklin was under twenty-one years of age as of that date. John's age (46 years) in the 1860 U.S. census indicates he was born in 1814, consistent with the estate settlement petition.

1820 U.S. Census:642 John Franklin enumerated in the household of his father Abraham Morey in Jefferson Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio as one of three males under the age of 10; John Franklin was about age 6.

1830 U.S. Census:2373 John Franklin enumerated in the household of his father Abraham Morey in Burlington Township, Licking County, Ohio. Two sons were tallied, one between the age of 5 to 10; the other between 15 to 20. John Franklin was about age 16, while his brother Stillman was about age 15. Assume they were tallied in wrong column. Brother William P., age 16, likely living in household of Adam Patterson, his future father-in-law.

1834 Father's Estate Petition:1242 During the October 1834 term of the Licking County Common Pleas Court, a petition to the court in connection with settling the estate of Abraham Morey, who died intestate, lists his "widow named Abigail Morey who is entitled to dower in said land and the following children heirs at law: namely, Asa Morey; William Wheeler and Laura his wife, late Laura Morey; Arthur Briggs and Polly his wife, late Polly Morey; Elias Tracy and Nancy his wife, late Nancy Morey; Josiah Scott and Samantha his wife, late Samantha Morey; Stillman Morey; and Franklin Morey, the two last of whom are minors under the age of twenty one years, all of whom reside in said County."

1860 U.S. Census:2222
Johnson County, Iowa (Washington Township)
Enumerated 30 June 1860
John F. Morey •• 46, male, farmer, real estate value $1,000, personal property value $400, born in Ohio
Polly •• 45, female, born in Ohio
Household of brother Stilman Morey2221 is adjacent.

1870 U.S. Census: Not yet located.