Official Marion County FLGenWeb Site

Ancestry of James Morrison (1920-2003)

Submitted by: Bob Sikes, Palatka, FL

GENERATION #1:

WILLIAM MORRISON was born in 1782 in Scotland, probably on the Isle of Sky, and died 18 March 1818 in Telfair County, Georgia. William was one of five settlers killed in the Battle of Breakfast Branch, a skirmish with Seminole Indians. Accounts of the battle say little about him, probably because the family had only recently moved from North Carolina. He married MARY MARGARET COOPER around 1800 in Scotland. She was born in 1783 in England and died between 1850-1860 in Marion County, Florida. She was living in son Norman's household in Marion County, Florida, in the U.S. Federal Census of 1850.

GENERATION #2:

Children of WILLIAM MORRISON and MARY MARGARET COOPER:

i. KENNETH COOPER MORRISON, born in 1801 in Richmond, North Carolina, and died before 1860 in Marion County, Florida. He married ELIZABETH FOLSOM in 1831 in Lowndes, Georgia. Elizabeth was the daughter of LAWRENCE ARMSTRONG FOLSOM AND RACHEL VICKERS. Children are listed below, generation #3.

ii. JOHN PIKE MORRISON was born in 1807 in Richmond, North Carolina, and died on 8 July 1858 in Marion County, Florida. He married SIBBIAH BLAIR in 1927. According to census records, their children were William, Mary Pink, John Pike Jr., Sibbiah J, Nancy Louise, and Sarah Catherine Morrison.

iii. HUGH MORRISON was born in 1810 in Richmond, North Carolina, and died unknown.

iv. RODERICK MORRISON was born in 1812 in Richmond, North Carolina, and died unknown.

v. NORMAN CAMPBELL MORRISON was born in 1813 in Richmond, North Carolina. He married SERENA ? and they had ten children: Mary Ellen, William T., Rebecca, Georgiann, John B, Hamilton, Daniel, Alexander T, Henry Clay and Abel Morrison.

vi. MURDOCK OZIAS MORRISON was born about 1815 in Richmond, North Carolina, and died in July 1860 in Marion County, Florida. He married MARY L ROBERTSON. According to census records, their children are William T, Sophia Catherine, Murdock Jr., and Malcolm Hamilton Morrison.

There is also a report of a daughter, Elizabeth Cooper Morrison, but I cannot verify through census or other records.

GENERATION #3:

Note: Many of this generation were killed during the Civil War; there are few documents regarding their date/place of death due to the nature of the war; reportedly 40% of all soldiers who died were unidentified.

Children of KENNETH COOPER MORRISON AND ELIZABETH FOLSOM:

I. WILLIAM F. MORRISON, born 1826 in Georgia and died 1861 in Marion County, Florida.

II. LAWRENCE MORRISON, born 1829 in Georgia, died unknown.

III. NATHANIEL MORRISON, born 1832 in Georgia, died unknown.

IV. NANCY MORRISON, born 1832 in Georgia, died unknown.

V. JOHN WILSON MORRISON, born 1835 in Georgia and believed to have died during the Civil War. He married MARGARET LYLES and they had one son, John Wilson Jr. (see generation #4). Margaret never remarried, lived with John Jr. and later with his family until her death in 1904.

VI. ROBERT A. MORRISON, born 1838 in Georgia, died unknown.

VII. JAMES M. MORRISON, born 1838 in Georgia, died unknown.

VIII. RACHEL MORRISON, born 1841 in Georgia, died unknown.

GENERATION #4:

Only child of JOHN WILSON MORRISON and MARGARET LYLES:

JOHN WILSON MORRISON JR., born 5 August 1861 near Ocala, Florida, and died

3 November 1944 at the home of Lloyd and Jessie Lutz (son-in-law and daughter) in

Ocala, Florida. Buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Ocala. He married SARAH "SALLIE"

ELIZABETH MCCONN on 24 December 1885 in Marion County. Sallie was born

17 December 1869 in Island Grove, Putnam County, Florida, and died 3 February 1955 in Ocala, Florida. Buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Ocala.

Sallie's father is listed as "Hector" McConn (James Morrison's records state Alexander Mack "Hector" McConn, but 1870 census records seem to indicate James H. "Hector" McConn); her mother was Margaret Davis McConn, who died in 1874. James H. McConn remarried (Ann) in 1877 and had children Jessie, Dora and Hugh. James H. McConn died in 1899; his widow Ann applied for his Civil War Service pension benefits in 1908, but after many witness affidavits from others verifying his service, the claim was denied in 1911 because he "served in a local organization from Marion County that was not mustered into the Confederate States service".

GENERATION #5:

Children of JOHN WILSON MORRISON JR. AND SARAH "SALLIE" ELIZABETH MCCONN:

i. MERRITT JAMES MORRISON, born 18 December 1887 in Gaiter, Florida, and died 12 August 1973. He married TIRZAH ALLENE MILLER, daughter of JOSHUA LAFAYETTE MILLER and NANCY TALULAH TYNER. For children, see below, generation #6.

ii. LOTTIE GERTRUDE MORRISON, b. 21 February 1890 in Gaiter, Florida, and died 14 April 1930. m. JOSEPH CROSBY, children: Joseph Jr, Harold, Dennie and Dorris.

iii. MAGGIE THERESA MORRISON, b. 21 December 1891 in Gaiter, Florida, and died 24 February 1988. m. DANIEL FORT. Children: Mary Elizabeth, Rebecca and Cassandra.

iv. SALLIE ELIZABETH MORRISON, b. 17 April 1894 in Gaiter, Florida, and died 1 December 1975 in Chattahoochee, Florida.

v. JOHN WILSON MORRISON, III, b. 25 July 1896 in Gaiter, Florida, and died 23 March 1898 in Gaiter, Florida. Buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

vi. ANNIE LEE MORRISON, b. 30 September 1898 in Gaiter, Florida, and died 6 March 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida. m. ALBERT FINLEY SMITH 6 February 1919; two sons, Al Finley Smith Jr. and Howard Dale Smith.

vii. DOLLIE EFFIE MORRISON, b. 16 July 1900 at Camp Izard, Florida, and died 29 July 1989. M. ALONZO "JOE" HALL; children: Florence, Joseph, and Carlos Hall.

viii. JESSIE ADELL MORRISON, b. 12 July 1903 at Camp Izard, Florida, and died 7 December 1983. m. LLOYD HERMAN LUTZ; one child Mae Elizabeth Lutz.

ix. UNNAMED BABY BOY MORRISON, b. 16 June 1908, d. 16 June 1908, lived 15 min.

GENERATION #6:

Children of MERRITT JAMES MORRISON AND TIRZAH ALENE MILLER:

i. MERRITT RANDOLPH MORRISON, b. 15 September 1911 in Ocala, Florida, and died 14 February 1964 in Gainesville, Florida. m. LILLIAN ANNA YOUNG on 30 March 1934. Children: Nancy Pearl, Barbara Ann, twins Malcolm Randolph and Margaret Ann, twins Jack Young and Judy Allene, and James Patrick Morrison.

ii. MARGARET TIRZAH MORRISON, b. 16 December 1912 in Ocala, Florida, and died 17 May 1998 in Bradenton, Florida. Buried at Manasota Memorial Park, Bradenton, Fl. m. CLARENCE MERRILL KNELLINGER on 19 April 1939; one son, JON MERRILL.

iii. UNNAMED BABY MORRISON, stillborn 19 March 1914.

iv. JOHN LAFAYETTE MORRISON, born 5 May 1915 in Ocala, Florida, and died 16 September 1916 in Ocala, Florida. Cause of death: colitis. Buried in Fellowship Cemetery, Ocala, Florida.

v. AROL LEE MORRISON, born 9 May 1917 in Ocala, Florida, and died 7 April 1945 during World War II (aboard U.S.S. John Hancock, in the Sea of Japan). m. NELLIE ALICE BROCK; one son ROBERT LEE MORRISON. Nellie remarried (Leon Robert Nelson) in 1947 and had two more children, Wanda Marie and Kenneth Leon Nelson.

vi. JAMES MORRISON, born 23 September 1920 in Ocala, Florida, and died 21 February 2003 in Bradenton, Florida. Buried at Manasota Memorial Park in Oneco, Florida. m. MAMIE KATHRYN KNELLINGER, daughter of Clarence Merrill Knellinger and Julia Wallace. See below for children of James and Kathryn.

vii. MERRITT JAMES MORRISON JR (M.J.), born 14 November 1924 in Ocala, Florida, and died 2 March 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Buried at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Winter Park, Florida. m. VIRGINIA ANN SANDERS, daughter Virginia "Ann". m. HARRIETT ISABELLE REYNOLDS. Children: Mark James and Marsha Joy. Harriett had one son from previous marriage (possibly adopted by MJ), John "Butch" Morrison, d. 2007.

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