THE TOWN OF WEST FARMS. 457 



Timbs in his account of Pontepraet (Pomfret) castle, says : " In this 

 castle, Colonel Morris struck the first silver coin of Charles II., who was 

 proclaimed here directly after the death of his father." a 



While resident in the West Indies he purchased a lovely estate on the 

 Island of Barbadoes and was member of the Council of that island. In 

 1654, an expedition having been fitted out against the Spanish posses- 

 sions in those parts, a commission of colonel was sent to him by the 

 Protector Cromwell; but when the fleet arrived at Barbadoes in 1656, 

 "he prized himself at so high a rate" that he demanded a present of 

 100,000 weight of sugar to pay his debts, before he would consent to ac- 

 company the fleet. He finally, however, consented and was present at 

 the reduction of Jamaica; after which he returned to Barbadoes, and is 

 said to have been interested in the purchase of St. Lucia in 1663. He 

 now openly professed the principles of the Quakers, and as one of their 

 prominent members entertained the celebrated George Fox, at his seat 

 near Bridgetown, when he visited Barbadoes in 167 1, and signed the ad- 

 dresses to the Governor and Legislature complaining of the persecution 

 to which the Friends were subjected. Mr. Morris, himself, having been 

 mulcted in fines to the amount of 16,193 pounds of sugar for refusing to 

 pay church dues and minister's money, and to furnish men and horses 

 for the militia. On receiving intelligence of the death of his brother, 

 Richard, he came to this country whilst it was in possession of the Dutch 

 in the year 1673 — -and not after the peace of 1674 as erroneously stated 

 by Dunlap and others. After visiting Barbadoes, for the purpose of 

 winding up his affairs, he returned to New York in 1675 and settled 

 here." & 



William Morris, the second brother, who had for his portion an estate 

 called Denham held jointly with one Blethioyn, considered at that time 

 to be worth between four and five thousand pound sterling a year, also 

 joined the Parliamentary service, and took an active part against the 

 king, when, (through his favorite, the Marquis of Worcester,) he at- 

 tempted to enclose Wendswood Chase, Monmouthshire. Upon the de- 

 feat of the popular party, William determined upon a sea-voyage till the 

 storm should have blown over. 6 He was subsequently lost at sea. His 

 son, John, received a captain's commission from the Parliament in 165 1. 

 Like his father, he also perished at sea off Deal Castle in 168S; his body 

 was found under the walls of the Castle, and buried with military honors. 

 His descendants are still numerous in the Island of Barbadoes. 



a Timb's Abbeys, Castles and Ancient nails of England and Wales. 



6 D<>c Col. Hist of X. Y., Holland Doc. vol. ii. p. 619.— Editors notes. 



c LtpptncoWs Magazine, January, 1S68, pp. 33-34. - 'In the parish register of Barbadoes 

 P iri-h, St. Michaells, lt;.S. Nov. 1st, John, ye son of William and Dorcas .Morris.— History of 

 Emigrants to America, 1V00 to 1S0O, by Bouton, N. Y., p. 430. 



