3 - James Morrison Sr. was born in Durham, Bucks Co., PA Jan. 4, 1745. He lived in that area for 26 years, then moved to Loudoun Co., VA. There he married Margaret Rice in 1770/1771.  She was born in 1752, Loudoun Co., VA. The family moved to Cumberland Co., PA in 1774.

    During the Revolutionary War he served in two PA regiments in 1776 & 1777. His most notable service was with Gen. Washington when they crossed the Delaware River & fought the battles at Trenton & Princeton, NJ  Dec. 24, 1776 thru Jan. 3, 1777. After another fight in Morristown NJ, late Feb. 1777, he was discharged from service March 10, 1777. For his service he awarded pension # S.23818 in 1833.

    After his discharge he returned to Path Valley, Franklin Co. PA. The war was still on in PA, mostly with Indians allied with the British. James was heavily in the fighting while still trying to make a living.

    After several moves the family finally settled in Kinzua Town Warren Co., PA around 1802. He became the owner of  “Morrison Island”, a large island in the Allegheny River. James died Sept. 4, 1839, age 94. He was originally buried in Kinzua Cemetery then moved to Willow Dale Cemetery, Bradford, McKean Co., PA during the Kinzua Dam construction 1962/65.

    Margaret died in Northumberland, PA, 1785/90.  May be buried in Loudoun. Co., VA.

   James Sr. & Margaret had five children. James Jr. [2] was number 3.

   James Sr.  married Martha Griffin, a widow with 3 children around 1787/1790. They had 6 children.

4 - Samuel Morrison was born in Stewartstown, Tyrone County, North Ulster Ireland  Jan. 5, 1701. To call Sam an Irishman or Scotch-Irish would have been considered a grave insult.

     The Morrisons of Ulster were among the lowland Scots who were brought into Ireland during the “Great Plantations”. They were given the best lands to cultivate. This was done by the British kings in the 1600s & 1700s to subdue the “ inferior race” of native Irishmen.

    Sam was described as being of large stature, over 6 foot tall & weighing over 250 pounds. He saw service in the ongoing boarder wars between the native Irish & the Scots. In his old age he related tales about the fearful toll on his fathers family during these conflicts. The most colorful story about him was when he was attacked by 7 Irishmen while working in his field. His only weapon was a pitch fork. He saved his life by sticking one assailant & throwing him over a stone wall. The other 6 beat a hasty retreat.

    Sam married Mercy Mayse in Tyrone Co. Ulster in 1735. Mercy was born in Stewartstown , Tyrone  Co., North Ulster, Ireland Jan. 5, 1716  “daughter of Scotch parents”.

    The rising growth of commerce & trade created by the Ulster Scots caused the English business class to worry about the Scots increasing power therefore restricting laws were passed & land lease fees were raised considerably. This in turn cause a huge resentment amongst the Ulster men. Many emigrated to America. Among them were Sam & Mercy.

    They left Ireland in 1740 on the ship “Sally of Coleraine”. Anna, their first child born in Ulster, 1739 died during the voyage & was buried at sea.

    Sam & Mercy settled in Bucks Co. PA & remained there until the end of the Revolutionary War. After the war they moved to Lycoming Co. PA, near the mouth of Pine Creek on the west bank of the Susquehanna River.

    Mercy died Oct. 30, 1798. Sam died May 5, 1801 at age 100 years & 4 months ! Both are buried in the  Pine Creek Cemetery Jersey shore, Lycoming Co. PA.

  Sam & Mercy had 10 children, all born in PA except for Anna. James Sr. [3] was number 3.

5 - John McPherson Morrison was born in Isle Lewis, Herbrides Island Scotland Aug. 27, 1667. He married Mary  Ralstone in Campbeltown, Argyil, Scotland May 21, 1682. She was born in Durness about 1667. John & Mary moved to Ulster about 1688. Little is known about their life except that he was killed along with several other family members during one of the numerous conflicts between the Scots & Irish. He died in Tyrone , Ulster May 5, 1701. Mary may have returned to Durness where she died in 1752. The names of their cemeteries are unknown.

    The number of children they had is unknown, a least two including Sam [4], born 4 months before John was killed.   

6 - George Lister Moirsone [Morrison] was born in St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland  Nov. 1643. He married Marione Moir Aug. 4, 1663 in St. Nicholas. She was born in 1643/44, probably in St Nicholas. George died in 1713, Marione died in 1752. Burial place, Scotland.

    George & Marione had at least three children or more. John [5] was number three.   

7 - Benjamin Walter Moressoune/Morrison was born in St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland Aug. 20, 1608. He married Margaret Nicolsone in Aberdeen Dec. 2, 1632. She was born in 1613 probably in Aberdeen. Ben died in Scotland in 1651. Margaret’s died around 1652. Burial probably in Aberdeen..

    Ben & Margaret had 12 children. George Lister [6] was number 8.

8 - George Moresoune [Morrison] II born at Bognie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Oct. 20, 1577.  Married Isabelle Katherine Murry Oct. 2, 1604. She was born about 1580/90. George died in Aberdeen in 1612. Katherine died ? Burial probably in Aberdeen.

The number of children is unknown.  One was Benjamin [7].

9 - Thomas Moresin [Morrison] born in Aberdeenshire about 1555. Died there July 12, 1603. wife is Mariore Dugwid born about 1555. Died ?

Number of children is unknown. One was George [8].

10 - George Moresin [Morrison] I was born in Aberdeenshire,, Scotland about 1540. Married Cristian Frendraught. She was born in Aberdeenshire about 1540. Their dates of marriage & deaths is unknown.

The number of children is unknown. One was Thomas [9]

The Morrison clan of Scotland appears to be two groups,  mainlanders of Aberdeenshire & islanders of of Isle Lewis. Looks like the authors ancestors started out in Aberdeenshire then migrated to Lewis.

The name origin is said to mean “son of Maurice [pronounced Morris]. Some sources say the name was brought to Scotland by Normans about 1000 years ago. Other sources claim the Morrisons are descended from a Viking couple who washed ashore after a storm wrecked their ship.

A good source of information is the website   Clan Morrison Society of North America.

Below is information from that site.