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This Lewis should not be confused with his father, Lewis Morris, British governor of New Jersey, or his son Lewis Morris who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Lewis Morris was born in Tinton Falls, New Jersey on 23 September 1698.[1] He was the son of Lewis and Isabella (Graham) Morris.[1]
Burial: Morrisania, Bronx, NY; St. Ann's
LETTERS
Dec 12, 1742
I had yours wth the account of the intended marriage of your daughter, which, as things are now circumstanced, seemes to be an advantageous match. And I hope will prove both to your satisfaction and theires, if his resolutions continue, wch may perhaps admit of debate, if the father & mother be not satisfied in ye point of fortune. However, that I leave. As to 200 pounds, it is more than I can spare, if not more than needfull or perhaps consistent with your present circumstances, to give for what is call'd an outset; & if you suffer your selfe to be govern'd in that case, & provide all that silly women will think necessary, convenient, or honourable, it may be twice 200 pounds will not serve the turne: but wth this I have nothing to do, you are the best Judge. Robin tells me I am in your debt 72 pounds or thereabouts for money advanc'd for me. I did not think I was in your debt, or that it would prove so when thoroughly examined into, but be that as it will I will spare you 100 pounds on this occasion, for which I speak to James Graham to let you have when the wheat there is dispos'd of, & send me your receipt for 72 pounds advanc'd or whatever it is. This will be better than giving bond to me or any body else, w'ch should in all cases (if possible) be avoided, as being a slow but fatall pest that not only destroys the persons it sceises but too often descends to Posterity, & to be assured that you are free from the infection would be a great pleasure to Your affectionate father, L.M.
Jan 22, 1744
I recieved yours of ye 3d of September on ye 25 of Decembr. Lewis sent it to me from York, and at ye end of his letter tells me the cart had Just Brought him a box marked L M and desired to know what he should do with it. One would think there was no need of such a question: however I wrote to him to send it to me.
Jun 3, 1744
Your brother Lewis has been very ill of the Jaundice, but is recover'd; and I'm told is now pretty well; is in the Assembly, and has been of great service to Mr Clinton. He has two sons at the Colledge at New Haven, Lewis and Staats; Richard I educate, and he is allso there at the grammar schools, and I am told is a promising youth; his daughter Molly, married to young Lawrence, has a daughter and is call'd a very good housewife and a very discreet young woman.
Dec 14, 1737
only one I've told about Mary
book1 p377-81, 329-330, 248, 361-4
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Much of his career [Lewis Morris, Jr., fourth proprietor, second Lord of the Manor of Morrisania] was contemporary with that of his father, whose political principles he shared. He was one of the foremost men before the Revolution. His principal offices were Judge of the High Court of the Admiralty of New York, with jurisdiction voer New Jersey and Connecticut, and Judge of the Court of Ayer and Terminer. He is said to have strongly resembled his grandfather, James Graham, whom Mrs. Lamb in her History of the City of New York calls 'a fair sample of the ancient nobility.' [2]
Abstracts of Wills Vol VI 1760-1766 -In the name of God, Amen. I, LEWIS MORRIS, of Morrisania, "Considering the Evil Consequences of Dying Intestate, and that the Disposition of an estate by Will is one of the most important Acts of a man's Life, I have therefore thought proper to take the advantage of that season of Health and Serenity of mind which, by God's favour, I now enjoy, to make this my last Will and Testament, Which to obviate all disputes and contentions I have endeavored to express myself in the plainest Language." My Body I desire to be laid in the Family Vault at Morrisania, next to those of my father and mother, with as little Pomp and show as my executors may think proper. My debts and funeral charges are to be first paid. I devise that part of Morrisania to the westward of the Mill Brook to my son, Lewis Morris, and his heirs and assigns, and that it operate as a confirmation of the Deed or Deeds I have already given him for the same in fee simple. The remaining part of Morrisania, being the farm whereon I now live, lying east of the Mill Brook, together with the Mill Brook and stream leading from Broncks Kill to the Grist mill, standing on said Mill Brook, to the head thereof, I devise to my beloved wife, Sarah Morris, during her life. The stock of negroes, Horses and cattle, and farming utensils on said farm, and all my plate, money, household furniture, Coach, Chariot, and Chaise, and all the income of said farm, I leave to my wife during her life, to enable her to bring up and educate those children I have and may have by her. That part of Morrisania which I have left to my wife I leave after her decease to my son, Staats Long Morris, if he survives her, and to his heirs and assigns. And he is to pay to my executors �7,000 within fifteen months after the death of my wife. But if he be out of the Province, in England, then to be paid within two years. Immediately after the receipt of the same my executors shall pay to my son, Richard Morris, �2,000, To my son, Gouverneur Morris, �2,000, To my daughter Mary, wife of Thomas Lawrence, �600, To my daughter Isabella �600, To my daughter Sarah �600, To my daughter Euphemia �600, and to my daughter Catharine �600. If my son, Staats Long Morris, should not survive my wife, or if he refuses to pay the said sum, then that part of my estate is left to my son Richard on the same conditions. If neither son should survive, then to my son, Gouverneur Morris, and if all my said sons die without issue, then to my eldest son, Lewis Morris. The two lots which I lately purchased lying in the Broadway in New York, one being part of the estate of Joseph Murray, Esq., and the other part of the estate of Stephen Van Cortlandt, And whereas David Ogden has made a joint urchase with me of a tract of land upon Passaic river, in New Jersey, from Samuel Burge, of Philadelphia, These several parcels I devise to my wife during her life, empowering her to dispose of the same among her children as she thinks proper. The pictures of my father and mother I bequeath to my brother, Robert Hunter Morris, Esq. And my own picture and my wife's I leave to my daughter Isabella. All the rest of my real estate I direct to be sold by my executors and the proceeds paid to my wife, who is to divide the same among my daughters, Mary Lawrence, Isabella, Sarah, Euphemia, and Catharine, and my sons, Staats Long, Richard, and Gouverneur. After the death of my wife my executors are to sell the personal property and divide the proceeds among my children. My wife having signed an Instrument before our marriage, dated November 3, 1746, by which she gave her niece, Johana Hall, �200, and I having received all the money belonging to my wife, I bequeath �200 to the said Johana and also a negro girl." (The will disposes of various negro slaves, 12 being named, and several others, including one "bought of my brother-in-law, James Graham," among his children.) My Coach and the silver tankard given to me by the Colony of Rhode Island I leave to my son, Lewis Morris, Also my Library, agreeable with my father's design of passing it with the estate. But all such books as I have added to it are for my son Richard, and in the catalogue are marked with the letter P. "And of the remainder my son Richard is to have the joint use of them while he continues to practice the Law. But none of the books are to be removed from Morrisania, and none of the books are to be loaned out of the Library to any person." Differences arising in families are allways attended with the worst consequences; therefore it is my desire that all my children use their best endeavours to cultivate a good understanding with each other, and be dutiful to their mother, who, although she is a mother-in-law (stepmother) to some of them, has done them equal justice. My actions have been so inconsiderable in the World that the most durable monument would but perpetuate my Folly while it lasts. My desire is that nothing be mentioned about me, not so much as a single line in a News Paper to tell the World I am dead." "What is left to my children is honestly acquired, which gives me satisfaction that ill-gotten thousands cannot bestow." "My eldest son may be persuaded not to suffer my wife's bones to be buried in the vault at Old Morrisania, or remove her remains after they have been laid there. In case he should, it is my request that my bones be also removed and laid in some ground in any part of Morrisania east of the Mill Brook. It is my desire that my son, Gouverneur Morris, may have the best education that is to be had in Europe or America, but my express will and directions are that he be never sent for that purpose to the Colony of Connecticutt, lest he should imbibe in his youth that low craft and cunning so incident to the People of that Colony, which is so interwoven in their Constitutions that all their art cannot disguise it from the World; though many of them, under the sanctified garb of Religion, have endeavored to impose themselves on the World for honest men. I make my wife and my brother, Robert Hunter Morris, my son Richard, and my friend, William Smith, Jr., executors. Dated November 19, 1760. Witnesses, Francis Lewis, Samuel Gilford, Stephen Sayre. Proved, August 5, 1762. Confirmed by Governor Monckton, August 28, 1762.
CHILDREN
with Katrintje (Tryntie) Staats:
with Sarah (Sara) H. Gouverneur:
Descendants
Governor Morris Will
Inherits east Morrisania
Inherits half of mother's plate and household goods after her death
Must provide for sister Mary if she needs help
Inherits Morrisania land used by mother during her life
Inherits library
Told to love mother
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