To John Jay from Sarah Morris, 18 May 1822
From Sarah Morris
Manhattanville—May. 18th. 1822—
Dear Sir,
Many years ago I was induced by my brother Col. Morris1 to execute a paper touching some of the privileges secured to me by the will of my father, the tenor of which has escaped my memory— My affection for my brother which remains undiminished, and Confidence in his equity is such, that in signing the instrument, I could not suppose it deprived me without an equivalent of any of the rights guaranteed by the Will of my deceased father— Circumstances render it at this time necessary that I should be fully acquainted with the nature of the instrument I executed. If the original was deposited with you in confidence, I should not ask that paper, a copy of it I trust would enable me to arrange with my brother all things necessary—2 I am Dear Sir with great esteem Your obedt. Servant,
Sarah Morris
John Jay esqr.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 09113). Sarah “Sally” Morris (b. 1757) was one of Lewis Morris Ill’s ten children. See GM, Diaries, 3n25. She was also a niece of GM. She may have been involved in a real estate dispute. On 15 Jan. 1824, the courts partitioned and auctioned off 113 and 115½ Bowery Road settling the case Sarah Morris, Ann Morris, Adrian H. Van Bokkelen, and Deborah his wife. vs. Mary Post, Mary Post Morris, Henrietta Elizabeth Morris the younger, and Henrietta Elizabeth Morris. See National Advocate, 13 Dec. 1823.
1. Col. Lewis Morris IV (1752–1824). See GM, Diaries, 234n112, 887.
2. See Lewis Morris to James Morris, 10 Aug. 1802, ALS, NNC, (EJ: 13051) which enclosed correspondence regarding the will. This letter also bears a signed note from Sarah Morris, stating that she had received the letter and made notes in the margin. Lewis Morris was asking his brother, former sheriff James Morris, to solicit JJ’s opinion.