Person:James Morrow (7)

James Morrow^[2] is believed to have been born in 1743 in Orange County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth (last name speculated to be Baxter). The presence of Baxter families living around the Morrow family in the Flat River area of Orange Co. NC and Rutherford Co. NC during the period make this plausible; however, at this date there is no documentary evidence that can confirm the 'Baxter' connection.

He is first found in the Flat River Area of Orange County that became Caswell County then Person County in 1792. His father may have been the Benjamin Morrow found in that area who died in 1758.

James is accepted as a DAR ancestor based on Patriotic Service: he took the oath of allegiance to make land entry in Orange County 15 April 1780.^[3]

James was granted 400 acres on the Flat River in old Orange county (eventually the Person/Caswell County line) in 1784. In 1794, James and Elizabeth Morrow, of Orange County, sold this land to Richard Holeman and moved to Rutherford County.^[4]

He acquired at least 300 acres in Rutherford County on the "Cherokee branch" in the late 1790s, partially from a 100 acre grant and the rest from assorted purchases. The tracts were adjacent to his son James Jr., Bushrod Suttle, and John Baber, and the names John Morrow and William Morrow appear as both witnesses and as owners of in adjacent grants. ^{[5] [6] [7]} William is likely his oldest son. John is thought to be a brother or nephew.

Known Children
James has no surviving will and his children were out of his household by 1800, limiting the usefulness of census records. However, both DNA and documentary evidence identify the following as children with relative certainty.

• James Morrow Jr. (1773-1856) m. Elizabeth Suttle in 1796 in Rutherford County. As noted below, he filed papers to administer his father's estate. DNA matches from multiple sons match William.
• Jesse Morrow (1776-1823) m. Polly Holland in 1799 in Rutherford County. He is named in a power of attorney from his father as Jesse Morrow of Simpson County, Kentucky in 1822.^[8], and a county biography of his son identifies his father as James.
• William Morrow (1768-1834), married Sarah Jay in Caswell County, NC (previously Orange County). A William Morrow lives next door to James Sr., Jr., and Jesse in 1800, and a 1829 receipt shows William Morrow acknowledging that James Morrow (Jr.) had paid William his share of the estate of his father James Morrow (Sr.). Following the DNA finding, research identified a will in Rutherford County in 1798 with William as a witness alongside Sarah's brother, along with numerous other deed and family connections, demonstrating the William who married Sarah is the son of James.

Likely Children

• George Morrow (abt.1783-1859), who died in Marshall County, AL in 1859. DNA from two descendants match James' other sons. He named a child Orson, as did James Jr. A George Morrow appears in Rutherford County in 1806 buying 34 acres from John Baber, in a deed witnessed by Isaac Morrow.^[9] In 1816, he sold those 34 acres to Abraham Goode, with the deed witnessed by James Morrow Jr. and James Morrow Sr.^[10]
• Isaac Morrow, d. 1842 Marshall Co, AL m. Fanny Fletcher. Isaac was a contemporary of George in both Rutherford County and Marshall County, Alabama. DNA via his son Alfred matches this group.

Census

• 1800 Rutherford Co, NC: 1m 10-15, 2m 16-25, 1m 45+, 1f u10, 1f 10-15, 1f 16-25, 1f 45+, 6 slaves (p. 126) [Jesse, james, and Wm next door]
• 1810 Rutherford Co, NC: James Morrow 1m 45+, 1f 45+, 8 slaves (p. 219)
• 1820 Rutherford Co, NC: James Morrow 1m 45+, 1f 45+, 7 slaves (p. 386)

Estate His son James (and wife Elizabeth) filed papers in Rutherford County following his death on July 15, 1826 stating his will was lost in a fire.^[11]

DNA Results

James is part of Morrow YDNA Group 2. YDNA of multiple descendants of his son James Morrow Jr. (1773-1856) matches at 37/37 or 67/67 with descendants of William Morrow (1768-1834), George Morrow (abt.1783-1859), and Isaac Morrow d. 1842.

In addition, he's likely a brother or close relation of William 1750-1828, who was in Buncombe Co, NC in 1797 Researchers have named this group the Flat River Morrows.

1.   Morrow DNA Project.
2. ↑ Often listed as James Guiles or Gillis Morrow, possibly based on a story by DF Morrow. However, no documents exist showing a middle name. There was a James Gillis Morrow in the time period, named after the captain of the ship carrying his family from Ireland when he was born. He had an entirely different set of children and DNA shows he was unrelated.
3. ↑ "Record of Morrow, James", Ancestor # A081252, see DAR.org
4. ↑ 1794 Deed: MORROW Jas & Eliz DEED to Richd Holesman Orange CO NC DBk-15_p.151 8 Aug 1794, Orange CO, NC. Orange CO NC DBk-15:151
5. ↑ In 1796, he bought three tracts totaling 150 acres from Robert Webb: Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Deeds 1796–1797," FamilySearch [1], image 22 of 121; Image Group Number: 007560097
   Deed is witnessed by neighbor John Baber and John Morrow
6. ↑ 50 acres from David Miller: "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Land Records 1782–1797," FamilySearch [2], image 426 of 460; Image Group Number: 007517759
   Deed witnessed by William Morrow
7. ↑ Grants: "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Deeds 1795–1798," FamilySearch [3], image 542 of 626; . Image Group Number: 007517762
   Survey: "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Land Warrants 1735–1957," FamilySearch [4], image 519 of 1544; . Image Group Number: 007167031
   Witnessed by William Morrow and Abraham Goode
8. ↑ Power of Attorney: "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Deeds 1822–1829," FamilySearch [5], image 47 of 475; Image Group Number: 007517767
   POA signed by Abraham Goode and Alfred Morrow
9. ↑ George Purchase: "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Deeds 1807–1816," images, FamilySearch [6], image 222 of 760; Image Group Number: 007517765
10. ↑ George sale': "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Deeds 1822–1829," FamilySearch [7], image 405 of 475; Image Group Number: 007517767
11. ↑ Will filing: "Rutherford, North Carolina, United States. Court Minutes 1818–1819, 1820–1821, 1821–1825," FamilySearch [8], image 457 of 927; Image Group Number: 007640782