47 O HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



sical in his temper, was grave in his manners, and of penetrating parts. 

 Being excessively tend of the society of men of sense and reading, he 

 was never wearied at a sitting till the spirits of the whole company were 

 dissipated. From his infancy he has lived in a manner best adapted to 

 teach him the nature of man, and to fortify his mind for the vicissitudes 

 of life. He very early lost both his father and mother, as we have seen, 

 and fell under the patronage of his uncle. Being a boy of strong pas- 

 sions, the general indications of a fruithful genius, he gave frequent of- 

 fence to his uncle ; and, on one of these occasions, through fear of his 

 resentment, strolled away into Virginia, and thence to Jamaica in the 

 West Indies, where, to support himself, he set up for a scrivener."* 1 "As 

 a proof of his boyish propensities, (says Mr. Dunlap,) we are told that 

 when a pupil to Luke Copperthwait, a Quaker, Lewis, hid himself in a 

 tree by which his teacher was to pass ; and in a feigned voice, with great 

 solemnity called upon Luke, (from above, of course,) and ordered him 

 to go and preach the gospel among the Mohawks. Luke considered the 

 bidding miraculous, and prepared to obey; when, either by compunction 

 of the boy, or other means, he was undeceived. After several years 

 passed in the West Indies, the wanderer returned to Morrisania, and was 

 received by his uncle with forgiveness and joy. To settle him for life, 

 the uncle brought about a marriage between Lewis and Miss Graham, b 

 a fine lady, (continues Mr. Smith,) with whom he lived above fifty years, 

 in the possession of every enjoyment which good sense and polite man- 

 ners in a woman could afford." 



Upon. the 8th of May, 1697, Lewis Morris obtained royal letters patent 

 from King William the Third, erecting Morrisania into a township and 

 manor, to be holden of the king in free and common soccage ; its lord 

 yielding and rendering therefore annually, on the Feast Day of the An- 

 nunciation of our blessed Virgin Mary, the rent of six shillings. 



THE ROYAL CHARTER. 

 William the Third, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and 

 Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c, to all to whom these presents shall 

 come, sendeth greeting: Whereas, the Hon'ble Edmund Andross, Esq., Seig- 

 neur of Sausmarez, late Governor of province of New York, &c, by a certain 

 deed or patent, 6ealed with the seal of our said province of New York, bearing 

 date the 25th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1G76, pursuant to the com- 

 mission and authority then in him residing, did confirm unto Col. Lewis Morris, 

 of the Island of Barbadoes, a certain plantation or tract uf land laying or being 



a Smith's History of N. Y. 



b Dunlap's Hist. N. Y.. vol. L 27S. 



c Smiths Eist. of X. Y. 



