From the book, Us Maddys:
Ann was an accomplished horsewoman. Family legend, from the Virginia Maddys, has it that Ann was the sister of Revolutionary War financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris. The D.A.R. chapter in Bluefield, WV, at the unveiling of her grave marker, acknowledged the relationship. Find A Grave also has this information. However, Ann is not listed in either the Robert Morris, Sr., or Robert Morris, Jr's. wills. From Us Maddys: "Further research seems to point to a John Morris and Ann Jones as the parents…Whether or not our Ann was the sister of Robert Morris of Revolutionary fame or the daughter of John Morris and Ann Jones Morris, may never be established for sure, yet we can all be very proud of her for her own sake."
"After settling in Monroe County, business connected with the settling of the estate of her husband, who had large holdings in the Shenandoah Valley, took her back on a trip through the mountains. She went on horseback and alone. After transacting the business, she had a considerable sum of money in her possession, which she concealed in a belt beneath her clothing. Returning, she came to the house of a settler in the mountains, and was made welcome to spend the night. The settler guessed that she had money, and being avaricious and a murderer at heart, he determined to have her money. The next morning, he kindly (?) offered to show her a nearer way than the regular trail. She accepted his kind offer, and, coming to a lonely place over a ravine, he told her he knew she had money, that he intended to have it, and that he would throw her over the cliff, and no one would be the wiser. She descended from her horse, as if accepting her fate, and asked that he turn his back, as the money was in her clothing. Probably she had a more complicated job to get it than she would today. He obligingly turned away, and she made a dash at him, threw him off balance and over the cliff, and resumed her journey, unmolested. In later years, she became Mrs. George Parsons, and went by the name of Granny Parsons. She was a midwife and practical nurse, and was always perfectly fearless, riding a big black stallion, going on her errands of helpfulness at all hours. People in the scattered settlements of those days would say, 'There goes Granny Parsons to help someone in trouble.'"
Ann Morris was married twice:
First to James Maddy about 1759 in Augusta, Hampshire, Colony of Virginia,
British Colonial America.
Then to George Parsons, February 8, 1785, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. (Although at that time, Greenbrier County was part of the state of Virginia.
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War in 1861.)
Ann spent her last days with her daughter, Sarah "Sally" Maddy Lively, on the Lively farm. She lived to be 104.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699, 5-great-granddaughter.
*****
From Steve Stephenson, Member #48405330:
Daughter of Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet, 1716-1778, who were married about 1732 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
Ann was an accomplished horsewoman. Family legend, from the Virginia Maddys, has it that Ann was the sister of Revolutionary War financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris. The D.A.R. chapter in Bluefield, WV, at the unveiling of her grave marker, acknowledged the relationship. Find A Grave also has this information. However, Ann is not listed in either the Robert Morris, Sr., or Robert Morris, Jr's. wills. From Us Maddys: "Further research seems to point to a John Morris and Ann Jones as the parents…Whether or not our Ann was the sister of Robert Morris of Revolutionary fame or the daughter of John Morris and Ann Jones Morris, may never be established for sure, yet we can all be very proud of her for her own sake."
"After settling in Monroe County, business connected with the settling of the estate of her husband, who had large holdings in the Shenandoah Valley, took her back on a trip through the mountains. She went on horseback and alone. After transacting the business, she had a considerable sum of money in her possession, which she concealed in a belt beneath her clothing. Returning, she came to the house of a settler in the mountains, and was made welcome to spend the night. The settler guessed that she had money, and being avaricious and a murderer at heart, he determined to have her money. The next morning, he kindly (?) offered to show her a nearer way than the regular trail. She accepted his kind offer, and, coming to a lonely place over a ravine, he told her he knew she had money, that he intended to have it, and that he would throw her over the cliff, and no one would be the wiser. She descended from her horse, as if accepting her fate, and asked that he turn his back, as the money was in her clothing. Probably she had a more complicated job to get it than she would today. He obligingly turned away, and she made a dash at him, threw him off balance and over the cliff, and resumed her journey, unmolested. In later years, she became Mrs. George Parsons, and went by the name of Granny Parsons. She was a midwife and practical nurse, and was always perfectly fearless, riding a big black stallion, going on her errands of helpfulness at all hours. People in the scattered settlements of those days would say, 'There goes Granny Parsons to help someone in trouble.'"
Ann Morris was married twice:
First to James Maddy about 1759 in Augusta, Hampshire, Colony of Virginia,
British Colonial America.
Then to George Parsons, February 8, 1785, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. (Although at that time, Greenbrier County was part of the state of Virginia.
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War in 1861.)
Ann spent her last days with her daughter, Sarah "Sally" Maddy Lively, on the Lively farm. She lived to be 104.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699, 5-great-granddaughter.
*****
From Steve Stephenson, Member #48405330:
Daughter of Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet, 1716-1778, who were married about 1732 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
From the book, Us Maddys:
Ann was an accomplished horsewoman. Family legend, from the Virginia Maddys, has it that Ann was the sister of Revolutionary War financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris. The D.A.R. chapter in Bluefield, WV, at the unveiling of her grave marker, acknowledged the relationship. Find A Grave also has this information. However, Ann is not listed in either the Robert Morris, Sr., or Robert Morris, Jr's. wills. From Us Maddys: "Further research seems to point to a John Morris and Ann Jones as the parents…Whether or not our Ann was the sister of Robert Morris of Revolutionary fame or the daughter of John Morris and Ann Jones Morris, may never be established for sure, yet we can all be very proud of her for her own sake."
"After settling in Monroe County, business connected with the settling of the estate of her husband, who had large holdings in the Shenandoah Valley, took her back on a trip through the mountains. She went on horseback and alone. After transacting the business, she had a considerable sum of money in her possession, which she concealed in a belt beneath her clothing. Returning, she came to the house of a settler in the mountains, and was made welcome to spend the night. The settler guessed that she had money, and being avaricious and a murderer at heart, he determined to have her money. The next morning, he kindly (?) offered to show her a nearer way than the regular trail. She accepted his kind offer, and, coming to a lonely place over a ravine, he told her he knew she had money, that he intended to have it, and that he would throw her over the cliff, and no one would be the wiser. She descended from her horse, as if accepting her fate, and asked that he turn his back, as the money was in her clothing. Probably she had a more complicated job to get it than she would today. He obligingly turned away, and she made a dash at him, threw him off balance and over the cliff, and resumed her journey, unmolested. In later years, she became Mrs. George Parsons, and went by the name of Granny Parsons. She was a midwife and practical nurse, and was always perfectly fearless, riding a big black stallion, going on her errands of helpfulness at all hours. People in the scattered settlements of those days would say, 'There goes Granny Parsons to help someone in trouble.'"
Ann Morris was married twice:
First to James Maddy about 1759 in Augusta, Hampshire, Colony of Virginia,
British Colonial America.
Then to George Parsons, February 8, 1785, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. (Although at that time, Greenbrier County was part of the state of Virginia.
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War in 1861.)
Ann spent her last days with her daughter, Sarah "Sally" Maddy Lively, on the Lively farm. She lived to be 104.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699, 5-great-granddaughter.
*****
From Steve Stephenson, Member #48405330:
Daughter of Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet, 1716-1778, who were married about 1732 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
Ann was an accomplished horsewoman. Family legend, from the Virginia Maddys, has it that Ann was the sister of Revolutionary War financier and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Morris. The D.A.R. chapter in Bluefield, WV, at the unveiling of her grave marker, acknowledged the relationship. Find A Grave also has this information. However, Ann is not listed in either the Robert Morris, Sr., or Robert Morris, Jr's. wills. From Us Maddys: "Further research seems to point to a John Morris and Ann Jones as the parents…Whether or not our Ann was the sister of Robert Morris of Revolutionary fame or the daughter of John Morris and Ann Jones Morris, may never be established for sure, yet we can all be very proud of her for her own sake."
"After settling in Monroe County, business connected with the settling of the estate of her husband, who had large holdings in the Shenandoah Valley, took her back on a trip through the mountains. She went on horseback and alone. After transacting the business, she had a considerable sum of money in her possession, which she concealed in a belt beneath her clothing. Returning, she came to the house of a settler in the mountains, and was made welcome to spend the night. The settler guessed that she had money, and being avaricious and a murderer at heart, he determined to have her money. The next morning, he kindly (?) offered to show her a nearer way than the regular trail. She accepted his kind offer, and, coming to a lonely place over a ravine, he told her he knew she had money, that he intended to have it, and that he would throw her over the cliff, and no one would be the wiser. She descended from her horse, as if accepting her fate, and asked that he turn his back, as the money was in her clothing. Probably she had a more complicated job to get it than she would today. He obligingly turned away, and she made a dash at him, threw him off balance and over the cliff, and resumed her journey, unmolested. In later years, she became Mrs. George Parsons, and went by the name of Granny Parsons. She was a midwife and practical nurse, and was always perfectly fearless, riding a big black stallion, going on her errands of helpfulness at all hours. People in the scattered settlements of those days would say, 'There goes Granny Parsons to help someone in trouble.'"
Ann Morris was married twice:
First to James Maddy about 1759 in Augusta, Hampshire, Colony of Virginia,
British Colonial America.
Then to George Parsons, February 8, 1785, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. (Although at that time, Greenbrier County was part of the state of Virginia.
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War in 1861.)
Ann spent her last days with her daughter, Sarah "Sally" Maddy Lively, on the Lively farm. She lived to be 104.
Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699, 5-great-granddaughter.
*****
From Steve Stephenson, Member #48405330:
Daughter of Robert Morris Sr. and Elizabeth Murphet, 1716-1778, who were married about 1732 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
Inscription
Ann Morris Maddy Parson
Family Members
See more Maddy Parsons or Morris memorials in:
- Cottrel Lively Cemetery Maddy Parsons or Morris
- Lindside Maddy Parsons or Morris
- Monroe County Maddy Parsons or Morris
- West Virginia Maddy Parsons or Morris
- USA Maddy Parsons or Morris
- Find a Grave Maddy Parsons or Morris
