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History
Oakley, Kansas 1732
Created by The Missouri Folklore Society
Frederick Mortimer grew up in Oakley, Kansas in a small cabin. His father Joseph, and mother Sara both came from different backgrounds. Frederick and his wife Joanna had three kids. Zeth, Carla and Christa who all attended the Oakley School House. See Photo
The Oakley School House
Frederick's grandparents, Carmen and Pedro both came from a European background. Carmen was born in Lisbon and Pedro was born in Sevilla; before meeting in Madrid. In 1731 they moved to Texas. Once in Texas, they had a daughter Sara, who married Joseph Mortimer.
On the other side, Chaska Mortimer and Francois Mortimer were his other set of grandparents. Chaska came from a Native American background and Francois came from Nice.
Created by Stevens Historical Research Associates
How did all the languages merge?
Growing up, Frederick was exposed to and surrounded by the four different languages of his household. As a child, he often mixed them up and would use them interchangeably. As the only child he played the role of communicator between his grandparents and through him each of them gained exposure to the other three languages.
After growing up and moving out of his family cabin, Frederick continued his use of the four dialects and continued his utilization of the four together. After meeting and marrying his wife Joanna, she too was attracted to the four languages and together they began soley speaking in a combination of the four, which would soon be known as the Mortiana language.
Recovered Documents
Francois Mortimer's passport
Preserved from Jüdisches Museum Berlin
Cherokee Syllabary: Frederick used the Cherokee syllabary that was previously used by his grandma Chaska to create the Mortiana dialect
Preserved by Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee
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