William Morris

William Morris — called “Patsy” — was born about 1730 in Bertie County, North Carolina, the son of John Morris of Bertie County and Rebekah Earley. His grandfather, also John Morris, had emigrated from Wales.¹

The Revolution

William served as a Sergeant in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The Morris family’s military service in the cause of independence placed them among the founding generation of the new republic — a tradition that would continue through the family line across two and a half centuries, from the Revolution to the World Wars.¹

Family

William married twice. His first wife was Martha Ann Rebecca Nance Maske, by whom he had two children, including William Airly Morris (born c. 1795). William Airly would go on to serve as a North Carolina State Senator and pastor of Rocky River Baptist Church before his death in 1844.¹

William’s second wife was Pheraba Gurley. The 1790 census of Anson County lists William Morris as head of household with one male over sixteen and three females — likely reflecting his combined family.¹

The Morris Line

William Morris stands at the third generation of the Morris family in America. From his father John (born in Bertie County) and grandfather John (born in Wales), the line extends through William Airly, Thomas J. Morris, and William James Morris to the Morris families of Walker County, Texas. Six generations span from a Welsh emigrant to the East Texas farmers and tradesmen who built the McAdams community.