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Leonard Morris (spy)

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Honorable
Leonard Morris Esq.
Justice of Kanawha County
In office
October 6, 1789 – May, 1831
Appointed byVirginia House of Delegates
Sheriff of Kanawha County
In office
1798–1801
Appointed byVirginia House of Delegates
Preceded byThomas Lewis Jr.
Succeeded byWilliam Morris
Commissioner of Kanawha County
In office
1794 – May 17, 1831
Personal details
BornOrange County, Virginia
DiedMay 17, 1831
Marmet, West Virginia
Spouse(s)Margaret Price (m.1770); Margaret Lykin (m.1789)
ProfessionAttorney, Judge
Military service
Allegiance Thirteen Colonies
BranchVirginia Militia
Service years1774-1789
UnitGreenbrier County Militia, Continental Army
ConflictRevolutionary War

Leonard Morris [Morriss], Esq. (1748 – May 17, 1831) was an American Revolutionary War spy,[1] attorney,[2] justice, sheriff, gentlemen, and was one of the founders and trustees[3] of Charleston, West Virginia in 1789.[4] During the American Revolution in 1778, Morris was commissioned by Governor Patrick Henry as a spy, and in 1798 was appointed by Governor James Wood and took the oath as Sheriff of Kanawha County.

Early life and family

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Leonard Morris was born in Orange County, Virginia (later Culpeper) in St. Mark's Parish to English born merchant William Morris and Elizabeth Stapp. Elizabeth's father, Joshua Stapp was a tobacco planter who conducted business with James Madison Sr. and maintained several tobacco plantations to include one along the James River in the Varina Farms.

In 1745, Morris's father purchased the land from George Hume, which was originally patented to Alexander Spotswood. The property bordered House of Burgesses member Henry Field. Field was the first cousin of Colonel John Field who died during the Battle of Point Pleasant.

Leonard had sixteen children, six by his first wife Margaret Price - John, Meredith, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Leonard Jr.; and ten children by his second wife Margaret Lykin - Charles, Nancy, Parthenia, Joshua, Hiram, Peter, Andrew, Cynthia, Madison and Dickinson.[5] Leonard's wife Margaret a descendent of Sven Gunnarsson a soldier in New Sweden. Margaret's great aunt, Susanna, married Benjamin Boone, the brother of Squire Boone.

Leonard's son Peter Morris, traveled west with Achilles Morris to Sangamon County, Illinois. Peter married Mary Jarrett, the sister of Leah Jarrett, Achilles's wife. In 1795, Leonard Morris Jr. was made Surveyor of Roads for Kanawha County.[6]

Leonard's brother William Morris Jr served in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Kanawha County alongside Daniel Boone, Squire's son. Leonard's notable nephews include US Congressman Calvary Morris, and Bishop Thomas Asbury Morris, and Achilles Morris who defeated Abraham Lincoln for a seat in the Sangamon County, Illinois election of 1832.

Leonard's brother Henry Morris, married Mary Bird whose extended family included Patrick Henry, Andrew Lewis, and Alexander McClanahan through her uncle John Dean. Mary's uncle was Reverend William Dean whose son was Col. Joseph Dean.

alongside John Jones, and brothers William and John Morris.

Military Career

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While not serving in Battle of Point Pleasant like his brothers John, William Jr, and Henry, Leonard had been living as one of the few European white settlers in the Kanawha since 1773,[7] and reconstructed Walter Kelly's damaged home into a fort which was used briefly during Lord Dunmore's War.[4] While Lord Dunmore's 180 day war was ongoing, Leonard commanded Fort Morris (also known as Kelly's Post) along the Kanawha River.[8] The fort was located at Catfish Shoals on the Kanawha River twelve miles away from Leonard's second fortification which was known as Fort Leonard. Fort Morris had been built by Leonard, William, John Morris, and John Jones in early 1774; but Leonard thought it would be strategic to have a secondary fort further down the Kanawha River. Both of these forts were established prior to Colonel Lewis and Dunmore's men coming to engage with Chief Cornstalk.

In November 1774, while occupying Fort Morris, Leonard received a guard of ten soldiers who remained until the settlers were safe from Indians.[9] In one of the last raids the Indians kidnapped Sallie, one of Leonard's slaves, and though Morris and twenty men followed the Indians as far as Guyandotte they were unable to obtain her release. The war party was of a couple hundred, and their ransom was too great that they could not get Sallie back.[10]

From 1777 through 1782, Morris was commissioned as spy by Patrick Henry for the State of Virginia during the American Revolution, tracking hostile Indian movements in Greenbrier and Kanawha along with his brother-in-law John Jones, and Lt. John Young. Young, however, was a military scout, had just received a commission to Lieutenant where he served under Captain William Morris's Ranger Company. [11][12][13]

On September 9, 1781, Morris petitioned the Governor of Virginia, Thomas Nelson, to permit an additional station (fort) to be built in the Great Kanawha and supplied with a lieutenant and 30 men be stationed in the Great Kanawha due to increased hostilities between loyalist aligned native tribes who increased attacks on the settlers.[14]

On August 10, 1789, Leonard Morris and William Morris were listed as having sold, and provided war materials in support of the Northwest Indian Wars to Colonel George Clendenin, 26 Privates, 2 Sergeants, one Ensign, one Lieutenant, and one Captain from March to July 1789 in support of the Northwest Indian Wars for the Kanawha County Militia Rangers, renamed in October 1789 as the Morris' Company of Rangers amounting to £118, 3 shilling and 9 pence.[15]

Leonard Morris's farm continued war supplies and stock raising to support the war effort, from May 1791 Leonard's Brother Captain John Morris, Commander of the Morris' Company of Rangers provided Leonard's farm with soldiers until September 30, 1791, protecting the lands from hostile forces. The Ranger company was listed in a March 24, 1792 report to the Governor of Virginia, Henry Lee III as "having adopted full and effectual measures for the defense of the Western Frontier."[16]

Five years later Leonard was named as one of the trustees of Charleston when the town was incorporated by the Virginia House of Delegates in 1794, alongside Ruben Slaughter, Andrew Donnally Sr, John Young and William Morris.[17]

Post-Revolution Career

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On October 6, 1789, the Virginia House of Delegates appointed Leonard Morris as one of six justices of the newly established Kanawha County, and was sworn in as member of the County Court. The first official court appearance in Kanawha County was held in the house of Colonel George Clendenin, where Morris nominated Clendenin as County Lieutenant (the highest ranking official in the county).[3] On this occasion several of the newly appointed Justices were sworn in as members of the Court including Thomas Lewis Jr., and Daniel Boone.[18][19]

In late 1792, Leonard Morris, testified before the court regarding a land dispute between George Washington and Ruben Slaughter. Slaughter notified Washington of his taking custody of the 250-acre tract of land known as the Burning Springs Tract. Burning Springs was previously patented by General George Washington in 1774 after Captain Thomas Bullitt's group of surveyors mapped out the Kanawha in the year previous, which included Joshua Morris, Capt. Matthew Arbuckle, the Reverend John Alderson, John and Peter Van Bibber, McAfee brothers, McCown, Adams from the New River settlements, along with Hancock Taylor.[20] Leonard stated that in 1775, he saw surveyors Samuel Lewis and John Stuart making a survey of the tract. Samuel Lewis was the son of General Andrew Lewis. The testimony rendered a favorable outcome whereas a portion of the patent was granted to Washington and Lewis, and signed by Thomas Jefferson, Governor of Virginia.[21]

"And the said Leonard Morris, being produced as a witness for the plaintiff, after being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith: That in the year 1775, this deponent was residing on Kanawha river about six miles from Burning Spring Tract. During that year, Messrs. Samuel Lewis, a surveyor, Colo John Stuart, of Greenbrier, and Thomas Bullitt were on the Kanawha surveying lands, and procured from out of this deponent's family, Mungo Price and his son as chain carriers; that after the party returned from surveying, this deponent understood from them that they had surveyed the Burning Spring Tract for the late General George Washington [now President] and Andrew Lewis. This deponent, with the exception of some periods when the Indian wars made it hazardous to keep a family on Kanawha, has made it his principal residence since 1775. Sometimes during the Indian troubles, this deponent's family resided altogether in Greenbrier."

In April 1793, another one of Leonard's servant was kidnapped by Indians. The kidnapping took place after a band of over one hundred natives in ten large rafts.[2]

In 1794 Morris was named Commissioner for Kanawha County, and in 1798 named Sheriff of Kanawha County, replacing his brother in law by marriage John Alderson.[22][23] In another Washington family dispute, Alderson demanded backdated taxes to be paid on lands owned by Bushrod Washington or risk forfeiture,[24] Bushrod sent a letter to his uncle, George Washington, on January 9, 1798 stating the Sheriff of Kanawha County, John Alderson, was levying heavy tax deficits against Bushrod and George's property in Kanawha; George responds ten days later in a letter to Bushrod agreeing to assist in the matter. Leonard was subsequently recommended and appointed by the Governor.[25]

Later Life and Descendants

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Historical records show Leonard Morris owned 18 slaves in Kanawha County, Virginia in 1820.[26] In 1836, his wife erected a Church in Leonard Morris's honor, Ebenezer Chapel (Marmet, West Virginia) which was built by Morris's slaves. Leonard Morris is the founder of the town of Marmet, where his great-great grandson Benjamin Franklin Morris who served as Marmet's mayor for over 25 years, deputy sheriff of Kanawha County, and a union rights leader. Leonard Morris also founded Lens Creek on the Kanawha River.[27]

Leonard's 3rd great grandson, Benjamin Franklin Morris III, served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II where he served in the pacific in the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign. His other 3rd great grandson, Russell Churchman Morris, served in the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion in North Africa, Italy, France, and the Battle of the Bulge; Russell received the Bronze Star Medal, and Croix de Guerre.

References

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  1. ^ McAllister, Joseph Thompson (1913). Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. Hot Springs, Va.: McAllister Pub. Co. p. 115.
  2. ^ a b Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts, Richmond, VA., Vol.6 (6th ed.). Richmond. 1875. p. 333.
  3. ^ a b Atkinson, George Wesley (1876). History of Kanawha County, W.VA. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA: West Virginia Journal. p. 28.
  4. ^ a b Graham, Miller (1885). History of Kanawha County and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men (1 ed.). Charleston: Miller & Graham; Printers and Publishers. p. 5. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  5. ^ Laidley, W.S. (1992). "The William Morris Family: Pioneers of Kanawha Valley". Genealogies of West Virginia Families from the West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly, 1901-1905. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co. p. 174.
  6. ^ Laidley, W. S. (William Sydney) (1911). History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia, and representative citizens. Chicago, Richmond-Arnold pub. co. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  7. ^ Chandler, Julian Alvin Carroll (1910). The South in the Building of the Nation. Richmond, Va: The Southern historical publication society (published 1909). p. 441.
  8. ^ Johnson, Erna (March 1969). The Tacketts in Kanawha County Virginia (PDF) (1 ed.). Kanawha County: C.L. Ewen. p. 4. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  9. ^ Morris, Alfred Nelson (1941). Genealogy of the Morris Family with Historical Sketches. Salt Lake City, UT: Department of Culture and History, Charleston, West Virginia. p. 157.
  10. ^ Wintz, Julia (April 1, 1934). "Charleston Mail". No. April 1, 1934, p.2. Charleston Mail. Charleston Mail.
  11. ^ McAllister, J.T (1913). Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. Hot Springs, Virginia: McAllister Publishing Co. p. 19. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  12. ^ Young, John (1833). Revolutionary War Pension 1833 of John Young (PDF) (1 ed.). Kanawha County: Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters. p. 2. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  13. ^ Harris, C. Leon (January 15, 1833). John Jones Revolutionary War Pension 1833 (PDF) (1 ed.). Kanawha County: Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters. p. 2. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  14. ^ Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts, Richmond, VA., Vol.3 (3rd ed.). Richmond, Va: Richmond. 1881. pp. 468–469.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  15. ^ Palmer, M.D., Wm P (1885). Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (5 ed.). Richmond: Rush U. Derr, Superintendent of Public Printing. p. 14. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  16. ^ Palmer, M.D., Wm P (1885). Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (5 ed.). Richmond: Rush U. Derr, Superintendent of Public Printing. p. 475. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  17. ^ Shepherd, Samuel (1835). Statutes at Large of Virginia from October Session 1792 to December Session 1806 (1 ed.). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 322. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  18. ^ Hale, J.P. (1901). West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly (1-2 ed.). Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society. p. 13. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  19. ^ Atkinson, George W (1876). History of Kanawha County from 1789 until Present Time (1 ed.). Charleston: The West Virginia Journal. p. 28. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  20. ^ Hale, John P. (1891). History of the Great Kanawha Valley with Family Sketches and Biographical Sketches. Vol. 1. Madison, Wisconsin: Brand, Fuller & Co. pp. 158–159. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  21. ^ Samples, Lori (1938). Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County: History of Oil and Gas (1 ed.). Greenbrier, West Virginia: Greenbrier County. p. 1. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  22. ^ Shepherd, Samuel (1835). Statutes at Large of Virginia from October Session 1792 to December Session 1806 (1 ed.). Richmond: Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 312. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  23. ^ Laidley, William S. (January 1904). West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly (4 ed.). Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society. p. 80. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  24. ^ Washington, Bushrod (January 9, 1798). "To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 9 January 1798". National Archives. Princeton University. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  25. ^ Washington, George (January 19, 1798). "From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 19 January 1798". National Archives. Princeton University. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  26. ^ Morris, Leonard (August 7, 1820). 1820 US Census (Fourth ed.). Washington, D.C.: NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls. p. 28.
  27. ^ Metro Staff, Clint Thomas (November 20, 2020). "Marmet Landmark Church Receives Restoration Grant". WV Gazette Mail. No. Web. WV Gazette Mail. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

Public Domain This article incorporates text from these sources, which are in the public domain: History of West Virginia, by Virgil Anson Lewis (1887)

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