Samuel Morris (June 24, 1734 – July 7, 1812) was an American soldier in 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 the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

. He is the patriarch of one of

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

's most prominent families.

Biography

Samuel Morris was born in

Province of Pennsylvania The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as the Pennsylvania Colony, was a British North American colony founded by William Penn, who received the land through a grant from Charles II of England in 1681. The name Pennsylvania was derived from ...

. He was the son of Anthony Morris (14 Feb 1705/06–2 Oct 1780) and the former Sarah Powell (29 Jun 1713–10 Apr 1751). His grandfather was

Anthony Morris (II) Anthony Morris (March 1682September 23, 1763) was a brewer, merchant, judge, assemblyman, and mayor of Philadelphia. Early life and education Morris was born in London, the son of Anthony Morris, Jr. He emigrated with his family to colonial-er ...

. He served several terms in the legislature, and married Rebecca Wistar, daughter of Caspar Wistar (the elder). In 1776, he was elected "governor" of the social club known as " The State in Schuylkill," and re-elected annually until his death. He was also a founder and president for many years of the "Gloucester fox-hunting club." When the first troop of Philadelphia city cavalry was organized, no fewer than twenty-two members of the club were enrolled in its ranks. With Morris as its captain (because the first captain chosen, Abraham Markoe, was forbidden to fight because of his Danish citizenship), the troop reported for duty in the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

and served through the campaign of 1776–77, seeing action in the battles of Trenton and

Princeton Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the Unit ...

, in which latter engagement Samuel's brother Anthony, ensign of the

Pennsylvania Associators Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, was killed. On temporarily relieving the command from duty in January, 1777, Washington returned his "most sincere thanks to the captain," and added that, although the troop was "composed of gentlemen of fortune," its members had "shown a noble example of discipline and subordination." For thus taking part in the Revolution, Captain Morris was disowned by the

Quakers Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestantism, Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally ...

, but he continued until his death to wear the dress and use the language of that sect, worshiping with them regularly. Morris died in Philadelphia, July 7, 1812.

Children

Samuel and Rebecca Morris had ten children: * Samuel Morris (Bef. 1758, Philadelphia – Bef. 1775, Philadelphia; less than 17 years) he did not marry. * Sarah Morris (19 Jan 1758, Philadelphia – 7 Jan 1831; 72 years) she married Richard Wistar, March 14, 1782. * Benjamin Wistar Morris (14 Aug 1762, Philadelphia – 24 Apr 1825, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania; 62 years) he married Mary Wells, Nov. 24, 1785. * Caspar W. Morris (12 Sep 1764, Philadelphia – 27 Feb 1828; 63 years), he married Elizabeth Giles Nov. 24, 1795. * (George) Anthony Morris (10 Feb 1766, Philadelphia - 3 Nov 1860; 94 years) he married Mary Smith Pemberton May 13, 1790. He, alongside business partner Gousse Bonnin, made the first porcelain factory in the future United States. The American China Factory operated from 1770-1772. * Luke W. Morris (25 Jun 1768, Philadelphia – 4 Jun 1830; 61 years) he married Elizabeth Morris Buckley March 24, 1791, and Ann Pancoast April 4, 1800. * Isaac Wistar Morris (19 Jul 1770, Philadelphia – 8 May 1831; 60 years) he married Sarah Paschall December 17, 1795. * Catharine W. Morris (22 Apr 1772, Philadelphia - 10 Dec 1859; 87 years) she did not marry. * Samuel Morris (4 Mar 1775, Philadelphia – 17 Sep 1793 of yellow fever; 18 years) he did not marry. * Israel Wistar Morris (27 Feb 1778, Reading, Pennsylvania - 17 Aug 1870, Philadelphia; 92 years) he married Mary Hollingsworth June 12, 1799.

House

The Reynolds-Morris House, built in 1787 and purchased in 1817 by Samuel's son, Luke Wistar Morris, still stands in Philadelphia. Designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 1967, and it is currently operated as a hotel.

Notes

References

*Morris Family Papers (1695–1965). Collection 2000B. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, July 2007. ;Attribution

External links

First City Troop historyMorris House Hotel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Samuel 1734 births 1812 deaths Military personnel from Philadelphia Continental Army officers from Pennsylvania Pennsylvania militiamen in the American Revolution People disowned by the Quakers People from colonial Pennsylvania