William Alexander Morrison (1781 - 1867)

Born 15 May 1781 in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 May 1867 at age 85 in Lawrence, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

William Morrison has Scottish Ancestors.

William Morrison was born 15 May 1781 at Hagerstown, Maryland, just six weeks after his parents came from Lewis (the Isle of Lewis), Scotland to America. Resided in Butler County, Pennsylvania until 1853, then moved to Lawrence County Pennsylvania to the home where they resided for the rest of their lives.

William was born in 1781 and died in 1867. ^[1]

William Morrison served in the 2nd Brigade, 11th Division of Pennsylvania Volunteers during the War of 1812. He served from 5 May 1813, until 5 November 1813. According to his burial card, he was born on 15 May 1781, and died on 2 May 1867, and rose to the rank of Captain.^[2]

1850: Muddy Creek Twp., Butler, Pennsylvania; Wm Morison, a 68 year old farmer b. Maryland, owned real estate worth $1400. He lived with his wife Sarah, 66 b. Pennsylvania, and Allen Morison, 71 b. Maryland.^[3]

1860: Neshannock Twp., Lawrence, Pennsylvania "Lige" Morrison, a 47 year old farmer. owned real estate worth $1000 and personal property worth $200. He lived with his wife Ledy A., 30, and five children: Alfrd Morrison, 10; Robt Morrison, 8; Mary, 4; Eben, 3; and Jno, 5/12. All were born in Pennsylvania. Wm Morrison, 80 b. Maryland, and Sarah Morrison, 77 b. Pennsylvania, were living with the family. The Steven Morrison family is listed immediately above Lige.^[4]

William is buried at King's Chapel Cemetery, in Pulaski Township., Lawrence, Pennsylvania.^[5]

• Will dated: April 28, 1855
  
• Codicil dated: March 6, 1867
  
• Admitted to file and Probate: May 6, 1867, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
  
• Mentioned in Will: wife Sarah; sons Elijah, Stephen (deceased by date of codicil), Allen, Daniel, Lambert; daughters Maria Boston, Elizabeth Cleeland

"In the name of God amen. I William Morrison of the township of Neshannock in the County of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, farmer living in health of body and of sound mind memory and understanding do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows.

"Item 1st I give and bequeath my beloved wife Sarah Morrison the one third of the produce of my farm in said Neshannock township for her natural life. My said sons Elijah Morrison and Stephen Morrison I hereafter bequeath the said farm to cultivate and manage their portions there of and deliver to my said wife her one third production there of the grain and the bushel the hay in the stack or more other matters in a proper State for using. I also give to my said wife living her natural life a comfortable room in the mansion house on said farm. Also the interest arising from any and all money which may be left after the payment of my debts and legacies herein made -

"Item 2 I give and bequeath to my son Allen Morrison twenty four dollars to be paid to him by my Executor after the decease of my wife.

"Item 3 I give to my son Daniel Morrison twenty five dollars be paid to him after the death of my said wife.

"Item 4 I give and bequeath to my son Lambert Morrison twenty five dollars to be paid after the death of my said wife.

"Item 5 I give and bequeath to my two daughters Maria Boston and Elizabeth Cleeland each twenty five dollars to be paid after the death of my said wife-

"Item 6 I give and bequeath to my son Elijah Morrison and to his heirs assigns forever twenty acres of the South end of the farm I now reside on in Neshannock township aforesaid subject to the payment of one third of the products the thereof to my said wife during her natural life and not to be sold during during the life of my said wife without her written consent thereto and her claim therein being fully served to her.

"Item 7 I give and bequeath to my son Stephen Morrison and to his heirs and assigns forever the remaining thirty acres of the Northern portion of my said farm in Neshannock township subject to the payment of the one third of the products thereof to my said wife during her natural life not to be sold without her written consent thereto and her claim there on being fully secured to her.

"Item 8 It is my will that all money and property of mine remaining at the death of my said wife shall be equally divided among my children then living (that is all monies remaining after the payment of the forgoing legacies) giving to each share and share alike.

"And finally I do nominate constitute and appoint my son Stephen Morrison the sole Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all and any other will and wills at any time. Heretofore by me made and do declare this to be my last will and testament.

"In witness whereof I the said William Morrison have hereafter and sealed this 28th day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred & fifty five.
"Signed Sealed declared & published by the above named William Morrison as for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

A.B. Allen, J. Kissick, Jno. Reynolds,

"Lawrence County Pa"
"Be it remembered that on this 3rd day of May A.D. 1867 before Regr.for the probate of Wills &c for said County came A.B. Allen and J. Kissick subscribing witnesses to the within will, who being duly sworn according to Law said that they were present and saw and heard William Morrison the testator sign seal publish pronounce and declare the within instructions of writing as and for his last will and testament that he was of sound mind mind and memory to the best of their knowledge and belief, and further that they subscribed their names to the same as witnesses in presence of said testator at his request & in presence of each other & in the presence of the other subscribing witness, John Reynolds, who is since dead.
"Sworn and subscribed May 3rd 1867 before me Sylvester Gaston Regr.
Jas.(?) Kissick, A.B. Allen

"I William Morrison having heretofore devises a portion of my estate to son Stephen Morrison. And said Stephen Morrison having died before leaving a wife and children. I hereby devise as a codicil to my said Will - that his said wife and children take said devise as his heirs at law, as if he had died intestate after me, Witness my hand and seal Mar. 6/1867

Attest Wm. Book

Henry Crocker"^[6]

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/24B3-MX3
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38436238/william-morrison

1. ↑ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo,Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Volume: 85; SAR Membership Number: 16920.
2. ↑ Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999 [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1929-1990; Archive Collection Number: Series 1-9; Folder Number: 344.
3. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1850; Census Place: Muddy Creek, Butler, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_760; Page: 265A; Image: 525.
4. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Year: 1860; Census Place: Neshannock, Lawrence, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1127; Page: 122; Image: 126; Family History Library Film: 805127.
5. ↑ Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999 [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1929-1990; Archive Collection Number: Series 1-9; Folder Number: 344.
6. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28829-16967-64?cc=1999196&wc=9PMP-C6D:268498701,280850601 : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Lawrence > Wills 1858-1884 vol 2-3 > image 229 of 743.