James Morris (c. 1764 – September 7, 1827) was an American lawyer who served as Sheriff of New York County.
James Morris | |
|---|---|
| Sheriff of New York County | |
| In office 1798–1801 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob John Lansing |
| Succeeded by | John Stagg Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1764 Morrisania, New York |
| Died | September 7, 1827 (aged 62–63) Morrisania, New York |
| Spouse | Helen Van Cortlandt (m. 1796; died 1812) |
| Children | 12 |
| Parent(s) | Mary Walton Lewis Morris |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
Early life
editMorris born at Morrisania, New York in c. 1764. He was the fourth son of Mary (née Walton) Morris and Founding Father Lewis Morris, third lord of the manor of Morrisania.[1] His father was a prominent landowner who was a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress from New York.[2]
Following the British conquest of New York in 1776, the family was driven from Morrisania, first to Philadelphia then to Rocky Hill near Princeton, New Jersey. He likely completed preparatory studies in Nassau Hall's grammar school before attending Princeton from which he graduated in 1784. While at Princeton, he was a member of the American Whig Society.[3]
Career
editAfter Princeton, he began to study law and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1787.[3]
In 1797, he was one of three justices appointed for trial of cases and in December 1798, he was appointed to the post of Sheriff of New York County and City, which he was reappointed in each of the two succeeding years.[3]
Personal life
editOn February 1, 1796, Morris was married to Helen Van Cortlandt (1768–1812), a daughter of Augustus Van Cortlandt and Catherine (née Barclay) Van Cortlandt. Her paternal grandparents were Frederick Van Cortlandt and Frances (née Jay) Van Cortlandt.[4] Her maternal grandparents were Andrew Barclay and Helena (née Roosevelt) Barclay.[5] Together, they were the parents of twelve children.[3]
Morris died in 1827.[3]