1808/1809
Thomas Morris arrives in Loudoun County, Virginia according to his death notice, which in February 1833 states that he “had been a resident of Loudoun for the last 26 years.”
1 August 1809
Bill of Sale of slaves from Sampson Blincoe, administrator of Thos. Blincoe, to Joseph Horseman, witnessed by Daniel Lacey, Jas. Rice, Thos. Morris, Levi Whaley. [Loudoun County Superior Court Deed Book A, 1809-1845, p10.]
If this is our Thomas Morris, it confirms his pesence in Loudoun County by 1809.
1810 Census, Loudoun County
page 258: Wm. Morris 20001-20010
page 266: Mahlon Morris 20110-30110 (+1 slave)
page 272: Richd. Morris 40010-21110
page 290: Jno. Morris 22001-10200
page 309: Hannah Hesser 33100-30410 [Widow of Andrew Hesser]
Thomas Morris was not a head of household in 1810. He was 28 years old, and so is clearly not in the household of another Morris. Whose household was he in? (Numbers are males<10, 10-15, 16-44, and 45 and over, followed by females in same categories.).
1 April 1811
Deed: Jacob Wattman of Loudoun County to his son John Wattman, 160 acres bordering the State line and Big Dutchman Creek. Witness: R. Braden, Sanford Ramey, Thos. Morris. [Loudoun County Deed Book 2-O, p31.
The tract was in the northwestern corner of Loudoun County, about 10 miles north of Purcellville.
5 March 1811/12
Marriage: “Thomas Morris and Mary Willett was married March 5th 18__” (year blotted) [Thomas Morris Family Bible, in the possession of Nathan Morris of Durango, Colorado as of June 2025.]
Since the first child was born in late December 1812, the year was lIkely 1812.
29 October 1812
Will of Richard WIllett of Culpeper County: …Thirdly I desire that all of my estate both real and personal except as it herein before excepted shall be sold to the highest bidder at public sale… and the proceeds thereof equally divided among my children, viz: …Mary Morris… (eleven children altogether). Proved 15 March 1813 in Culpeper County court. [Item 24 of 888 in Chancery file at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=047-1845-001#img.]
27 December 1812
“Rd. Thompson Morris” born [Thomas Morris Family Bible.]
Apparently named for his wife’s father Richard WIllett. The source of “Thompson” is unknown. This child must have died in infancy or childhood, as there were no males in Thomas Morris’s 1820 census household. Further a son born in 1823 was also named Thomson (sic)..
14 December 1814
“Lucinda Morris was born December 14th 1814″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible.]
The 1900 census of Fauquier County, Virginia gave her birth as December 1814 as well. Her gravestone, which reads merely “1814-1901” and calls her Lucy Morris Shacklett, is in the Cool Spring Methodist Cemetery in Delaplane, Fauquier County, Virginia.
27 Oct 1815
Marriage: Thomas Morris & Catherine Fouch, in Loudoun County. [Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850, Jordan R. Dodd et al., online]
This is NOT “our” Thomas Morris, who was married to Mary Willet from 1812 to 1823. Whoever this was, he apparently did not live in Loudoun County.
25 March 1816
“Saphronia Morris was born March 25th 1816″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible.]
27 June 1816
Accounting of expenses of the estate of George Walters: … “Thomas Morris cutting coat of bound boy 16½ (cents)” [Loudoun County Will Book U, p382}
This is the first indication that Thomas Morris was a tailor.
3 February 1817
“John Francis Morris was born 3d[?] Feby 1817″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
This child must have died in infancy, as there were no males in Thomas Morris’s 1820 census household. Further a son born in 1826 was also named John Frances.
19 August 1817
Will of William Beans: …to my daughter Rebecca the sum of £100 and the use of eh lot of one acre and the house etc. now occupied by Thomas Morris…” Will proved 12 January 1818. [Loudoun County Will Book M, p235.]
Thomas Morris is evidently renting a house and lot from William Beans somewhere near Purcellville. (William Beans is buried in a Purcellville cemetery.)
1 October 1818
List of unclaimed letters in the Leesburg Post Office: …Thomas Morris, 2… [Genius of Liberty newspaper, issue of 27 October 1818, page 1.]
Leesburg was about four miles east of Purcellville on th eold turnpike.
1 January 1819
List of unclaimed letters in the Leesburg Post Office: …Thomas Morris… [Genius of Liberty newspaper, issue of 5 January 1819, page 1.]
The next list of unclaimed letters as of 1 April 1819 did not include a letter to Thomas Morris,
This newspaper is not searchable after 1820.
6 March 1819
Mortgage: Merrit Tarlton of the town of Leesburg to Macka Tarlton. for $1, household goods in trust to secure a $250 debt to Abiel Jenners of Loudoun and James Wood of Leesburg… Witness: Rich’d H. Lee, Mason Piggot, Thomas Morris. Recorded 6 April 1819. [Loudoun County Deed Book 2Y, p2.]
27 August 1819
“Keziah A. Morris was born August 27th 1819″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
25 March 1820
Deed: Noah Hatcher and Rachel his wife to Thomas Morris, all of Loudoun County, for $100, a one acre lot …being part of tract of land whereon the sd Noah Hatcher now lives… adjoining Stacy Taylor, Whitson Birdsall. Witness: Stacy Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Amos. S. Nichols, Proved by Noah Hatcher and recorded 14 April 1828. Delivered to Morris 19 Sep 1829. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3Q, p151 ]
1820 Census, Loudoun County
page124: Edward Morris 100111 – 00300 – 00 (Leesburg Township)
page142: Maylon Morris 100101 – 23010 – 03 (Middleburg Township)
page143: Thos. Morris 000010 – 30010 – 00 (Middleburg Township)
page155: William Morris 011101 – 11101 – 00 (Aldie Township)
page 149: Hannah Hesser 000210 – 21211 – 00 (Waterford Twsp)
Note that Thomas Morris’s two sons must have died in childhood since only the three daughters are in the household in 1820. Mahlon Morris (1772-1859) was supposedly born in Loudoun County and thus evidently not related to Thomas Morris.
15 April 1822
“Caroline Morris was born April 15th 1822″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
3 April 1823
“Thomson Morris was born April 3d 1823″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
“Mary Morris departed this life April 3d 1823″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
Tragically, Mary evidently died in childbirth, leaving Thomas Morris with a newborn, another infant and several other children. It’s no doubt that he mremarried just six months later.
Note that this is a second son named Thomson or Thompson, the first having died. This name must be significant in some way.
9 May 1823
Deed: Samuel Hughes & wife Elizabeth of Loudoun to Samuel Beans of Loudoun, sale of 64 acres on south branch of Kittocton Creek adj. Jesse Silcott, ____Poulson, Thomas Hughes, Amos Beans. Witness: Stacey Taylor, Thomas Morris, Isaiah B. Beans, Craven Osburn, John White. Recorded 4 Oct 1823. Delivered to Beans 16 Nov 1844. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3-G, p155.]
The south branch of Cactocin Creek (today’s name) runds north from Purcellville bout two miles, where it empties into the main run of Cactocin Creek.
10 May 1823
Deed: Samuel Beans & wife Pleasant of Loudoun to Mahlon Taylor of Loudoun. Trust for debt to Samuel Hughes using land on Kittocton Creek conveyed by Hughes. Witnes: Stacey Taylor, Thomas Morris, Isaiah B. Beans. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3-G, p54.]
28 September 1823
“Thomas Morris and Nancy Hesser were married September 28 1823″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
26 December 1824
“Andrew M. Morris, son of Thomas and Nancy, was born December 26th 1824″. [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
14 August 1826
Accounting of the estate of Doctor James Heaton deceased included “pd Thomas Morris (his prov’d acct.) $89.06. [Loudoun County Will Book Q, p274]
11 October 1826
“John D. Francis, son of Thomas and Nancy, was born 11th of October 1826″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
August-September 1827
Andrew M. Morris departed this life Augst 14th 1827
Thomas T. Morris departed this life Augst 19th 1827
Caroline Morris departed this life Augst 26th 1827
John D. F. Morris departed this life Sept 7th 1827
[Four entries in the Thomas Morris Family Bible]
These four children, aged 2, 4, 5 and 11 months, may have died of a lical typhoid or cholera plague.
2 October 1827
Line item in account current of estate of Aquilla Willett: “2 Oct. Amt paid. Richard Tavener & Thos. Morris guardian, as per receipt $500″. [Frederick County, Virginia (now Jefferson County, West, Virginia) Will Book 5, p360.]
Aquilla Willett, brother of Mary Willett, died intestate and childless so his estate was divided among his siblings. Since his sister Mary was deceased, her share was inherited by her children. Thomas Morris was their guardian for the purpose of managing their inheritances. This entry notes that Thomas was paid $250 as their initial distribution.
See 25 June 1835 for the final settlement detail.
11 February 1828
Suit by Andrew Hesser and Thomas Poulton and Lucinda his wife (formerly Lucinda Hesser. Petition states that Andrew Hesser “departed this life some years since” intestate, leaving a tract of land of 156 acres worth less than $300. Petitioners are two of the children of Andrew Hesser. Defendants are the other children of Andrew Hesser: Margaret (and her husband Thomas James), Elizabeth (and her husband John Davis), Mary (and her husband Samuel Quinn), Nancy (and her husband Thomas Morris), Sarah Hesser “still unmarried”, John Hesser, and David Hesser. The court ordered the property advertised for sale in the Genuis of Liberty newspaper of Leesburg, Virginia for six weeks beginning on16 February 1828
Among the papers in the file is a note from the Sheriff that he had delivered notice of the suit to all the defendants “except Nancy Morris who refused to hear it.” [File indexed as Loudoun County Chancery Case 1832-217, Original Case No. M6884]
Andrew Hesser must have died before 1810, as the Hannah Hesser enumerated inthe 1810 and 1820 censuses was clearly his widow.
13 August 1828
“James Heaton Morris was born auguste the 13 1828″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
“James H. Morris was born August the 13 1828″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
The birth is recorded o two different pages in the Bible.
14 April 1829
Thomas Morris security for Thomas Poulton’s bond as constable. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3-R, p430.]
Thomas Poulton had married Lucinda Hesser in 1822, so Thomas Morris was his brother-in-law.
19 September 1829
Deed: Thomas Morris & Nancy his wife to John Hesser, all of Loudoun County, for $310, “all their interest in the undivided real estate of Andrew Hesser dec’d” . Acknowledged in court by Thomas Morris, Nancy Morris. Recorded 19 Sep 1829. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3-S, p345
19 September 1829
Deed: Mahala Lyder to Nancy Morris, wife of Thomas Morris, all of Loudoun County, for $310, 31 acres… being lot Lot #9 allotted to me in the division of the estate of Lewis Lyder dec’d (see Deed Book 3L, p263). Recorded 19 Sep 1829. Delivered to Morris 3 October 1836. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3-S, p338.]
Nancy used the proceeds from selling her interest in her father’s real estate to buy this 31 acres. Virginia had only recently allowed married women to execute deeds or other contracts in their own name.
1829/1830
Accounting of debits of estate of Samuel Purcell dec’d recorded 7 January 1835 but item apparently dated in 1829 or 1830: “Thomas Morris for making Hester Purcell’s coat $4.” [Loudoun County Will Book R, p55.]
Another indication that Thomas Morris was a tailor.
Thomas Morris appears as a creditor of several other estates for small amounts but the reasons are not specified. These include the estates of Samuel Hatcher, James McDaniel, N. McDaniel, Albert Heaton and others.
1830 Census: Loudoun County, Virginia
page 75: Thomas Morris 1000001 – 003111 (Hillsboro Township)
page 81: Mahlon Morris 21100001 – 0012101 (Hillsboro Township)
Thomas Morris’s son James Heaton Morris is in the “under 5” column. The five younger females are the three daughters by his first marriage plus Castara Hesser, Nancy’s illegitimate daughter, and (probably) Nancy’s younger sister Sarah Hesser.
Thomas Morris is just three names away from Valentine Purcell, whose store formed the kernel around which Purcellville grew up.
23 April 1821
Marriage Bond : Jesse Oxley & Sarah Hesser. Thomas Morris, bondsman, attests to bride’s age. [Marriages of Loudoun County, Virginia, 1757-1853, Mary Alice Wertz, p114.]
26 May 1831
“John T. W. Morris was born 26 May 1831″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
“John Thos. William Morris was born May the 26 1831″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
The birth is noted on two different pages in the Bible.
28 September 1831
Thomas Morris on jury. [Loudoun County Rough Minute Chancery Book 1831-1847, FHL Film #008360615, Item 3, image 17.]
He served on several juries. Since they are of no genealogical interest, additional jury records are omitted here.
10 October 1831
Thomas Morris agains is security for Thomas Poulton’s bond as constable. [Loudoun County Deed Book 3-W, p375.]
17 March 1833
James H. Morris departed this life March 17 1833. [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
23 March 1833
Thomas Morris departed this life March 23 1833 [“father” in margin, Thomas Morris Family Bible]
12 August 1833
Guardian Bond: John Hesser, guardian of Lucinda Morris, Sophronia Morris,
and Kesiah Morris, orphans of Thomas Morris, in the amount of $500. John G.
Humphrey his security. [Bond included among the papers in Loudoun County Chancery Case 1845-023, originally case number M2144]
__ September 1833
Mortgage: Nancy Morris of the County of Loudoun…in consideration of the sum of $250 as security for Thomas Morris dec’d Guardian of a Legacy from Aquilla Willett dec’d to his daughters Lucinda, Keziah and Sophonia [sells to] Charles B. Hamilton and Valentine V. Purcell all the goods household stuff and implements of household and all other goods & Chattels herein named, viz: [list of household items]… Signed: Nancy Morris. Witness: Lyman Lane, Sam’l Pursell(sic) Jr. Proved by the witnesses on 7 Septermber 1833. [Loudoun County Deed Book 4-B, p49.].
Nancy is essentially obtaining an advance of $250 against the expected inheritance from Aquilla Willett, using her household goods as collateral. Th eday of the month is blank in the deed.
15 September 1833
“Sarah Ann Hannah Morris was born 15 September 1833″ [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
Nancy Morris was pregnant when her husband died.
10 March 1834
John Hesser bond as guardian of Lucinda Morris. orphan of Thomas Morris, Valentine V. Purcell his security. [Bond included among the documents of Loudoun County Chancery Case #1845-023.]
18 March 1834
John Hesser appointed guardian of Keziah Morris. [Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk Journal 1827-1834, unpaginated, FHL Film #008360615, image 75.]
11 August 1834
Inventory & Appraisal of the personal estate of Thomas Morris deceased, undated but recorded this date. Taken by Stacey Taylor, Mahlon K. Taylor, Thos. E. Hatcher. [Loudoun County Will Book V, p348.]
The inventory was valued at just $347.87. It included a cow, a horse, a few pigs, a long list of household gods and farming implements, as well as two lots of book and a Bible.
12 January 1835
Undated sale of personal estate of Thomas Morris dec’d recorded this date by Nancy Morris, administratrix. Five pages of items, some of which were not listed in the inventory. Purchasers at the sale included Nancy Morris, John Hesser, Castaria Hesser, Valentine V. Purcell, Mahlon K. Taylor, Samuel Beans, Thomas Poulton, and many others. Total amojunt raised was $306.95. [Loudoun County Will Book W, pp8]
A number of items in the estate sale were not mentioned in the inventory, among them a “shot gun”, a collection of Byron’s works, and a few tailoring tools. The sale drew $306.95.
16 April 1835
Nancy Morris submitted her settlement of the personal estate of Thomas Morris. It included 26 payments to others, about twenty of which appear to be debts. Some as small as $1. Larger debts included $60.21 to Valentine Purcell, presumably a store bill, and $83.17 to John Hesser, $28.96 to Thomas Hatcher, $12.20 to J. T. W. Heaton, $9 to Dr. Heaton, $15.72 to Daniel Hesser, and $10.49 to Stacey Taylor. The total debits were $337.12. Credits included $299.17 net proceeds from the estate sale plus $37.95 from “notes and book accounts” also totalling $337.12. This accounting was presented at court on 16 April 1835 and continued to the following month’s court, which approved the settlement on 11 May 1835. [Loudoun County WIll Book W, p138.]
Essentially, the assets of the personal estate equaled its debts. Some of the debts were probably food and other assistance provided by neighbors to Nancy and her small children. There was no distribution to the heirs, although Nancy Morris had retained many of teh household furniture and kitchen goods with her purchases at the estate sale.
25 June 1835
In the final settlement of the estate of Aquilla WIllett, submitted to the court on 16 May 1839, each of the representatives of the nine heirs (one of which was listed as Thomas Morris), was awarded $389.82 as their share of the estate. The account for Mary’s Morris children is listed as:
22 March 1830 – To cash paid you per bond $250
25 June 1835 – Ditto John Hesser guardian of your children $$125
25 June 1835 – Ditto R. Worthington $7
Balance due Thomas Morris $376 (plus) $13.82 interest from 1 June 1835 (totaling) $389.92
[Frederick County, Virginia (now Jefferson County, West, Virginia) Will Book 9, p329.]
15 September 1836
Marriage Bond: Isaiah Beans to Sophronia Morris, permission by her guardian John Hesser. [Marriages of Loudoun County, Virginia, 1757-1853, Mary Alice Wertz, p10 and also Loudoun County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1762-1850, Aurelia M. Jewell, p71.]
19 September 1836
Marriage Bond: Henry Timms to Castara Hesser. Security: John L. Parsons. Nancy Morris, mother of girl, consented. Witness: John Hesser. [Loudoun County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1762-1850, Aurelia M. Jewell, p7.]
This is the illegitimate daughter of Nancy Hesser, only 17 years old, who required consent of a parent to wed in Virginia. Henry Timms and Castara moved to Muskingum County, Ohio a year or so later – probably at the same time as Nancy Morris and her other children. They are in the 1840 – 1880 censuses of Muskingum County. Castara’s age was listed as 29 in 1850, 40 in 1860, 49 in 1870, and 60 in 1880.
31 December 1836
Deed: Nancy Morris to Daniel Hesser, both of Loudoun County, for $900,…lot #9 alotted to Mahala Lider…(the same parcel bought in 1829). Signed Nancy Morris. Acknowledged by Nancy Morris on the same day. [Loudoun County Deed Book 4-H, p98.]
She is apparently preparing to leave Virginia
27 March 1837
Nancy Morris left Loudoun the 27 of maarch(sic) 1837
[landed?] in ohio. the 19[?} of aprila(sic) [Thomas Morris Family Bible]
Nancy Morris and her now-married daughter Castara apparently moved together to Muskingum County, Ohio.
25 September 1837
Marriage Bond: Jonathan Tavenner to Keziah Morris in Frederick County, Maryland. [Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850 (database on-line)]
Interesting that the marriage took place in Maryland — Frederick County was the county immediately north of Loudoun County. One possible explanation is that Virginia required the consent of a parent or guardian for a person under 21 to marry but Maryland’s age of consent was 18. Keziah had turned 18 less than a month earlier.
February 1838
Petition to Loudoun County Court: “Thomas Morris died intestate in the County of Loudoun in the year [left blank] leaving a widow named Nancy Morris and the following children your oratrixes Saphronia married to your orator Isaiah Beans, Keziah married to your orator Jonathan Tavener [Keziah being under 21], Lucinda and the defendants John Thomas William Morris and Sarah Ann H. Morris both of whom are infants under the age of 21 years.” Thomas Morris died seized of a piece of real property which plaintiffs request be sold and the proceeds divided among the six heirs. [Paper included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031, originally case number M1497]
24 February 1838
Isaiah Beans makes oath that the defendants in the case – Nancy Morris, John Thomas William Morris and Sarah Ann H. Morris — are not residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. [Paper included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
17 March 1838
Chancery Suit Heard: At a court in Loudoun County on 17 March 1838 “Isaiah Beans and Saphronia his wife, Jonathan Tavener and Keziah his wife, the said Keziah being an infant under the age of twenty-one years, who sues by Jonathan Tavener, her next friend, and Lucinda Morris against Nancy Morris, John Thomas William Morris, and Sarah Ann H. Morris, the two last of whom are infants under the age of twenty-one years… Defendants are not inhabitants of this country.” [Newspaper notice in the Genius of Liberty of Leesburg published on 7 April 1838 and included in the file indexed as Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
29 March 1838
Marriage Return: I hereby certify that on the 29th day of March AD 1838 I joined together in marriage John Clymer and Nancy Morris. (Signed) Samuel Fox [Muskingum County, Ohio Marriage Register 1835-1845, page 108.]
Nancy had been in Ohio almost a year, while John Clymer had been there for several years. Clymer was in his 60s and probably not interested in more children.
9 July 1838
Chancery Case Summart: The case was heard on 9 July 1838. Nancy Morris had failed to answer the summons, but her brother John Hesser had himself appointed as guardian ad litem for her two minor Morris children and represented their interests. On 15 August 1838 the court ordered that the house and lot were to be sold and the proceeds distributed in equal shares to the six heirs — three daughters by Thomas Morris’s first marriage and Nancy and her two Morris children. Thomas W. Edwards was appointed commissioner to execute the decree. The property was sold on 25 August 1838 to Mahlon K. Taylor for $305. After expenses the sale netted $290.53 divided into six equal shares of $48.42 plus interest. [Newspaper notice in the Genius of Liberty of Leesburg published on 7 April 1838 and included in the file indexed as Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
Interestingly, all three of the daughters bby the first marriage were educated enough to sign their names to the petition.
28 July 1838
Newspaper: The newspaper notice of the auction of the Thomas Morris property described it as “one Acre of Land, with a comfortable Log Dwelling, a Stable, and Tailor’s Shop thereupon, adjoining the lands of Stacy Taylor’s heirs and others on the North side of Turnpike Road within half a mile of Purcel’s Store.” [Newspaper notice in the Genius of Liberty of Leesburg published on 28 July 1838 and included in the file indexed as Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
The Turnpike Road is now US Route 7. Purcell’s Store was a settlement later renamed Purcellville that grew up around a general store owned by Valentine Purcell. Purcell’s Store was located in western central Loudoun County about 7-8 miles west of Leesburg, Virginia and about 5 miles east of Frederick County, Virginia (which is now Jeffereson County, West Virginia). US Route 7 runs east-west through the town.
The opening of the Leesburg and Snicker’s Gap Turnpike (the “Turnpike Road”) in 1835 probably made the one acre lot much more valuable.
5 September 1839
Marriage: George W. Shacklett to Lucinda Morris, in Frederick County, Virginia. [Virginia, Marriages, 1740-1850 [database on-line
One wonders why she married in Frederick County
20 Oct 1839
$112 paid to George W. Shacklett by John Hesser [line item in Hesser’s guardian account dated 12 November 1842 included among the papers in Loudoun County Chancery Case 1845-023, originally case number M2144]
Shacklett had married Lucinda Morris by this date.
20 Jun 1840
John Hesser, guardian ad litem of John Thomas William Morris and Sarah Ann H. Morris, acknowledged receipt of their share, totaling $97.30, of the proceeds from the sale of Thomas Morris’s house and lot in Loudoun County. [Paper included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
1840 Census:
Morgan County, Ohio (Olive Township)
John Clymer 011200001 – 0100201
Muskingum County, Ohio
Henry Timms 10001 – 10001
Loudoun County, Virginia
Isaiah Beans 300001 – 10011
Jonathan Tavener 10002 – 10002
Fauquier County, Virginia
George W. Shacklett 100002 – 001111
10 Aug 1840
Isaiah Beans acknowledges receipt of $45.43½ “due to me and my wife” from the sale of Thomas Morris’s house and lot in Loudoun County. In a related paper he is called Isaiah B. Beans. [Papers included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
30 Mar 1842
Geo. W. Shacklett acknowledges receipt of $45.43½ due to Lucinda Morris “who has since become my wife” from the sale of a house and lot of Thomas Morris. [Paper included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
12 Nov 1842
Guardian Account: By John Hesser, guardian of Sophronia Morris, Keziah Morris, and Lucinda Morris. Credits amounted to $335.75, including a $100 note payment by S. B. T. Caldwell on 6 September 1833 and another $100 note payment from Richard Duffield on 22 April 1834, and $38.45 from Nancy Morris on 6 October 1833, apparently the orphan’s share of other assets of the Morris estate. Another $44.30 was received from Nancy Morris on 4 April 1834. $21 of additional income was received in 1838 and 1839, apparently from rental of the Morris house, and $10 was received of Richard Duffield in 1842.
Debits included:
$50 to Isaiah Beans on 22 December 1835
$50 to Jonathan Tavener on 25 February 1836
$112 to George W. Shacklett on 20 October 1842
A side saddle for Sophronia in April and $20 in September 1836
A variety of small payments to others
[John Hesser’s guardian account dated 12 November 1842 included among the papers in Loudoun County Chancery Case 1845-023, originally case number M2144.]
The children have been over 21 for years by now, so this accounting is long overdue. It was recorded in Loudoun County Guardian Accounts Book C, page 148 but the original document ws included in the Chancery case file. The debits also included 14 days in 1836 “attending to business at Charles Town” at $1/day plus $8.54 in other expenses. It is curious that the guardianship required such a lengthy visit to Charles Town. Charles Town was about 12 miles northwest of Thomas Morris’s house near Purcellville. It is located across the Loudoun County line in Jefferson County, which is now in West Virginia. This may have been associated with the Aquilla WIllett estate, which was finally settled in 1839.
15 Nov 1843
Wm. H. Gray, attorney for Nancy Morris, was paid her share of $60.76 (including $12.34 accrued interest). He apparently deducted his fee of $25. [Paper included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1839-031]
11 May 1844
Guardianship Bond: in Morgan County, Ohio dated 11 May 1844 for John Clymer as guardian of “Thomas William and Sarah Ann Morris, children of Thomas Morris, decd.” [Ruth Bowers and Anita Short, Gateway to the West (Clearfield Publishing Company, 1989), Vol. II, p254. This is a bound version of a periodical published from 1967 to 1978. The portion of interest is an abstract of guardian bonds in Morgan County, Ohio.]
29 May 1844
Chancery Suit Heard: “…Jonathan Tavener and Keziah his wife, formerly Keziah Morris, together with her two sisters Sophronia alias Sophia, and Lucinda being entitled to a small property as the orphan children of Thomas Morris died in the year 1833, a certain John Hesser became the guardian of said orphans in the month of August 1833… and on the 10th day of March in the year 1834 said Keziah being by that time of legal age to choose for herself a guardian & being still sole and unmarried accordingly chose said Hesser as her guardian… said Lucinda has intermarried with a certain George W. Shacklett and said Sophronia has intermarried with a certain Isaiah Beans…
…there came into the hands of said Hesser as guardian aforesaid of said wards, several hundred dollars, proceeds of debts and suits collected, the precise amount of which is unknown… By an account settled [and recorded] in the year 1842… it appears that the sum of $335.75 principal, came into the hands of said Hesser as guardian aforesaid, and of which sum your orator has received in right of his wife Kesiah only $50 nor has Kesiah rec’d anything besides…” [Papers included in file of Loudoun County Chancery Case 1845-023, originally case number M2144]
Tavener sued Hesser, his securities on the guardian bonds, and the two sisters and their husbands. One of the securities who guaranteed John Hesser’s guardian bonds, was Valentine V. Purcell who died in 1837. His administrators (James M. McIlhaney and Samuel Purcell Jr.) thus were defendants. The other security, John G. Humphrey, was reported to have left the state and thus was removed from the suit.
The case was heard on the above date and the court settled the guardianship. The court agreed with the plaintiffs and in January 1845 ordered Hesser and Purcell’s administrators to pay the Taveners $87.05, the Shackletts $35.90, and the Beans $39.91, all with interest from 1 November 1842.
ca1844
Jonathan and Keziah Tavener moved from Virginia to Morgan County, Ohio about 1844 judging from the birthplaces of their children. They are in the 1850-1870 censuses of Meigstown and Keziah is a widow in the 1880 census. Jonathan (1796-1873) is buried in the
A Few Later Records
29 Feb 1852
John Clymer died in Olive Township, in the part of Morgan County that became Noble County in 1851. He is buried in the Olive Cemetery.
1880
Census: the three daughters of Thomas Morris’s first marriage all gave their father’s place of birth as Virginia.
16 Sep 1885
Sophronia Morris Beans died. She was born on 22 March 1816 according to her gravestone in the Arnold Grove Methodist Cemetery in Hillsboro, Loudoun County.
1901
Lucinda Morris Shacklett died. She was born in December 1814 according to the 1900 census of Fauquier County, Virginia. Her gravestone, which reads (1814-1901) and calls her Lucy Morris Shacklett, is in the Cool Spring Methodist Cemetery in Delaplane, Fauquier County, Virginia. The Shackeletts moved to Fauquier County by 1843 according to the 1845 court case above.
1880
Keziah Tavenner, age 59, was head of household in Meigstown, Morgan County Ohio.
Keziah is enumerated as age 30 in the 1850 census, 41 in 1860, and 51 in 1870..