William Airly Morris

William Airly Morris was born after 1795, the first of two children born to William Morris (called “Patsy”) and his wife Martha Ann Rebecca Nance Maske. He grew up in Anson County, North Carolina, and by 1820 had married Martha Smith, daughter of William and Nancy (Allen) Smith.¹

Public Life

William Airly was a landowner, farmer, slaveholder, state assemblyman (1828–1831), and state senator (1832–1833) from Anson County. He was also a man of the church — from 1842 until his death in 1844 he served as Pastor of Rocky River Missionary Baptist Church, one of the oldest Baptist congregations in North Carolina, organized in 1776. The founding of the church was traditionally credited to the Rev. John Culpepper Sr., and the church was often locally designated as “Culpepper’s Meeting House.” It is located in what was known as upper Anson County, seven miles west of Ansonville.²

A memorial for Rev. William A. Morris was offered in April 1845 and “he was spoken of in the highest terms.” Church minutes from November 1844 record that “Elder Jonathan Davis is supplying for the church as their pastor, William A. Morris had died.”²

The Brown Creek Baptist Church records from 1840 to 1850 listed the membership of William A. Morris, Martha Morris, George W. Morris, Jackson J. Morris, Nathan Morris, and Mrs. Rebecca Morris — the latter being William Airly’s mother, whose death was noted in 1845.¹

Land and Family

The 1820 Anson County census listed one son and one daughter under 10 years of age, with two “free” Negro servants. Between 1821 and 1833, William Airly conducted numerous land transactions on Lane’s Creek and Brown Creek in Anson County.¹

The Reverend E. M. Brooks was later in error as to William Airly having no descendants bearing his name. He and his wife Martha had twelve children, six of whom were sons: James W. (concerning whom the writer found no record after 1844), Jackson J. (who came to Texas with his second wife and three children in 1853), Thomas J. (who came to Texas with his bride in 1853), Nathan A. (who died in 1856), George W. (who with his children and second wife migrated to Tennessee), and Columbus W. (who died young during the Civil War, 1863).²

Death

On October 4, 1844, William Airly Morris executed his will, which was probated at the October term of Court, Anson County. His will named his wife Martha; sons James W., J.J., Thomas J.S., N.A., G.W., and Columbus W.; daughters Elizabeth Allen, Martha A.K. Griffin, and Frances J.L. Griffin; and named his half-brother Miles W. Maske as executor.¹

The 1850 census lists Martha Morris as head of household with Thomas J. (age 23), Nathan (18), Rosanna (13), Susanna (13), Sarah E. (10), and Columbus W. (6). In December 1853, Martha Smith Morris, widow of William Airly, joined by sons Jackson J., Thomas J., George W., and Nathan A., conveyed land to D. (Darling) M. Smith, brother of Martha Morris.¹