William MORRISS born May 19, 1761 in Halifax County, North Carolina . . . arrived in the Sumner County, Tennessee area with his wife and children in 1808, according to his Revolutionary War pension. It is believed that Morriss had married Rhoda MITCHELL in adjoining Bertie County, North Carolina in 1790. The bondsman was John MITCHELL. Bertie County is located next to Halifax County and the date of this marriage fits our William; however there is no real evidence but only a very strong possibility . . . Although William Morriss is listed on the 1840 census taken in early summer, his pension stopped in late summer which would indicate his death. It can be assumed that he was buried in the Fagg-Hawkins-Caldwell Cemetery as it is the only cemetery near his farm, and other family members and in-laws are interred there. It is noted that by this time the second "S" had been dropped from the surname.

The Next Generation:

1. George MORRIS was born about 1790 and died after 1850 in Sumner Co. TN. He married Sarah (Sallie) RIDER July 14, 1815 in Allen County, Kentucky. Sallie was the daughter of John RIDER Sr. . . . Sally and George Morris and their younger children moved to Jackson County, Missouri, after 1848.

2. Claiborne MORRIS was born Feb. 14, 1793 and died Dec. 18 1873-1876 near Drake's Creek in Warren County, Kentucky. He married Ruth CHAPMAN.

3. John "Jackie" MORRIS was born about 1797 and died Nov. 15, 1887 in Sumner Co. TN. He married Mary "Polly" HARRISON on Jan. 24, 1821 in Sumner Co. TN. Mary "Polly" was born 1800 and died after 1880 in Sumner Co. TN. Their marriage ended in divorce in December 1852. Mary charged the 55 year old "Jackie" with adultery and as he did not contest the charges, she was awarded a divorce. "Jackie" married Mary OGLES the following year. A year after her death in 1879, he married for the third time to Mary Jane BEVEL.

4. Martha "Patsy" MORRIS was born about 1798 and died about 1860 in Sumner Co. TN. She married Thomas HARRISON (the brother of Polly and Betsey) on July 5, 1817.

5. Samuel P. MORRIS was born Oct. 15, 1802 and died October 29, 1855 in Sumner Co. TN. He married Elizabeth "Betsey" HARRISON on Feb. 27, 1822. Samuel and "Betsey had the following children:
   1. James MORRIS born 1824 in KY. Married Mary Jane MASON. They emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois around 1856. James died in 1907. 2. Martha Jane MORRIS born about 1823 in KY. Married William "Billy" KEEN on Oct. 29, 1845. Martha died about 1880.

   After the death of "Betsey" (1825-1828), Samuel married (about 1830/1831 near present day Westmoreland) Mary Elizabeth CALDWELL (born Oct. 8, 1805, died after 1800 in Sumner or Macon Co. TN.). Mary Elizabeth is the daughter of Hardy CALDWELL and Sarah BROWN. It is interesting to note that Samuel died at the age of 53 in 1855, and his will is dated 1836, almost two decades before. Samuel and Mary Elizabeth had the following children:

   2. William MORRIS born 1829 in Sumner Co. TN. Married Nancy BROWN on Dec. 31, 1848 in Sumner Co. TN. William died 1884 in IL. 2. Alfred Green MORRIS born 1832 in Sumner Co. TN. Married Surlina ANDERSON on Dec. 28, 1850 in Sumner Co. TN. Married second to Eliza Jane SMITH on July 25, 1875 in Marion Co. IL. Alfred died in 1803 in IL. 3. John W. MORRIS born 1834 in Sumner Co. TN. Died after 1903 in Sumner Co. TN. 4. Samuel W. MORRIS born abt. 1835 in Sumner Co. TN. Married Elizabeth FAGG on Oct. 8, 1852 in Macon Co. TN. Samuel died 1914 in Sumner Co. TN. 5. David C. MORRIS born 1839 in Sumner Co. TN. Married Mary Jane BENNETT about 1857 in Sumner Co. TN. David died 1858 in Sumner co. TN. 6. Susan Elizabeth MORRIS born 1841. Married a Mr. TURNER. 7. George Henry MORRIS born 1846. Died 1862. 8. Lucinda R. MORRIS born 1848/1850.

6. Nancy MORRIS was born Apr. 11, 1806 and died May 7, 1888 in Grain Valley, Jackson County, MO. She married John RIDER on Apr. 15, 1821 just a few days following her 15th birthday. Rider, than 17, was the son of John RIDER, Sr.

7. William MORRIS Jr., was born about 1813 in Sumner Co. TN and died after 1874 in Sumner County, Tennessee. He married Nancy DAVIS in 1832. (Note: William is probably the child of William MORRISS and a second wife).