Morris family.

Hide Profile

The Morris family of Philadelphia were brewers, merchants, land speculators, manufacturers, and prominent participants in public affairs.

Anthony Morris was born in London in 1654. His father died on a voyage to Barbados about a year after his birth. His mother then went to Barbados to settle his affairs, where she too died, leaving Anthony an orphan in London. Anthony Morris became a Quaker and emigrated to Burlington, N.J., in 1682, relocating to Philadelphia about three years later. Around 1687 he founded the second brewery in the city, which became the basis of the family fortune. He was one of the founders of the William Penn Charter School and served in a number of legislative and judicial offices. After 1701 he retired from business ans devoted much of his time to preaching and the affairs of the Society of Friends. He died in 1721.

His son, Anthony Morris, was born in London in 1681/82 (old style). He continued the family brewing business and, beginning in 1720, made large investments in the iron industry. He became a partner of Thomas Rutter, Thomas Potts, et al., in the Colebrookdale Furnace in Berks County and in 1727 was one of the founders of the Durham Furnace. He also invested in flour mills in Bucks County. He represented Philadelphia in the Provincial Assembly (1721-1726) and was Mayor of Philadelphia (1738-1739). He died on September 23, 1763.

His son, Anthony Morris (1705-1780), continued the brewing business. He was one of the founders of the elite fishing club, the "Colony in Schuylkill." His son, Samuel Morris (1734-1812), was a merchant who was also a member of the "Colony in Schuylkill," the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, and other elite sporting clubs. In 1774 he helped organize the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse and was its commander from 1775 to 1786. He fought at Brandywine, Germantown, and Trenton, where his brother, Maj. Anthony Morris, was killed. During the war he also served two terms in the Provincial Assembly and was Commissary General of the Middle District.

Luke Wistar Morris (1768-1830) and Isaac Wistar Morris (1770-1831), the sons of Samuel Morris, operated the Dock & Pearl Street Brewery in Philadelphia. Isaac W. Morris was also a member of the company formed to promote John Fitch's steamboat. Isaac Paschall Morris (1803-1869), the son of Isaac Wistar Morris, was originally a druggist but abandoned the trade in 1827 to manufacture machinery with his cousin, Levi, and brother, Joseph. The firm became I.P. Morris & Co. in 1841 and developed into one of the city's most important manufacturers.

From the description of Papers, 1684-1935. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122370785

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Morris family. Papers, 1684-1935. Hagley Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Batsto Furnace (Batsto, N.J.) corporateBody
associatedWith Binney, Horace, 1780-1875. person
associatedWith Cedar Grove (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Chew, Benjamin, 1722-1810. person
associatedWith Drinker, Henry, 1734-1809. person
associatedWith Drinker, Henry, 1757-1822. person
associatedWith Durham Iron Works (Durham, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Forbes & Morris. corporateBody
associatedWith Fothergill, John, 1712-1780. person
associatedWith Francis Perot's Sons Malting Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Franklin, John, 1732-1801. person
associatedWith Ingersoll, Charles Jared, 1782-1862. person
associatedWith I.P. Morris & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Kimball, Fiske, 1888-1955. person
associatedWith Kimber, Conrad & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Miercken, Henry, d. 1808. person
associatedWith Mifflin, Jonathan, 1704-1781. person
associatedWith Morris, Anthony, 1654-1721. person
associatedWith Morris, Anthony, 1681-1763. person
associatedWith Morris, Anthony, 1705-1780. person
associatedWith Morris, Anthony, 1766-1860. person
associatedWith Morris, Anthony P. (Anthony Paschall), 1798-1873. person
associatedWith Morris, Benjamin, 1725-1755. person
associatedWith Morris, Benjamin Wistar, 1762-1825. person
associatedWith Morris, Caspar Wistar, 1764-1828. person
associatedWith Morris, Catherine W. (Catherine Wistar), 1772-1859. person
associatedWith Morris, Isaac Paschall, 1803-1869. person
associatedWith Morris, Isaac Wistar, 1770-1831. person
associatedWith Morris, Israel, 1741-1806. person
associatedWith Morris, John Thompson, 1847-1915. person
associatedWith Morris, Joseph Paschall, 1809-1892. person
associatedWith Morris, Luke, 1707-1793. person
associatedWith Morris, Luke Wistar, 1768-1830. person
associatedWith Morris, Lydia Thompson, 1849-1932. person
associatedWith Morris & Miercken. corporateBody
associatedWith Morris, Paschall, 1813-1875. person
associatedWith Morris, Samuel, 1711-1782. person
associatedWith Morris, Samuel, 1734-1812. person
associatedWith Morris, Sarah Paschall, 1815-1905. person
associatedWith Morris, Thomas, 1745-1809. person
associatedWith Morris, William Hudson, 1753-1807. person
associatedWith Paschall, Elizabeth Coates. person
associatedWith Paschall, Joseph, 1740-1795. person
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Militia. Troop of Philadelphia Horse, 2nd. corporateBody
associatedWith Peters, Richard, 1743-1828. person
associatedWith Potts, Jonathan, 1745-1781. person
associatedWith Ralston, Robert, 1761-1836. person
associatedWith Shippen, William, 1736?-1808. person
associatedWith Tilghman, Edward, 1750-1815. person
associatedWith United States. Continental Army corporateBody
associatedWith Westtown Boarding School. corporateBody
associatedWith Wistar, Caspar, 1696-1752. person
associatedWith Wistar, Caspar, 1761-1818. person
associatedWith Wistar family family
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
New Jersey
Southwark Canal (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Subject
Antislavery movements
Breweries
Commission merchants
Country homes
Medical education
Society of Friends
Land speculation
Land titles
Merchants
Quakers
Riots
Silver ores
Slaves
Occupation
Activity

Family

Active 1684

Active 1935

Related Descriptions
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z4105h

Ark ID: w6z4105h

SNAC ID: 50682479