USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I > Part 7
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Issue of Dr. Richard and Deborah (Moore) Hill :-
Richard Hill, b. Jan. 28, 1721-2, d. unm. in Madeira, March 18, 1754. Was a merchant at Philadelphia a number of years, and a large landholder there, in Bucks county and elsewhere, having with his sister Hannah been named as residuary legatee under will of his granduncle Richard Hill Sr., before mentioned, Provincial Councillor ; Hannah Hill, b. Feb. 25, 1723-4, d. s. p. Jan. 27, 1799; m. her cousin, Samuel Preston, M. D., son of Richard and Margaret ( Preston) Moore, and grandson of Samuel Preston, Provincial Councillor, by his wife Rachel, dau. of Thomas Lloyd. Samuel Preston Moore was treasurer of Province of Pennsylvania, 1755-1768. Left no issue; Mary Hill, b. Oct. 28, 1725, d. s. p. in London, England, Feb. II, 1799; m. Thomas Lamar, of Madeira, member of firm of Hill, Lamar & Brissett, merchants, Philadelphia and Madeira, composed of sons and sons-in-law of Dr. Richard Hill. Mr. Lamar d. Madeira, April I, 1792, his widow joined her sister Harriet in London, and d. there 1799;
Deborah Hill, b. Feb. 9, 1727, d. Feb. 22, 1728;
Deborah, b. Aug. 31, 1728, d. at Madeira, April 23, 1763; m. Robert Brissett, another member of firm of Hill, Lamar & Brissett; d., Madeira, Nov. 3, 1801 ;
Harriet Hill, b. Dec. 31, 1729, d. at Bath, England, Feb. 22, 1795; m., July 21, 1755, John Scott, merchant, of London, England;
Rachel Hill, b. May 8, 1731, d. July 10, 1731;
Henry Hill, b. Sept. 18, 1732, d. Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1798; sent to Scotland to be educated, on coming of age joined his father in Madeira, and engaged in trade with his brothers and brothers-in-law, returning later to Philadelphia as representative of firm of Hill, Lamar & Brissett; an original member of the First City Troop; became Member of Assembly, etc. M. Anne, dau. of Reese Meredith, of Philadelphia ; RACHEL HILL, b. April 2, 1735, d. May 17, 1796; m. April 17, 1759, Richard Wells, of Philadelphia, merchant, b. near Hull, England, July 22, 1734, son of Dr. Gideon Wells, of Cottness, by his wife Mary, dau. of Richard Partridge, Esq., of London, at one time Agent for the Colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Con- necticut, at London, England. Richard Wells came to America in 1750, and resided some time in Burlington, N. J., later removing to Philadelphia, where he was a prominent merchant. Was Secretary of American Philosophical Society, Director of Library Company, member Pennsylvania Assembly, and for a long time cashier of Bank of North America.
MARGARET HILL, b. Nov. 2, 1737, m. William Morris, of whom presently ;
Sarah Hill, b. Feb. 14, 1738, d. s. p. Nov. 30, 1826; m. Oct. 16, 1759, George Dilwyn, and resided at Burlington, N. J.
Milcah Martha Hill, b. at Madeira, Sept. 29, 1740, d. s. p. Aug. 24, 1829; m. Charles Moore, M. D., of Montgomery county, Pa., a grandson of Samuel Preston Moore.
Issue of Richard and Rachel (Hill) Wells :-
Richard Wells, b. June 10, 1760, d. June 20, 1760; Samuel Preston Wells, b. July 7, 1763, d. Aug. 26, 1763;
Mary Wells, b., Burlington, Sept. 4, 1764, m. Benjamin Wistar Morris, son of Captain Samuel and Rebecca (Wistar) Morris of Philadelphia, and their son Samuel Wells Morris, was Judge of District Court, of Tioga county, Pa; Gideon Hill Wells, of Wellsborough, Pa., b. Sept. 20, 1765; m. Hannah Waln; Hannah Wells, b. Nov. 10, 1769, d., Philadelphia, June 29, 1790;
William Hill Wells, d. 1829; m. Elizabeth Dagworthy; U. S. Senator from Dela- ware, 1804 and 1813-17.
MARGARET HILL, daughter of Dr. Richard and Deborah (Moore) Hill, of the Island of Madeira, born November 2, 1737, spent a portion of her girlhood in Philadelphia. She married there, September 1, 1758, William, son of John and
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Mary (Sutton) Morris, of Spring Mill, Philadelphia, now Montgomery county, grandson of Anthony and Phoebe Guest Morris, of Philadelphia, great- grandson of Anthony Morris, member of Provincial Council, 1695-6, early Colonial merchant and Mayor of Philadelphia. William Morris was the eldest child of John and Mary, and was born in Philadelphia, June 27, 1735. Prior to his marriage to Margaret Hill, in a letter written to her father, then in Madeira, he states that he is engaged in the dry-goods trade, but purposed going into the "general trade" in the near future. He was an enterprising and public- spirited man of good education and fine intellectual traits. He was a signer of Provincial paper money in 1757, an early contributor to the establishment of Pennsylvania Hospital, and was admitted a member of colony in Schuylkill, October 7, 1761. He died April 14, 1766, less than eight years after his mar- riage, and four months before the birth of his youngest child. On June 7, 1770, Margaret (Hill) Morris removed from Philadelphia to Burlington, New Jersey, with her four surviving children, and took up her residence with her sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and George Dilwyn. She later bought the house of Gov. ·William Franklin on the bank of the Delaware, sold under the confiscation acts, and lived there to old age. In her later days she was much afflicted with rheuma- tism, finally becoming practically helpless. After the death of her son Dr. John Morris, in 1793, she took her granddaughter, Margaret Morris, to live with her and she was her constant companion until her marriage in 1810, after which her place was supplied by another granddaughter, Martha Milcah Smith. Mar- garet Morris was a lifelong attendant of Friends' Meeting, being frequently car- ried to the Meeting House, but a few doors from her Burlington home, by her grandchildren, after she had become helpless, in a wicker chair. She was a woman of excellent mind and character, and universally revered. The daughter of a skillful physician, she possessed considerable knowledge of medical science, and frequently ministered to her family and others in an emergency.
Issue of William and Margaret (Hill) Morris :-
Richard Hill Morris, b. Sept. 28, 1759, d. Sept. 29, 1760;
JOHN MORRIS, M. D., twin to above; of whom presently ;
Deborah Morris, b. Nov. 29, 1760, d. March 17, 1822; m. (first) Nov. 1I, 1789, Benjamin Smith; (second) Nov. 9, 1809, Isaac Collins, of Trenton, N. J., printer ;
Richard Hill Morris, b. Sept. 5, 1762, d. Dec. 6, 1841; m. (first) March 17, 1786, Mary Mifflin ; (second) Oct. 25, 1798, Mary Smith ;
Mary Morris, b. June 19, 1764, d. Feb. 14, 1765;
Gulielma Maria Morris, b. Aug. 18, 1766, d. Sept. 9, 1826, m., April 8, 1784, John Smith, Jr.
DR. JOHN MORRIS, eldest son of William and Margaret, born in Philadelphia September 28, 1759, lost his father at the age of seven years, and was reared under the care of his noble mother, principally at Burlington. Making choice of the medical profession, in which his maternal ancestors had excelled, he took up his studies with Dr. Charles Moore, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, who had married his mother's sister. On obtaining his degree, he began the practice of medicine at Burlington, and was quite successful from the start. However, he soon after located in Philadelphia, where he became an exceedingly popular and successful physician. He was located in 1785 at No. 27 Chestnut street, but by 1791, had removed to No. II Pear street, where he died of yellow
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fever, September 8, 1793, in the arms of his devoted mother, who had come from Burlington to nurse him and remained to close the eyes of his wife, also a victim to the pestilence, eight days later.
Dr. John Morris was one of the founders of the College of Physicians insti- tuted in 1787, and incorporated in 1789, and his name is one of those engraved on the tablet erected there to commemorate that fact ; it also appears on another tablet, as one of those who "fell a martyr to the pestilence." Dr. Morris mar- ried at Philadelphia Friends' Meeting, October 8, 1783, Abigail, daughter of Benedict and Sarah Dorsey, of Philadelphia, who followed him to the grave, September 16, 1793, at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving four small children.
Issue of Dr. John and Abigail (Dorsey) Morris :-
Sarah, b. 1784, d. 1794;
William Stanton, b. Nov. 24, 1785, d. unm. in 1819;
Benedict, b. March 27, 1787, d. Nov. 13, 1790;
Martha Milcah, b. Aug. 24, 1788, d. Jan. 26, 1826; m. (first) Thomas Lawrie; (second) Jacob B. Clarke ;
Mary, b. 1790, d. inf.
MARGARET MORRIS, b. Aug. 18, 1792, d. April 22, 1832, of whom presently.
MARGARET MORRIS, youngest child of Dr. John Morris, who was but a little over a year old at the death of both of her parents, was taken and reared by her grandmother, Margaret (Hill) Morris, at Burlington, New Jersey, where she married, October 4, 1810, Isaac Collins Jr., eleventh child of Isaac and Rachel (Budd) Collins. He was born at Trenton, New Jersey, October 31, 1787, and was reared to mercantile pursuits, serving an apprenticeship of six years with the well-known firm of Mott & Bowne, at New York. At the age of twenty-one, he went as supercargo on the brig "Dean", to St. Mary's on the Georgia coast, and probably made a few subsequent trips in the same capac- ity for his old employers. He then returned to New York city, and entered into partnership with Samuel Mott, in the manufacture of flour for the whole- sale market, and did a large and profitable business. He made a trading voyage to Eastport and the Bay of Fundy, having charge of ten vessels.
On his marriage to Margaret Morris in 1810, Isaac Collins Jr. took up his resi- dence in New York City, and engaged in the publishing business. The well known firm of Isaac Collins & Company, printers and publishers of books, etc., were so successful that, at the age of thirty-four years, Isaac retired from the business and devoted himself to philanthropic and charitable enterprises. He was largely instrumental in establishing the Eye Dispensary in New York, and the Just Saving Fund of that city.
In 1828, he removed to Philadelphia, principally on account of his wife's failing health, and at once became prominently identified with various institu- tions there. He was a member of Board of Managers of House of Refuge; director of public school system; one of the founders of Haverford College, for the higher education of the children of Friends; was identified with all leading Charitable institutions of the city, and took a prominent part in the temperance and anti-slavery cause. He was one of those who instituted the Institute for Feeble-Minded Children.
Margaret (Morris) Collins died in Philadelphia, April 22, 1832, and Isaac married (second) January 28, 1835, Rebecca, daughter of John Singer, a prom-
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inent merchant of Philadelphia. She was an eminent minister of the Society of Friends, and died in April of 1892 at the age of eighty-seven years. He died January 15, 1863.
Issue of Isaac and Margaret (Morris) Collins :-
William Morris Collins, b. July 19, 1811, d. Oct. 30, 1864; m. Nov. 7, 1839, Eliza C. Cope ; Martha Lawrie Collins, b. July 21, 1813, d. May 6, 1887; m. Oct. 3, 1833, John B. Bispham ;
Gulielma Maria Collins, b. Aug. 28, 1815, d. Feb. 4, 1867; m., June 5, 1839, Philip B. Chase ;
Henry Hill Collins, b. March 3, 1818, d. s. p. July 20, 1840;
Alfred Morris Collins, b. Jan. II, 1820, m. Nov. 22, 1843, Hannah Evans ;
FREDERIC COLLINS, b. Jan. 21, 1822, d. Nov. 27, 1892; m. Letitia Poultney Dawson ; of whom presently ;
Isaac Collins, Jr., b. May 2, 1824, m. Dec. 9, 1847, Elizabeth B. K. Earl;
Theodore Collins, b. July 27, 1826, d. Sept. 4, 1826;
Margaret Morris Collins, b. Aug. 18, 1829, d. April 6, 1863; m. June I, 1853, Oliver K. Earle ;
Percival Collins, b. Dec. 19, 1831, d. May 7, 1872; m. Oct. 5, 1856, Sarah Levick.
FREDERIC COLLINS, sixth child of Isaac and Margaret ( Morris) Collins, born in New York City, January 21, 1822, came with his parents to Philadelphia, at the age of six years, and resided there the remainder of his life. He was edu- cated at Haverford, and on his marriage, in 1844, became a member of firm of M. L. Dawson & Co., of which his father-in-law, Mordecai Lewis Dawson, was a member of board of managers and president of the House of Refuge, from 1869 until his death, November 27, 1892.
Mr. Collins later withdrew from the firm and started the brokerage business with Samuel Huston, but in a short time returned to his old firm, the name of which was changed to Massey, Collins and Company. He remained a member of this firm until 1866, achieving eminent financial success. He later became pres- ident of the McKean and Elk County Land and Improvement Company, was also a member of banking firm of Elliott, Collins & Company, until 1873. He was a member of board of managers, House of Refuge, from 1869 until his death, November 27, 1892.
Frederic Collins married, August 28, 1844, Letitia Poultney Dawson, daughter of Mordecai L. Dawson, a descendant of Robert Dawson, an early Colonial mer- chant of Philadelphia, who came from Ireland in 1735, and married at Christ Church, Philadelphia, March 5, 1738, Mary Warner. He died August 2, 1746. His widow married, August 6, 1751, George Morrison, and through this mar- riage was the grandmother of George Morrison Coates, one of Philadelphia's prominent business men of a later date.
Issue of Frederic and Letitia Poultney (Dawson) Collins :-
Elizabeth Dawson Collins, b. 1847, m. June 3, 1869, Charles F. Hulse, who d. Aug. 28, 1876; they had issue :-
Letitia Collins Hulse, b. June 1, 1870, m. April 28, 1892, Samuel Bowman Wheeler, had issue, Samuel Bowman Wheeler, Jr., b. Feb. 22, 1893; Frederic Collins Wheeler, b. March 30, 1894; and Elizabeth Dawson Wheeler, b. May 7, 1897 ;
Margaret Morris Hulse, b. April 22, 1873, who m. Nov. 2, 1892, Burnet Land- reth, Jr., and had issue: Burnet Landreth 3d, b. Sept. 25, 1899; Letitia Land- reth, b. Aug. 7, 1903;
Anne Morrison Collins, b. July 26, 1849, m. April, 1890, Morris Earle; had no issue ;
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Frederic Collins, Jr., b. Feb. 4, 1868, m. June 19, 1895, Lillie Moffit Brown, who d. April, 1896, by whom he had issue :-
Frederic Collins, 3d., b. March 25, 1896;
He m. (second), Nov. 17, 1897, Janet Rae, who d. Feb. 15, 1906; by her he had issue :- Dawson Rae Collins, b. Dec. 21, 1898;
Marjorie Janet Collins, b. April 1, 1900.
MORRIS FAMILY
Anthony Morris, founder of the American branch of the prominent Phila- delphia family of the name, was born in Old Gravel Lane, Stepney, London, England, August 23, 1654, baptized August 25, 1654, at St. Dunstan's Church, Stepney. He was a son of Anthony Morris, mariner, of Welsh origin, who at the date of birth of his son Anthony, was residing in Old Gravel Lane, Stepney, but later removed to Barbados, and was lost at sea when on his return voyage in 1655 or 1656. He was born about the year 1630, and probably was a son of another Anthony Morris, of Reading, Berkshire, born about 1600. He married Elizabeth Senior, who soon after her husband's death made a voyage to Bar- bados, in connection with the settlement of his estate, and died there in 1660, when her only child, Anthony Morris, first above mentioned, was aged six years. Anthony Morris spent his boyhood days in the city of London, and, prior to arriving at his majority, united himself with the Society of Friends, becoming a member of Savoy Meeting, in the Strand, which was connected with the Westminster Monthly Meeting. On 12mo. (February) 2, 1675-6, he declared intentions of marriage with Mary Jones, belonging to the same Meeting and they were married, Imo. (March) 30, 1676. They continued to reside. in London until near the close of the year 1682, and four children were born to them there, Susanna, Mary, and two who were named for the father, all of whom died there except the last. On 8mo. (October ) 4, 1682, they laid before the Meeting at Savoy their intentions of removing themselves to America, and asked for a cer- tificate to Friends' Meeting at Burlington, "New West Jersie." The certificate was granted on 9mo. (November) 1, 1682, and they embarked for the Delaware river, in which they arrived in the latter part of February, 1682-3, and took up their home in Burlington. Anthony Morris purchased two hundred and fifty acres in Burlington county, fronting on the Delaware, two miles below the town, and also owned several town lots. In the latter part of 1685, or early in 1686, he removed to Philadelphia and began his successful career as a merchant. Three more children were born by his first wife to him in America, John in Burlington, 2mo. 17, 1685, and Samuel and James in Philadelphia. His first wife died in Philadel- phia, 8mo. (October) 3, 1688, and he married (second) at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, 8mo. (October) 28, 1689, Agnes, widow of Cornelius Bom, who had been married three times previously. She died 5mo. (July) 26, 1692, and he mar- ried (third) at Newport, Rhode Island, IImo. (January) 18, 1693-4, Mary, widow of Thomas Coddington, son of Gov. William Coddington, of Rhode Island, and daughter of John Howard, formerly of Yorkshire, England. Anthony early became identified with the affairs of the embryo city, and on its incorporation, 3mo. 20, 1691, was named in the charter as one of the first aldermen. On Septem- ber 6, 1692, he was commissioned Justice of the Courts of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and Orphans' Court. On February 10, 1697-8, he was one of the applicants for the charter of the public school, and was after- ward named in the charter as one of first Board of Overseers. When the new charter was granted in 1711, he was named as one of the Overseers, and the
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family has been represented on the board for many generations. He was elected a member of the Provincial Council in 1695, and re-elected in 1696. He was named as one of the original Board of Aldermen in city charter of 1701, and October 5, 1703, was elected Mayor, serving one year. He was elected to Colonial Assembly, May 10, 1698, and served until October 1, 1704. He was closely associated in business and official circles with his brother-in-law, Edward Shippen, who had married Rebecca, widow of Francis Richardson, formerly Rebecca Howard, a sister of Anthony Morris' third wife, Mary Coddington. In 1687 Anthony Morris established a brewery in Philadelphia, and he and his descendants carried on the brewing business on an extensive scale for many years. Anthony Morris was a preacher among Friends and travelled exten- sively in the ministry in New England and other parts of the colonies, and also visited the meeting in London, where he first became a member of the Society. He died of apoplexy, October 23, 1721. His third wife died September 25, 1699, and he married ( fourth) October 30, 1700, Elizabeth, daughter of Luke and Sarah Watson. In the old family Bible of Anthony Morris is the following entry :
"May 16, 1677, Was baptised three children of Luke and Sarah Watson att the Fort att New York, by the Dutch Minister, viz :- Sarah, Elizabeth, and Isaac, the aforesaid Elizabeth being then about three and a half years old. This note sent hither by Samuel Bowne, who searched the records for the same."
Elizabeth (Watson) Morris survived her husband over forty-five years, dying February 2, 1767, in her ninety-fourth year.
Issue of Anthony and Mary (Jones) Morris were :-
Susanna, b. in London, d. there at age of six years ;
Mary, d. at age of one year ;
Anthony, d. at age of one year ;
ANTHONY, b. at London, March 15, 1682, d. at Philadelphia, Sept. 23, 1763; m. May 10, 1704, Phoebe Guest;
John, b. at Burlington, N. J., April 17, 1685, d. June 12, 1690;
Samuel, b. Philadelphia, February 28, 1686-7, d. Nov. 2, 1689;
James, b. July 8, 1688, d. Dec. 31, 1747, at Duck Creek, Del .; m. March 8, 1709-10, Margaret Cook.
Issue of Anthony and Mary (Howard-Coddington) Morris :-
William, b. July 23, 1695, d. Nov. 6, 1776; m. (first) Feb. 14, 1718-19, Sarah Dury; (second) Nov. 2, 1752, Rebecca Cadwalader ;
Elizabeth, b. 4mo. 28, 1697, m. (first) Iomo. 13, 1716, Samuel Lewis; (second) William Dury ;
Joseph, b. May 12, 1699, d. July 25, 1699.
Issue of Anthony and Elizabeth (Watson) Morris :-
Isaac, b. Dec. 24, 1701, d. Philadelphia, after Oct. 24, 1755;
Sarah, b. Feb. 16, 1703-4, d. Oct. 24, 1775, unmarried ;
Israel, b. Dec. 25, 1705, d. Philadelphia, 1729;
Luke, b. Oct. 25, 1707, d. Philadelphia, Nov. 17, 1793; m. April 1749-50, Mary Richards ; Hannah, b. July 4, 1717, d. Philadelphia, Aug. 25, 1741, unmarried.
ANTHONY MORRIS, eldest son of Anthony and Mary (Jones) Morris, born
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in London, England, Imo. (March) 15, 1681-2, came to New Jersey with his parents when less than a year old, and removed with them to Philadelphia, (where he was destined to take an important part in city and Colonial affairs) at the age of four years. At the age of fourteen years, according to the custom of the times, he was apprenticed to Henry Badcock and Mary, his wife, to learn the brewing business. Under the terms of his indenture, he was to serve seven years from February 29, 1695-6. Soon after attaining his majority he became associated with his father in the brewing business, and continued to carry on that business, probably during his whole life, but he early became interested in other business ventures, notably, that of owner and proprietor of iron furnaces and forges in various parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was one of the founders of the Durham Iron Works in 1727, which commenced operations in the autumn of that year. He was one of the founders and owner of two six- teenth shares in the Pool forge on Manatawny creek in Berks county, 1731, and also owned one-twelfth interest in a large furnace at Colebrookdale on the Mana- tawny, which supplied the forge. On June 20, 1729, with Thomas Lambert, John Porterfield and James Trent, he founded a forge on the Assunpink, at Tren- ton, New Jersey, which was probably supplied from the Durham furnace, in which both he and Trent held an interest. He also purchased at about the same date a tract of land on the Assunpink, with privilege of erecting corn mills, grist mills and saw mills. In 1724 he became part owner of the mills, and a forge with 400 acres of land, at Wells Ferry, now New Hope, Bucks county, and in 1736, with Benjamin Canby, who conducted a forge there for several years, was granted by proprietaries' Commissioners the privilege of a tract of land in the Manor of Highlands, on the Delaware river, for erecting a storehouse and wharf below the ferry, with privilege of a road thereto, for convenience of carry- ing flour and other goods and merchandise by water on the said river. He was one of the largest land owners in Pennsylvania, continuing until late in life, eitiher alone or in association with others, to purchase large tracts of land in different parts of the Province. He was elected a member of Common Council of Philadelphia, October 4, 1715, but does not seem to have taken his seat until July 30, 1716; the term at that date was for life, and when he was elected by Council as an Alderman, September 29, 1726, he declined, preferring to retain his seat in Council. He was, however, again chosen, October 2, 1733, as Alderman and then accepted and served until elected Mayor of the city, October 3, 1738, which latter position he filled for one year. He was commissioned Associate Justice of the City Courts, October 2, 1733, and on his retirement from the mayoralty became Justice of the Orphans' Court. He was elected Overseer of Public Schools, 3mo. 18, 1725, and served in that capacity until his death, Sep- tember 23, 1763. He was elected Mayor a second time, October 6, 1747, but not desiring to serve, absented himself from home, and after a vain attempt to find him, in which those charged with serving the notice upon him visited his iron works in Berks county, New Jersey, and elsewhere in search of him, William Atwood was selected in his stead. In Colonial affairs he filled the same prom- inent position as in city affairs. He was elected to represent Philadelphia in Colonial Assembly in 1721, first taking his seat on October 14, 1721, a few days before the death of his honored father. Like his father, he at once took a prom- inent part in affairs of state. He was actively identified with the issue of paper
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currency, and was, March 23, 1723, named by Assembly as one of the signers of "Bills of Credit", as this early issue of paper money was designated. He was re-elected to the Assembly for years 1722-3-4-5, and sat until the close of the session 6mo. 6, 1726. In endeavoring, as an Alderman and Magistrate, to sup- press a riot in the streets of Philadelphia, during the exciting and bitter contest for election of members of Assembly in 1742, he was knocked down, "and nearly murdered" as shown by numerous depositions presented at the next Assembly. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and the old Mansion House, on Second street above Arch, where he and his family resided for many years and where he died, was the scene of many notable gatherings of the elite of the city and colony, with whom the family were prominently associated, where he and his estimable wife dispensed the broadest hospitality.
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