Back to the homepage

FAMILY MEMBERS ARRANGED IN DATE ORDER

To earlier Morris family members

1745 - 1822 JOHN MORRIS

Born; 14 May 1745.
Parents: Joseph Morris (1717-1795) = Sarah Weller (1720-1789)
Married: (1) Mary Boys of Ashcombe (1754-1791)
Children: Ann (17??-1823), Sophia (17??-1828), James (1788-1861)
Married: (2) Ann Mann of Burwash (176?-1847). Note that Ann's sister married a Boys. Any relation to John's first wife?
Children; David (1794-1855), Frances (1797-1886), Arthur (1800-1852), Daniel (1802-1869), Samuel (1803-1873), Esther (1807-1859)

High Constable of Lewes 1783 (or 1785?).
Acquired the land of 'Ryders Well', Wellingham, Ringmer from William Kempe for £1055 in 1800 and built a fine house on it.

Ryders Wells, Wellingham, Lewes, East Sussex.

A portrait of John Morris in a gilt frame (dated 1783) was at 101 Enys Road, Eastbourne in the 1950s (presumably owned by Ellen I.Gilbert) and at 56 Milton Rd. in the 1970s. It was donated to the Sussex Archaeological Society by Richard Gilbert in 1979.
Died; 21 October 1822

1754 - 1791 MARY MORRIS (nee BOYS)

Born; 15 July 1754.
From Ashcombe / South Malling.
Married; John Morris (1744-1822) as his first wife.
Children: Ann (17??-1823), Sophia (17??-1828), James (17??-1861)
Died; 5 January 1791, aged 37.

176? - 1847 ANN MORRIS (nee MANN)

Born; 14 October 176?.
Parents; Rev. Daniel Mann (1725-1788, Congregational Minister at Burwash) = Ann Bright (1736-1809), married in 1764.
Married; John Morris (1744-1822) as his 2nd wife.
Children; David (1794-1855), Frances (1797-1886), Arthur (1800-1852), Daniel (1802-1869), Samuel (1803-1873), Esther (1807-1859).
Died; 4 January 1847. Charles Wille's diary 4 January 1847; "Mrs. Morris died"
Buried; 17 January 1847; (Sunday) "Funeral sermon occasioned by the death of our dear mother, Mrs.Morris".
A portrait of Ann Morris (in a gilt frame) as an old lady was at 101 Enys Road, Eastbourne in the 1950s, (presumably owned by Ellen I.Gilbert) and at 56 Milton Road in the 1970s. It was donated to the Sussex Archaeological Society by Richard Gilbert in 1979.

177? - 1823 ANN MORRIS

Parents; John Morris (1744-1822) = Mary Boys (1754-1791)
Died; 1823

c1780 - 1828 SOPHIA PURSGLOVE (nee MORRIS)

Born; c.1780.
Parents; John Morris (1744-1822) = Mary Boys (1754-1791)
Married; Robert Pursglove (1792-1870) son of John Pursglove = Hannah Hoad, on 13 Apr 1819 at South Malling, Lewes.
(The marriage is also reported as being on 20 April 1819 at Herstmonceux.)
Children; Mary Ann Morris Pursglove, born 9 January 1820, baptised 31 March 1820 at Herstmonceux Independent Chapel.
Died; 18 April 1828.

Robert married again to Hannah Mannington of Lewes (born Waldron 3 April 1797, baptised 2 June 1797, Cade Street Independent Chapel, daughter of William and Hannah Mannington). They were married in Lewes on 4 Jan 1834.
(The marriage is also reported as being on 4 November 1830 at Herstmonceux Independent Chapel.) Hannah died 10 Nov 1863, her gravestone is in Cade Street Chapel.
Children (from Robert's marriage to Hannah); Samuel (born Herstmonceux 1836, baptised Herstmonceux Independent Chapel 25 September 1836 - died 1 March 1864).
Address; Boreham Street at the 1851 Census (with wife Hannah and son Samuel).
Note by Richard Gilbert (1894-1988) from the diary of Charles Wille (1797-1878) 4 March 1870; "(see 7th) Robert Pursglove died". His funeral was on 7 March 1870 at Battle.

1788 - 1861 JAMES MORRIS

Born; 1788, Lewes.
Parents; John Morris (1745-1822) = Mary Boys (1754-1791)
Married (1); Jane Blundell.
Children; John (1814-?), Ann, Jane (18?? - 18 October 1865), Alfred (1822-?)

Married (2); Hannah Pursglove (daughter of John Pursglove + Hannah Hoad, born 1794 Herstmonceux, died 28 October 1851) on 4 November 1826 at Herstmonceux.
James is described in the 1851 Census as Farmer of 35 acres with 2 employees at White Birch, Warbleton, aged 63.
Died; 1861.

1794 - 1855 DAVID MORRIS

Born; 6 August 1794, Ringmer.
Parents; John Morris (1745-1822) = Ann Mann (176?-1847) of Burwash
Occupation; Miller at Malling Mill.
East Sussex Record Office AMS 5569/23 is a postcard showing the windmill at Lewes endorsed with notes about David Morris with whom the building is connected. Circa 1910.
David Morris was almost certainly one of the witnesses at the marriage of his sister Frances Morris (1797-1886) to Charles Wille (1797-1878).
From the diary of Charles Wille (1797-1878)
25 December 1852; "David Morris was seized with apoplexy while alone. My wife and myself went over at 1 o'clock midnight."
26 December 1852; "David very ill....wife at Springate Cottage all day."
28 February 1853; "David Morris seized with a fit"
17 May 1853; "David had his 4th fit."
4 March 1854; "David very ill all night"
6 August 1855; "David Morris died at our house in South Street."
The 1851 Census shows a David Morris (claiming to have been born in 1796), retired miller aged 55, living at 'Lower Swingate', Ringmer.
Died; 6 August 1855.

1797 - 1886 FRANCES WILLE (nee MORRIS)

France Wille on 2 October 1878. Photo: Edward Reeves, Lewes, No.13720.

Born; 26 February 1797 at Wellingham House, Ringmer.
Parents; John Morris (1745-1822) = Ann Mann of Burwash (176?-1847)
Married; Charles Wille (1797-1878) on 25 Sept 1821 at South Malling Church.
The honeymoon was apparently spent in Eastbourne, and they stayed at the "Star Shades", Old Town, then one of the principal hostels in the town.

More details of Charles Wille's family

Children; Frances Ann (1823-1889), George, Mary Sophia (1831-1916), John, Charles Samuel (1832-1877), Ebenezer, Esther (1838-1899)
Occupied 'Ryders Wells', Ringmer after the death of her father, and lived there with Charles Wille. All seven children were born in the house, including Mary Sophia, who married James Berry Morris.

'Ryders Wells', Wellingham, Lewes..

Died; 5 May 1886

1800 - 1852 ARTHUR MORRIS

Born; 12 August 1800, Ringmer.
Parents; John Morris (1745-1822) = Ann Mann (176?-1847)
Married; Elizabeth Wimble (1801-1886), niece of Nehemiah Wimble.

More details of Elizabeth Wimble's family

Children;
(i) Nehemiah Wimble Morris (1825 Lewes - ??), shown in 1851 Census as unmarried brewer's clerk, aged 25, High St., St.Thomas's, Lewes. In 1859 was grocer, tobacconist, ale and porter merchant, 7 High St., Lewes. In 1878 was butcher in Fisher St., Lewes.
(ii) Arthur Morris (1826 - 25 Nov 1907 London), married Rebekah Berry (1833-??) March 1861, Brighton. One daughter. Postmaster for Lewes, 52 High Street, for 44 years until retirement in 1897. Active in the erection of the Lewes Martyrs' memorial. Obituary in Charlotte Gilbert's newpaper cuttings album.
Arthur Morris (1826-1907) with a model of the Lewes Martyrs' Memorial beside him.

(iii) Audrey Wimble Morris (1829 Lewes - ??).
(iv) John Penfold Morris (1831 Lewes - ??), shown in 1851 Census as unmarried medical student, aged 19, High Street, St.Thomas's, Lewes. Became Rev John P Morris, minister of Lewes Baptist Chapel.
(v) William B.Morris (1834 Lewes - ??), shown in 1851 Census as attorney's clerk, aged 16, High Street, St.Thomas's, Lewes.
(vi) Mary Ann (1846 Lewes - 20 Sept 1846). Died as an infant, buried at St.John the Baptist's, Lewes.

Occupation; Wholesale provision merchant, Cliffe, Lewes (where the Castle Inn now stands), and for some years postmaster of the Borough of Lewes. Described in the 1851 Census as Grocer/Tea dealer of High Street, St.Thomas's, Lewes.
In 1816, George Wille (1738-1817), his son Charles (1768-1849), Charles's brother-in-law Nehemiah Wimble (1778-1843) & George Adams, purchased a plot of land in Lewes from Charles Wille on which the Tabernacle Chapel was later built. Trustees were appointed by the surviving purchasers in 1829 and they included Charles Wille (1768-1849), Nehemiah Wimble (1778-1843), Arthur Morris (1800-1852) and James Berry (1796-1877) (Charles Wille the younger's brother-in-law).

Details of the Tabernacle Chapel, Lewes.

From the diaries of Charles Wille (1797-1878);
7 May 1841; "Mrs. A.Morris's premature confinement, child died." (This may refer to Elizabeth and a seventh child?)
20 September 1846; "Arthur Morris's youngest child died".
1 April 1850; "A.Morris put in Lewes jail." Does this refer to Arthur?
13 December 1852; "Went to see Arthur Morris, very ill and dying in an unconscious state."
14 December 1852; "Arthur Morris died."

1802 - 1869 DANIEL MORRIS

Born; 26 January 1802, Wellingham House, Ringmer, Lewes.
Parents; John Morris (1745-1822) = Ann Mann (176?-1847)
Occupation; Draper, master, aged 48 at the 1851 Census.

Married; (1) Jane Wimble (4 January 1805 - 17 February 1839). Died after giving birth to a stillborn child.

More details of Jane Wimble's family

Married; (2) Elizabeth Parsons (1825-1887) on 21 September 1842 at St.Nicholas Church, Brighton.
For details of Elizabeth see 1825 at foot of this page.
Children;
(i) Jane Elizabeth (1843 Lewes - 1865 aged 22)
(ii) John Joseph (September 1846 Lewes - 1932 aged 86). Married Eva Annie Parsons (possibly his cousin).
(iii) Ebenezer Daniel (6 September 1847 Lewes - July 1883 Hackney). Married Annie. Two children, Ebenezer Joseph (1872-1937) and Percy St Leger (1880-1953).
(iv) Charles Frederick (September 1849 Lewes - 1898)
(v) Cordelia Betsy (1851 Lewes - 1863 aged 12)
(vi) William Arthur (1853 Lewes - 1918). Occupation; compositor.

Three sons are mentioned by Charles Wille, 'Jas' (or 'Jos') - presumably John Joseph -, 'Eb' - presumably Ebenezer Daniel -, and 'Wm' - presumably William Arthur.

Address; High Street, All Saints, Lewes in 1851.
From the diary of Charles Wille (1797-1878);
6 September 1847; "Mrs.D.Morris confined (boy)" (Presumably Ebenezer)
19 November 1869; "Broke open Daniel Morris's shop, found him dead in his chair."
24 November 1869; "Buried Daniel in the family vault (All Saints). His sons, Jos, Eb & Wm present."
Charles Wille's diary for 1869 shows Mrs.Daniel Morris living at 18 Fossett Square, Graham Rd., Dalston.
Daniel died; 19 November 1869, Lewes.

1803 - 1873 SAMUEL MORRIS

Born; 27 August 1803.
Parents; John Morris (1744-1822) = Ann Mann (176?-1847)
East Sussex Record Office AMS 5569/5 is a letter from Samuel Morris to his parents, 2 June 1817. It says that his vacation commences on 18 June. Mr.& Mrs.James Button of Button's Academy, Cliffe, send their regards, etc.
East Sussex Record Office AMS 5569/63 is The Shorter Catechism presented by the Assembly of Divines to both Houses of Parliament 1805, inscribed Samuel Morris, 23 Aug 1820.
Died; 4 August 1873
Buried; 8 Aug 1873. "Chas, A.Morris, John Morris attended"

1807 - 1859 ESTHER GUY (nee MORRIS)

Born; 14 January 1807.
Parents; John Morris (1745-1822) = Ann Mann (176?-1847)
Married; ?? Guy, from Crowlink.
Children; John (18?? - October 1858)
East Sussex Record Office AMS 5569/64 is a diary kept by Esther of Ryders Wells Cottage, Wellingham, Lewes, from her 21st birthday in 1828 to 1845 (with gaps). It consists almost entirely of religious self-examination. It was donated by Richard Gilbert (1894-1988) in 1979 along with her manuscript book of herbal remedies.

'Ryders Wells', Wellingham, Lewes..

The 1851 Census shows an Esther Morris, unmarried 44-year old 'annuitant' (i.e. born in 1807) born in Burwash, as a visitor to Owlsbury Farm, Little Horsted, c/o Sturt, with an Ann Morris (1807?-18??).

From the diary of Charles Wille (1797-1878); 3 Oct 1858; "Esther came home, first train, from Crowlink bringing the news of the death of their son John"
8 Oct 1858; "Mr.Guy's son of Crowlink buried".
Was this Charles's sister-in-law Esther Morris (1807-1859) (we did not know she had married), or his daughter Esther Wille (1838-1899) (did she really marry FOUR times ? Unlikely, she would have been 20). From this we deduce that this Esther married Mr.Guy and had a son.
Died; 24 August 1859

1825 - 1887 ELIZABETH MORRIS (nee PARSONS)

Elizabeth Morris (formerly Parsons) around 1869. Photo; James Jameson, Edinburgh.

Born; 1825, Worthing.
Parents; Joseph Parsons (c1791 - 3 February 1851, Brighton aged 61) = Elizabeth (c1791 - after 1851, Brighton)

Married; Daniel Morris (1802-1869) as his 2nd wife on 21 September 1842 at St Nicholas Church, Brighton. Children;
(i) Jane Elizabeth (1843 Lewes - 1865 aged 22)
(ii) John Joseph (September 1846 Lewes - 1932 aged 86). Married Eva Annie Parsons (possibly his cousin).
(iii) Ebenezer Daniel (6 September 1847 Lewes - July 1883 Hackney). Married Annie. Two children, Ebenezer Joseph (1872-1937) and Percy St Leger (1880-1953).
(iv) Charles Frederick (September 1849 Lewes - 1898)
(v) Cordelia Betsy (1851 Lewes - 1863 aged 12)
(vi) William Arthur (1853 Lewes - 1918). Occupation; compositor.

Three sons are mentioned by Charles Wille, 'Jas' (or 'Jos') - presumably John Joseph -, 'Eb' - presumably Ebenezer Daniel -, and 'Wm' - presumably William Arthur.

Elizabeth Morris (formerly Parsons) around 1869. Photo; Edward Reeves, Lewes, No.8735.

Address; High Street, All Saints, Lewes in 1851.
From the diary of Charles Wille (1797-1878);
6 September 1847; "Mrs.D.Morris confined (boy)" (Presumably Ebenezer)
19 November 1869; "Broke open Daniel Morris's shop, found him dead in his chair."
24 November 1869; "Buried Daniel in the family vault (All Saints). His sons, Jos, Eb & Wm present."
Charles Wille's diary for 1869 shows Mrs.Daniel Morris living at 18 Fossett Square, Graham Rd., Dalston.
Died; 1887.

To later Morris family members