CHAPTER II 

 MORRISANIA 



Colonial and Revolutionary Days — Story of the Public-Spirited and Patriotic 

 Morris Family — Lewis Morris, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, 

 Who Backed up His Signature by Joining the Army with His Three 

 Sons — Gouverneur Morris, Statesman and Diplomat — Land Marks in 

 Morrisania — Foundation of Village in 1848. 



FOR a quarter of a century the tract of land upon 

 which Jonas Bronck had settled was owned at 

 different times by several of the Dutch pioneers 

 and traders. In 1668 it came into the possession 

 of Samuel Edsall, a beaver maker of New Amster- 

 dam. He held it for two years, then sold it on 

 August 10, 1670, to Colonel Lewis Morris and 

 Lewis Morris captain Richard Morris, both officers in Crom- 

 well's army, who found refuge in Barbados upon the restoration 

 of Charles II. The Morrises were of Welch descent, and their 

 patronym was derived from Maur Rys, or Rys the Great, which title 

 was conferred upon Rys, the companion of Strongbow, for valiant 

 service rendered in the latter's expedition against Ireland. 



Lewis went to the West Indies, where he purchased a large 

 estate and became prominent in the political affairs of Barbados. 

 He was later joined by his younger brother, Richard, who married 

 there a wealthy lady named Sarah Pole, from whom he received 

 large sugar plantations. 



Both brothers agreed to invest in land in New York, and in 

 1668 Richard and his wife removed to the Dutch Colony, where the 

 Captain purchased Broncksland from Samuel Edsall. 



Captain Richard Morris and his wife both died in 1672, 

 leaving behind them an infant son named Lewis. His 

 uncle, Colonel Lewis Morris, then came from Barbados to New 

 York in 1673, and held the estate in trust for the child. He re- 

 sided in Morrisania, but he purchased some thirty-five hundred 

 acres of land in Monmouth County, New Jersey, upon which he 



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