John MORRIS of Willingham married Frances BELL in1803. This is my husband's
gggrandfather. They had a son, John, who along with, I believe his brother,
William and a friend or other relative William Dean arrived in the USA in
1826. John and Frances, along with their daughters, Maria and Frances and
her husband, William Newman and sons, arrived in 1830.
John Sr. died sometime between 1830 and 1850. His wife Frances is listed in
the household of her son John in the 1850 Gibson County, Indiana census.
John Jr. was well educated and a very prolific letter writer and journal
keeper. We have in our possession a daily journal for the years 1842
through 1851 as John passed away in 1852. We also have a letter which was
postmarked from Cambridge in 1837 from we believe a cousin possibly on the
Bell side of the family. Also, we have a copy of a petition written by John
Jr. to the Archbishop of Cantebury for the establishment of an Episcopal
Church in the now defunct town of Saundersville in Vanderburgh County,
Indiana. This church was built and William Dean was the pastor. All that
is left of this congregation is the graveyard which is still maintained.
Since we have this correspondence, we know that John and Frances BELL MORRIS
left family behind when they came to Indiana. We are wondering if there are
any MORRIS or BELL families in Cambridge who might have John or Frances in
their family trees?
Thank you,
Diane Andrews Morris