Family:William Morris and Sarah Hedger (1)

William Bryant Morris

William Bryant Morris was born about 1766 or 1767 in Colonial Virginia. William died in November 1829 in Woodford County, Kentucky.

Sarah "Sallie" Hedger

Sarah "Sallie" Hedger, daughter of Mary Morris and Thomas Stern Hedger, was born about 1772 in Fauquier County, Virginia. Sallie died about 1824. She is believed to have died in Mercer County, Kentucky.

William Morris and Sarah Hedger Marriage

William Morris and Sarah Hedger were married about 1791.^S3 They had the following children:

1) James Morris

James Morris, son of William Bryant Morris and Sarah Hedger, was born June 27, 1793 in Woodford County, Kentucky. James died February 17, 1864 in Scott County, Kentucky.

2) Harrison Morris

3) Elizabeth Morris

4) William Mason Morris

(A note from the late Ben Hume Morris)

William was a life long resident of Woodford County, Kentucky. When he married his first wife, Pamelia, he purchase the farm upon which he raised his family on 14 Nov 1831, from John Cave. A record of the transaction is found in Deed Bk., M., p. 466. John Cave had recieved this farm from the estate of William's father in 1831 and it was held for reconveyance to William Mason.

When Pamelia died, William remarried to Priscilla Collins and they bought a new home, located behind Hillsborough Baptist Church. The house had formerly been owned by Captain Jack Jouett of Revolutionary fame for his famous ride from Cucko Tavern, VA to warn Gov. Thomas Jefferson at Monticello of the approaching British. William and Priscilla lived out their lives in this house. They are both buried in the Capt. Jack Jouett cemetery on their home place. William Mason Morris seems to have been his father's favorite. He was named as one of the executors of his father's will, who appointed him guardian of his younger brother, David. As a man, he was said to be of gentle, but aristocratic bearing and a person who was consulted by friends and neighbors in times of need.

William's will is recorded in Book Y, p.298 in Woodford Co.,KY. It lists all his children. He & wife Priscilla, their son Samuel C., & his wife Rebecca & several grandchildren are buried in the family graveyard by the road that runs back of the Hillsborough Church. For many years the graveyard was not maintained and many of the markers were broken or fell. In more recent years, the house, grounds and graveyard have been given more attention. The graveyard is now well kept and the house has been restored and is open for public visitation.

RECORD FROM BIBLE OF WILLIAM MASON and PRISCILLA MORRIS FAMILY RECORD

MARRIAGES William Mason Morris and Priscilla Collins was married March 9th 1837 John Cleveland Morris and Annie M. Bergen was married October 24th 1867. Sarah Antionett Morris and George W. Dixon was married May 2, 1867

BIRTHS George Collins Morris Born November 12th 1854, William Mason Born May 16th 1799, Priscilla Morris his wife Born April 16th 1812, Mary Hester Morris Born October 6th 1839, John Cleveland Morris Born Aprl 9th 1841, Sarah Emily Morris Born September 8th 1842, Samuel Craig Morris Born February 29th 1844, Sarah Antoinett Morris Born May 6th 1848, James Harrison Morris Born October 16th 1848 Francis Ann Moris Born September 26 1851

DEATHS Fannie Gray Sister died February the 27 1887, Lewis William Mason Morris died Jan 31 1890 Sarah Emily Morris died September 21st 1843 George Collins Morris died december 7th 1856 Prissila Morris their Mother died October 4th 1878 William Walker Morris died November 20th 1829 Son Pamala Morris died October 28th 1835 companion first Wife Pamala Walker Maiden Name William M. Morris Father Died February 25 1883

MISCELLANEOUS Samuel Crag Morris Died July the 30 1895, John C. Morris Died Aprial the 29 1896 Elisibeth Eaton Died Febuery the 19 1915 Wife of John Eaton First husband Price Hawkins Sarah Antinette Morris Dixon wife of George W.Dixon died Aug. 20 - 1921, in Shelby Co. born in Woodford Co. moved to Shelby Co. 1905 Jan. 8

This old bible of William Mason Morris and Priscilla Morris was given to me in October, 1960 by Mrs. Daysie Dixon Gilberton, a granddaughter of William Mason and Priscilla Morris. Mrs. Gilberton had left the bible in an old chest in care of her son when she moved to California about eight years ago. When she returned on a visit about four years ago, she found it on the floor of the smoke house, having been torn by children and partly eaten by rats. The identity of the persons making all the entries on the family pages is not known but there have been no changes or additions made since I recieved the bible from Mrs. Gilberton. Mrs. Gilberton lives in Bell, 44, California and was visiting friends and relations in Kentucky when she gave me the bible. When given to me, the bible had chapters of Genesis through most of Isaiah missing.

His signature BEN H. MORRIS June 8, 1962

William Mason Morris was the fourth child - third son - of William Morris who was born in Virginia about 1766 or 1767 and who died in Woodford County, Kentucky in November, 1829. William Mason Morris was born and died in Woodford County. He and his second wife, Priscilla, are buried in the family graveyard in Woodford County on the premises of their home now known as the Capt. Jack Kouett place on the west side of McCoun's Ferry Road back of Hillsborough Baptist Church. BHM

The names & dates of birth of the children of William & Priscilla were taken from their family bible. The bible was owned by Mrs. Daysie Dixon Gilberton who gave it to Benjamin Hume Morris. Col.Morris has given the bible to the Woodford County Historical Society to insure that the records will be available to posterity.

The reader will notice in the family bible, that Samuel is called Samuel "Craig" Morris, and his brother is referred to as John "Cleveland" Morris. Dispite the difference in the bible entries, John was known throughout his life as John Craig, and Samuel always used the name Samuel Cleveland. It is not known if these muddle names were reversed by common usage, or were erroneously entered in the bible because the bible appears to have been started at some time after most of the children were born.

Source: Book: "John Collins of VA & KY Gen & Desc. 1744 - 1988" Page: 8

5) Thomas H. Morris

6) Thornton Morris

7) Marian Morris

8) Lucinda Morris

9) John C. Morris

10) Mary D. "Polly" Morris

11) David Argyll Morris

David Argyll Morris, son of Sarah "Sallie" Hedger and William Bryant Morris, was born on June 2, 1819 in Woodford County, Kentucky. David married Amanda Melvina Watkins on February 23, 1843 in Henry Couty, Kentucky. David died on October 30, 1895 in Sulphur, Henry County, Kentucky. David is buried in the Morris Family Cemetery in Henry County, Kentucky. A memorial page with photos of his cemetery marker is found on the Find A Grave website.

1.   Morris, Ben Hume. Children of William Bryant Morris and Sarah (Sallie) Elizabeth HedgerMorris. (Frankfort, Kentucky: Library of Kentucky Historical Society).
2.   Nicholes, Virginia Bullard. Pedigree Chart for Ann Eliza Morris. (letter to Marjorie B. Malloy, Thomasson Traces, editor: Self).
3.   Smith, Pat & Morris, Ben Hume. Smith, Pat & Morris, Ben Hume; "Pedigree of Sarah "Sallie" Hedger". (47124 Goodpasture Rd.,Vida, OR 97488-9702: Hedger-Bradford, Janice Lee , 25 April 1996).