USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. X > Part 23
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and reelected 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 Assem- bly, May 10, 1698, and served until Octo- ber I, 1704. He was closely associated in business and official circles with his brother-in-law, Edward Shippen, who had married Rebecca, widow of Francis Rich- ardson, formerly Rebecca Howard, a sis- ter of Anthony Morris' third wife, Mary (Howard) Coddington. In 1687 An- thony 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 traveled extensively in the ministry in New England and other parts of the colonies, and also visited the Meeting in London, where he first became a mem- ber. 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.
(II) Anthony (2) Morris, eldest son of Anthony (1) and Mary (Jones) Mor- ris, born in London, England, March 15, 1681-82, came to New Jersey with his par- ents when less than a year old, and re- moved 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 four- teen 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, 1695-96. Soon after attaining his majority he became asso- ciated with his father in the brewing busi- ness, and continued to carry on that busi- ness, probably during his entire life, but
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he early became interested in other busi- he was elected by Council as an alder- man, 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 posi- tion he filled for one year. He was com- missioned associate justice of the City Courts, October 2, 1733, and on his re- tirement from the mayoralty became jus- tice of the Orphans' Court. He was elected overseer of public schools, 3mo., 18, 1725, and served in that capacity until his death, September 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 prominent 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 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 reëlected to the Assembly for years 1722- 23-24-25 and sat until the close of the session 6mo. 6, 1726. In endeavoring as an alderman and magistrate to suppress a riot in the streets of Philadelphia, dur- ing the exciting and bitter contest for election of members of Assembly in 1742, he was knocked down "and nearly mur- dered" as shown by numerous depositions ness 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 owners of two-sixteenth shares of the Pool forge on Manatawny creek in Berks county, 1731, and also owned one-twelfth interest in a large furnace on Colebrook- dale on the Manatawny, which supplied the forge. On June 20, 1729, with Thomas Lambert, John Porterfield and James Trent, he founded a forge on the Assun- pink, at Trenton, New Jersey, which was probably supplied from the Durham fur- nace, in which both he and Trent held an interest. He also purchased at about the same date a tract of land on the Assun- pink, with the privilege of erecting corn mills, grist mills and saw mills. In 1724 he became part owner of the mills, and a forge with four hundred 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 proprie- taries' commissioners the privilege of a tract of land in the Manor Highlands, on the Delaware river, for erecting a storehouse and wharf below the ferry, with privilege of a road thereto, for con- venience of carrying flour and other goods and merchandise by water on the said river. He was one of the largest landowners in Pennsylvania, continuing until late in life, either alone or in asso- ciation with others, to purchase large tracts of land in different parts of the province. He was elected a member of Common Council of Philadelphia, Octo- ber 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 presented at the next Assembly. He was
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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. Anthony Mor- ris married, in Philadelphia, 3mo. (May) 10, 1704, Phoebe, daughter of George and Alice (Bailyes) Guest, born 7mo. (Sep- tember) 28, 1685, died March 18, 1768.
(III) Anthony (3) Morris, eldest son of Anthony (2) and Phoebe (Guest) Mor- ris, born in Philadelphia, February 14, 1705-06, on arriving at manhood became associated with his father in the brewing business, to which the father, owing to the multiplicity of his business interests, was able to give but little attention. Be- coming interested in a business venture in the Barbadoes, he took a certificate from Philadelphia Monthly Meeting to the Monthly Meeting at Barbadoes, dated 12mo. (February) 28, 1728-29, and re- mained on the islands six months. Return- ing to Philadelphia, he again gave his attention to the brewing business, and became a partner with his father, Decem- ber 19, 1741. He was a large land owner in Philadelphia and elsewhere, and like his father was actively associated with the business and official life of the city, and held a high place in the social life. He was a contributor to the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751, of which his brother Jo- seph was one of the original managers. He was from the first a champion of the Colonies against the oppressive meas- ures of the mother country, and a signer of the non-importation agreement, No- vember 7, 1765. He and his second wife, Elizabeth, took an active interest in benevolent and philanthropic work in the city, and were members of the Society of Friends. Anthony Morris died at his
country seat "Peckham," in Southwark, October 2, 1780. He married (first) 12mo. 1730, Sarah, born June 29, 1713, daughter of Samuel Powell, a rich builder, by his wife, Abigail (Wilcox) Powell. She died April 10, 1751, and he married (second) April 30, 1752, Elizabeth, born February 20, 1721-22, daughter of Wil- liam and Jane (Evans) Hudson, and granddaughter of William Hudson, mem- ber of Colonial Assembly, and mayor of Philadelphia, 1725-26, by his wife, Mary (Richardson) Hudson. Elizabeth Mor- ris survived her husband, dying May 23, 1783.
(IV) Captain Samuel Morris, eldest surviving son of Anthony (3) and Sarah (Powell) Morris, born in Philadelphia, June 24, 1734, usually referred to on the early records as Samuel Morris, Jr., to distinguish him from his uncle, Samuel Morris, Sr., both being members of the board of war during the Revolution, was one of the most prominent of this promi- nent family in public affairs. On Janu- ary 8, 1750, he was apprenticed to Isaac Greenleafe, merchant, to serve until he attained his majority, a period of four years, five months and two weeks. Mr. Greenleafe had married as his second wife, Catharine, daughter of Casper and Catharine (Jansen) Wistar, and through her their young apprentice was brought in close association with her sister, Re- becca Wistar, whom he married only a few months after the close of his appren- ticeship, December II, 1755.
Samuel Morris was an original member of the Colony in Schuylkill, in 1748, was elected its Governor in 1766, and served until his death. He was also a member of the "Society of Fort St. Davids," of which the membership was principally Welsh of the "Order of Ancient Britons." Samuel Morris was also one of the most ardent members of the Gloucester Fox-Hunting
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Club, of which he was president from its organization until his death; it was com- posed of the aristocratic youths of Phil- adelphia. It was from this organization that he organized, November 17, 1774, the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse, of which he served many years as captain, and which rendered such efficient serv- ice in the early days of the Revolutionary War. Their first flag, presented to them by Captain Markoe, and still a prized possession of the troop, was the first known flag to contain thirteen stripes, and is thought to have suggested the adoption of the striped Union Flag at Cambridge, six months after the City Troop had escorted General George Washington, accompanied by Lee and Schuyler, to New York, when on his way to take command of the army at Cam- bridge, June 21, 1775. Captain Markoe had then resigned and Samuel Morris was unanimously elected as captain. Cap- tain Samuel Morris and his brother, Mauor Anthony Morris, were the most ardent of patriots from the time of the earliest protest, the signing of the Non- importation Resolutions, October 25, 1765, the latter being one of the delegates to the Provincial Convention of July 15, 1774, eventually gave his life to the cause of liberty, being killed in the battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. Samuel Mor- ris was selected a member of the first committee of Safety of the State, ap- pointed by Assembly, June 30, 1775, and when this body was merged into the Council of Safety, he was elected a mem- ber of that body, July 24, 1776, but declined, preferring to give his atten- tion to more active service. He was appointed by a resolve of the Committee of Safety, January 22, 1776, chairman of a committee to survey the Jersey shore of the Delaware from Billingsport to Newtown creek, to determine what
posts it would be necessary to fortify against any attempted invasion of the enemy. He interested himself in the equipment of and organization of the army, and was energetic in completing the naval defenses of the city and block- ing the channel of the Delaware. When the Hessians embarked from Staten Island, October, 1776, the Council of Safety ordered that a letter be sent to "Samuel Morris junr. requesting him to send up the Ammunition Sloop and to supply himself with a shallop in her stead, to assist in making the Chevaux de Frize, at Billingsport." His City Troop was kept constantly drilled, and its services tendered to the Government at the break- ing out of hostilities, and it served as a bodyguard of General Washington through the campaign of 1776-77. In No- vember, 1776, several of the troop were at the headquarters at Morristown, New Jersey, and on report of General Howe's advance, the entire troop, under Captain Morris, joined General Washington at Trenton, December 3, 1776, and marched with him to Princeton, and covering his retreat, five days later, were the last to cross the Delaware into Pennsylvania. On Christmas night, 1776, they recrossed the Delaware in the storm and sleet and participated in the historic battle of Tren- ton, several members of the troop distin- guishing themselves by special acts of bravery, though this was the first time they had been under fire, in active service. On December 30, 1776, the troop again crossed the Delaware and marched with General Washington to Trenton, where was fought the battle of Assunpink Creek; both of these battles being fought on land that had belonged for a half- century to the Morris family. When Gen- eral Washington decided to move off dur- ing the night to Princeton, it was the City Troop who were selected to keep up
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the camp fires to divert suspicion from his movements and to follow him to Prince- ton, where they especially distinguished themselves, being at the front with Wash- ington when he drove the enemy over fields and fences. Here it was that Major Anthony Morris was killed in action. After the battle of Princeton, the troop remained in headquarters at Morristown, New Jersey, for about three weeks, and the campaign being over were honorably discharged, January 23, 1777, with the highest praise of General Washington, the letter of discharge being still in pos- session of the Morris family. This troop was the only cavalry in the Jersey cam- paign, and served entirely at their own expense. After its discharge it, however, maintained its organization, and with its valiant captain took part in the battle of Brandywine and Germantown, camped at Valley Forge and served in the operations around Philadelphia, until the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British in June, 1778, and for the next two years was in the service of Congress and under State authority; was again in Trenton in June, 1780, but the enemy having left the State, returned to Philadelphia and again re- ceived the thanks of General Washing- ton. The troop again received his thanks for services during the Whiskey Insur- rection of 1794. The organization has been maintained to the present time, it being now known as "First Troop, Phil- adelphia City Cavalry." Captain Samuel Morris continued with General Washing- ton until the close of the Revolution, and was constantly employed as the bearer of confidential messages, and his troop was always held in readiness to perform special duty. Captain Morris was elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1776 and served in that body until February 21, I777; was again elected to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth in 1781-
82-83. He possessed a strong but gentle personality, and was known as "Christian Sam." He died at his residence in Phil- adelphia, July 7, 1812. His wife, Rebecca (Wistar) Morris, had died January 22, 1791.
(V) Isaac Wistar Morris, sixth son of Captain Samuel and Rebecca (Wistar) Morris, born in Philadelphia, July 19, 1770, on attaining his majority became a partner with his brother, Luke Morris, in the conduct of the brewery at Dock and Pear streets, but retired from business in 1810, and lived a retired life in Philadel- phia until his death, May 18, 1831. He was a member of the company organized in 1789 to prosecute the enterprise of perfecting the Fitch steamboat. He mar- ried, at Philadelphia Meeting, 12mo. 17, 1795, Sarah, born Imo. 22, 1772, died Iomo. 25, 1842, daughter of Isaac and Pa- tience (Mifflin) Paschall.
(VI) Isaac Paschall Morris, son of Isaac Wistar and Sarah (Paschall) Mor- ris, was born at "Cedar Grove," July 24, 1803. He was educated for a druggist, and in 1826, with Charles Ellis, pur- chased of Elizabeth Marshall the old Marshall drug establishment at No. 56 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, established by her grandfather, Christopher Marshall, in 1740. The new firm of Ellis & Morris at once took front rank in the drug busi- ness in the city, but Isaac P. Morris found the business distasteful, and at the end of one year sold his interest to William Ellis and the firm of Charles Ellis & Son Com- pany continued the business.
About 1827 Levi Morris established his iron works at Schuylkill, Seventh and Market streets (now 16th and Market). He afterwards admitted to partnership his cousins, Isaac P. Morris and Joseph P. Morris, and the name became Levi Mor- ris & Company. Joseph P. Morris retired from the firm shortly after its commence-
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ment. In 1834, Lewis Taws, who was very well known as a practical iron man, became a partner, and upon the retire- ment of Levi Morris, in 1841, the name changed to I. P. Morris & Company. In 1847 the company removed from the old location to the works long known as the Port Richmond Iron Works. In the year 1847, John J. Thompson became a part- ner, and in 1862 John H. Towne also was admitted, and the name changed to I. P. Morris, Towne & Company. In 1868 the name of I. P. Morris & Com- pany was resumed. In 1876 the firm incorporated, the name being I. P. Morris Company, with John T. Morris as presi- dent, which continued until July 1, 1891, when the stock was purchased by the Cramp Shipbuilding Company. From this establishment some of the finest machinery of the country, of the most advanced type of the times, has been turned out.
In the management of the company and throughout his life, Mr. Morris displayed and exercised that rare business ability and judgment that had characterized his family for many generations, and con- tinued his personal interest in the affairs of the company to his death, though in his later years his health was much im- paired. He married, November 17, 1841, at the Friends' Meeting House, on Or- ange street, Rebecca, born February 4, 18II, daughter of James B. and Lydia (Poultney) Thompson. Mr. Morris died at his residence, 826 Pine street, Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, January II, 1869, his wife surviving him until March 22, 1881. They were the parents of the following children : I. James Thompson, born Sep- tember 18, 1842, died September 23, 1874 ; married, December 5, 1872, Jane Glover Montague. 2. Isaac Wistar, born July 14, 1844, died November 5, 1872, unmar- ried. 3. John Thompson, see below. 4. Lydia Thompson.
(VII) John Thompson Morris, son of Isaac Paschall and Rebecca (Thompson) Morris, was born July 12, 1847, in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. He was educated in private schools and at Haverford Col- lege. Mr. Morris was a member of the firm of I. P. Morris Company until its sale to Cramps, as stated above. He was a manager of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society; chairman of The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire (1752), and a member of the board of trustees of Frank- lin Institute; trustee of the Fairmount Park Art Association and the Pennsyl- vania Museum and School of Industrial Art; overseer of the Public School char- tered by William Penn in 1711; council- lor of The Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania. He was also ex-president of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Pennsylvania ; and the Chestnut Hill Hor- ticultural Society; ex-president of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb; and was at one time manager of Haverford College. No good work done in the name of charity or religion sought his cooperation in vain. He was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and in poli- tics a Republican; also a member of the American Philosophical Society, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Union League of Philadelphia. For many years he was one of the most gen- erous supporters of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He possessed an interesting collection of paintings, including some noteworthy Japanese work.
Of fine presence and polished manners, John T. Morris was a man once seen not soon forgotten. For a number of years ere his death Mr. Morris lived a retired life, devoting himself to looking after his private interests. He was a man of whom it might be truly said that he was enshrined in the hearts of his fellow- citizens. The death of John T. Morris
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occurred August 15, 1915. He made for He and his family were members of St. John's Episcopal Church, in Pittsburgh, himself a record of noteworthy achieve- ment and public-spirited service, worthily. Pennsylvania. He married, January 7, supplementing his ancestral record, and his name is inscribed with honor in the annals of his city and his State. 1801, Elizabeth Greaves, born February 16, 1782, died in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, January 10, 1852, and both she and her husband were interred in the Alle- WAINWRIGHT, Samuel J., Representative Citizen. gheny Cemetery. Their children were : I. Olivia, born December 3, 1801; mar- One of the strong men of the Old Pitts- burgh-one of those Titans of trade whose heroic proportions seem to dwarf the successors of the present day-was the late Samuel J. Wainwright. Mr. Wainwright was a man who touched life at many points, and his abilities and sterling traits of character caused him to be regarded by the entire community with feelings of profound admiration. The Wainwright family is one of the old families of England. The arms are as fol- lows : ried Thomas Benn; died March 72, 1882. 2. Edwy, see below. 3. Jarvis, born No- vember 19, 1806, died August 5, 1874. 4. Ellis, born January 23, 1809, was a man of prominence in St. Louis, Missouri, where he died. 5. Martha G., born March I, ISII ; married William Withnell; died May 27, 1886. 6. Eliza, born June 16, 1815; married (first) Samuel Humes; married (second) a Mr. Bond. 7. Zacha- riah, born February 4, 1818, died April 16, 1871. 8. Mary Ann, born February 4, 1818, died August 16, 1899; married Ed- mund Wilkins. 9. Samuel, born March 6, 1821, died October 19, 1874; was of St. Louis, Missouri. 10. Charles, born June 3, 1823, died in youth. II. Harriet, born May 24, 1826, died in youth.
Arms-Argent, on a chevron between three fleurs-de-lis azure, a lion rampant of the field, a border engrailed sable.
Crest-A lion rampant argent, holding an ancient battle-ax, handle of the first, headed or.
(I) Joseph Wainwright, the American ancestor of this family, was born in Berkshire, England, October 17, 1779, and died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, De- cember 23, 1866. He emigrated to America in 1803, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in what is now known as the Fifteenth Ward. He established the Winterton brewery in 1818, and after sev- eral years, in which he accumulated much property, including a large amount of real estate, he returned to his native country to visit the scenes of his childhood days. Later the brewery was transferred to his sons, who operated it for many years. Joseph Wainwright was baptized in the old Peniston Episcopal Church, in Eng- land, where he was subsequently married.
(II) Edwy Wainwright, eldest son and second child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Greaves) Wainwright, was born in Yorkshire, England, December 8, 1803, and was but eighteen months of age when he came to America with his parents. He was educated in the schools of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receiving a thorough and practical training in the business of his father, and was engaged in this line all his life. He married Abigail Ewalt, whose ancestry follows: She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a kind and loving wife and mother, who ever sought the good will and happiness of those about her. Chil- dren of Edwy and Abigail (Ewalt) Wain- wright: I. Samuel Jacob, see below. 2. Joseph Z., born February 29, 1832, living
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1 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. Harris Ewalt, born January 17, 1835.
(III) Samuel Jacob Wainwright, son of Edwy and Abigail (Ewalt) Wain- wright, was born on the old homestead in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1829. His education was acquired in the public schools of his city, and he was then apprenticed to learn the copper- smith's trade at the old Scaife foundry and followed this occupation for several years. Later he associated himself with his uncles and brothers in the brewery business, and had charge of the office. In addition to his labors in the brewery bus- iness he was actively interested in a num- ber of other business enterprises. He was one of the directors of the Arsenal Bank for many years and filled the office of president for sixteen years. He was also a director of the old Pittsburgh Gas Com- pany. He was one of those men whose vigorous, compelling natures wrench suc- cess from the many difficulties they may encounter. He seemed to find the hap- piness of success in his work a reward more than sufficient to compensate him for any expenditure of time and strength. His singularly strong personality exerted a wonderful influence on his associates and subordinates, and to the former he showed a kindly, humerous side of his nature which made their relations most enjoyable, while the unfailing justice and kindliness of his conduct toward the lat- ter won for him their most loyal support. Mr. Wainwright's political support was given to the Republican party, and he was active in all movements that tended toward public betterment. He served as a member of the City Council for many years, and was a member of the State Legislature. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, and fraternally associated with the Masonic order.
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