"JANUARY,1820, while keeping the WASHINGTON HOUSE"

[franklin]

The difference it makes is that this statement in the Beale Papers referring to Robert Morriss:
"He erected the first brick building of which the town could boast, and which still stands on Main Street"
NOT TRUE.
...and the pamphlet purchasers of 1885 Lynchburg would recognize this as another purposely placed "error" by the "unknown author" that the Beale Papers may appear credible due to a sprinkling of alluded plausible "facts", it is after all, a fictional adventure treasure dime novel with play along parlor entertainment ciphers.

As I said we do not know it is not true? It could be the truth. Do you know the City Limits of Lynchburg when it first was incorporated in 1805. I know the house of John Lynch was older than 1800 but was it in the city limits or outside the city limits.

Somewhere in some records, I saw where Robert Morriss and James Dunnington sold the bricks they used to build Poplar Forest, Jefferson's Retreat in 1806. They even recommended the brick-layer. I have those papers somewhere? If I only knew where. So if Robert Morriss was selling brick in the Lynchburg Area in 1806, the story has a better than 50/50 chance of being true.

 

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[ECS]

That is the point of all the alluded "facts" in the Beale Papers there is that 50/50 chance of being true that adds plausibility to the narrative story.
When reading the Beale Papers, one must take into consideration that the dime novel pamphlet was written to be sold to and for buyers in 1885 Lynchburg who would be aware of this 50/50 or less chance of it being true.

Saying "I saw where Robert Morriss and James Dunnington sold the bricks" is not the same as or proof of Robert Morriss "erected the first brick building on which the town could boast"- that is just an example of fitting a possible fact to prove the entire story as true, and there are several of these "possible facts" peppered throughout the Beale Papers.

 

[ECS]

"Among his (Morriss) guests and personal friends Jackson, Clay, Coles, Witcher, and Chief Justice Marshall and a host of others scarcely less distinguished..." THE BEALE PAPERS

While all those listed above have a connection to Lynchburg, does any outside proof exist that they were guests or friends of the actual Robert Morris?
Capt William Witcher died in 1803, Col Issac Coles died in 1813, and Rev Charles Green Clay died in 1820.
Guests or friends?
"It was in the month of January, 1820 while keeping the Washington House, that I(Morriss) first saw and became acquainted with Beale"-THE BEALE PAPERS

John Marshall did spend time in Lynchburg, involved with the canal system. Is there evidence of a stay at the Washington Hotel?
Andrew Jackson attended a banquet hosted by Lynchburg businessmen in 1815 including James Beverly Risqué with Pascal Buford in attendance, but Jackson stayed at the home of Thomas Jefferson.

What year did the real Robert Morris actually began keeping the Washington Hotel?

 

[Rebel - KGC]

1823.

 

[ECS]

...but the Beale Papers has him keeping the Washington Hotel in January 1820 when he first met Beale-a partial fact with an obvious discrepancy.
What I also find curious is with the description of Robert Morriss's character, it is NEVER mentioned that Robert Morris was Mayor of Lynchburg in 1813- an obvious omission that would also be noticed in 1885 Lynchburg.

 

[franklin]

According to Court House Records, there were two maybe three men by the name of Robert Morriss at that time----------Robert Morriss, Robert Morris and Robert K. Morriss and another Robert Morriss living in Bedford County. I have been to the house of the one in Bedford County as it is in Wheat Valley.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

...but the Beale Papers has him keeping the Washington Hotel in January 1820 when he first met Beale-a partial fact with an obvious discrepancy.
What I also find curious is with the description of Robert Morriss's character, it is NEVER mentioned that Robert Morris was Mayor of Lynchburg in 1813- an obvious omission that would also be noticed in 1885 Lynchburg.

DOESN'T matter; going by REAL history of L'burg, Va. In 1820, Robert MORRIS (ex-Mayor of L'burg) & his wife (Sarah...?) had a big old house at the HEAD of Main Street (above Black Water Creek & roughly in the area of 5th Street & Main Street, today). As WASHINGTON HOUSE, they boarded ppl (such as TJB), and fed ppl as the WASHINGTON INN. They did so well. that WASHINGTON HOTEL was built in 1823, & Robert MORRIS managed it... going LATER to the Franklin Hotel. Did R. Morris used $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ from TJB to build & manage WASHINGTON HOTEL...? Dunno.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

Want "proof" from a letter from TJB to RM...? BPP; p. 11 of the ORIGINAL BPP, "St. Louis, Mo. May 9th, 1822
Robt. MORRIS, Esq.
My Esteemed Friend: - Ever since leaving my comfortable quarters at your HOUSE, I have been journeying to this place...."; NOW! Quakers greeted each other as "FRIEND"; were both TJB & Robert MORRIS, QUAKERS...? I MAY have to look at the old Quaker "Roll"; MORE R & I !

 

[ECS]

The above quote from an alleged Beale letter to Morriss that is one of the "Beale Papers" basis to the presented treasure story, was dated 1822, yet the real Robert Morris did not begin to keep the Washington House until 1823.
Is the "HOUSE" mentioned in this letter the personal residence of the Robert Morriss of the story?
...and did Witcher (died 1803), Coles (died 1813) Clay (died 1820), Jackson, and Marshall also stay or were entertained at this personal residence?

The real Robert Morris was mayor of Lynchburg in 1813, but what year did he and wife Sarah Mitchell relocate to Lynchburg?

 

[franklin]

The above quote from an alleged Beale letter to Morriss that is one of the "Beale Papers" basis to the presented treasure story, was dated 1822, yet the real Robert Morris did not begin to keep the Washington House until 1823.
Is the "HOUSE" mentioned in this letter the personal residence of the Robert Morriss of the story?
...and did Witcher (died 1803), Coles (died 1813) Clay (died 1820), Jackson, and Marshall also stay or were entertained at this personal residence?

The real Robert Morris was mayor of Lynchburg in 1813, but what year did he and wife Sarah Mitchell relocate to Lynchburg?

Earliest, I can find is July 12, 1809, when he purchased property from Charles Hoyle, Jr. Deed Book 8 Page 564. But, Robert Morriss and Sarah are listed in Amherst near Lynchburg in 1805 when Robert Morriss' sister, Leanna married William Warwick.

 

[ECS]

Robert Morris married Sarah Mitchell, 1803, in Loudoun county, Virginia, so in 1803, he was not in Lynchburg and could not have entertained or had Capt William Witcher "among his guests" at his home or at the Washington House as stated in the Beale Papers.

 

[ECS]

... When you say that it was the first brick house built in Lynchburg, Virginia, you have to go back to the time that it was stated as being the first brick house in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Lynchburg and it's city limits have changed over the years.
You take the Hutter House. It is now within the City Limits of Lynchburg but when was it annexed. The Hutter House was built of brick by Charles Johnston in 1808.
Then there is the John Lynch home which was constructed of brick before 1800 is it within the old City Limits? ...
So many things to consider and really what difference does it make?

The difference is if Robert Morris arrived in Lynchburg in 1809, he could NOT have "erected the first brick building of which the town could boast" as stated in the Beale Papers, as there were already brick buildings in Lynchburg before his arrival, as you noted.

This is just one of many "factual discrepancies" mixed in with the minimal "actual facts" (the homes where Robert Morris and Sarah Mitchell Morris died) to give the story the "feel" of credibility.

 

[ECS]

...
"His (Morriss)private residence, the house owned and occupied by Max Guggenheimer, ESQ, at the head of Main Street, I think he also built"- The Beale Papers
Notice he "I think".
The question is:
Did Robert Morris actually build this house "at the head of Main Street", or is this another example of creating a plausibly believability or a purposeful discrepancy?

Does any outside documentation exist that will collaborate those statements in the Beale narrative story?

What most do not take into consideration is that the BEALE PAPERS were written and published to be sold to the 1885 Lynchburg market, who would have been aware of these very noticeable discrepancies that are scattered throughout the Beale narrative story, especially after reading John William Sherman's tongue in cheek grab a shovel review of the dime novel pamphlet in the LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

LOL! Well, we have to look at OLD maps of Lynchburg, Va. @ 1819-1822, I reckon...

 

[ECS]

Robert Morris married Sarah Mitchell, 1803, in Loudoun county, Virginia, so in 1803, he was not in Lynchburg and could not have entertained or had Capt William Witcher "among his guests" at his home or at the Washington House as stated in the Beale Papers.

Another listed guest that was entertained by Robert Morris, was Col Issac Coles, who died June 3, 1813, 10 years before Morris began "keeping the Washington House".

Chief Justice John Marshall whose 1790 built home was in Richmond, was in Lynchburg in 1812, involved with the creation on the James River/ Kanawaha Canal system, 11 years before Morris began "keeping the Washington House".

Then there is Andrew Jackson, who attended a Lynchburg banquet in his honor, November 4, 1815, hosted by 5 Lynchburg businessmen, including Ward's grandfather, James Beverly Risqué, who served as Jackson's aide-de-camp at the Battle of New Orleans and Jackson's Florida Campaigns.
Pascal Buford of "Buford's" mentioned in the Beale Papers, who also took part in the Battle of New Orleans, was also in attendance, and the Rev Charles Green Clay gave the Invocation.
Andrew Jackson stayed at the home of Thomas Jefferson after the banquet.

Rev Charles Green Clay, also mentioned in the Beale Papers as among Morris guests, died February 8, 1820, 3 years before Morris began "keeping the Washington Hotel".

Thomas Beale, who had the duel with J B Risqué and also fought in the Battle of New Orleans, did not attend the Jackson Banquet, and there is NO documented evidence that he ever departed from his UPTOWN PLANTATION and PLANTERS & MERCHANTS HOTEL in New Orleans between 1817 and 1820, the year that he died in New Orleans.
The Beale "letters" that form the basis of the Beale treasure story are dated two years after his death and I year before Morris began "keeping the Washington House".

 

[franklin]

Robert Morris married Sarah Mitchell, 1803, in Loudoun county, Virginia, so in 1803, he was not in Lynchburg and could not have entertained or had Capt William Witcher "among his guests" at his home or at the Washington House as stated in the Beale Papers.

His sister married William Warwick in 1804 in Campbell County. I first stated it was Amherst County but I have since found the document. Robert Morriss and Sarah his wife attended the wedding. Also I am not so sure about some of the names you came up with? The Beale Papers only give their last name, they could be someone other than the people you have stated.

 

[ECS]

They all had connections to Lynchburg that would have been known in 1885 Lynchburg, and were name dropped to provide credibility to the Robert Morriss description in the narrative text to make the Beale stay plausible, as well as the "letters" revealing the treasure tale.
As with Morris constructing the first brick building in Lynchburg,there is NO outside of the dime novel pamphlet collaborating evidence that can confirm that Witcher, Coles, Clay, Jackson, or Marshall, while having ties to Lynchburg in one manner or another, knew, were entertained, or stayed at the house of Robert Morris, or the Washington House, it is just a literary device qualifying the teller of the Beale treasure story to the "unknown author".

 

[Rebel - KGC]

COULD BE!

 

[ECS]

The final name establishing the Robert Morriss character, is Max Guggenheimer, alive at the time of the pamphlets publishing and sale, AND a well known businessman of 1885 Lynchburg.
Now with all these names that were listed setting up the credibility of the character Robert Morriss and the story of the Beale treasure told to the "unknown author", with whom he was staying during the "2nd year of the Confederate War" is NOT mentioned by name, but only as "his niece".
Take into consideration that Morris's wife, Sarah Mitchell Morris is mentioned as staying in the care of the Ward's where she died- the same Ward who received the finished manuscript from the "unknown author" to act as "agent" for copyright, publishing, and sale on behalf of this "unknown author".
While Ward was mentioned by name, Anzoletta Saunders, at whose house Morris allegedly presented the "unknown author" the Beale story, letters , and iron box- the entire foundation of the perilous adventure treasure story- WAS NOT mentioned by name, only as niece.
This is a curious omission because the dime novel pamphlet was written to be expressly sold to buyer in 1885 Lynchburg who would have been well aware of her name.
With all the other names employed to establish Morriss as the original storyteller of the Beale tale, this appears to be deliberate omission by the "unknown author" for reasons known only to the author and Ward, who could have added her name before giving the alleged finished manuscript to John William Sherman for printing.
What is highly conspicuous by the lack of mention concerning provided resume of Robert Morriss in the Beale Papers, is that Robert Morris was in 1813 the 8th Mayor of Lynchburg.

Keep in mind that the Beale Papers were written for those in 1885 Lynchburg, and the omission of Anzoletta Saunders name and the lack of mention of Morris being Mayor was a clear indicator that the Robert Morriss of the Beale Papers is only a character in the dime novel pamphlet, and not the actual Robert Morris.
The same can be stated about Thomas Beale with the added "J" as a middle initial- this Beale was not the Thomas Beale of the Risqué duel, who went to New Orleans, and fought in the Battle of New Orleans- but just a character in a novel.
Combine this with Sherman's grab a shovel book review, it was obvious to 1885 Lynchburg buyers that the Beale Papers was a work of fiction with the ciphers added for play along parlor entertainment.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

WHEW!