Lewis Morris (October 15, 1671May 21, 1746) was an American politician from the
colonial period, who was chief justice of
New York and
British governor of
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, was the first lord of the manor of
Morrisania in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
(in what is now
the Bronx
The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
).
Biography
Born on the estate of his parents, Richard Morris (originally from Monmouthshire, Wales) and Sarah (Pole) Morris in 1671, this Lewis Morris was the first in a lengthy string of men with the same name to inherit the prominent estate of Morrisania in the southwest section of today's Bronx. Richard and Sarah moved their estate from Barbados to the Bronx after buying the estate from Samuel Edsall in 1670 when it was still known as Broncksland. As the name suggests, Broncksland was the original settlement of
Jonas Bronck and his wife, for whom the borough is named. In the fall of 1672, both Richard and Sarah died, leaving only the infant Lewis, barely a year old, as the lord of the manor.
Although the manor was left in the trust of five prominent Westchester citizens until Lewis could rightfully inherit the estate,
Matthias Nicoll, secretary of the colony, sent word to Colonel Lewis Morris, the infant's uncle in Barbados. Col. Lewis immediately made plans to move to Morrisania to care for his young nephew and his nephew's estate, which had been somewhat embezzled. Col. Lewis made great pains to secure his nephew's lost property, including a few slaves that had been captured and resold. He was even successful in petitioning for an additional land grant with the help of family friend, Walter Webley. When the childless Col. Lewis and his wife, Mary, died, the now fully-grown Lewis inherited the estate in 1691.
Career
New Jersey
Lewis Morris showed a passion for politics from an early age, and first appears on the political scene in 1692, serving in the
East New Jersey Provincial Council during the administration of
Governor Andrew Hamilton.
[''Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey'', date: various (pre 1950)] After the late 1690s the government of East and
West Jersey became increasingly dysfunctional. This ultimately resulted in the surrender by the
Proprietors of
East Jersey and those of
West Jersey of the right of government to
Queen Anne. Anne's government united the two colonies as the
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial history of the United States, Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherla ...
, a
royal colony, establishing a new system of government.
On July 29, 1703, in the instructions to Governor
Viscount Cornbury Morris was appointed to the
New Jersey Provincial Council, and would serve, with several suspensions, through the administrations of seven governors. During much of this time Morris was President of Council.
Morris and Cornbury soon found themselves at opposition, and Cornbury responded by suspending Morris from the upper house. The first time, in September 1704, Morris apologized to the governor and was reinstated, but in December 1704 Cornbury suspended him.
[''The Path to Freedom: The Struggle for Self-Government in Colonial New Jersey 1703-1776''; Donald L. Kemmerer; Princeton University Press; Princeton, 1940; p. 358]
Morris was elected to a seat in the
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.
Since the election of 1967 (1968 session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...
in 1707, representing an at-large constituency within the Eastern Division of New Jersey.
After the recall of Cornbury by the Crown, Lewis Morris was reinstated to the Council in the June 27, 1708, instructions to
Baron Lovelace; Lovelace died eleven months later, and Morris was again suspended, this time by Lt. Gov.
Richard Ingoldesby.
Morris was again reinstated to the Council in the instructions to
Governor Robert Hunter, with whom he had a good relationship.
Sir
William Cosby, who served as governor of New York and New Jersey (as did all governors beginning with Viscount Cornbury), showed little interest in New Jersey politics, started a
feud
A feud , also known in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, private war, or mob war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially family, families or clans. Feuds begin ...
with Morris because of a decision of the New York Supreme Court. Morris was Chief Justice, and wrote a dissenting minority opinion which Cosby found deeply offensive. Cosby recommended Morris' removal from the New Jersey Council on February 5, 1735.
In 1738, New Jersey petitioned the crown for a distinct administration from New York, and Lewis Morris served as
Governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The ...
until his death in 1746.
New York
On March 16, 1715, Morris was appointed Chief Justice of
New York. When William Cosby was appointed Governor of New York and New Jersey in 1732, his opponents were called "Morrisites" as Lewis Morris was a prominent critic. In 1733 Morris presided over the case of Cosby v.
Van Dam. Although the case was decided in favor of Gov. Cosby, Morris wrote the minority opinion, which infuriated Cosby. Cosby demanded the written opinion from Morris. Morris complied with the Governor, but also had the opinion printed for public distribution, along with an explanatory letter stating,
This even further angered Cosby, who removed Morris from the court. His dismissal led directly to the
John Peter Zenger trial affirming
freedom of speech in the United States
In the United States, freedom of speech and expression is strongly protected from government restrictions by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, many state constitutions, and state and federal laws. Freedom of speech, also calle ...
.
Personal life
On November 3, 1691, Morris was married to Isabella Graham (1673–1752), the eldest daughter of
James Graham, who served as
Speaker of the New York General Assembly
The Speaker of the New York General Assembly was the highest official in the New York General Assembly, the first representative governing body in Province of New York, New York from 1683 to 1775 when the assembly disbanded after the outbreak of ...
and
Recorder of New York City.
Together, they were the parents of:
* Mary Morris (1695–), who married Capt. Vincent Pearse, commander of .
* Sarah Morris (1697–1736), who married Michael Kearney (1667–1741), the treasurer of the
Province of East New Jersey.
*
Lewis Morris Jr. (1698–1762), who married Katrintje "Catherine" Staats (1697–1731). After her death, he married Sarah Gouverneur (1714–1786).
*
Robert Hunter Morris (1700–1764), who served as
New Jersey Chief Justice.
* Anne Morris (1706–1781), who married
Edward Antrill (1701–1770). They were the parents of
Lt. Col. Edward Antill.
* Arabella Morris (b. 1708), who married her first cousin,
James Graham III (1704–1767).
* Isabella Morris (b. ), who married Richard Ashfield (1695–1742).
* Euphemia Morris (–1756), who married
Capt. Matthew Norris, son of
Sir John Norris, and grandson of
Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer.
* Margaret Morris (b. ), who married Isaac Willett (1706–1774).
* Elizabeth Morris (1712–1784), who married Col. Anthony White III (1717–1787). They were the parents of
Brig. Gen. Anthony Walton White.
* John Morris (-1737), a Surrogate of Monmouth County NJ in 1733. Father of Lieut. John Morris and Ann Morris.
Who died young.
* Nancy Morris, who died young.
*James Morris
*Daniel Morris(1702-1784)
Gov. Lewis Morris died on May 21, 1746, in
Kingsbury (near
Trenton).
His remains are in the Morris family crypt at
St. Ann's Church in the
Bronx
The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
.
Legacy and descendants
Through his children, he was the grandfather of many prominent Americans, including
Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris (April 8, 1726 – January 22, 1798) was an American Founding Father, landowner, and developer from Morrisania, New York, presently part of Bronx County. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Conti ...
(1726–1798), a signer of the
Declaration of Independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another state or failed state, or are breaka ...
; Gen.
Staats Long Morris (1728–1800); New York Chief Justice
Richard Morris; New Jersey Chief Justice
Robert Morris (1745-1815); and U.S. Senator and
Founding Father Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816).
Places Named after Morris
*
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the county was the state's List of counties in New Jersey, tenth- ...
*
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown () is a Town (New Jersey), town in and the county seat of Morris County, New Jersey, Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
*
Morris Township, New Jersey[Snyder, John P]
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 194. Accessed October 29, 2012.
*
Morris Plains, New Jersey
*
Lewis Morris County Park, New Jersey
THE MORRIS COUNTY PARK COMMISSION DISTRIBUTION OF PARK COMMISSION JUNE 28, 2021 MEETING MINUTES
/ref>
References
Further reading
* Sheridan, Eugene R.,
Lewis Morris, 1671-1746: A Study in Early American Politics
', Syracuse University Press
Syracuse University Press, founded in 1943, is a university press that is part of Syracuse University. It is a member of the Association of University Presses. Domestic distribution for the press is currently provided by the University of North ...
, 1981.
External links
Manuscript Group 16, Lewis Morris (1671-1746), Royal Governor of New Jersey Papers, 1704-1750
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Lewis
1671 births
1746 deaths
Morris family (Morrisania and New Jersey)
Colonial governors of New Jersey
Members of the New Jersey Provincial Council
Members of the New Jersey General Assembly
American people of Welsh descent
Members of the East New Jersey Provincial Council
Politicians from the Bronx
People from colonial New York
Slave owners from the Thirteen Colonies