Family and Education

b. c.1625, 2nd s. of Robert Morris alias Hall (d. c.1644), yeoman, of Abingdon, Berks. by 1st w. Frideswide, sis. of Henry Avery, yeoman, of Radley, Berks. unm.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Scriveners’ Co. 1658, asst. 1669-d., master 1670-1; alderman, London May-June 1669; asst. R. Africa Co. 1672-d.; commr. for assessment, London and Surr. 1679-80; dep. Lt. London 1679-d.; member, Hon. Artillery Co. 1682.2

Biography

Morris inherited £100 under his grandfather’s will. He was still under 21 and an apprentice to Robert Abbott, a leading London scrivener on his father’s death. Although senior in the livery to (Sir) Robert Clayton, another of Abbott’s clerks, he became his junior partner in the firm of Clayton and Morris, the most important of its day. Unlike Clayton he was not active in London politics, fining for alderman in 1669 at the unusually high rate of £720. The partners acquired jointly considerable property in Surrey and Buckinghamshire, which they agreed to divide in August 1678. Morris kept Hambleden, while Clayton became lord of the manor of Bletchingley. Morris stood for the borough at both elections in 1679. He was unsuccessful in February, when Shaftesbury classed him as ‘honest’, but he was returned to the second Exclusion Parliament as a country candidate. He left no trace on its records and died in August 1682, devising his estates to Clayton. Substantial legacies were bequeathed to two nieces who had married Abbott’s grandson and Clayton’s brother. He also left £200 each to the Abingdon corporation and a local hospital of which his brother Robert was governor.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Berks. RO, marriage bonds index, 1618; PCC 121 Rivers.
• 2. Scriveners Common Ppr. (London Rec. Soc. iv), 122, 124, 125; Sel. Charters (Selden Soc. xxviii), 188; J. R. Woodhead, Rulers of London, 118; Guildhall RO, 186/1, pt. 2, p. 220; Ancient Vellum Bk. ed. Raikes, 112.
• 3. PCC 121 Rivers, 153 Cottle; Manning and Bray, Surr. ii. 302-3; VCH Surr. iv. 258; Guildhall Lib. Stocken coll.