History of James Morris

James Morris, son of Anthony Morris and his first wife Mary (Jones), was born in Philadelphia May 8, 1688. His parents were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers)

On January 8, 1709, at the Public Meeting House in Chester, James Morris married Margaret Cook. She was born about 1689, a daughter of John Cook, of the Township of Oxford, Yeoman. Their marriage certificate is said to be still preserved.

About 1712, James Morris purchases from Thomas England and his wife Hannah (for 67 pounds 10.0) six hundred acres of land on the south side of the main branch of Duck Creek, Kent County, Delaware. There, at the George's Creek Monthly Meeting on August 20, 1712, Jame and Mary produced their certificate of removal from Philadelphia to join the local Friends.

It was necessary to resurvey their land, and in 1716 it was confirmed to James Morris by William Penn, through his Commissioners. By this time the property had received the name of "Morris Rambles". William Penn also presented a fowling piece to James, and it is preserved as a family relic.

James very considerably increased his possessions at Duck Creek. He built a brick house on the plantation in 1741/1742 and in 1745 built a brick barn. At the time of his death, on October 31, 1747, he owned at least 1200 acres of land.

James, in his will, left one-half of his plantation to his widow. The other one-half went to his son James, with the balance to go to James at the death or remarriage of the widow. Daughter Phoebe received a tract of land known as "French's Neck"; daughter Mary 100 acres where she lived; and grand-daughter Margaret Empson 70 acres.

Margaret (Cook) Morris died November 9 1766 nearly 77 years of age.