SECOND GENERATION. CHAPTER VI. - CHARTER JOHN MORISON, OF LONDONDERRY, N. H., PROGENITOR OF THE MORISONS OF PETERBOROUGH, N. H., AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 679. SECOND GENERATION.-CHARTER JOHN MORISON. John Morison [3] (John1); was one of the first sixteen settlers of Londonderry, N. H., in 1719. He located near the present residence of Col. George W. Lane, in Derry, N. H. The locality was then known as the Double Range, and his farm contained sixty acres. The following is the transcript of his land: : "NUTFIELD, March: 1720. "Laid out to John Moreson a Lott of Land containing sixty acres boundeth as followeth, upon the north side of west running brook, beginning at a red oak tree marked, bounding upon Robert Weers lott upon the west side, from thence running north by marked trees upon four sides to a white oak tree marked with the letters J. M. from thence running south east 30 rhods to a small red oak marked with the letters S. A. & J. M: from thence running south by marked trees on 4 sides 320 Rhods to a black birtch tree by west running brook before mentioned from thence running Down the brook to the bounds first mentioned and bounding east upon Samuel Alesons Lott togather with an interest in the common or undivided lands within the said town ship eaquall to oather Lotts in said town. The larger part, if not all, of the home lots of John Morison, Robert Weer, Thomas Steele, and Samuel Allison, are now included in the farm of Col. G. W. Lane. It was here that John Morison reared his log cabin, which caused his proud-spirited wife to exclaim, "A'weel, a'weel, dear Joan! an it maun be a loghouse, do make it a log heegher nor the lave [than the rest]." He was the father of Jonathan Morison, the first male child born in the town. From his elevated home he could look forth upon the mountains of Peterborough. He lived in Londonderry with his family till 1750 or '51, when he removed to Peterborough, N. H., and was one of the early settlers of that town. He was at that time seventy-one or seventy-two years of age. It is said of him, in the History of Peterborough: "Mr. Morison retained his faculties till within a short time of his death. He was remarkably intelligent, and his memory very retentive. He with his parents and family was in the city, and his age ten years, at the famous siege of Londonderry, Ireland. The trying scenes he witnessed in youth, a peculiar native eloquence, his pleasing urbanity of manners, venerable age, correctness and respectability of character, rendered his society interesting and instructive." He was an active boy at the time of the siege, doing errands and carrying messages to and from different parts of the city. He married, in Ireland, Margaret Wallace. She died April 18, 1769, aged 82 years. Mr. Morison lived in Peterborough, on the place occupied by his grandson, Dea. Robert Morison. He died there June 14, 1776, aged 98 years, the oldest man ever known in Peterborough. Below is given a fac-simile of his autograph: 680. Robert. * John mouton CHILDREN. Tradition says there was a son Robert, aud that he was left in Ireland by his father when he emigrated to America in 1719. He was preparing for a Presbyterian minister. He completed his studies, and was waiting for a vessel in which to take passage to America, when he was taken sick and died. 681. Thomas (690), b. in Ireland, 1710; d. Nov. 23, 1797. 682. Ezekiel (701), b. in Ireland; d. 1740, in Parish of Windham, N. H. 683. Jonathan (702), b. in Londonderry, N. H., Sept. 8, 1719; d. 1787. Jane (703), b. April 6, 1722; d. Nov. 11, 1791. 684. 685. Elizabeth (711), b. June 15, 1723; d. Sept. 15, 1808. Hannah (739), b. April 10, 1730; d. Nov. 30, 1760. 689. Moses (742), b. June 7, 1732; d. in Hancock, N. H. THIRD GENERATION. 690. Capt. Thomas [681] (John2, John1); was born in Ireland in 1710, and was quite young when his parents emigrated to America. He first settled in Londonderry, in that part which is now Windham. He occupied the farm owned by Mr. Isaiah Dinsmoor, in the Range, which was laid out to his father, John Morison, as "amendment" land in 1728. He lived upon that place, and was married at the time, and two of his chil *Stated on the authority of Hon. Thomas F. Morrison, of Londonderry, N. S. dren, John and Elizabeth, were probably born there. Windham was incorporated as a separate township in 1742, and he served as one of the selectmen of the town in 1743. His name occurs on the Windham records for the last time, previous to the annual meeting in March, 1744. He sold his farm in Windham Nov. 3, 1743, to Francis Smiley, and removed to Lunenburg as early as 1744 or '45. "There is no authentic record when he first went to Peterborough; but it is supposed he went to the latter place and cleared land and returned to Lunenburg. . . . It was not till 1743 or '44 that he began the farm afterwards occupied by him, and built there a camp against a large bowlder having a perpendicular side on the east of six or seven feet height, against which the camp was constructed and the camp-fire built. The party went from Lunenburg on foot, with axes, packs of provisions, and cooking utensils on their backs, thridding their way through the unfrequented forests, guided by blazed trees. The large bowlder served, with its vertical face, to shelter and support the camp, and furnished it with a fireplace and chimney. "It is related in a manuscript account of this affair, that when they went out one morning, they perceived two Indian men, a squaw, and a small Indian. They intended to be friendly, and spoke to them, and invited them to take breakfast with them, which they did. After the departure of the Indians, they went out to their work; but when they returned for their dinner, they found that the Indians had stolen every mouthful of their eatables and disappeared. They immediately set out for Townsend, not being able to obtain the least sustenance till they reached that place. . . . They went again to Peterborough in the fall or winter, at which time all the inhabitants were frightened away, and left the town till 1749. . . . In 1749, Morison returned to Peterborough, and built a house of hard-pine logs ten inches square, into which he moved his family in the fall of 1750. He resided on his farm till his death, Nov. 23, 1797, aged 87 yrs. . . . Peterborough was incorporated in 1760, and Thomas Morison served on the first board of selectmen. He subsequently was elected, in the years 1765, '66, and '73, to the same office. Thomas Morison and William Smith, and they only, are always styled in Peterborough town records 'gentlemen.' He was universally known as Capt. Thomas Morison, and marched his company on one occasion to Keene, twenty miles, through the woods, on a false alarm that the Indians had attacked that place. He married Mary, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Smith, at Lunenburg, Mass., Oct. 2, 1739. She was born in Ireland, and died in Peterborough, Dec. 29, 1799, aged 87 yrs." The following is a facsimile of his autograph: The Maison |