Morris Ancestors

JOSHUA MORRIS, the father of Lucy Morris Boone [wife of John Linville Boone] was born about 1753 in James City County, Virgina and died late May or early June of 1840 in Nelson County, Kentucky.

Joshua Morris was born on the plantation of his parents, John Morris and Elizabeth Turner, six to eight miles from Williamsburg, Virginia. He was the oldest child of ten children. Joshua Morris, at an early age, followed in his father's footsteps and became a noted Baptist Minister in Virginia and Kentucky.

He was associated with at least four churches Virginia and became the founder and first pastor of the First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. He is identifies as being associated with the James City Baptist Church [Smyrna Church], at the age of nineteen or twenty, about 1773; the Grafton Baptist Church in 1775, and Boar's Swamp Baptist Church in 1776. First Baptist Church of Richmond in June of 1880.

Joshua married four times; evidenced by various legal documents and family records: Children born of the first two wives, none by the third and fourth.

His first wife was Lucy, last name unknown; who died before 1789; mother of two children:
Robert Morris
Mary "Polly" Morris, born 02 August 1777,wife of John Boone.

Second wife was Sarah Walton Watkins by whom he had four children: [see note on Sarah Walton below].
John H. Morris, b. 1780- married Delia Hogland
Elizabeth Morris b. 1782- married Benjamin Craig
Samuel Morris b. 1784-died 1791
George Morris b. 1786-died 1786

Third wife was Elizabeth. [Note: there was a Margaret Cooper married a Joshua Morris, in Pendleton County, Ky. 11 March 1806, could this have been the third wife? ].
The fourth wife, Margaret Lightfoot, who had also been married twice previously, first to Robert Slaughter, second to John Lightfoot, by whom she had a son, John Lightfoot.[ married 12 July 1812-Nelson Co.,Ky].

The chronology of the life of Joshus Morris follow:
1753-Born about 1753, James City County, Virgina.
1766-69- early member of James City Baptist Church between age thirteen and sixteen, began to preach the gospel.
1770-1776 Birth of son-Robert
1773/77- Sometime is this period of time, he married Lucy, the mother of his first two children.
1775- Assisted in the organization of the Grafton Baptist Church, York County.
1776-first pastor of Boars Swamp Baptist Church
1777- Birth of daughter Mary
1778-estimated death of first wife
1778-1799- marriage fo Sarah Walton Watkins, widow of his neighbor Thomas Watkins, Jr.
1799- names apprars on petition to House of Delegates concerning a ferry in the County of James City
1779- [Sept 6 ] acquired one acre of land on Boar Swamp-adjoining the head of the mill pond of the late Thomas Watkins,Jr.
1779- October 4- acquired another five acres "on Boar Swamp next to the estate of Thomas Watkins".
1780-He could legally preform marriages-[ Law passed in Virginia legalizing "dissenting ministers" rights to perform marriages without legal penalty]
1780-June- Established and became first pastor of the First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
1783-July 7- Bought one-half acre lot in City of Richmond, paid 11,000 pounds of tobacco
1780-1786- four children born of second wife
1786- Listed on tax rolls as slave holder with three negro tithes and six negros, not tithes.
1787- Name appears on petition from James City County, Virgina protesting payment of interest of "certificates of depreciation", issued to soldiers during Rev.War.
1787-Sept 6- sold parcel of land on Shockoe Hill.
1787-Dec 20- Living in of the City of Richmond, sold property bequeathed to his present wife by her last husband.
1788- moved to Kentucky, first on Elkhorn Creek, in present day Franklin County, then to Jefferson Couny, and the Brashears Creek Baptist Church, now Shelby County. From then until 1794- he organized an ministered at several other churches. [Four of his brothers and a sister, went with him to to Ky.].
1794-Jan-he established fox Run Baptist Church with fifteen members.
1794- April- Instituted Elk Creek Baptist Church.
1798- Moved to Carroll County [then part of Gallatin County]- he and William Hickman founded the earliest church- Port William Baptist Church- changed to McCool's Bottom Baptist and then to Ghent Baptist.
1798-1801- Acquired at least 1500 acres of land, some on the Ohio River and the waters of Locust Creek and Corn Creek. He disposed of this property in various parcels, even after he moved from Gallation County. In May of 1800, 347 acres were given to his daughter Elizabeth's husband, John Craig and another 300 acres was given to his son, John H. Morris in July of 1801.

From this period on, he resided in Nelson County, Ky., preaching at various churches, including he Severns Valley Baptist Church in Hardin County,and helped establish New Hope Baptist Church in Washington County.

He has been described as having married "rich" each time. Of being rather short and stout and unable to go far from home in his later years.

NOTE on Sarah "Sally" Walton Watkins- second wife of Joshua Morris.
Sarah Walton was born about 1745, the daughter o Robert Walton and Mary [Sallie] Hughes, who lived on the James River above Richmond, Virginia.
She married first to Thomas Watkins of Powhattan County, Virginia, who was killed by Indian Allies of the British during the Revolutionary War. She was one of four siblings; 1.George Walton,[b. 1741] the Signer of the Declaration of Indenpendence, who settled in Sagvannah, Georgia.
2. John Walton [b. 1743] settled in Georgia.
3. Sarah [Sally] [b. 1745]
4. Robert Walton, Jr. [b. 1748]

[It is not known if he truly served in the Revolutionary War; the following is the only record I have found of a Joshua Morris. This may or may not be this Joshua Morris, son of John Morris and Mary Turner.[See below for John Morris. [This has been added in the events someone wishes to order papers.]
REV. WAR MUSTER ROLLS- RG93 & M860
MORRIS JOSHUA LT Box 47

CENSUS
Year Surname Given Name (s) County State Page
1800 MORRIS JOSHUA Gallatin County KY

1820 MORRIS JOSHUA Nelson County KY page 193
1830 MORRIS JOSHUA Nelson County KY page 125

"I, Joshua Morris, of Nelson County and state of Kentucky make this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth:

First, I give to my wife, Peggy Morris, my two negroes, Caroline and Milly Ann, also the bond or note on Samuel Carpenter for forty five dollars annually, bearing date of eighteen hundred and thirty four, June the tenth.
Second, I give to my daughter, Mary Boone, one dollar.
Thirdly, I give to my son, John Morris, one dollar.
Fourthly, I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Craig, one dollar.

I further desire and direct that my huosehold and kitchen furniture be sold and the amount it brings added with the money and notes I have at the time of my death, before the dischage of the five hundreed dollars due to my wife ten days after my decease.
I further direct that my black man be hired ut until John Warner Lightfoot [son of Pendleton Lightfoot, deceased] comes of age or marries, at which time black John to be sold and the amount of his sale added to the money he hires for from the time of my death, and the amount to be divied equally between John Warner Lightfoot and Joshua Pendleton Lightfoot. If either of them dies before he marries or comes of age, the survivor is to what is here given to both, but if it should happen that they both die before they come of age or marry, in that case I give what is here above designed for them unto my grandson, Morris Boone, living in Missouri, [the eldest son of my daughter, Mary Boone], to him and his heirs dorever.
I appoint Peggy Morris, my wife, executrix of this my last will and testament, September 26, 1835

Codicil- 24 April 1840- $100.00 to Joshua Morris Boone, grandson- probated 08 June 1840

The 1782 James City County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List -James City Parish

Name	Free Males age 21+	Slaves	Horses	Cattle
Morris, Joshua	1	5	2	5
Morris, Mary	1	1	3	12
Morris, John	1	17	3	29

Name	Slaves	Horses
Morris, Joshua	3	4
Morris, Samuel	2	1
Morris, John	6	4

John Morris, the father of Joshua Morris was born in James City County, Virginia about 1730 and died circa 1788-89, at abut fifty eight years of age. His plantation was located about eight miles northwest of Williamsburg, and he was the owner of some twenty plus slaves, accordng to tax records beginning in 1782. His name is not shown on the 1788-1789 personal tax rolls, while the estate was carried on the books until 1794, when it was acquired by Daniel Jones,husband of his daughter Mary Morris.
John Morris was an Episcopalian until his conversion to the Baptist religion about fifteen years before his death.
He was also active in the concerns of the community and county; which is evidenced by his name being on petition rolls sent to the Virginia General Assembly concerning a ferry and another petition concerning taxes.
John Morris married prior to 1753 to Elizabeth Turner, daughter of John Turner and wife, Mary, who were neighbors. Mary Turner Morris died circa 1783 and both Mary and John were buried in the family burying yard, which is now unmarked, north of the Smyrna Baptist Church. He reputely married again after the death of his wife, but records have not been found to substantiate this.
John Morris and Mary Turner were the parents of ten children:
1. Joshua Morris
2. Turner Morris
3. Mary Morris born 1761, died 1825-married Daniel Jones, reputed to be a wealthy plantation owner, who bought the land of John Morris.
4. Susannah Morris, born circa 1762, died 1850- married Dudley Keen and second to Geroge Gaddey.
5. John Morris born circa 1765, died 1825- married Susannah Daniel.
6. Samuel Morris, born circa 1766- married Elizabeth Young.
7. Henry Morris- born circa 1768, died 1839/40.
8. Elizabeth Morris born 1772, died 1850. Married first to Lewis Bingley, second to Zachariah Nance.
9. Mildred Morris born 1773, died 1847. Married Harrison Ratcliff. [Noted Quakeress]
10. Joseph Morris born 1775/6

John Morris may well be a descendant of Robert Morris, [as is claimed in some publications], who settled in James River County, Virginia about 1607.
Generations between the two are not documented.

Following are some of the references to very early Morris names.
Jamestown Settlers, 1607
82 passengers listed by Smith.
Morish, Edward Gentleman (Corporal Edward Moris, gentleman*,
"died suddenly" of unspecified cause)

Settlers living "in the maine" in Virginia, February 16, 1623/4
Morris, Samwell

Settlers living at "Mulbury Iland" in Virginia
January 25, 1624/5
Morris, Samuell . . . . . . . . 20 Arrived on the Abigall (No date given)

Settlers living at "Elizabeth Cittie" in Virginia, February 7, 1624/5
Morris, John . . . . . . . . . . 24 Arrived on the Bona Nova in 1619
Morris, Mary . . . . . . . . . . 22 Arrived on the George in 1623
Sources: "Hotten's Lists" and "Adventurers of Purse and Person"

Order of the Privy Council, Whitehall, 19 March 1678/0.
Enclosed in the order is a report of the Committee for . . . Plantations, 10 February 1678/9, upon the commanders of ships in
Virginia. In accordance with the recommendations of the report, the Lord High Treasurer is ordered to pay One Hundred Pounds to Robert MORRIS.

References:
Included, but not limited to:James City County, Virginia Records;First Baptist Church -Richmond History 1780-1955 Hottens Lists;Adventurers of Purse and Person;History of Kentucky Baptists;History of Henrico Parish;Hardesty"s Historical Encylopedia;Richmond City Land Records;Kentucky Federal Census;Nelson County, Ky. Land Records;Records of Mildred Rartliff ;Ancestry of Grafton Johnson; Baptist Encylopedia