signs may from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, by force and virtue of these presents, use, ocpy, and injoy the said demised premises, free and clear of and from all other gifts, grants, bargains, sales or incumbrances whatsoever; and I, the said Samuel Morrison, for my heirs, executors, administrators, do covenant to and with the said John Morrison, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, that before the ensealing hereof, and untill the delivery of the same, I am the true owner of the above demised premises, and have in myself full power and good right to sell and convey the same in manner as above said. "In testimony of all before written, I have sett my hand and seal this first day of March, 1740-41, and in the fourteenth year of His Majestie's reign, &c. "Signed, Sealed, and delivered in presence of us, William Eayers, Sam'll Miller. SAMUEL MORISON. [SEAL] "Province of New Hampshire, Londonderry, March 5, 1840-41. Then the above named Samuel Morrison, personally appearing; acknowledged his hand and seal and the foregoing instrument to be his free act deed. Before me, ROBERT BOYES, Jus. Peace." "Received and recorded 25th June, 1760. D. PURIE, Recd." As the grantor describes the grantee as "my son," and the land as "a second division, laid out to my right in said Londonderry," it is now proved that the father of John Morison (my great-grandfather) was Charter Samuel. The grantee died intestate, in 1776. David and Hannah his wife, Samuel and Mary his wife, and John, conveyed their interest to their brother James, by deed dated April 3, 1778; and Betsey, with her husband Job Leonard, relinquished their interest Feb. 19, 1814. James conveyed to his son John, and the land is now the property of his children, Franklin, James, Dorcas, Elizabeth, Harlan P., and Emiline, so that it has been in the family of Samuel Morison from the time it was set off to him as a part of his share under the charter. Another parcel, constituting a part of the farm, was conveyed to John Morison by John Blair, by a deed dated April 1, 1742. §§ 2, 4, 169. 169. DAVID MORRISON. I have in my possession a letter written in 1852, to my father by his cousin John Morrison, which says, "according to some old scraps of deeds, our greatgrandfather's name was David." My father doubted this, but could not say who his great-grandfather was. Besides the " scraps of deeds," there were receipts to John Morison as administrator of the estate of David Morison. In 1878, a letter of inquiry from Leonard A. Morrison, Esq., led me to examine the probate records and the registry of deeds. From the former, it appeared that the warrant to the appraisers of David's estate, informed them that the property would be shown them by the administra tor, "a brother of the deceased." In the registry of deeds I found the record of the deed (a copy of which has been given), proving that John was a son of Charter Samuel, and also the record of another deed from the same grantor to "David Morrison my own son." There was also the record of a deed from "Charter " David of his homestead to "David Morrison, jun.," dated July 24, 1750. The deed of Charter Samuel to his son David was dated Aug. 20, 1749. Both deeds were recorded Feb. 17, 1756, in the same book and on successive pages. The land is clearly identified, and the proof complete, that Charter Samuel was the father of both John and David. That John Morrison, in 1852, occupying the same homestead that had come down to him from his great-grandfather, should have been misled in respect to his identity, illustrates the uncertainty of unsupported tradition, and the necessity of examining the registry of deeds and the probate office in tracing pedigree after many years. During this search, I also found the will of 1736 John, and the deed from his sons James and John, and furnished copies to Leonard A. Morrison, which he has given in this book. A deed to William Duncan of land belonging to the estate of this David Morison, was executed by the parties, and in the manner required by law, if he died without children and leaving no widow; and such, I infer, were the facts. The deed bears date Oct. 1, 1761. It was signed by "Margret Morison," John Morison, Samuel Morison, Abram Morison, Jennet Chambers, Mathew Morison, Martha Morison, and Alexander Craige. § 2. 170. JENNET CHAMBERS. There is a receipt in existence which indicates her death in 1790. I find no evidence that she left any children. §§ 2, 169. 171. MARTHA MORISON. She was born in 1723. And she signed the deed, before mentioned, in 1761, and receipts to the administrator, which is all I have ascertained in respect to her. §§ 2, 169. 172. MATHEW MORISON. His father conveyed one half the homestead to him in 1756. He became insane. His nephew James Morison was appointed his guardian, and afterwards, in 1777, his administrator. He left no children. §§ 2, 169. 173. SAMUEL MORISON. His gravestone is standing a few feet from that of his father and mother, with this inscription: "Here lieth the body of Samuel Morison who died March 15, 1775, in the 48th year of his age." There is an entry of his birth in the Londonderry records as being March 13, 1727. He married his cousin, Isabella Alexander, whom he also made executrix of his will, which was as follows: "In the Name of God Amen the fifteenth Day of february one thousand seven hundred and seventy five, I Samuel Morrison jun. of Londonderry in the County of Rockingham and province of New hampshire, weaver, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God therefor calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend My Soul into the Hand of God that gave it me, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my executrix, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I give, demise, and dispose of in the following manner and form: "Imprimis. I give and bequeath to Isabella my Dearly beloved wife that part of my real estate herein after described (viz): 66 Beginning at a stake and stone on the line of Capt. John Quigley's land, then East North east about fifty rods to the Corner of oughterson's land, then South east eighty four rods to a stake, then South west thirty eight rods, then west and by South forty rods, then North and by west to the bounds first mentioned containing about thirty three Acres more or less, also my right and title to a certain piece of land on the east side of beaver brook so called which I Claim by being an heir at law to the Estate of Randyll Alexander late of said Londonderry deceased, together with five Acres of Swamp which I purchased of Lieut. William Wallace, also the half of my personal estate after my Just debts and funeral Charges are paid of such articles as she shall choose according to the prize Bill as her estate for ever. "Item. I give and bequeath to my oldest son Samuel Morrison five Pounds Lawful Money which together with what he hath already got is equal to two Shares of my estate. "Item. I give to my Second Son Abraham Morrison three Pounds Lawful money. "Item. I give and bequeath to my third Son Robert Morrison fifteen pounds Lawful money in consideration of his services to me. "Item. I give to my fourth Son Jonathan Morrison three Pounds Lawful Money. "Item. I give and bequeath to my oldest daughter Jennet Morrison five pounds Lawful money. "Item. I give and bequeath to my second daughter Margaret Morrison five pounds Lawful Money. "Item. I give and bequeath to my fifth Son David Morrison five pounds Lawful money. "İtem. I give and bequeath to my Third daughter Isabella Morrison five pounds Lawful money. "Item. I will and order all my estate real and personal to be Sold excepting what is already bequeathed to my beloved wife and after the payment of my Just debts and funeral Charges together with the above bequeathments my wife is to receive one third of what remains the remainder to be divided equally among my children. "And I do hereby ordain and appoint my said wife to be Sole executrix of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former wills legacies and bequests by me in any other wise willed bequeathed ratifying and confirming this & no other to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and Year above written. "Signed Sealed Published and pronounced and declared by the Said Samuel Morrison as his Last will and testament in the Presence of George Duncan jr. Samuel Taggart Joseph McFarland." his SAML. MORRISON [SEAL] "Rockingham ss. June 19th 1776. mark George Duncan junr. & Samuel Taggart made Solemn Oath that they saw the above named Samuel Morrison deceased Sign & Seal & heard him declare this Instrument to be his last Will & Testament, that at the time of doing it he was to their best discerning of a sound disposing mind & memory & that they with Joseph McFarland who is absent signed the same as Witnesses at the same in the Testator's presence. before "A true Copy examined "Rockingham ss. [SEAL] } P. WHITE J. Prob." P. W. PARKER Reg." TO ALL PEOPLE To whom these Presents shall come Phillips White Esq; Judge of the Probate of Wills, &c. in and for the County of Rockingham sendeth Greeting. "KNOW YE That on the Day of the Date hereof before me at Exeter in said County, the Instrument, a Copy of which is hereunto annexed, (Purporting the last Will and Testament of Samuel Morrison jun. late of Londonderry in said County Weaver deceased) was presented for Probate by Isabella Morrison who is Executrix therein named, and George Duncan jun. and Samuel Taggart two of the Witnesses whose Names are thereto subscribed being then present made solemn Oath that they saw the said Testator Sign Seal and heard him declare the said Instrument to be his last Will and Testament. That he was then to the best of their Judgment of Sound and Disposing Mind, and that they with Joseph McFarland Subscribed their Names together as Witnesses to the Execution thereof in the Presence of the said Testator. "I DO therefore prove, approve and allow of the said Instrument as the last Will and Testament of the said Deceased, and do hereby commit the Administration thereof in all Matters the same concerning and of his Estate whereof he Died Seized and Possessed in said County unto her the aforesaid Executrix well and faithfully to execute the said Will and Testament, and to administer the Estate of said Deceased according to the same, who accepted of her said Trust and is directed to exhibit an Inventory of said Estate according to Law and she shall render an account (upon Oath) of her Proceedings therein when lawfully thereto required. "In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and the Seal of the Court of Probate for said County, Dated at Exeter aforesaid the 19th Day of June Anno Domini 1776. "W. PARKER Reg. P. WHITE." The land first described was conveyed to him by deed from his father, "Charter" Samuel (his mother also joining in the deed), dated Sept. 26, 1757, only two days before the death of the grantor. The grantee is described as "Samuel Morrison, my own son." The premises conveyed were a part of the "amendment land" set off to "Charter" Samuel, as a part of his right. His children were stated in the will. §§ 2, 5. 174. ABRAM MORISON. His father, "Charter" Samuel, conveyed to him the north half of his homestead, April 5, 1756. He does not call him his son in the deed, but since there is a record of his birth (May 29, 1731), and he signed with the others, the deed to Duncan, before mentioned, and receipts to the administrator upon David's estate, it is inferred that the omission was accidental or the fault of the scribner, and that he was a son of Charter Samuel. There is the same omission in the deed of the same date, of the south half to Mathew Morison. It is possible they both were grandsons. This Abram, or Abraham, with his wife Elizabeth conveyed said land to James McMurphy by deed dated March 14, 1767, and recorded Dec. 7, 1774. I am not able to trace him after this conveyance. There was an emigration in 1741, from Londonderry to the valley of the Mohawk, west of the Hudson River. He may have joined that settlement, and his wife may have been the Aunt Betsey mentioned in the letter of Mrs. House. § 166. 175. DAVID, eldest son of John and Elizabeth Morison, at the date of the deed to James, April 3, 1778, was married and living at Dunbarton. When he acknowledged the deed, April 27, 1784, he was probably living at Chester. He afterwards lived in Maine and in Vermont, and finally at Niagara, N. Y., where he died in 1812. His children were Elizabeth, Moody, John, Polly, David, Hannah, and Franklin D. and Moses F. (twins). §§ 4, 7, 168. 176. SAMUEL, second son of John and Elizabeth Morison, at the date of said deed, April 3, 1778, was living at Derryfield, now Manchester. He soon went to Londonderry, and resided there till he purchased land of Ephraim Carpenter in West Fairlee, Vt., where he continued to reside till his death in 1802, at the age of fifty. Carpenter's deed to him is dated Nov. 15, |