The History of James Morris, Jr.

James Morris (Jr) a son of James Morris and Margaret Cook, was born June 14,1723, probably in Kent County, Delaware. His was a Quaker upbringing, but he became a Lieutenant in the Militia in King George's War (1744-1748), most unbecoming to a Quaker.

James was married March 6, 1750 to Ann Tilton. she was born January 4, 1730, a daughter of John and Ann Tilton. this marriage was considered irregular by the Friends (Quakers) of the Duck Creek Delaware monthly meeting, and James was charged with Transgression and marriage, at the monthly meeting held June 19, 1751, having married "one not a Friend" and marrying our of the unity of Friends. In the following year, at a monthly meeting held August 17, 1752, James made acknowledgement of his error, and it was received as "satisfactory" to the meeting. He appears to have continued in the Society of Friends, until he was complained against in 1779 for "keeping Negroes in slavery", after which he was testified against in 1780.

Ann (Tilton) Morris died May 25, 1762.

James was commissioned a Justice of the Peace of Kent County, Delaware, November 1, 1764. He died June 16, 1786, and left his house and 500 acres to son James in his will. There was a memorandum in his note book that his "framed dwelling house at the cross roads of Duck Creek was built by William Beachman and John Walston Carps, 1767. His daughter Mary Griffin was left a tract of land and marsh "whereon Moses Thompson lives (except a lot of six acres)". also a moiety of land in New Castle county, Delaware, bought of Alexander Cham and Thomas Brown, also part of lo of ground at Duck Creek cross roads. Negroes (4) to be set free after his decease.