Jesse Morley was born at Farnhurst Sussex England (second son of William and Ann Morley) and was christened on 8 January 1815.

Hannah Courtenage was born at Lurgashall Sussex England (daughter of Thomas and Sarah Courtenage) and was baptised on 29 January 1815.

Jesse and Hannah were married on 25 July 1835, at Farnhurst, and had four children:

- James (born in 1836 at Farnhurst) - Jane (born 6 May 1838 at Farnhurst) - George (born 3 January 1841 at Farnhurst) - Jesse (born 3 June 1843 at Easebourne Sussex)

Jesse, Hannah and their four children left England on the barque "Sea Queen" and arrived at Port Phillip on 15 April 1844 - the report from 'The Port Phillip Gazette' on the voyage makes for an interesting read.

On 7 May 1844, Jesse wrote a long letter to his older brother William in England giving an impression of their new home.

In Australia the couple had four further children:

- William (born 25 November 1845 at Collingwood) - Mary Ann (born 1848 at Brighton) - Hannah (born 1851 - died 1852 - at Brighton) - Harriet (born 5 April 1854 at Brighton)

During the 1850's Jesse and Hannah purchased land in the Brighton area, and Jesse became the publican of the "Plough and Harrow" Inn.

Hannah died on 11 April 1856 and is buried at Brighton cemetery. On 24 August 1858 Jesse married Ann Noland at Brighton. Jesse and Ann had two children:

- Sarah Ann (born 24 June 1859 at Brighton) - Ellen (born 22 March 1861 at Brighton)

During the early 1860's, Jesse's fortunes waned and the land at Brighton was gradually sold - Ann died on 3 October 1864 (and is also buried at Brighton) - finally the Plough and Harrow was sold on 11 February 1865. Jesse was subsequently in the Alexandra and then the Seymour area; he died at the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum on 31 March 1892 and is buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.