Colonel Lewis Morris, the elder, settled and resided on this estate until the time of his death." He seems to have been a friend of Governor Andros, having entertained him at his house and also accompanied him on the special expedition when Andros visited Carteret to arrange about the settlement of the government in New Jersey after the accession of James, Duke of York, to the throne of England." He was a sympathizer with the government, and against Leisler during the Leisler Rebellion, and his house at Morrisania was used as the exchange for the governmental secret correspondence rendered necessary at that time. On one occasion the government post-man, who had stopped at Morris' house, was captured about a quarter of a mile from it by some of Leisler's men, and the mail taken from him and examined by the insurrectionists.'* Before coming to America, Colonel Morris commanded a troop of horse in Cromwell's army, and on the Restoration went to Barbadoes. While there he participated in some of the English campaigns against other islands, and received the commission of colonel. He was also a member of Governor Dongan's Council from 1683 to 1686, and died in 1691. His will is of record in New York County.

Lewis, the nephew, had in the mean time grown to man's estate and succeeded his uncle as heir-at-law, and next of kin, as well as under his uncle's will. I On the 6th day of May, 1697, Governor Benjamin Fletcher confirmed to him the grant made by his predecessor, Andros, to his uncle and also erected the lands into a lordship or manor by the name and title of the Lordship or Manor of Morrisania, in the county of Westchester. The patent grants the same