The Robert and Sarah Morriss Story

[Rebel - KGC]

Only ONE Arlington House/Hotel, as far as I know; changes made over time. I know that history of Lynchburg indicate that after the CONFEDERATE WAR, Gen. Jubal Early in his PRIVATE practice of LAW, went to the ARLINGTON to get his "morning coffee"; didn't know about the COFFEE SHOP... THANKS!

 

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[Rebel - KGC]

AND! If the Washington Hotel was known as the ARLINGTON, then Norvell-Arlington House, the address of 700 Court Street for the Washington Hotel, MUST BE CORRECT!

 

[Rebel - KGC]

were there 2 dif Arlington hotels in lynchburg ?


700 Court Street
https://goo.gl/maps/8d4yc2xA2HT2

old postcard
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Rr4AAOSwqu9VUrOP/s-l1600.jpg

The Arlington, a 21-unit apartment building at
700 Court Street in downtown Lynchburg
Sale of downtown Lynchburg building again highlights scarcity of low-income housing | News - Local, State, US & World | newsadvance.com



this post card says Arlington hotel,and looks completely dif
than the 700 court st.
: Hotel Arlington jg ? Lynchburg History

Didn't know about the 21 Units; thought it was only four.

 

[franklin]

Well, I made a mistake again. The Bell Tavern that had been the former Ward's Tavern was in the center of Lot #31. There was a 50 foot lot towards the Washington Inn with the Bell Tavern sitting on a 60 foot lot and another lot of 55 feet was on the corner. So far I have found nothing on Lot #23 where the Washington Inn stood. I also have not found how Robert Morriss leased or ended up running the Washington Inn. Over three hours again today. I did look at the Book U Page 297 and it mentions Maria as being Robert Morriss' niece. She married Thomas Leftwich. I also found the Deed where William Warwick and his wife bought their first property in Lynchburg and it was on the corner across the street from the Washington Inn on Lot #15. Also Robert Morriss was living in 1822 at the Head of Main Street on Lot #84. So that would be where Thomas J. Beale stayed if the story did in fact take place.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

It's OK... don't worry about it. 1887 book has the JOB PRINTING HOUSE in the Virginian Building @ 1001 Main Street; "addy" for LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN newspaper is corner of Main Street & 10th Street; "a LEADING" newspaper (p. 26 of SKETCHBOOK OF LYNCHBURG: A Story Told In 1887). Broad of Directors: Dr. E.A. Craighill, Maj. P.J. Otey, MAX GUGGENHEIMER, Ed Schaefer, Jno W.Carroll, J.P. Pettyjohn, C.M. Blackford. J.R. Clark, Pres't & Gen'l Manager; Benj. Blackford, Vice President; Alex. McDonald, Editor-in-Chief & Secretary; W.W. Wysor, Associate. 2 "addies' for SAME building (VIRGINIAN BUILDING). VB is now (2017) being renovated as a 1st Class Hotel in Lynchburg, Va. WHOO!

 

[ECS]

AND! If the Washington Hotel was known as the ARLINGTON, then Norvell-Arlington House, the address of 700 Court Street for the Washington Hotel, MUST BE CORRECT!

The Norvell House was originally built as the Franklin House, was renamed in 1852, and closed its doors in 1885, the year Ward placed the Beale Papers for sale in Lynchburg.
The Washington Hotel, as did several others on Main Street served as hospitals during the Confederate War.
Old City Cemetery | Confederate Hospitals in Lynchburg
Consult the map at the end of the article.
This shows Lynchburg streets during the"2nd year of the Confederate War".
NOTE: Commerce Street was known as Lynch Street until the 1890's, and Buzzard's Roost at Lynch and 9th was also quite busy during the Confederate War.
http://lynchburgcivilwartour.com

 

[Rebel - KGC]

Heh...

 

[Garry]

Well, I made a mistake again. The Bell Tavern that had been the former Ward's Tavern was in the center of Lot #31. There was a 50 foot lot towards the Washington Inn with the Bell Tavern sitting on a 60 foot lot and another lot of 55 feet was on the corner. So far I have found nothing on Lot #23 where the Washington Inn stood. I also have not found how Robert Morriss leased or ended up running the Washington Inn. Over three hours again today. I did look at the Book U Page 297 and it mentions Maria as being Robert Morriss' niece. She married Thomas Leftwich. I also found the Deed where William Warwick and his wife bought their first property in Lynchburg and it was on the corner across the street from the Washington Inn on Lot #15. Also Robert Morriss was living in 1822 at the Head of Main Street on Lot #84. So that would be where Thomas J. Beale stayed if the story did in fact take place.

Franklin,

Great Stuff!! While the books and stories, after the fact, certainly help sort out our story, There's nothing like contemporary primary legal documents (Deeds, Probates, etc.). They provide actual stake in the ground "facts".

Also thanks for the correction on the Bell Tavern, Using the lot #23 information, I had it located right up next to the Washinton House and from that had also reached the conclusion that the Washington Inn had to be on the same location as the Washington House. I still suspect this may be correct but the Lot #31 information really fits like a glove with my research as far as the location of the Bell Tavern is concerned.

I know that organizing research is tedious and boring at times but it sounds like you have a goldmine. It's easy for me to tell you to keeping plugging away but I'm excited!

Garry

 

[franklin]

Franklin,

Great Stuff!! While the books and stories, after the fact, certainly help sort out our story, There's nothing like contemporary primary legal documents (Deeds, Probates, etc.). They provide actual stake in the ground "facts".

Also thanks for the correction on the Bell Tavern, Using the lot #23 information, I had it located right up next to the Washinton House and from that had also reached the conclusion that the Washington Inn had to be on the same location as the Washington House. I still suspect this may be correct but the Lot #31 information really fits like a glove with my research as far as the location of the Bell Tavern is concerned.

I know that organizing research is tedious and boring at times but it sounds like you have a goldmine. It's easy for me to tell you to keeping plugging away but I'm excited!

Garry

There is a photograph in one of those books. It may be "Ashbury's"? It has the Bell Tavern and the Masonic Lodge. If you look at the building between those two with the pole that held the life size of General George Washington is the Washington Inn. The photo makes all three look like side by side but there is distance in between them. I believe that is the Washington House or Washington Inn or the Washington Hotel.

Also I believe the "Fine Arts Building" is the old Home of Robert Morriss and that is where Thomas J. Beale stayed in 1819 and 1821.

 

[ECS]

... I believe the "Fine Arts Building" is the old Home of Robert Morriss and that is where Thomas J. Beale stayed in 1819 and 1821.

Are you referring to the Academy of Fine Arts building at 600 Main Street that was built in 1905?

 

[franklin]

Are you referring to the Academy of Fine Arts building at 600 Main Street that was built in 1905?

Are you sure it was built new in 1905 or was it renovated in 1905. The front of the building looks much older. The books on Robert Morriss did say that he built the brick home at the head of Main Street also. It is decked out with Masonic Symbolism. As it has 8's, 7's, 3's and 5's on the decorations. There were two master masons living in Robert Morriss' Home after he removed from there in 1823.

There is also someone or others that lived there earlier but I am keeping that part to myself for right now. It may lead to an entirely different treasure.

 

[ECS]

It was built in 1905 as the Academy of Fine Arts Music at 600 main Street with funds provided by Richard D Apperson, owner of the Lynchburg Traction & Light Co.
In 1911, a fire destroyed the interior and most of the Main Street entrance, but was restored in 1912 with money from an investor group headed by Charles Guggenheimer.
This may have been the site of Robert Morriss's 1820's Washington Inn, but not the building.

 

[ECS]

...

source
Maps, Pans, and Aerials

A great link for maps of Lynchburg from 1790-1891.

 

[ECS]

HISTORICAL FACT in Lynchburg, Va.; Washington HOTEL built/established in 1823. YES, Robert & Sarah MORRIS "boarded" ppl in their home PRIOR to the Washington HOTEL; it was know as Washington HOUSE (for FOOD) & Washington INN (for LODGING). It was at the HEAD of MAIN STREET (& 5th Street). YES, Robert MORRIS was manager of Washington HOTEL, & a few years later... the Franklin Hotel (FACTS!).

"Robert Morriss... (in) Loudon county, Va, in 1803, married Miss Sarah Mitchell, a fine looking and accomplished young lady of that county"- THE BEALE PAPERS
In 1803, it appears that Robert Morriss was still living in Loudon county, when did he move and purchase a house on Main Street in Lynchburg?
In the Beale Papers it states that one of his "guest" was Capt William Witcher of Revolutionary War fame, who died in 1803, and Col Issac Coles, also of the Revolutionary War, who died in 1813.
More "purposeful discrepancies of plausible facts" ?

 

[franklin]

There were a lot of dealings of Robert Morriss and his partners in the Baltimore, Md. area as well as in Richmond, Va and Lynchburg, Va. But to answer your questions. Robert Morriss and Sarah Mitchell were married in Loudoun County in 1803. They then removed to the Baltimore, Md. area where Robert Morriss was involved in the mercantile business until 1809. His first purchase of land in Lynchburg was in 1809. I have the Deeds but I have not gone over them. They are on a "KEY" and I have not entered them into my computer yet. Maybe next week.

As for the guest you mention. Robert Morriss or the quotes of the "author" did not mention any first names only the last names of the individuals. How do you know you have the right person that Robert Morriss was talking about. Also if you read the "ad" placed by Robert Morriss in the "Virginian" newspaper 1824, it mentioned he had been in the hotel business for a number of years before leasing the Washington Inn. Robert Morriss purchased the house at the head of Main Street in 1814.

So where is your "purposeful discrepancies of plausible facts?"

 

[ECS]

The names Witchel, Coles, Clay, Jackson and Chief Justice Marshall would have been well known by those in 1885 Lynchburg just by their surnames to the targeted customers of the job print pamphlet, and is the only reason for name dropping, as it serves no other purpose to further the Beale story.
Then the 1885 contemporary name drop of Max Guggenheimer also serves the same reinforcement of believability for the story that leads into the Beale letters and the treasure tale.
Just as everything in the Beale Papers, "plausible information and facts" that can not be proven or disproven, but are expected to be accepted by the reader to be true.

 

[franklin]

Just maybe Maxi's name was given because he was the author. You do know Maxi Jr. was 21 years old in 1863.

 

[ECS]

...

As for the guest you mention. Robert Morriss or the quotes of the "author" did not mention any first names only the last names of the individuals. How do you know you have the right person that Robert Morriss was talking about. Also if you read the "ad" placed by Robert Morriss in the "Virginian" newspaper 1824, it mentioned he had been in the hotel business for a number of years before leasing the Washington Inn. Robert Morriss purchased the house at the head of Main Street in 1814...

If not the Virginia Revolutionary War heroes Capt William Witcher (1739-1803) and Col Issac Coles (1747-1813), then Witchel Coles? CSA Lt Col(ret) Vincent A Witcher was sure it was a reference to his ancestor, enough to contact Rowland D Buford about the Beale Papers story.
The Rev Charles Green Clay (1745-1820)was a well known religious leader in Lynchburg and Virginia and gave the invocation at the 1815 banquet held for Andrew Jackson by Lynchburg businessmen, including James Beverly Risqué, with Pascal Buford and Thomas Jefferson also attending.
Chief Justice Marshall was also well known in Virginia.
If these are not who Robert Morriss referenced as "guests and devoted personal friends", then who?
...and if Robert Morriss purchased the house at "the head of Main street in 1814", Witcher and Coles were NOT alive to be guests.

 

[ECS]

Just maybe Maxi's name was given because he was the author. You do know Maxi Jr. was 21 years old in 1863.

Max Guggenheimer, along with the Hutters and Ward served in the CSA army during the Confederate War, and knew John William Sherman and Charles W Button from advertising in the Lynchburg Virginian.
Research always leads back to this "very limited circle" of people.

 

[franklin]

If not the Virginia Revolutionary War heroes Capt William Witcher (1739-1803) and Col Issac Coles (1747-1813), then Witchel Coles? CSA Lt Col(ret) Vincent A Witcher was sure it was a reference to his ancestor, enough to contact Rowland D Buford about the Beale Papers story.
The Rev Charles Green Clay (1745-1820)was a well known religious leader in Lynchburg and Virginia and gave the invocation at the 1815 banquet held for Andrew Jackson by Lynchburg businessmen, including James Beverly Risqué, with Pascal Buford and Thomas Jefferson also attending.
Chief Justice Marshall was also well known in Virginia.
If these are not who Robert Morriss referenced as "guests and devoted personal friends", then who?
...and if Robert Morriss purchased the house at "the head of Main street in 1814", Witcher and Coles were NOT alive to be guests.

Where is the documented proof that anyone contacted Roland D. Buford about the Beale Treasure Pamphlet? You keep mentioning it but have not shown the source of your information. According to articles I have read no one contacted Roland D. Buford nor his father Paschal Buford while they were living nor his mother nor anyone at the Buford's Tavern or those living in Lynchburg, Va.

Also you keep mentioning Col. Isaac Coles why could it have not been Edward Coles that left Lynchburg, Va. became Governor of Illinois after freeing his 19 slaves. There are others out there besides the two you mention. Robert Morriss, Chiswell Dabney and others were all kin to the Witcher's and the Cole's families. And they in turn were related to two or three Presidents of the United States and to several of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. So I see no basis for your "purposeful discrepencies of plausible facts?"