Note from Pam Wilson: I have him positioned as a son of Henry Morris of Orange County, though this is not proved, for a couple of reasons: (1) his wife's father, Thomas Rayburn, had dealings with Henry Morris in Orange County and then later this William served as witness on many of Thomas' documents, and (2) William and his wife Sarah had a son named Henry, which is not a common name among early American Morris families. However, he was not named in Henry Morris's 1801 Orange County, NC will. He could also have been Henry's brother or nephew.

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Revolutionary War Pensioner (Patriot)

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements http://www.davidsonsfort.com/pension_apps/Morris,%20William%20s7252...

Pension Application of William Morris, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1772, Application

1. S7252

Transcribed and annotated by Nancy Poquette

Burke County, NC, October 22nd, 1833, William Morris, aged 82 years:

“I first volunteered in my 28th year (he states he was born in 1750) in the summer season for 3 months under Captain Kemp (believes his name was Jonathan) and Colonel Charles McDowell in this county (Burke. I then lived where I now reside) and marched down into South Carolina. While on this tour, was in the battle that was fought at Colonel Ned Hampton’s. We were attacked in the night by a company of British dragoons and some Tories. After fighting some time the British retreated but got what prisoners we had. Captain Kemp and Captain Kenady’s [Kennedy%E2%80%99s] done the hardest of the fighting.”

“Next morning there was a detachment of horsemen sent after them. Our officers got all the horses they could ?start and picked ?these men and started them in pursuit. I was one of the men picked out and sent. We pursued about 12 miles and overtook them. We had a skirmish with them. We killed some of the enemy and took about 20 prisoners. They had about 20 of our men prisoners, which they had taken before. They were all released in the fight or rather, got away and returned with us to the camp.”

“I don’t recollect the date, but think it was in the summer of 1778 or 9. We done no more fighting till my term of service was ended. I was discharged near Pacolet River in S.C. I got no written discharge. Colonel McDowell allowed me to come home 11 days before my time was out on account of my wife whose situation required me to be at home.”

“In the fall of same year, I volunteered for 3 months more to go under Captain Whitaker, but he got killed before I got to him, and Lieutenant Boyakin [Boykin] took his place. We mustered to the state of South Carolina against the Tories. We had several skirmishes with ?Magent’s and Cunningham’s companies of Tories and upon one occasion we killed 5 of Cunningham’s men on Pacolet River in South Carolina. We had a skirmish upon a small creek that runs into Tyger River in South Carolina with a Tory captain by the name of Bright. In that skirmish my brother-in-law, John Raburn was killed, and one other of our company wounded. I served my three months and was discharged by Captain Boykin. I seen this discharge among my papers about three years ago. I have made diligent search since I learned we were to get pay for our services, but can’t find it now. I know not what has become of it.”

“I next volunteered for 3 months under Captain George Walker to guard the frontier against the Indians. This was the next winter after I returned from the tour after the Tories. We were stationed at the Upper Fort on the Catawba River in this county near where Esquire John Burger now lives. I served out my time at that place. There was no fighting done, and was discharged by Captain Walker. I don’t think I got a written discharge from him.”

“After this I was twice a volunteer to go to the Cherokee nation. We didn’t volunteer for any particular time, but turned out for the trip be it long or short. The first time I went, I went under Captain Daniel Smith, one of the McDowell’s commanders. We were only gone a few weeks, but killed a good many and took some prisoners and plunder. I killed one Indian warrior myself, and took another prisoner and brought him back to Captain Smith. This prisoner led us to a town, but the Indians had left it before we got there. We got some of their horses and other plunder.”

“The next scout was under Major Joseph McDowell (afterwards General McDowell of Johns River.) We were out about the same length of time and killed and took some prisoners and drove the Indians back from the frontiers. This ended my services. I got no written discharges from either of these officers when we got back to the settlements we were dismissed and each man went home.”

William x Morris

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"of Guilford County"; listed as Tryon Co, NC taxpayer in 1776

Capt. Kemp's Company; Col. Chas.McDowell's Regiment Burke Co,. N C - fought in S C. Bro-in law, John Raborn was killed. After war, twice volunteered and sent to Cherokee nation. They killed several indians [he killed one], took prisoners, horses and other plunder and drove indians out of the frontier territory.

Before the war he had received a No. Carolina Land Grant authorized by King of England and was one of the first settlers in this area.

Have not been able at this time to prove who his parents were. Other family trees have shown 3 or 4 different ones.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This may be of interest to you. The site claims to have the ancestry of William Buck Morris.

http://www.morrisfamilytree.comxa.com/#morris

Sincerely,

William Thomas

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 19 2016, 0:51:48 UTC

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• Military service: Rev War Soldier
• Military service: United States Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 - May 17 1815 - Virginia, United States
• Residence: United States Federal Census - 1790 - Burke, North Carolina, United States
• Residence: United States Federal Census - 1800 - Burke, North Carolina, United States
• Residence: United States Federal Census - 1810 - Burke, North Carolina, United States
• Residence: United States Federal Census - 1820 - Burke, North Carolina, United States
• Residence: United States Federal Census - 1830 - Burke, North Carolina, United States
• Residence: 1840 - West Of North Fork, Burke, North Carolina, United States
• Residence: United States Federal Census - 1840 - Burke, North Carolina, United States
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Oct 13 2021, 20:25:41 UTC