It is obvious that whoever my fourth great grandparents are admired President George Washington. I do not really consider this a clue to locating my fourth great grandparents, many sons were given the names of the founders of the United States in those early days after the Revolutionary War. However, I do wonder if my fourth great grandfather may have fought in the Revolutionary War and if so, which Morris is he? Those documents I have collected to date on the men with the surname Morris who fought in the Revolutionary War may yield their mysteries to me as I journey through the research of my Morris line.
The first Census I can confirm for George is 1830. He is listed in the home of his father, John Morriss Senior, living east of the Pee Dee and Yadkin River, as a male 15 thru 19 or a male 10 thru 14. Either way, there is a male missing from this family or the Census taker listed an additional male that did not exist. Neighbors to John Morris Sr in 1830 were the Williams’, Graham’s, McAuley’s, and McRae’s.
In 1840, George and his older brother William have flown the roost and are found sharing a residence between neighbors Henry Bell and William Hamilton, who lived on the waters of Barnes Creek in the Uwharrie area. William’s wife was Mary Polly Morgan, her father, William Morgan died in the War of 1812. Two of my third great aunts, Julia Marks and Cyrona Marks, sisters, would go on to marry brothers, Joseph and Lee Thomas Hamilton, sons of William and Mary Morgan Hamilton.
Family tradition says that George married Elizabeth Williams around 1845 and around 1849, a daughter, whom was named Elizabeth, was born to this couple. The 1850 Census being enumerated on the 20th day of Sep 1850, George and Elizabeth are found with 7 month old daughter, Elizabeth, making her birth month Feb. I am not sure where the family made their home as the township is not stated on the 1850 Census.
By 1860, George and Elizabeth were living in Beans and had added to their family, John Thomas, born in 1852, Millie Francis, 1856 and George Washington Jr in 1857.
By 1870 George and Elizabeth had moved to Ophir where this Census year shows another daughter, Julia Ann, had been born about 1867, bringing the total number of children for George and Elizabeth to five.
The 1880 Census shows this is a family that sticks close together. Living in Rocky Springs, George and wife Elizabeth still have one child, Millie Francis, living at home. Next door, in dwelling 76, lives daughter Elizabeth, with husband, William Williams and their children, John, Christine, James, Lillie and Claudy. And in dwelling 77, lives daughter Julia with her husband, Gaston Dennis.
John Thomas had married Louisa Williams, she being the daughter of Joseph and Nancy Williams, in 1873. George Washington Jr married Margaret Keziah ‘Kizzie’ Morton in 1878, she being the daughter of James and Catharine Morton.
Sometime between the 1880 Census and 1895, Elizabeth, wife of George, would die. I have not as yet been able to confirm where she is buried. George would go on to marry Louisa Smith, daughter of Reuben and Julia Smith, in 1895, about a year after daughter, Millie Francis, marries Edward Brewer in 1894.
In 1900, George and Louisa, his second wife, are found still in Ophir and living next door to George’s namesake, George Washington Morris Jr and his wife Margaret and their children.
George died intestate, leaving his widow, Louisa, to file a Petition for Dower, 1/3 of the 169 acres lying on the east side of Barnes Creek. His children, and heirs at law, wrapping up the final business that George had and burying their father. I am currently still searching on where George is buried.
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