Joseph Morris 1823-1862
2010
Joseph Morris was the fifth child of seven born to his parents Joseph Morris and Elizabeth Vernon. We know him as the brother of our direct ancestor George Morris and as the leader of the apostate church called the Morrisites. Joseph was born in England. He worked in the mines and is said to have suffered a concussion or two which left him a bit strange. His brother George tells us in his journal that his brother became quite excited about religion after his accidents.
At the age of twenty-three he heard the message of the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and was baptized along with other members of his family. He married Mary Thorpe and together they came to America. They first lived in St. Louis for two years and then in Pennsylvania before making the trek to Utah where they finally settled in Weber County. Joseph began to claim spiritual manifestations and spoke out openly against the Prophet Brigham Young. He began recording his “revelations” in 1857 which included the day that Christ was coming back to earth. He was able to draw many members of the Church to him. He considered himself to be a Prophet.
When some members of his group decided to leave and take their property with them, Joseph and others detained and imprisoned the men. When word came to the District Judge, officers were sent to free the men and arrest Joseph Morris. When all was said and done, Joseph and some followers resisted and were killed. He was thirty-eight. Direct ancestor George Morris writes in his journal that the authorities came to his home to see if he wanted his brother’s body to bury. George reportedly said that they had killed him and they could bury him.
There are many references to the unstable nature of Joseph’s mind. I think that may be clear by looking at his portrait. Those who had affiliated with him in his personal church scattered to neighboring states and mixed in with the local populations.
The migration of Joseph Morris
England to Missouri to Pennsylvania to Utah