The account below is an excerpt from the book, “Sketches and reflections of Lynchburg by Margaret Cabell written in the winter of 1857.
Thirty-eight years since, the large dwelling opposite the residence of Dr. Robert Early was owned by Robert Morriss Esq. At that time, Mr. Morriss was a man of great wealth; his home was the abode of the most genuine hospitality, and the refuge of many whom poverty and death had made desolate. A sudden reverse depriving him of his fortune, himself and his excellent wife there established a house for receiving boarders.
I know the location of the Robert Morriss home in 1819 is well worn ground but I wanted to add my take on its possible location.
Margaret indicates Robert (Morriss) was a man of great wealth in 1819 (1857-38 years) and he was living in the large dwelling opposite the residence of Dr. Robert Early.
It is well documented that Robert did suffer financial setbacks during the “Panic of 1819” so Margaret is correct on that account. If you do a search in Margaret’s book on “1819”, you will find other individuals in the area who suffered a similar fate.
BTW, Robert’s setbacks were not simply associated with the Lynchburg area or even to Virginia. It was a nationwide calamity. Google “Panic of 1819” if you are looking for a more complete understanding of the events that fueled the economic disaster.
Anyway, Margaret describes and locates the Robert and Sarah Morris home in 1819 as being a large dwelling located opposite the residence of the home of Dr. Robert Early in 1857.
We do find Dr. Early in the 1860 Lynchburg census. He is 47 years old, his occupation is that of a dentist, His personal estate is listed as $50,000 and real estate is $6,500. He is married and has 5 children.
Dr. Early is still in Lynchburg, showing up in the 1880 census as 67 years old. He is married and has 1 daughter still at home. He is still a practicing dentist. The census indicates he is living on Main Street.
In the 1875 Lynchburg City Directory we find “Early, Robert, Dentist, whose home is at the Corner of 5th Street and Main Street”
I can’t be absolutely sure that Robert Early was living at the same location in 1875 that he was when Margaret wrote her account but I believe it is likely. As I look at a map, there are 4 corners at Main and 5th Street so I also don’t know on which corner Early lived. If Robert Morriss’ home was exactly opposite that of Dr. Early, it would appear to me that Robert also lived on a corner of Main and 5th Street in 1819.
Is this in agreement with conclusions reached earlier on the forum regarding the location of the Morriss’s home in the 1819 time period? Can someone share other sources that point to the location of the Morriss' home?
Thanks, Garry
