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[Hallie, Q. Brown, ed., Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction (Xenia, Ohio: 1926), pp. 50-51:] [themes: Western emigration; family/society overlap—kinship networks] It was about the 1st of April, in the year 1820, that an emigrating party started from Green Springs, Virginia, to the state of Kentucky. It consisted of Col. Richard Morris, his six children and their mother. There were twenty other families, making a total of 100 persons. Their route was overland, being undertaken in wagons and carriages. The spring season being unusually early the journey was a very pleasant one. Their way lay through the charming, rolling land of Virginia, now fording a muddy, dashing brook, and again riding over some mountain spur. … One month was thus spent, the parting reaching its destination the first of May. The settled on a farm consisting of three thousand acres, which was situated six miles below the city of Louisville. The parents of the Morris children died shortly after their arrival, leaving them under an executor's care, who was to educate them and see that the estate was equally divided among them. The agreement was not kept. The children received no education at his hands and were defrauded of thirty thousand dollars. They were thus thrown upon their own responsibilities, and let it be known that each attained honorable manhood and womanhood. …the second child, Hannah…. was born in the year, 1810, and consequently was ten years old when the family removed to Kentucky. Her home was with her eldest brother, Shelton Morris, until her marriage to Mr. McDonald…. |
Last updated: February 26, 2015