Morris Academy
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James Morris III ( – ) was a Continental Army officer from
Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
during the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
and founder of the Morris Academy, a pioneer in coeducation. Born in
Litchfield County, Connecticut Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the ...
, James Morris spent his early life hoping and training to be a minister.Carhart 1922, p. 176 However, after graduating from
Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...
,Keefer 1947, p. 16 Morris accepted a commission of
First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...
from the Continental Army and joined the fight for
American Independence The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
.Keefer 1947, 18 Morris was captured during the Battle of Germantown and spent most of the remaining war in captivity.Keefer 1947, pp. 18-19Keefer 1947, p. 23 Upon his release, Morris was promoted to the rank of Captain and supported Alexander Hamilton in the
Siege of Yorktown The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...
.Keefer 1947, p. 25 When he returned from the war, Morris began and ran an
academy An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...
that trained both boys and girls together, a rarity at the time.Keefer 1947, p. 29Keefer 1947, p. 32 James Morris died in 1820.Keefer 1947, p. 37 The South Farms section of the town of Litchfield, where he was born, was incorporated as a separate entity in 1859 and re-named
Morris Morris may refer to: Places Australia *St Morris, South Australia, place in South Australia Canada * Morris Township, Ontario, now part of the municipality of Morris-Turnberry * Rural Municipality of Morris, Manitoba ** Morris, Manitob ...
in his honor.


Early life and education

James Morris was born to Deacon James Morris Jr. and Phebe Barnes Morris in South Farms, Connecticut, which was then part of Litchfield town, on January 19, 1752. Even as a young man, Morris displayed a disposition for education, borrowing often from the library in nearby
Bethlehem Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital o ...
, where his father was a member. Through these studies, Morris hoped to eventually become a minister. When Morris was eighteen, his father sent him to live full-time in Bethlehem and study under Dr.
Joseph Bellamy Joseph Bellamy (20 February 1719 – 6 March 1790) was an American Congregationalist pastor and a leading preacher, author, educator and theologian in New England in the second half of the 18th century. He was a disciple of Jonathan Edwards, and ...
.Strong 1976, p. 13 Morris continued with Bellamy until the spring of 1770, when he spent the season studying under the South Farms minister Dr. Salmon Hurlburt. That fall Morris found yet another instructor in Mr. Nathan Hale, saying of him, "Mr. Hale was an accurate scholar and an able instructor." In September 1771, Morris began more formal studies at
Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...
. For his tutor at Yale, Morris was assigned future Yale president
Timothy Dwight IV Timothy Dwight (May 14, 1752January 11, 1817) was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian, and author. He was the eighth president of Yale College (1795–1817). Early life Timothy Dwight was born May 14, 17 ...
, who would be an influential force in coeducation in his own right. Morris was awarded his degree in July, 1775, noting in his memoirs, "having had my share of honorary appointments." Upon graduation Morris returned to South Farms, where he helped his father with the harvest and took a post teaching grammar school in nearby Litchfield, where he received his first opportunity to teach and was paid "'handsome wages' hoping to reimburse his father for the heavy expenses of his college education."Strong 1976, p. 14


The War


Commission and early service

Morris's tenure as an instructor in Litchfield was cut short when, within months of arriving, he received an unsolicited
ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
's commission in the Connecticut militia, which he accepted. While in the service of the Connecticut militia Morris saw his first action, fighting battles in both Long Island and White Plains.Keefer 1947, p. 17 In his memoirs, Morris wrote of this time, stating that "The soldiers universally manifested a great respect for me, for my care of the sick and my attention to their wants, and for my sympathies in their distresses." In late December 1776, Morris completed his commitment to the Connecticut militia and immediately accepted a commission in the Continental Army as a
first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...
. After serving as a recruiting officer in Litchfield, Morris joined General
George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
and the army at
Peekskill Peekskill is a city in northwestern Westchester County, New York, United States, from New York City. Established as a village in 1816, it was incorporated as a city in 1940. It lies on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across fr ...
. On October 3, 1776, General Washington commanded this army in the Battle of Germantown. The American forces were ultimately unsuccessful in this battle and Morris was taken as a
prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of w ...
on October 4, 1776.


Captivity

The early part of Morris's confinement were the most trying. He was taken to the "New Jail" in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
where he "was locked in a cold room ... destitute of everything by cold stone walls and bare floors—no kind of a seat to sit on—all total darkness, no water to drink or a morsel to eat; without a blanket to cover im" Despite his meager accommodations, Morris decided to make the best of his imprisonment in Philadelphia by negotiating with his jailors to borrow books from the so-called circulating library recently established by
Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading inte ...
in that city.Strong 1976, p. 15 One historian points to this time as when Morris was exposed to the philosophers that would be so influential in his later life as an educator: "From Milton, James Morris absorbed ideas in favor of healthy exercises to develop both body and mind at the same time; from Rollin, the danger of following custom blindly rather than reason; and from Locke, the novel idea that the English language was as important as Latin and Greek." In May 1778, Morris convinced his captors to admit him to parole and was sent to Flatbush, Long Island, where he stayed with a Mr. Clarkson.Keefer 1947, p. 22 In his memoir, Morris noted that Clarkson was "a man of science and large property, ... who owned the most extensive private library that
orris Orris may refer to: People * Peter Orris * Orris C. Herfindahl * Orris Pratt Places * Adam Orris House * Orris Baragwanath Pass Other uses *Orris root *Orris oil Orris oil (orris butter or Beurre d'Iris) is an essential oil derived from ...
had ever known in the United States." While still in captivity Morris found this situation rather comfortable and took every advantage of the library he so admired. On January 3, 1781, Morris was freed as part of a prisoner exchange.


Post-release

Upon his release, Morris returned to Peekskill where he discovered that he had been promoted to the rank of captain while in the custody of the British. Morris commanded a company back to White Plains until he received orders to head south to
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. Upon arrival, Morris's company, under the overall command of General
George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
, aided in
Siege of Yorktown The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...
, the last major battle of the American Revolution. Specifically, Morris's company of light infantry provided support to the
forlorn hope A forlorn hope is a band of soldiers or other combatants chosen to take the vanguard in a military operation, such as a suicidal assault through the kill zone of a defended position, or the first men to climb a scaling ladder against a defen ...
commanded by Colonel Alexander Hamilton.


Post-war

James Morris returned to South Farms in December 1781. Days after his return, on December 20, he married Elizabeth Hubbard. Shortly thereafter, the people of South Farms made Morris both the Justice of the Peace and a Selectman.Keefer 1947, p. 30 In the summer of 1782 Morris briefly returned to service, but was ultimately released from service in November of that year. In the following years James and Elizabeth had five children: *Abigail Morris (b. 8/2/1783) *James E. Morris (b. 12/4/1784): 1803 Yale graduate, Teacher at Sunbury Academy and Tutor at Franklin College, now
University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...
, attorney in Waynesboro, Georgia *Reuben Smith Morris (b. 5/24/1786): 1804 Yale graduate, attorney in
Cayuga, New York Cayuga is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 549 at the 2010 census. The village derives its name from the indigenous Cayuga people and the lake named after them. The village of Cayuga is in the western part ...
. *Samuel Hubbard Morris (b. 2/6/1788) (d. 12/22/1793) *Robert Hubbard Morris (b. 7/25/1789): "endowed with 'good academic education,'" settled at Cayuga." In between the birth of James and Reuben, Morris became severely ill. During his illness, a man named Gad Farnam moved into the Morris's home to care for him day and night. The two families became very close and Gad's daughter Rhoda, only five years old at the time of the illness, later became Morris's second wife. It was at this point in Morris's life that he accepted that he would never realize his early dream of becoming a minister.


The Morris Academy

By 1790, it had become common for children to come to Morris's house for instruction and access to his library.Keefer 1947, p. 32 Morris welcomed all of these students, both male and female. Morris's coeducation caused some stir within the community when some claimed that his education of women was "'blowing up their pride' so that 'they would feel themselves above their mates and they would feel above labour.'" In 1794, these frustrations were brought to fruition when a hearing was held in the church. The charges were dismissed and the publicity from the controversy brought so much attention, that, by 1803, he had instructed students "from all the New England States except Rhode Island, and from the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Also from the Island of St. Thomas in the West Indies, and from the Island of
Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = "Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , es ...
." By the turn of the century, Morris found it necessary to formalize his instruction and construct a proper Academy building.Strong 1976, p. 31 The estimated cost was $1200, so Morris enlisted wealthy residents of Litchfield and South Farms. On November 28, 1803, The Morris Academy moved out of James Morris's home and into the brand new building. For the period from 1803 to 1812, the Morris Academy grew to an average of 50-75 students. The abolitionist John Brown, born in 1800, studied at the Morris Academy, although the exact dates are not known. The Academy was handed to several other heads of school, until, on April 12, 1888, the Morris Academy was closed for good. In the introduction to her book on the academy, Barbara Nolen Strong noted:
The Morris Academy is entitled to be called a pioneer institution because of its 'open door' policy in coeducation. It was not the first in the United States, not even in Connecticut, but none of the other early academies opened their doors as wide and kept them open as long. No other coeducational academy spread its influence so far.


Later life

In September 1814 Morris's wife Elizabeth died. The following March, Morris married Rhonda Farnam and the marriage bore two children.Keefer 1947, p. 36 *Jane Elizabeth Morris (b. 1/30/1816) * Timothy Dwight Morris (b. 11/22/1817) During the "second war with Great Britain", at the age of 61, Morris was commissioned as a First Major of the Second Regiment of Volunteers in the State of Connecticut. Toward the end of his life, Morris compiled his memoirs, which were subsequently published as ''Memoirs of James Morris of South Farms In Litchfield''. James Morris died on April 20, 1820 and was buried in the graveyard at what is now commonly referred to as the East Morris cemetery.


Legacy

In June, 1859, South Farms was incorporated as
Morris, Connecticut Morris is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,256 at the 2020 census. Europeans first began to settle the area that became Morris about 1723. Originally part of the town of Litchfield, it was called the ...
in his honor. The James Morris Museum is located in the center of the town of Morris and contains original artifacts and writings of James Morris.Beveridge The foundation of The Morris Academy remains intact on the grounds of James Morris Elementary School, in Morris.


Notes


References

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, James III 1752 births 1820 deaths American memoirists American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain Connecticut militiamen in the American Revolution Continental Army officers from Connecticut People from Litchfield County, Connecticut Yale College alumni Military personnel from Connecticut People of colonial Connecticut Burials in Connecticut