The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-01-05
viii of Col. Lewis Morris Left
Six Pounds Sterling An
nualIy to Quakers.
DISCOVERED IN OLD RECORDS
Arrears Without Any Interest Total
$6,468-No Record Is Found Of
Any Payment From Bronx
Lands Of Testator.

New York.-Thrmgh search Of one
0f the oldest records of the Surrogate's
court, II has Just been discovered that
in the will Of Col. Lewis Morris, dated
December Z. 1901. an annual legacy Of
go was bequeathed to the Society Of
Friends In New York.
Members Of the Friends were very
much surprised to hear Of this old
beQuest, as there Is no trace today
pf any such fund among the records
Of either the meeting on Twentieth
street or In the minutes of the Hixites
on Fifteenth street.
An investigation Is planned to aid
In the payment Of past and future
amounts due from such q bequest, in
the event that 1t should be possible
to collect 1t. John Cox, Jr., the Gus
tOdlan Of the records of both meet
thgs, was very much interested In the
news of the old legacy, and stated
there Ind never been received such a
sum from the Morris estate.
AS $50 years have elapsed since the
Will was filed, the total amount due,
without interest, would be $6,4GS.
Col. lewis Morris was one OF the
most distinguished men of his day, and
was the predecessor of long line Of
noted statesmen, through his brother,
Capt. Richard Morris, who fought un-
der Cromwell. Among the descendants
were Lewis Morris III, chief justice Of
New York and governor Of New Jor-
sey; bis son, Robert Morris, governor
Of Pennsylvania and chief justice Of
New Jersey; while the four sons of the
succeeding generation included Morris
III, one OF the signers of the Declara-
ton OF Independence and general ir
the Revolutionary war, and his brother,
Gouverneur. minister to France, pa
Giot and United States senator.
Converted by George Fox.
Having met George Fox, the founder
Df the Quakers, during successful
venture In the West Indies at Barba-
DOS, where Colonel Morris and his
brother, Richard, had large plantations,
the legacy to the Friends in New York
was "a result of the conversion Of Col
0hel Morris to that faith.
The will reads, in part as follows:
Il give and bequeathe to my hon
eured friend, William Penn, my Ne
kroe man, Yaff, provided the said
Penn shall come to dwell in Amer
bca,"
II give and bequeathe unto the
Meeting of Friends In the Province of
New York the Sumo of six pounds
Der annum, to be paid out of my Plan
Eation over against Harlem In the same
Province, by whomever shall enjoy
Jane on every twenty-fifth
lay Of the month called March, Yearly
snd every Yeare, forever unto such
Persons as shall be appointed
by the General Meetings of Friends
(called Quakers) in we said Province,
to be employed as they shall Judge on
Truths acct"
1t Is especially interesting to note,
In view of the high offices and influ-
ence welded later on by his nephew,
Lewis Morris ii, In what low esteem
hs was held by his uncle, Colonel Nor
fts, for the will continues:
"And whereas l formerly Intended
- have made my nephew, Lewis Nor
fts my Will. Executor, his
many and Great Miscarriages and Dis
obedience towards me and my wife,
and his causeless Absenting himself
tfsm my house and Adhering to and