CHAPTER XVII. JOHN MORRISON, THE EMIGRANT. — DR. EDWIN-A. MORRISON. REV. JAMES-HORACE MORRISON, D. D. MORRISONS OF VIRGINIA. JOHN MORRISON emigrated from Connaught, north of Ireland, to America, about 1795. His father is believed to have been a manufacturer, and he at one time owned houses in London, England. John Morrison was educated for a physician, but for some cause his medical education was not completed. He first located in Petersburg, Va., and afterwards in Lunenburg Co., Va., engaging in mercantile business. As physicians were much needed, he entered upon the practice of medicine. He was an accomplished man, and ranked high in his profession. He was brought up a Presbyterian. He married Miss Bagley, in Lunenburg County, about 1798, where he res. till his death in 1823. His brother Samuel located near Snow Hill, on the eastern shore of Maryland, where he married, but left no children. John Morrison was born about 1760. CHILDREN, BORN IN LUNENBURG CO., VA. 1. Jane, b. 1799; m. Josiah-B. Wilson, of Lunenburg Co., Va., a merchant; d. 1826, leaving two daughters, Mary-Anne and SarahJane, the first of whom d. unmarried; the second m. Dr. Richard-H. Hatchett, a physician of high standing; both now res. in Lunenburg County. 2. William-Anderson, b. 1801; entered a medical school in Philadelphia, and d. unmarried at the age of 26 yrs. 3. Edwin-Armistead (5), b. Sept. 24, 1804; d. Oct. 30, 1879. 4. James-Horace (19), b. March 31, 1811; res. Cartersville, Va. 5. Edwin-Armistead2 (3) (John1). Dr. Edwin-A. Morrison, after studying medicine, settled at Lawrenceville, Brunswick Co., Va., and had an extensive practice. He was eminent as a physician. For more than fifty years he was a communicant of the Episcopal church. "While his unaffected humility would not permit him to call upon others to follow him as he followed Christ, yet all who knew him might point to his Christian example as one worthy of imitation. . . . From a condition of great comfort and prosperity, he was brought down to very straitened circumstances. In this his lot was not singular, but it was a singular grace that enabled him to pass through this trial in such a manner that the most keen-sighted, to detect any swerving from the strictest rectitude, could find none in him; . . . he bore the touchstone unscathed; the crucible detected no alloy." He died suddenly, Oct. 30, 1879, of paralysis of the heart. He married twice ; his first wife was Mary-C., daughter of Robert Turnbull, for many years clerk of Brunswick Co., Va. By her he had CHILDREN. 6. Robert-J., professor in William and Mary College; d. 1861. Mary-T.; m. Dr. Thos. Marable, now res. Petersburg, Va. William-E.; clerk; res. Petersburg. 7. 8. 9. Samuel-J.; physician; res. Little Rock, Ark. 10. Elizabeth; m. Geo Goodwin; clerk; res. Petersburg. 11. J.-Horace; professor at Virginia Miiitary Institute. 12. 13. 14. Caroline-B.; m. J. Griswold; lawyer, but now teaching in Petersburg. 15. Hackley; machinist; res. Petersburg, Va. 16. His second wife Harriet-R.; m. Freeman-W. Jones, of Brunswick County; tobacco inspector, Petersburg. 17. Lucea; m. M.-D. Bernard, a lawyer of high standing in Brunswick County. 18. J.-G. Wolson; d. 1880. 19. James-Horace2 [4] (John1). Rev. James-Horace Morrison, D. D., was left without a father's care at the age of twelve years. He encountered many obstacles, which were overcome, in acquiring an education. He graduated at Hampden Sydney College, Va., in 1834, taking the first honor of his class. On leaving college, he began the study of law, but he soon felt constrained to devote himself to the ministry. He studied theology at the Virginia Seminary at Alexandria; he was ordained by Bishop Moore, of the Episcopal church, and began the work of the ministry at Shepherdstown, W. Va., where he married Margaret, daughter of Dr. Seth-Belfield Foster, of Norfolk, Va. She was born May 7, 1819, at Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co., W. Va. In a few years he became rector of St. John's Church, Richmond, Va., and successively rector of St. John's Church, Montgomery, Ala., St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, Md., and Christ Church, Lexington, Ky. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 1857 by the University of Maryland, and by Racine College, Wis., 1859. For many years he was a member of the standing committee in several dioceses, a member of the general board of missions, and delegate to the General Convention. At the outbreak of the war, he returned to Virginia, where he has since ministered in small parishes. Through much physical weakness he has labored for many years. Residence, Cartersville, Cumberland Co., Va. CHILDREN. 20. Horace-B., b. Shepherdstown, W. Va., Feb. 10. 1840; civil engineer of much promise; d. Nov. 2, 1859. 21. Mary-Bolling, b. Buckingham Co., Va., Oct. 17, 1841; m. Feb. 12, 1868, John-Claiborne James, a lawer of Goochland Co., Va., their present residence; P. O., West View, Goochland Co., Va. Anna-Bedinger, b. Cumberland Co., Va., Aug. 25, 1843; m. Jan. 6, 1871, Dr. Thomas-Mann Fleming, of Goochland Co., Va., who was also a large farmer. He d. Nov. 21, 1872. 22. 26. 23. Ella, b. Richmond, Va., June 13, 1845; m. Nov. 8, 1866, Wm.-Fitzgerald Jones; teacher; he was b. Brunswick Co., Va., Oct. 8, 1844; res. Lawrenceville, Brunswick Co., Va. 24. Margaret-Foster, b. June 26, 1847; d. Sept. 8, 1847. 25. Edwin-Morton, b. July 31, 1848; d. Dec. 11, 1853. William-Foster, b. Montgomery, Ala., Oct. 25, 1850; studied at St. Clement's Hall, a classical school near Baltimore, Md., and was graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, Ct., in 1874; completed the course in the Episcopal General Theological Seminary at New York, N. Y., and graduated 1877; ordained to the ministry by Bishop Whittingham, of Md., May 27, 1877. His first permanent charge was as rector of Church of Our Saviour, Baltimore, Md., where he labored two and one half years. He then accepted a call and became assistant rector of the Church of the Ascension, Washington, D. C., in Feb. 1880. 27a. Margaret-Virginia, b. Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 12, 1852; m. Nov. 12, 1872, George-Thomas Herndon, of Goochland Co., Va., farmer; res. Bell View, Ky. 276. Herbert-Taylor, b. Aug. 19, 1856; d. July 27, 1857. 28. 29. Arthur-Cleveland, b. Baltimore, Md., Jan 25, 1858; educated at 30. Bertha-Lee, b. July 28, 1862. CHAPTER XVIII. MORISONS OF PENNSYLVANIA.-GABRIEL MORISON, THE EMIGRANT, AND HIS DESCENDANTS.-DESCENDANTS OF JOHN MORISON. FIRST GENERATION. -GABRIEL MORISON. GABRIEL MORISON, the emigrant ancestor of the family, came from the north of Ireland about 1740, leaving his brother, John Morison, a merchant, in Ireland. It is believed that he did not marry till after his settlement in Pennsylvania. He married Martha Glen (?) or Wilson (?), of Chester Co., Pa., prior to Jan. 2, 1743 (according to an old bond in existence).* By tradition, his home was in Londonderry, Ireland, and at the death of his father, as his oldest brother inherited nearly all the property by the law of primogeniture, he emigrated to America, and landed in Philadelphia. Another tradition is that Gabriel and his three brothers emigrated together. He first settled in Londonderry, Chester Co., Pa. Later (1752 and 1754), he purchased a large tract of land in Coleraine, Lancaster County, and located near the Octorara, a beautiful stream which divides Chester and Lancaster Counties. Together these purchases amounted to over three hundred acres. Some of his descendants still (1880) own and res. upon part of this tract of land. Gabriel was well educated, and there are many indications of his being from a family of wealth and refinement; a strict Presbyterian, and an elder in the Middle Octorara Church for many years, and was buried in that graveyard. He was of great firmness of character, of good judgment, and had much influence in the neighborhood; was very industrious, and accomplished a great deal in his day. He dug a trench around his three hundred acres of land for protection against cattle, as was the custom in those days. This was an immense work, and part of this old ditch can be seen at the present time. He was regarded as a rich man, as was also his son and successor, Alexander Morison; and if the * This bond is dated Jan. 2, 1743-4, and payable Jan. 2, 1744-5, to P.Gilbert Buchanan and Martha Morison for James McClelland. It was given by Joseph and John Glen, witnessed by Walter Buchanan, Andrew Walker, and Robert Ross, and executed in Chester Co., Province of Pennsylvania, and receipted on the back by Gabriel Morison. possession of much land and fine teams are evidences of wealth, then they were justly entitled to the reputation. He and his wife, "a remarkably fine woman," used to ride on horseback six miles and more to church, and carry their children with them. This custom was followed by his descendants for three generations. The solid silver knee and shoe buckles that he wore at the time of his emigration and afterwards, remained at the old homestead till a few years ago, when they were taken to Wilmington, Del., and made into spoons. Thus the relics of the past changed their form, and were made to serve the present.* CHILDREN. 2. Sarah (6), b. 1744; m. Samuel McClellan, 1767; d. Feb. 14, 1790.† 3. John, b. 1747 (?); d. in his youth. 4. Alexander (15), b. 1749; d. March 8, 1826, age 77 yrs. SECOND GENERATION. 6. Sarah (McClellan) [2] (Gabriel Morison1); married Samuel McClellan in 1767; died Feb. 14, 1790, aged 46 years; res. in Coleraine, Lancaster Co., Pa., on the property now known as the Cornelius Collins farm. He died March 9, 1806; they are buried at Middle Octorara Church, Lancaster Co., Pa. Their children, after their death, removed to Union Co., Pa. CHILDREN, BORN IN COLERAINE, PA. 7. James, b. Feb. 3, 1768; m. Mary Irwin, July 5, 1796, and died in Central Pennsylvania, Nov. 4, 1849, aged 81 yrs. ; farmer; rem. to Union Co., Pa., and was followed by the rest of the family. He was greatly respected. Four children: 1st, Sarah-M., b. July 25, 1800; d. May 22, 1871. 2d, Margaret, b. Oct. 1, 1801; d. Jan. 7, 1863. 3d, Catharine, b. May 1, 1804; res. Union Co., Pa. 4th, Mary-L., b. March 14, 1814; m. Rankin, M. D. ; widow; res. Muncy, Pa. Her 8. Jane, b. Nov. 22, 1771; m. John Kinkead; d. Aug. 31, 1832, in Central Pennsylvania, aged 61 yrs. He was a son of John Kinkead, who formerly owned what is now known as "Pusey's Mill," on the west branch of the Octorara, in Lancaster Co., Pa. only living child, Jane, m. Samuel Morrow, of Lewisburg Co., Pa., a son of Alexander Morrow and Martha McClellan. Three children: 1st, Samuel-Kinkead, d. Oct. 5, 1826. 2d, JohnKinkead, d. Oct. 31, 1832. 3d, Eliza-Wagnon, d. Nov. 19, 1826. All dead but their daughter Jane, as above. Dr. J.-B. Morrison, of Maryville, Mo., writes, April 19, 1880: "There must be in existence a number of letters that Gabriel received from his friends in Ireland, though I have been unable to find them. Some of the connections speak pretty positively in support of the tradition that four brothers came from Ireland together, and the name of Alexander is mentioned as one of them. Robert (?) and James (?) are also mentioned with some doubt. I am inclined to the belief that Alexander Morison, who lived in New London, Chester Co., Pa., and whose will is recorded in West Chester Will Book D, Vol. IV, p. 609, was a brother to Gabriel. Alexander is a common name in our branch of the family. An acquaintance used to say that he could not go out in a dark night without running against an Alexander Morison."" The McClellans were related to President Buchanan. |
