During his lifetime, although possessing abundant means and enjoying the distinction of aristocratic birth and antecedents, no steps were taken to erect the estate into a manor. He was twice married, but left no descendants, his sole heir being his nephew, Lewis, the only son of his brother, Richard. The value of Colonel Morris's personal property, etc., exclusive of his real estate, as appraised by Stephanus Van Cortlandt, Nicholas Bayard, John Tell, and William Richardson, was estimated at above £4,000. Among the chattels enumerated in the inventory were the following: NEGROES. 22 man negroes at 20 1 1 1 women at 15 1 6 boys at 15 1 2 gai-les at 12 1 25 children at 5 1

In the will of Colonel Morris appears this interesting item: " I give and bequeathe unto my honored friend, William Penn, my negro man Yaff, provided said Penn shall come to dwell in America.'' Referring to this bequest at a meeting of Friends in Philadelphia in i?00, Penn said: " As I am now fairly established here in America, 1 may readily obtain the servant by mentioning the affair to my young friend, Lewis Morris; although a concern hath laid upon my mind for some time regarding the negroes, and I almost determined to give my own blacks their freedom. For I feel that the poor cap-

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

tured Africans, like other human beings, have natural rights, which can not be withheld from them without great injustice." Upon the same occasion Penn spoke of his long and familiar acquaintance with Colonel Morris, which intimacy, he said, had its influence in inducing him (Morris), although many years older, to become a Friend. Colonel Morris retained his Quaker convictions to the last, and in his will provided for the payment of annuities to the meeting of Friends at Shrewsbury, N.