Ann Parsons

Ann Morris Maddy Parsons
BIRTH 17 Nov 1740
Orange County, Virginia, USA
DEATH 31 Oct 1844 (aged 103)
Greenville, Monroe County, West Virginia, USA
BURIAL
Cottrel Lively Cemetery
Lindside, Monroe County, West Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5358309/ann-maddy_parsons

Ann Morris

• Birth: Nov. 17, 1740 Orange County Virginia, USA
• Death: Oct. 31, 1844 Greenville Monroe County West Virginia, USA
• Daughter of John Morris and Ann (Jones) Morris (Perhaps)
• [sibling%28s%29 unknown]
• Wife of James Maddy — married about 1759 in Orange Co., VA
• Wife of George W Parsons — married 8 Feb 1785 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Disputed Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Morris-758

The parentage of Ann Morris remains unknown. An illustrious tradition that she was a sister of Robert Morris, Jr., of Revolutionary War fame, who was sometimes referred to as the "financier of the Revolution," has grown up and been perpetuated over the years. The tradition was noted as early as 1916 by Morton (D20), who was unable to accept the tradition as a proven fact. However, tradition once again proved to be a chronic deceiver.

A later comprehensive study of a possible Robert Morris-Ann Morris Maddy tradition necessarily reached the following conclusions (D29): "An exhaustive search of available record sources has provided no evidence that [Robert Morris] had a sister Ann.... Neither Robert (Morris), Sr., or Robert, Jr., made any reference whatsoever to Ann Morris Maddy Parsons in their wills.... In fact, no original document has been located that supports even a remote relationship between the two, other than bearing a common surname." This study noted that several Morris families were found for the appropriate time period in the records of Fairfax Co., including one John Morris residing on Goose Creek in southern Loudoun Co.; but no positive conclusions could be reached as to Ann's parentage.

Thanks to Steve Stephenson (#48405330) for this Bio information:

See genealogical source records at https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=L6MD-KTP.

Daughter of Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet, 1716-1778, who were married about 1732 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

She married twice:
first to James Maddy about 1759 in Augusta, Hampshire, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America; then to George Parsons, 1713-1805, on 8 February 1785 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Family links:

Parents:

 Robert Morris (1711 - 1750)

Spouses:

 James Maddy (1740 - 1783)*

 George W Parsons (1713 - 1805)*

Children:

 William Maddy (1760 - ____)*

 Absolom Maddy (1763 - 1763)*

 John Maddy (1764 - 1840)*

 Matthew Maddy (1766 - 1812)*

 James Alderson Maddy (1768 - 1824)*

 Aorefs Maddy (1772 - ____)*

 Sarah Maddy Lively (1773 - 1839)*

 Frances Maddy Lively (1775 - 1825)*

Siblings:

 Margaret Morris Cox (1732 - 1799)*

 Robert Morris (1734 - 1806)*

 Ann Morris Parsons (1740 - 1844)

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Cottrel Lively Cemetery Lindside Monroe County West Virginia, USA

Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]

Maintained by: David Demuth Boon Originally Created by: Find A Grave Record added: Apr 12, 2001 Find A Grave Memorial# 5358309 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5358309

Ann was an accomplished horsewoman. Family legend, from the Virginia Maddys, has it that Ann was the sister of Revolutionary War financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris. The D.A.R. chapter in Bluefield, WV, at the unveiling of her grave marker, acknowledged the relationship. Find A Grave also has this information. However, Ann is not listed in either the Robert Morris, Sr., or Robert Morris, Jr’s. wills. From Us Maddys: “Further research seems to point to a John Morris and Ann Jones as the parents…Whether or not our Ann was the sister of Robert Morris of Revolutionary fame or the daughter of John Morris and Ann Jones Morris, may never be established for sure, yet we can all be very proud of her for her own sake.”

“After settling in Monroe County, business connected with the settling of the estate of her husband, who had large holdings in the Shenandoah Valley, took her back on a trip through the mountains. She went on horseback and alone. After transacting the business, she had a considerable sum of money in her possession, which she concealed in a belt beneath her clothing. Returning, she came to the house of a settler in the mountains, and was made welcome to spend the night. The settler guessed that she had money, and being avaricious and a murderer at heart, he determined to have her money. The next morning, he kindly (?) offered to show her a nearer way than the regular trail. She accepted his kind offer, and, coming to a lonely place over a ravine, he told her he knew she had money, that he intended to have it, and that he would throw her over the cliff, and no one would be the wiser. She descended from her horse, as if accepting her fate, and asked that he turn his back, as the money was in her clothing. Probably she had a more complicated job to get it than she would today. He obligingly turned away, and she made a dash at him, threw him off balance and over the cliff, and resumed her journey, unmolested. In later years, she became Mrs. George Parsons, and went by the name of Granny Parsons. She was a midwife and practical nurse, and was always perfectly fearless, riding a big black stallion, going on her errands of helpfulness at all hours. People in the scattered settlements of those days would say, ‘There goes Granny Parsons to help someone in trouble.’”

Ann spent her last days with her daughter, Sarah, on the Lively farm. She lived to be 104.

Submitted by Member Angela (#48520699) Direct descendant in the Maddy line.

• **** Thanks to Steve Stephenson (#48405330) for the following Bio information: See genealogical source records at https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=L6MD-KTP.

Daughter of Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet, 1716-1778, who were married about 1732 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

Married twice: First to James Maddy about 1759 in Augusta, Hampshire, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America; then to George Parsons, February 8, 1785, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::2713085

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ Web: West Virginia, Find A Grave Index, 1780-2012 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,70630::0

GEDCOM Source

1,70630::302288

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::2713085

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ Web: West Virginia, Find A Grave Index, 1780-2012 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,70630::0

GEDCOM Source

1,70630::302288

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::2713085

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ Web: West Virginia, Find A Grave Index, 1780-2012 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,70630::0

GEDCOM Source

1,70630::302288

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::2713085

GEDCOM Source

@R-995259766@ Web: West Virginia, Find A Grave Index, 1780-2012 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,70630::0

GEDCOM Source

1,70630::302288

Ann Morris Maddy Parsons BIRTH 17 Nov 1740 Orange County, Virginia, USA DEATH 31 Oct 1844 (aged 103) Greenville, Monroe County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL Cottrel Lively Cemetery Lindside, Monroe County, West Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5358309/ann-maddy_parsons

Children William Maddy 1760 – unknown

Absolom Maddy 1763–1763

Photo John Maddy 1764–1840

Matthew Maddy 1766–1812

James Alderson Maddy 1768–1824

Aorefs Maddy 1772 – unknown

Photo Sarah Maddy Lively 1773–1839

Frances Maddy Lively 1775–1825