William Morris Sr.
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William Morris Sr. (1722 - 1792)

William Morris Sr.
Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Englandmap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1 Jan 1746 in ,Orange, Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 70 in Hughes Creek, Kanawha County, Virginia, United Statesmap
Profile last modified | Created 22 Feb 2010
This page has been accessed 17,738 times.

Contents

Biography

1776 Project
William Morris Sr. served with Virginia Line during the American Revolution.
Flag of Lancashire (adopted 2008)
William Morris Sr. was born in Lancashire, England.
U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
William Morris Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Birth

Birth:
Date: 01 JAN 1722
Place: Liverpool, England[1]

Burial

Burial:
Place: Hughes Creek, Kanawha County, Virginia, USA (Now WV)

Marriage

Date: 01 JAN 1746
Place: Orange County, Virginia Colony[2]


I have attempted to ascertain who William's parents were; but, there were so many, many Morris families in the area he was from that it is most impossible to sort them out. None fit the date of birth that has been passed down in his family and other history sources in America. Of course, because of the way in which he made his way to America, growing up here without any parents to remind him of his exact date of birth, it is possible that his accepted date of birth may be off. This, however, makes the chances of identifying him in England even more difficult.

William Morris, Sr., when a boy of about 12, was at the Scotland Yards at London, the police headquarters, near the Thames River; and, out of curiosity, went aboard a vessel. while he was aboard looking around, the ship left for America. He arrived at Philadelphia and found that the ship would not return to England for some months. The owner of this vessel introduced him to a merchant aboard the ship who, it is said, felt sorry for the youth as he was crying; and, took him into his home. This un-named merchant was so pleased with the spirit of William, that he wrote to the boy's father for permission to keep him. William remained until grown and afterwards. He then went to Virginia.

There are some dark and troubling things about this story of how William Morris came to America. When I first heard the story, I had already found out, while researching another family, that by the time William came to America, there had been a sinister scam on the young boys of England and Scotland. The ship's captains and even the police, in many cases, were involved. What would happen is that mostly young boys between the ages of 10-14 would be lured aboard ships headed for America and then kept aboard by subterfuge until the ship weighed anchor and set sail for America. When they reached America, the children would be sold as apprentices, and would have to serve their master until they reached the age of majority. In fact, this exact scam was the basis for coining the phrase "kidnapping" in the English language. When the parents would go to the authorities to report their child missing.....those in collusion would just brush them off and keep them at bay until they went on with their lives.

The first thing that jumped out at me about this story was that the name of this "benevolent" personage who gave William a home in Philadelphia was never mentioned. One would think that such a generous person would have not soon been forgotten. Such a benefactor should have at least had a son named after him. Instead, as soon as William reaches his legal age (or fulfilled his apprenticeship), does he stay in the vicinity of his supposed benefactor? No, indeed, he takes off for the wide open spaces in western Virginia! He in fact acts just like someone who has been set free.

The second thing that bothered me was the detail of how this man, who was either a ship's captain (by some accounts) or a merchant (by other accounts), wrote to William's father asking permission for the boy to stay in America where he, more than likely, would never ever see his parents again. The first thought that came to mind was that the child might have been hoodwinked into thinking that the man wrote to his father, when in fact, it was not even true.

So, I have to ask myself, what would have been the apprenticeship of young William? While I was researching him as a supplemental patriot for myself in the Daughters of the American Revolution, I came across evidence that, in addition to furnishing supplies to the revolutionary army, he also had a boat building yard and may have supplied boats to them. Philadelphia was well known to be a boat building port. Because of this, I think it is more than just possible that William may have been apprenticed out to the boat building trade in Philadelphia by the Captain of the ship on which he came to America. While it is definitely true that some parents in dire straits sold their children to be apprentices, I feel that, if this scenario I have presented really happened, it probably was the result of kidnapping which was a lucrative enterprise which ran rampant at the time that William came to America.

Of course, this is conjecture on my part. I have no documented evidence that this is truly what happened. However, it is a conjecture that to me makes more sense than nonsense. For more on this practice, see the following:

[3]

[4] [5]

[6]


When William Morris came to the Kanawha Valley, he settled at the mouth of Kelly's Creek. His family was so big, with eight boys and two girls; and of such strength that no ordinary Indian party dared attack them. They had to depend upon themselves for everything as there were no stores, mills or factories. Their homes were built as forts, out of logs with a high log fence around the perimeter.

When Dunmore's War broke out in 1774, six of William Morris' sons, William, Jr., Henry, Leonard, Joshua, Levi, and John joined the army of General Andrew Lewis and took part in the Battle of Point Pleasant. William, Jr. was wounded. This same year, William, Sr. built his fort which was named either Fort Morris or Kelly Station, according to differing sources. It is mentioned in the writings of Daniel Boone as being "Kelly Station". Early settlers would come running here looking for refuge from Indian attacks. He later built a boat yard which supplied flat boats to the westward traveling settlers. He also built the first church, of the Baptist faith, in the area; and, he built the first school as well.

William, Sr. and Daniel Boone were the first two representatives to represent Kanawha County in the Virginia Legislature at Richmond. Old Billy Morris, though of superior intelligence could not even write his name, and was frequently placed in embarrassing positions. Because of this he sent his son to Washington College at Lexington, Virginia where he graduated. He returned home and was elected to the Legislature, likewise. He remained there until his death due to Alcoholism. Major Billy Morris (William Jr.) was the first and only classically educated man among the early settlers of Kanawha County.

William Morris, Sr. is buried at the mouth of Morris (now Hughes) Creek in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

(Above notes contributed by Dee Christophel D'Errico)


FAMILY STORY:

The following story has been told around the Morris family firesides for generations. In later years, a great granddaughter, Sarah Cathrine Hansford, recorded the story of this great escape which may be found on page 30 of "Annals of the Great Kanawha" by William D. Wintz.

In the year 1773, Walter Kelly and family built a log cabin, made a clearing, and planted corn at the mouth of the creek which now bears his name. The next spring, William Morris, Sr. and son, William Morris, Jr. and their family arrived at the same place. They also built a cabin, made a clearing and planted corn. The settlers at Kelly's Creek did not know that the Indians had again gone on the warpath until Capt. John Stuart, commander of Fort Donnelly, sent a message to warn of the danger and told them to head for the Greenbrier forts.

It was agreed that Grandfather Morris, his son, and the women and children of both families should start immediately for Greenbrier, while Kelly, Col. Fields, and a Negro slave remained behind to tend to some leather which was being tanned. They had been gone but a short time when Kelly was killed by Indians firing from ambush. The Negro ran into the fields and was never heard from again. Col. Fields made his escape by running into a corn field, later reaching Fort Donnelly after traveling 90 miles through unbroken wilderness.

Grandfather and party had gone but a short distance when they heard the shots that killed Kelly which caused them to double their time. They made every effort to travel silently, leaving as few traces of their route as possible behind them. They dared not make a fire or shoot a gun.

Great-Grandmother reported that one night they had camped under a shelving cliff in the dark; and, that little Billy Morris III, who was at the time a baby, awoke in the night and after nursing "crowed" so loud that they all imagined the Indians would be upon them any moment. However, they all reached Donnelly's Fort and safety.

It should be noted that William Morris, Jr. returned to Camp Union in time to join his five brothers on their way to the Battle of Point Pleasant. They were: Leonard, Henry, Joshua, Levi, and John. William had the distinction of being the only brother wounded.


LAND HOLDINGS:

Jefferson County, Kentucky, 1000 acres on Mulberry Creek a branch of Brashears Creek. Source: Land Office Grants No. 15, 1787-1788, page 348 (reel 81). Another 1000 acres on Mulberry Creek. Source: Land Office Grants No. 10, 1787, page 489 (reel 76). Additionally, 1800 acres on the waters of Bensons Creek. Source: Land Office Grants No. 5, 1786, page 368 (reel 71). the collection is housed in the Archives of the Library of Virginia at Richmond, Virginia.


LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT:

Added by hargrode1 on 7 Feb 2007
This will was admitted to probate in 1793. It was the first will recorded in the new county of Kanawha and can be found in Book A, page #30 at the courthouse in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia and appears below.
Ordered John Jones and John Campbell come into Court and prove upon oath the last Will & Testament of William Morris, Sent. Decs.

"In the name of God, Amen. I William Morris Senr, of the County of Kenhawa and Commonwealth of Virginia, being weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of body and know that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.

"Firstly I will and bequeath my soul unto the hands of Almighty God, the giver, and my body to the dust of the earth, to be buried in a Christian like and descent manner, at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named; not doubting but at the general resurrection they will again unite by the Almighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleasured God to bless me in this life, do will and devise in the following manner and form.

"That is to say I will and devise to my two sons, to wit, Levi and Benjamin, one hundred acres each of the tract of land where on they now live, to include there persons settlements which lands I do hereby will and direct my executors hereafter named to convey a title in principle to them and their heirs forever and I do hereby also will and direct that my said executors do in like manner convey in principle to my son, William Morris and his heirs for ever, the residue of the said tract of land above mentioned, which is his own property; although included in a grant or patent issued from the register of Virginia in my name.

"I further will and direct that the whole residue of my estate both real and personal, be equally divided amongst my ten children, to wit, William, Henry, Leonard, Joshua, John, Carlus, Levi, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Frankey, to be them and their several, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons, to wit, Leonard and John Morris, executors of this my last will and testament, by me in any wise made, in manner of form whatsoever, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

" In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of February this Asso Dominni 1792. William M. Morris (mark)"

Signed, sealed and delivered Published and pronounced and declared in presence of

Jacob Skiles
John Cammel
William Morris
John Jones
Franky Jones

Recorded July 14, 1794, J. Reynolds, Clk.

Notes

I have tried to be as accurate as possible with this information. If you have any corrections or additional information, please share that information with me.
Beth
Note: Culpepper County was established in 1749 from Orange County.- Virginia History
***William Morris' Will
In the name of God, Amen. I William Morris Senr, of the County of Kanhawa and Commonwealth of Virginia, Being Weak in Body, but of perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of body and know that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last will and testament--Firstly I will and bequeath my soul unto the hands of Almighty God the giver and my body to the dust of the earth. To be buried in a Christian like and descent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named; not doubting but at the General resurrection they will again unite by the Almighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleasured God to bless me in this life do will and devise in the following manner and form. That is to say--I will and devise to my two sons, to wit, Levi and Benjamin, one hundred acres each of the tract of land where on they now live, to include there persons settlements which lands I do hereby will and direct my executors hereafter named to convey a title in principle to them and their heirs forever and I do hereby also will and direct that my said executors do in like manner convey residue of the said tract of land above mentioned. Which is his own property; although included in a grant or patent issued from the register of Virginia in my name, I further will and direct that the whole residue of my estate both real and personnal be equally divided amoungst my ten children, to wit, William, Henry, Leonard, Joshua, John, Carlus, Levi, Benjamin. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons, to wit, Leonard and John Morris executors of this my last will and testament hereby disallowing and disanulling all and any other will and testaments by me in any wise made, in manner or form whatsoever, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of February this Anno Dominni 1792 William M. Morris
mark
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Published and pronounced and declared in presence of
Jacob Skiles
John Cammel
William Morris
John Jones
Franky Jones
***William Morris Sr
Added by hargrode1 on 12 Jun 2007
This is an exerpt from "Morris & Jarretts of West Virginia Descendants and Connecting Families," by: Flora M. Beeler and Janette B. Bishop.
William Morris was born at Liverpool, England, January 1, 1722. When he was twelve years old he went aboard a ship. Historians have related the event in various ways. Some state that he was seeing a relative or acquaintance off. Others indicate it was mere curiosity. In eny event, his understanding was that the ship would not be leaving until morning; however, he managed to stay aboard too long and the next thing he knew the ship was at sea on the way to America. The ship was supposed to return to England after its journey to Philadelphia and the captain told William that he could go back with him on the return trip. Upon their arrival, however, the Captain received orders to go to the West Indies. According to information passed down through the family, the Captain wrote to William's parents and received permission to keep the boy. William grew up with this family and after reaching manhood went to Orange County, Virginia.
He married Elizabeth Stapp (Stepp/Stipp) on January 1, 1746 in Orange Counta, VA. She was born in Orange County Va in 1729. Some of their children's births are given as Orange County and some are given as Culpepper County. It is not know whether the family moved or whether the division of counties caused their residence to be listed first in one county and then the other.
William, Elizabeth and their family, which included seven children and the older son's wives and families next appear in Greenbrier County, VA(now WVA). From there they went to the Great Kanawha Valley in either late 1773 or 1774. The exact date is not known.
When the family arrived at "Camp Union", Lewisburg and began to look around for a place to settle, the frontier was seething with the war spirit as the harrassed Virginians were about to take the "warpath" against the Ohio Indians, who were scalping and burning along the frontier. Governor George Murray, Earl of Dunsmore was farsighted enough to foresee the coming war with England and inclined toward crushing the bold and independent pioneers before the struggle began. Therefore, he did what he could to divert them from their plans of fighting the Indians.
To bring a family of men, women and children into a wilderness and to maintain them there was no small undertaking. They had to live a year or two without crops (using what they had been able to bring with them and what they could gather from the wild.) They brought along spinning wheels, iron pots and kettles, bedding, bullet molds, powder, lead, axes, etc. A few head of cattle were driven with the pack horses.
They came by way of Kenney's Knob, Rich Creek and down Hughes Creek, to avoid the possible ambush from lurking Indians. On the borad flat land below the creek where the stream empties into the Kanawha River they stopped and began the erection of a stockade near the burned ruins of Kelly's cabin. The stockade consisted of a fence built of strong upright logs, sharpened on the ends to points and pinned together with wooden pegs. On each corner was an overhanging blockhouse, within the stockade were cabins. The woods were cleared away and farming began.
Imagine this small settlement in the upper part of the valley with no market. They had to depend upon themselves for everything. There were not many settlers until 1788 when the Clendenins came and made their settlement at the mouth of the Elk River. When the county was organized in 1789 it was said there were only 13 voters, but there were 118 residents in the county in 1792.
When the Indian War broke out and the army of General Andrew Lewis, one thousand strong, came marching by Kelly's Creek they found the home of William Morris and family and the Morris folks alive and prosperous. The army encamped near the stockade and William, Jr., John and Leonard joined the army. William Morris, Jr. was the only one of the Morris family wounded in the battle of Point Pleasant.
Of all the famous characters that stand out from the pages of history, William Morris Sr. means more to the people of Kanawha Valley than any other. Coming as a forerunner of the mighty tide of immigration. He and his family were the first to clear the measureless forest and build a permanent home. Their home war referred to as as outpost during the period of the Revolutionary War and is referred to as Fort Morris or Kelly's Post in the Great Kanawha Valley. Here once congregated the bravest spirits of the time; Tice, Van Bibber, Boone, Hammond, Pryor, Chris, John and Lewis Tackett, Matthew Arbuckle and Simon Kenton. Mad Anne Bailey was a frequent visitor on her way to the Greenbrier settlement.
As years passed and the rear guard of the pioneers arrived, William Morris began the operation of a "boat yard" on the river bank near where Kelly's Creek Colliery tipple now stands.(as of the date 1972) A sort of flat boat was constructed and sold to those bound for the west by river. The Morris Fort and Boat Yards was the chief settlement for a number of years. There was talk of placing the court house here, but Clendennin managed to secure the location for his new settlement at the mouth of Elk River (now Charleston).
William Morris built the first church and the first school in the valley. The church stood near where the Old Brick Methodist church now stands at Cedar Grove, WVA. History points out the interest the Morris family had in home, religion, and education.
In the church yard near the site of "Fort Morris" the DAR erected a memorial to William Morris. There is a William Morris Chapter of the DAR which was organized in 1922 at Pratt, WVA. In the beginning it was one of the family chapters, only descendants of William Morris were eligible for membership' however, as their local membership dropped this chapter decided to accept other than descendants of this particular line into their membership.
Living memorials to William Morris, Sr are the William Morris elm planted across from the Baptist Church in Pratt, WV, the mountain White Pine planted at Tamassee DAR school in memory of Miss Julia Morris Witz(a descendant) who left a scholarship fund in trust of the DAR chapter.
***The William Morris Family
Added by hargrode1 on 17 Feb 2007
It has been conceded by all persons that pretend to know anything of the history of this Valley that William Morris and his family were the first white people that made a permanent settlement in the Kanawha Valley, and that they arrived here in the spring of 1774, or the fall of 1773, the exact date not now being known. When William Morris arrived, there was no white man in the valley and no settlement whatever.
William Morris, when a boy about twelve years old, was about the Scotch-yards in London, which place was a police headquarters, and near the Thames, and out of curiosity he went aboard a vessel, and while the boy was aboard and looking about, the ship left her mooring and he found himself on the way to America. After he arrived at Philadelphia, he found that the vessel would not return to England for some months, and the owner of the vessel took the boy to his own home and there he was cared for and given an opportunity to show the spirit that was in him. The merchant was so pleased with young William Morris, that he wrote to the boy's father for permission to retain him, and William remained until he was grown and afterwards. He then went to Virginia. He married Miss Elizabeth Stips, in Orange County.
When William Morris reached the Kanawha Valley, he made his settlement at the mouth of Kellys Creek, on the spot where Walter Kelly had attempted to make his home. The family of William Morris was of such number and strength that an ordinary Indian party was not willing to make an attack upon them, and the Morrises made arrangements to remain and if necessary to fight it out on these lines.
They were on the ground when General Andrew Lewis with his little army march from Lewisburg to the mouth of the Kanawha, which was in the fall of 1774. The sons of William Morris, John and Henry, went into this army, and were at the battle of Point Pleasant.
Afterwards, as the children of Walter Kelly became of age, William Morris presented each with a horse, saddle and bridle, although said heirs had no title to the land and had no claim against Morris, but to satisfy them that he did not want to take from them any claim they might have had, without compensation, as Kelly had cleared a small patch and had tried to raise a crop and made some improvements thereon, he paid this compensation.
This Morris settlement was in a wilderness. It was one hundred miles west of Lewisburg in the then county of Botetourt, afterwards Greenbrier, and about the same distance to the Ohio river, on which there were no settlements below Wheeling or Pittsburg.
When the county of Kanawha was organized in 1789. ot was said there were but thirteen voters in the county, but there were 118 residents of said county, in the year 1792. William Morris was now an old man, and in 1792 he made his will and in January, 1793, it was admitted to probate, which was the first will recorded in the new county and it will be found in deed book A, page 30. The will of William Morris disposed of his real estate and mentions the names of his ten children. He had fearsthat his wife might wish "to engage herself in the bonds of wedlock" and he provided that in such event, that the property he had given to her should revert to his estate. Leonard and John , the sons of William Morris, were the executors of said will, and the witnesses thereto were Jacob Skiles, John Cammel, Willial Morris, Jr., John Jones and Franky Jones.
In the history of Kanawha county by Gov.G.W.Atkinson, he did not attempt to give the genealogy of this family and said it could not be done, and still insists it can not be done, owing to the great number of them, the repetition of the names and their inter-marriages, the want of family records, and the absence of monuments, etc.
***A Great-Grandaughter's Story
Added by hargrode1 on 21 Nov 2007
"The first attempt to found a settlement in the Kanawha Valley was made by Walter Kelly and family. It was at the mouth of the creek that now bears his name. It empties into the Kanawha River 19 miles above Charleston. This was in the year 1773, Kelly built a log cabin, made a small clearing, and planted corn.
The next spring William Morris, Sr. and son William, Jr. and family arrived at the same place. They also built a cabin, made a clearing and planted corn. Col. John Fields of Culpepper was also a few miles below making a survey at the time. The settlers at Kelly's Creek did not know that the Indians had again gone on the 'war-path.' Capt. John Stuart, commander of Fort Donnelly in the Greenbrier levels, sent a messenger to warn the settlers on the Kanawha of their danger and told them to start immediately for the Greenbrier forts.
Upon the message it was agreed that Grandfather Morris and his son with the women and children of both families start immediately for Greenbrier, while Kelly, Col. Fields, and a Negro slave remained behind to attend to some leather which was in the process of tanning. Grandfather and family had been gone but a short time when Kelly and party were attacked by Indians who fired from ambush killing Kelly instantly. The Negro ran to the woods and was never heard of afterwards. Col. Fields sprang into a corn field and made his escape, finally reaching Fort Donnelly after traveling 90 miles through ubroken wilderness.
Grandfather and party went up Kelly's Creek to the head, thence onto the waters of Twenty-Mile Creek of Gauley and on into the Greenbrier country. They had gone but a short distance when they heard the volley that killed Kelly which caused them to double their time. They made every effort to travel silently and to leave a few traces of their route as possible. They dared not make a fire or shoot a gun for fear of Indians and they suffered very much on that account.
Great-grandmother told me that one night they had camped under a shelving cliff in the dark and that little Billy Morris (William III) who was at that time a baby, awoke in the night and after nursing was in a fine humor and crowed so loudly they expected the Indians to come upon them any minute. However, Billy and his mother and all the rest finally reached Donnelly's Fort safe and sound."
***The Founders of Charleston, WV
Added by hargrode1 on 12 Jun 2007
In 1790, George Clendenin and Andrew Donnelly were elected to the Virginia legislature from Kanawha County and the following year came Clendenin and Daniel Boone. It was six years after Charleston was settled and five years after the place was made the county seat, before Charleston was incorporated as a town. December 19, 1794, it was ordained "that forty acres of land, the property of George Clendenin, at the mouth of Elk river, in the county of "Kanawha," as the same are already leaid off into lots and streetrs, shall be established as a town by the name of "Charlestown," and Reuben Slaughter, Andrew Donnelly Sr, William Clendenin, John Morris Sr, Leonard Morris, John Young and William Morris, with George Alderson, gentlemen, are appointed trustees." Notwithstanding all this precaution, the name ws soon being written and recorded as Charleston, as it is today. Historians state the town was named in honor of Charles Clendenin, the father of George Clendenin.
***Morris Settlement
Added by hargrode1 on 21 Nov 2007
Becoming self-sufficient and being capable of defending themselves against the Indians allowed the Morrises to become the 1st permanent settlers in the Kanawha Valley.
The Morris settlement was strategically located where the trail from the Greenbrier settlements met the Kanawha River. On leaving the big levels where Lewisburg is now located. the early travelers took the Meadow River route south of present US Route 60. On reaching the site of present-day Ansted, the trail swung north and followed a small creek through a low gap near Gauley Mountain. After crossing the divide it dropped down on the headwaters of Rich Creek. Continuing down Rich Creek to the Gauley River, the early travelers forded the river near present-day Belva. From there they went up Bell's Creek and crossed through Pond Gap to the headwaters of Kelly's Creek. Continuing down Kelly's Creek, they reached the Kanawha at Morris' Station. To this point settlers going west had used pack horses to carry their meager belongings, but reaching the river, it became practical to find a way to travel by water.
The Morrises soon realized there was a thiriving business for supplying canoes and flat boats to settlers going down the river which led them to establish a boat yard. There was also, nearby, a large stand of virgin yellow poplar, and before long Morris' Station was a busy place, becoming a terminal point for overland travel as no road existed down the valley for many years. Later, when George Rogers Clark was preparing to move against the Illinois forts, directions were given to the Morris boat yard to supply as many dugout canoes as might be required. Among the hand-picked men that accompanied Clark on his hazardous mission was John Morris, probably the most adventurous of the Morris brothers.
***Morris Fort & Settlement
Added by hargrode1 on 17 Feb 2007
William Morris erected a small grist mill on Kelly's Creek. At Cedar Grove the cone-shaped buhrstone of this early and crude mill now lies at the base of an historic roadside marker designating the site of the Morris settlement.
When George Rogers Clark received official sanction to undertake his daring and ambitious expedition against the western forts of Illinois, directions were given that rangers stationed at the Morris Fort supply as many dugout canoes as might be required. It is not surprising that this region supplied not only boats, but the greater number of the men that made up the small and carefully selected group, of who John Morris was one, to undertake a mission so hazardous as to seem nothing short of fantastic.
Beginning with the construction of Clark canoes, the mouth of Kelly's Creek early became an important location, where boat building grew into a large-scale business that continued over a long period of time, and which was the terminal point for overland travel. It was many years before an adequate road existed beyond this spot. Soon this busy place was known as 'The Boat Yard'-Daniel Boone, as County Lieutenant, referring to it as such in his reports to the General Assembly in the seventeen nineties.
Mr. Morris, with Henry Banks, was chosen as a delegate to the General Assembly for the session of 1792, sitting from October 1 to October 28. When he arrived in Richmond, Mr. Morris laid aside his hunting clothes and moccasins, and outfitted himself in fashionable broadcloth and boots. Even so, handicapped by his inability to read and write, his more cultured surroundings made him very conscious of his deficiency, and he was forced to go to some lengths to conceal the fact as adroitly as possible. While attending the Assembly he received a note from the Governor which he opened and threw on the floor, saying loudly for the bendfit of bystanders, "I'll support no such law!" One of the members, seeing the Governor's signature, picked up the note and said: "Why, Mr. Morris, you are mistaken. This is an invitation from the Governor for you to dine with him tomorrow." "Is It?" exclaimed Mr. Morris, feeling in his pockets as if searching for spectacles(which he did not posses). "Is it indeed? I thought it was a note from Mr._________ to get me to vote for his bill now before the House, which he knew very well I wouldn't do, and I left my spectacles in my room, I could not read it"--------which was getting out of a tight spot very neatly.
***Fort Kelly
Added by hargrode1 on 4 Feb 2008
Fort Kelly, was better known in border annas as "Kelly's Station." It was situated on the right side of the present town of Cedar Grove, on the right bank of the Great Kanawha River, 20 miles above Charleston, at the mouth of Kelly's Creek, in Cabin District, Kanawha County. It was built by Captain William Morris who came to the spot in 1774. It derived its name from Walter Kelly, who was killed at that place in 1772. It was along a prominent place, bieng the shipping point for the people who crossed the mountains in the early settlement of the Great Kanawha Valley and of the state of Kentucky. For many years after the fort fell into decay the place was known as "Boat Yards."

William was born about 1722. He passed away in 1792.

The Morris Clan of Kanawha Valley: William Born abt. 1722 Lancaster Co, Va. Died 1793 Kenawha Co, Va.

According to the West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly (1901-1905), William Morris, born in 1722, was wandering among the ships docked along the Thames near the Scotch-yards of London. It was 1734, and the 12 year old boy boarded a ship out of curiosity, and before he returned to the dock the ship left for America.

Since the ship, owned by a merchant, would not return to England for months, the merchant brought the boy to his Philadelphia home and wrote William's father to ask if he could keep the boy in America. As an adult, William moved to Orange County, Virginia, where he married Elizabeth Stapps, and began raising a large family.

It is the opinion of Russell Hansford of Marmet, West Virginia, prominent Genealogist, that the William Morris, pioneer to the Kanawha Valley, was from Virginia and not England as some historians have claimed. Cousin Russell believes, as do I, that William Morris was a descendant of one of the many Morris families that had made their home in the Virginia colony since the 1800's. William Morris married Elizabeth Stepp in Orange County. She was the daughter of Joshua and Martha Stepp and granddaughter of Abraham Stepp. Russell believes William married a woman of his own class. Elizabeth's family was a leading, wealthy, land-owning, Virginia family. People in their day married people of their own class. Furthermore, John Jones came to Kanawha Valley and married one of William Morris' daughters. When you reach back into the lineage of the William Morris of the 1727 will you fnd that there is a Jones connection and that the Joneses were kin to the Morris family. Families moved together as brothers or cousins, and it is only logical that John Jones was a cousin to William Morris.

Russell also never fully accepted the "ship storey" as the logical one for the origins of William Morris of Kanawha Valley. He cites a will of 19 March 1727 record 14 March 1725 of William Morris who died in Lancaster County, Virginia as the father of William Morris to Greenbrier then Kanawha Valley frontier. The will listed these children: William, Thomas, Banjamin, John Mary, and her husband. Witnesses were John Hale, John Bard and James Oshaldestone.

Russell Hansford pointed out the fact that the names of the elder Morris children of Lancaster Co., Va. are to be found among the Morris children of Kanawha County.

Mrs. Earl Mohr of Bloomington, Miss., another serious Morris researcher and descendant also writes of her doubts as to the authenticity of the "ship story" of William Morris. She points out that the settlement of the Morris Clan in Kanawha Valley called Cedar Grove could have come from the Philadelphia Morris homeplace, Cedar Grove (now Fairemont Park), Pennsylvania. Both places had cedar trees.

Another Philadelphia Morris, Robert was the financier of their Revolution and signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1774 William settled his family in the Kanawha River Valley at the mouth of Kelly Creek. William and his family were the first Virginians to permanently settle the Kanawha Valley. Walter Kelley had been killed by Indians a few years before, and his family moved to safety. This was part of the sacred hunting grounds for the Shawnee and Cherokee nations, where no person was allowed to settle.

These tribes feared the loss of their hunting grounds and the eventual invasion of their homes on the other side of the Ohio River, and raided settlers constantly. The governor of the Virginia colony raised an army and fought the Shawnee at what is now Point Pleasant, West Virginia. When Dunmore's War broke out 3 May 1774, six of William's sons are supposed to have served in the army of General Andrew Lewis and fought in the battle of Point Pleasant on 10 October 1774: William Jr., Henry, Leonard, Joshua, Levi and John. 1793 Morris and his family stood alone against Indians raiders who continued to attack for years. No pioneers joined them in this wilderness until the Clendenens settled at the mouth of the Elk River in 1788. Kanawha County was formed the following year, and by 1792 the county boasted of 119 residents.

In January 1793, the will of William Morris was the first to be probated in Kanawha County [Deed Book A; page 30]. It listed his wife and ten children: William Jr., Henry, Leonard, Joshua, John, Carrol, Levi, Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Franky. The will listed six slaves: Dudley, Jim, Deriah, Sally and an unnamed girl. His sons Leonard and John were named as executors, and it was witnessed by Jacob Stiles, John Cammel, William Morris, Jr., John Jones and Franky Jones.

John Cammel, John Moss and Jacob Casdorph appraised William's property as totaling three hundred and sixty pounds, and the executors' bond listed John Jones and Levi Morris as owing one thousand pounds each.

The will stated that if William's widow, Elizabeth, remarried then she would forfeit her portion of the willed property. According to court records, Elizabeth "came into Court and broke the said will." Instead of taking her portion of the property, Elizabeth took only her lawful dower. She soon married an Irishman named Thompson, but did not live long.

A Son Leonard was one of the first Justices of Kanawha County, and sheriff in 1789. He owned property at the mouth of Slaughters Creek, adjacent to John Flynn, who was killed by Indians on Cabin Creek. Flynn's son, according to Dr. Hale, was caught, taken to Ohio and burned at the stake. According to the West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly (1901-1905), Leonard testified that in 1775 he witnessed surveyors mapping property at Burning Spring. The 250 acre tract was patented by George Washington and John Lewis.

Leonard’s daughter Sarah was born in 1775 at Donnally's Fort in Greenbriar County., Virginia. On 10 January 1796 Sarah married Fleming Cobbs, Sr., in Kanawha County. Fleming Cobbs served in the Indian Wars in 1793, but did not have a Revolutionary War record. He served under Captain William Clendinen, Captain Moses Mann, and Colonel George Clendinen in the Indian Wars, and served with General Wayne.

Sources

  1. Source: #S110 Data: Text: Missouri Marriage Records
  2. Source: #S110 Data: Text: U.S. and International Marriage Records
  3. "The American Past, A Survey of American History, Enhanced Edition, Vol. 1" by Joseph R. Conlin, Page 82
  4. "Landscape in Sight: Looking at America" by John Brinkerhoff Jackson, Page 135
  5. "The Transported Child | The Legal Genealogist"Legal Genealogist
  6. "That Odious Name Sold" Narratives of the Servant Trade by Matthew Pursell, Coriolis, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2015, Page 37

Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed January 16 2020), "Record of William Morris Sr.", Ancestor # A080986.

  • Genealogies of West Virginia Families, Pages 158-185
  • Will of William Morris, proved 1793, Kanawha County Virginia Will Book A, p. 30
  • History of the William Morris Chapter, NSDAR
  • History of Charleston & Kanawha County, West Virginia by W. S. Laidley, Pages 58-65
  • Kanawha County Images, A Bicentennial History, 1788-1988 by Stan Cohen & Richard Andre, Charleston, WV 1987, 1988 Pages 8-11, 18
  • Annals of the Great Kanawha by William Wintz, Charleston, WV, 1993, Pages 29-30, 37
  • The Kanawha Spectator by Julius A. DeGruyter, Charleston, WV, 1953, Vol. 1, Pages 74-76
  • Pioneers and their Homes on Upper Kanawha by Ruth Woods Dayton, Charleston, WV, 1947, reprinted by Clearfield, Baltimore, MD, 1998, Pages 14-22 & 291-297
  • History of Kanawha County by George W. Atkinson, 1876, reprinted Elkview, WV, 1994, Pages 202-204
  • Capt William R “Old Billy” Morris (1722-1792) on Find A Grave: Memorial #16742672 retrieved 13 August 2018
  • WV Ancestry
  • Find A Grave: Memorial #16742672
  • Ancestry Family Tree [1]
  • FamilySearch
  • According to the West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly (1901-1905),

visit with Russell Hansford of Marmet, West Virginia, prominent Genealogist, long ago

will of 19 March 1727 record 14 March 1725 of William Morris who died in Lancaster County, Virginia

Mrs. Earl Mohr of Bloomington, Miss., another serious Morris researcher and descendant

Russell Hansford saved this Church:

Ebenezer Chapel- Marmet WV (4)

Ebenezer Chapel was saved from destruction by a committee led by local historian and teacher, Russell Hansford. The West Virginia Turnpike was being constructed at the time and the state wanted to demolish the church. Russell Hansford added the chapel to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, thus preserving it for generations to come.

nrhp # 74002011- The chapel was built in 1836 by slaves owned by Marmet's first settler, Leonard Morris. Mr. Morris originally named the area Elizaville. By 1848, the building was owned by Luke Wilcox, a local farmer and manager of a local salt works. The chapel was for many years part of a circuit traveled by preachers of the United Methodist Episcopal Church.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865) the chapel served as a military headquarters and as a hospital for Union soldiers. Camp Piatt (present day Belle, WV) sits immediately across the river where today DuPont sits.

Jacob Conrad Edelmann was a German immigrant who worked on the river in Brownstown (present day Marmet). While under Confederate occupation in the Fall of 1862, Mr. Edelmann made extra money grinding grain for the Confederates. In 1863, Jacob Conrad Edelmann was arrested by Union soldiers and locked inside the chapel for 3 days. He begged for foreign protection, as he was not a United States citizen, and was released on these grounds. After the war, he went on to become a US citizen.

Ebenezer Chapel is the oldest structure in Marmet (and the Kanawha Valley.) It is the only remaining link between today's generation and the first settlers of the area. It is currently the home of the Elizaville Historical Society and hosts an annual Civil War weekend.


from Wikipedia

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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

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Comments: 11

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Ugg. Can we not work together to fix this broken profile? I’m willing to pitch in.
posted by Gregory Morris
Morris-22093 and Morris-43 appear to represent the same person because: same name, dates, places
This profile states that in 1735 it was recorded that William Morris held 400 acres of land in Hannover County, Virginia, per Land Office Patents No. 15, 1732-1735, Reel 13, Page 513:

WILLIAM MORRIS of New Kent Co., Gent, 400a, Hanover Co., adjoining the L. of John Henry on the head of Roundabout Cr.; near the sd. co. line (p. 514). 20 May 1735.

I do not think this is the correct William Morris since in 1735 he would have been 13 years old. I believe this is a mistake and was incorrectly attributed, and it is likely this was actually a holding of the Morris Family of Philadelphia's William Morris.

posted by Keith Morris
Morris-11110 and Morris-43 appear to represent the same person because: dups with same parents and same spouse
posted by N Gauthier
Hi, Parents born in Virginia and he's born in England?? Doesn't make sense..... Have you seen Morris-43 ?? That profile appears to be well researched. Thank you for considering these issues... Teresa Downey
posted on Morris-11110 (merged) by Teresa Downey
Morris-11110 and Morris-43 are not ready to be merged because: The parents of Morris-11110 cannot be the parents of Morris-43, due to the fact that he was born in England and they were born in Virginia. This does not match.
Well done. Interesting theory on the kidnapping. I've taken a slightly different tack: exploring the gaols for any couple named Morris who were jailed in London or Liverpool at the time William set sail, and have found a couple of interesting characters. But always conjecture until more evidence surfaces. Where did the "R" come from?
posted by Gregory Morris
Morris-14566 and Morris-11110 appear to represent the same person because: Similar details / same mother / Father?
Duplicate found as part of http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Database_Errors
Proposer is a 'Data Doctor' and not related to the Profile/s
posted on Morris-11110 (merged) by Graeme Olney
Morris-11110 and Morris-43 are not ready to be merged because: Morris-11110 has no documentation proving the parents of William Morris. Parents should not be added without proper documentation, so I am setting this as an unmerged match until either parents are removed or documentation is provided. Also last name "Strapp" should be "Stapp".
Morris-11110 and Morris-43 appear to represent the same person because: Husband of Elizabeth Strapp: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16742672
posted by Janne (Shoults) Gorman
Morris-10442 and Morris-43 appear to represent the same person because: Same dates, locations and family members. Everything indicates a match.
posted by Amber (Brown) Tovar