James Morris

Excellent research notes from Caleb Levi Burns at http://carolinagenealogy.org/all/pafg1892.htm#46381:

James Morris. James married Elizabeth Grant in 1783 in , , Rutherford Co., North Carolina.

Elizabeth Grant and James Morris of Rutherford Co, NC

A note about sources

Elizabeth Grant was born before 1755 (born on 10 Sep 1746 per Don Yelton) probably in VA. She married James Morris on or about 8 Jan 1783. The marriage bond was in Rutherford Co, NC and the bondsman was John Henson.

We don't know who this Elizabeth Grant was. She was clearly associated with my Grants in Rutherford County, so it is likely she is related or connected somehow.

Here are two possibilities to consider for who this Elizabeth is.

Theory One: She is a daughter of William and Mary Grant. If so, she would be their oldest known child, since she was born before 1755. She was not named in William Grant's Will (1794) but other records show she was still living at that time. If he had already given her some form of inheritance, that would explain her omission from the Will. If that is true, then perhaps other married daughters were also left out.

Theory Two: She is the widow of William Grant Jr (son of William and Mary Grant). William Grant (Jr) was killed in 1782 during an Indian attack, as was someone named Elizabeth Grant. Frank Block speculated that this Elizabeth (who was killed) was the wife of William Jr. That could be, but the records found don't prove it. It is also possible that the Elizabeth who was killed was a daughter of William and Mary (if so, the Elizabeth under study here couldn't be their daughter also). The one who was killed might have been their granddaughter instead. If Elizabeth (bef 1755) was married to William Grant (Jr) then that would explain a few things.

First of all, she married in 1783 (a year after his death), and she was clearly associated with the Grant family, but wasn't named in the Will of William Grant (1794) since she wasn't his child, but a former daughter-in-law who had remarried, and had no Grant children.

Of the two theories above, I like Theory two better. However, I still currently show Elizabeth as a child of William and Mary, pending further information.

The next problem is in untangling the several men named James Morris in early Rutherford County records.

Records show that there were two distinct (but probably related) James Morris' in Rutherford County around this time. This particular James used "Sr" in some records to distinguish himself from the other James Morris, who was a little younger. Since there were two James Morris in the county, it isn't always easy to tell which is which. One James Morris (probably the one we are discussing) received a land grant in Burke Co, NC on 18 May 1789 for 120 acres on both sides of the Second Broad River. This land was entered on 30 Nov 1779. Using this date we can say James Morris was born before 1758, assuming he was 21 at least when he entered the land. Some records indicate that this James Morris was the only heir of one of the John Morris' in Rutherford County. A deed dated 1795 between Thomas Morris Sr to James Morris lists James as "the only heir of John Morris, deceased". The 1790 census shows two James Morris listed in Rutherford County. One on page 116 with 1 male over 16, 3 males under 16, and 4 females. The other is on page 118 and has 1 male over 16, and 2 females. I think the one on page 116 is the James under discussion here.

On 14 Oct 1791 William and Mary Grant sold 100 acres on Grants Creek to James Morris. (Rutherford Co, NC Deed Book 6 page 306).

On 11 Oct 1797 James Morris sold 200 acres on Turkey Otter Creek to Richard Bradley. The land was originally granted to John Morris Sr 15 Sep 1772. He stated he assigns the land to Richard Bradley as the heir of John Morris, deceased. (Rutherford Co, NC Deed Book 8 page 183).

On 10 Jan 1798 James Morris Sr and wife Elizabeth sold 100 acres on Grants old Mill creek to James Morris. This is the same land sold to him by William and Mary Grant. Alexander Grant and Thomas Grant witnessed this deed. (Rutherford Co, NC Deed Book 9 page 381).

The 1800 census shows two James Morris in Rutherford, and one in Burke. Both of those in Rutherford were on page 127. One was clearly James Morris (Jr) born ca 1775, residing with 3 women in his same age group, probably his single sisters. The other was James Morris (Sr) and wife Elizabeth Grant. His household had 1 male age 26-44 (born 1755/1774), 1 male age 10-15 (1784/90), 1 male under 10 (1790/1800), 1 female 45 and up (before 1755), 1 female 16-25 (1774/84), 1 female 10-15 (1784/90) and 2 females under 10 (1790/1800).

There are lots of other records pertaining to James Morris, but at this point it becomes very difficult to distinguish which James is which. Several researchers say that the James in question here died in 1810. The 1810 census shows only one James Morris in Rutherford, and he isn't old enough to be this James, so he must have died before the census was taken. More indepth study of Morris records in Tryon, Rutherford (and Burke) is needed to properly sort them out.

I have had more than one researcher send me information on this James (who married Elizabeth Grant) and had children listed for them, who in actuality belonged to the James Morris who married Elizabeth Garrett. I haven't seen any proof for any children of James Morris and Elizabeth Grant so far, nor do I know the source of the 1746 birth date for this Elizabeth. Don Yelton sent me that recently. I had seen it before in some old Morris notes that Frank Block sent me several years ago, though the source for the date wasn't given.

Persons researching this family: See Grant Researcher List

1. Elizabeth1 GRANT [4825], born bef 1755 in VA; died in Rutherford Co, NC, daughter of William GRANT (Sgt) [3117] and Mary MORRIS [3118] . She married on 8 Jan 1783 in Rutherford Co, NC James MORRIS [4824], born 1755/58 in VA; died 1810 in Rutherford Co, NC, son of John MORRIS [42273] .

No children proven for them yet.

Elizabeth Grant [Parents] died before 1795. She married James Morris in 1783 in , , Rutherford Co., North Carolina.

Notes from Marvin Grant's web page http://www.martygrant.com/genealogy/familydata/grpf3234.html :

!NAMED:"N.C. Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailors, Patriots ... Vol II" pg 131 James MORRIS, Revolutionary Soldier, Cpl, NC 1740-1810 wife Elizabeth GRANT;

!TAXLIST:1770 Tryon Co, NC James MORRIS;

!MILITIA:30 Oct 1777 Captain Robert Porter's Tryon Company: ... James Morris Sr, John Morris, James Morris Jr, Philamon Morris, William Morris ...;

!ENTRY:30 Nov 1779 Burke Co, NC Land Grants # 1181 James MORRIS, 120a both sides Second Broad River adj --- BRADLEY. Ent 30 Nov 1779 # 1560, surv 10 Jun 1787 CB Micajah PROCTOR and Jn SCOTT. Grante # 1182 18 May 1789;

!TAXLIST:1782 Rutherford Co, NC James MORRIS;

!MARRIAGE: 8 Jan 1783 Rutherford Co, NC James MORRIS & Elizabeth GRANT, John HENSON, bm;

!COURT:-- Oct 1783 Rutherford Co, NC On Pettetion it is ordered by the Court that a road be laid oru and marked the nighest and best way form Rutherford Court House to Potts Fork in the Cove and that ... William GRANT ... Thomas MORRIS ... Jury. ... Alexander GRANT ... James MORRIS, William GRANT be & is hereby exempt from working on the road that leads from the Court House to Ledbetters' Mills & are ordered to work on the last mentioned to Potts Fork;

!GRANT:18 May 1789 Burke Co, NC Land Grants # 1181 James MORRIS, 120a both sides Second Broad River adj --- BRADLEY. Ent 30 Nov 1779 # 1560, surv 10 Jun 1787 CB Micajah PROCTOR and Jn SCOTT. Grante # 1182 18 May 1789;

!CENSUS:1790 Rutherford Co, NC pg 116 James MORRIS, age 16+ (bef 1774) "1-3-4-0-0";

!DEED:14 Oct 1791 Rutherford Co, NC 6-306 William GRANT of Rutherford Co, NC, planter to James MORRIS for 50, 100a on Grants Creek, granted to William GRANT 26 Nov 1789. Witness: Samuel LUSK, Jonas BEDFORD Jr S: William Grant, Mary (x) Grant;

!WITNESS:12 Apr 1797 Rutherford Co, NC Deed 6-321 Samuel HUNTER of Rutherford Co, NC to Richard LEWIS for 200, 100a granted 17 Dec 1796, also 50a on the southside of the River granted 4 Jan 1792, also another 50a joining John BEARD on the south side of the river. Witness: James MORRIS;

!WITNESS:13 Apr 1797 Rutherford Co, NC Deed 7-60 John MILLAR to Lewis TAYLOR both of Rutherford Co, NC for 60, - acres on Horse Creek joining John EARL. Witness: James MORRIS, John LEWIS.;

!WITNESS:12 Jul 1797 Rutherford Co, NC Deed 7-29 David MILLER of Rutherford Co, NC to John MILLS of same, for 50, 100a both sides of Green River near Potter. Witness: James MORRIS, John JONES.;

!WITNESS: 9 Oct 1797 Rutherford Co, NC Deed 7-89 William ASHLEY of Rutherford Co, NC to David MILLER of same, for 50, 100a Sizemores branch joining TANNER. Witness: Richard LEWIS, James MORRIS.;

!DEED:11 Oct 1797 Rutherford Co, NC 8-183 James MORRIS of Rutherford Co, NC to Richard BRADLEY of Rutherford Co, NC for 10 shillings, 200a Turky Otter of Cove Creek of Broad River, granted 15 Sep 1772 to John MORRIS Sr. Witness: John GOODBREAD, John SORRELS. "I assign the contents of the above over to Richard BRADLEY as the heir of John MORRIS deceased";

!DEED:10 Jan 1798 Rutherford Co, NC 9-381 James MORRIS Sr and wife Elizabeth of Rutherford Co, NC to James MORRIS of same, $80, 100a on Grants old Mill Creek above James MORRIS own land, near the waggon road granted 31 May 1787. Wit: Alexr. GRANT, Thomas GRANT;

!CENSUS:1800 Rutherford Co, NC pg 127 James MORRIS, age 26-44 (1755/74) "11010-21101";

!BONDSMAN: 4 Jan 1809 Rutherford Co, NC m/o Elijah DALTON & P. GRANT;

!CENSUS:1810;

Elizabeth Grant:

Notes: !NOTES:Marty Grant's 5th Great Grand Aunt.;

!BIRTH:10 Sep 1746 per Don Yelton. What is the source for this date?. He also lists James Morris father as John Morris;

!BIRTH:Bef 1755 from Census, 1790 no age, 1800 45+ (bef 1755), 1810;

!BIRTHPLACE:Virginia Assumed as other Grant's born there;

!FATHER:William GRANT Assumed;

!MOTHER:Mary MORRIS Grant Assumed;

!NAMED:"N.C. Revolutionary Soldiers, Sailors, Patriots ... Vol II" pg 131 James MORRIS, Revolutionary Soldier, Cpl, NC 1740-1810 wife Elizabeth GRANT;

!TAXLIST:1776-1780 Tryon Co, NC w/William GRANT age 16-60 (1715/64);

!MARRIAGE: 8 Jan 1783 Rutherford Co, NC James MORRIS & Elizabeth GRANT, John HENSON, bm;

!CENSUS:1790 Rutherford Co, NC pg 116 w/James MORRIS, no ages (bef 1790);

!DEED:10 Jan 1798 Rutherford Co, NC 9-381 James MORRIS Sr and wife Elizabeth of Rutherford Co, NC to James MORRIS of same, $80, 100a on Grants old Mill Creek above James MORRIS own land, near the waggon road granted 31 May 1787. Wit: Alexr. GRANT, Thomas GRANT;

!CENSUS:1800 Rutherford Co, NC pg 127 w/James MORRIS, age 45+ (bef 1755);

!CENSUS:1810;