William moved to this house in 1827 when he was 8 years old. His father, James Morton, bought this house on Cemetery Road in old Charlton Center from the estate of Israel Waters, a prosperous tanner. Some time during the Charlton interval, Horace Wells (then an itinerant practitioner) took care of the dental needs of James Morton. Perhaps this was the occasion that led to the younger Morton's future dental practice and his relationship with Wells, and eventually to the successful demonstration of ether anesthesia on October 16, 1846 at Massachusettes General Hospital.