Capt. John Morrison was another of the first settlers of Truro, and was a Grantee of the Township. His front land was adjoining the Parade, on the North side, and extending North to the interval. Also the interval adjoining it, which is owned by Mr. John McClure and Robert Chambers, Esq. He built on his house lot, and resided there about seven years. He exchanged farms with Robert Archibald, and removed to Little Dyke, Londonderry, where he spent the remainder of his life. On June 6th, 1770, he took his seat in the General Assembly of this Province, and was the representative of Londonderry until 1778. He having left the Province for a few years to look after his business in New Hampshire, James, son of the Rev. David Smith, took his seat in the House of Assembly, December 5th, 1785, as representative of Londonderry. Mr. Morrison was born in New Hampshire, in the year 1725. He was married to Martha Anderson, daughter of Mr. Anderson who was shot by the Indians, while engaged thrashing grain in his barn. Martha, having gone to the barn with a drink for her father, and seeing the Indians behind the barn, ran for the house, but before she reached the house the Indians fired after her, and when she got into the house she found that her dress had nine ball holes in it and she was unhurt. They were married about the year 1757. Eleanor, their eldest daughter, was born in New Hampshire, September 21st, 1758. She was married to Edward Faulkner. They had nine sons. They settled in Economy, where they spent their lives, and reared nine sons, and died.
Mr. Morrison came with the first company that came to Truro in the Spring of the year 1760. His wife remained in New Hampshire until the Spring of the year 1761, and then came on with a number of more who came that Spring. Daniel, their eldest son, was born in New Hampshire, November 24th, 1760. He was married to Rachel McLennan about the year 1790. He inherited a part of his father's farm, and was a Justice of the Peace for the district of Colchester for a number of years before he died. They had five sons and five daughters. His house stood near the place on which his son Alexander D. Morrison, Esq., lived and his grandson, Joseph Howe Morrison now resides. Daniel Morrison died at Little Dyke, November 26th, 1832, aged 72 years, and his wife died December 21st, 1843.
Hannah, the second daughter of Capt. John and Martha Morrison, was born in Truro, December 25th, 1762. She died unmarried, at Londonderry, December 25th, 1792. John, their second son, was born in Truro, October 25th, 1764. He perished, in the month of December, 1799, on board of a vessel that foundered in the Bay, near Londonderry. He died a bachelor.
Jonathan, the third son of Capt. John and Martha Morrison, was born in Truro, October 24th 1766. He was married to Martha Faulkner in the year 1794. They had six sons and three daughters. They settled at Five Islands, where they reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives. He died there in the year 1843.
Joseph A. Morrison, their fourth son, was born in Londonderry, July 13th, 1769. He was married to Isabella, the third daughter of Thomas Fletcher and Jane Vance, his wife, of Masstown in the year 1802. They have four sons and four daughters. (Their third son, Thomas F. Morrison, Esq., now represents the County of Colchester, in the Local Parliament of Nova Scotia.) He inherited a part of his father's farm at Little Dyke, and had his house near the place that his son, Samuel, now resides, where they reared their family, spent the remainder of their lives and he died there in the year 1846, aged 77 years, and his wife died October, 1821, aged 43 years.
Samuel, the fifth son of Capt. John and Martha Morrison, was born at Londonderry, August 19th, 1771. He was married to Frances Hays in the year 1801. They had two sons and four daughters. He died February 12th, 1820, aged 48 years, and his wife died February 11, 1828, aged 47 years.
Martha, the third daughter of Capt. John and Martha Morrison, was born March 13th, 1774. She was married to John Williamson. They removed, and settled in the County of Pictou. They had two sons and six daughters. Margaret, their fourth daughter, was born in Londonderry, March 3rd, 1776. She was married to Edward Faulkner, second. They settled in Economy, and had three sons and five daughters. She died there in the year 1860, aged 84 years. Ezekiel, the sixth son of Capt. John and Martha Morrison, was born in New Hampshire, October 10th, 1780. He was married to Elizabeth McLellan. They settled in Londonderry for a time. They had five sons and two daughters. They removed to the County of Hants, and he died in St. John, N.B.
As before mentioned, Capt. John Morrison having left property unsold in New Hampshire, returned there at the time of the rebellion. He sold his property, but could not get his pay for a length of time. He worked at his trade as a blacksmith, and had to remain there so long that his seat in the Assembly was declared vacant, June 25th, 1778, and his family went to him and remained there until peace was restored. He obtained payment for his property, and he and his family returned to Londonderry, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there December 27th, 1816, aged 91 years, and his wife died March 31, 1811, aged 72 years.
