James Morrissey (1832-1890)
James Morrissey, my paternal side great, grandfather, was an Irish immigrant from Abbeyleix, Queens County, Ireland. He resided in St. Louis before moving to Richmond, Virginia. He served Richmond City at the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868, with the support of newly enfranchised non-whites. He voted to fund public schools, to require former Confederates to make an oath of allegiance, and to restrict the naturalizations of immigrants who supported the Confederacy. He led Irishman in America to embrace their new country and to be involved in its political life. This is my research on his life.
Early Life
Abbeyleix, Queens County, Ireland
At this time, there are no confirmed records online regarding James' life in Ireland. But family tradition may give clues to his early years and provide foundations for his political beliefs as an adult. The story is that James was arrested for treason by the British after the Young Irelander's Rebellion of 1848. While in jail he was visited by friends who informed him and his jailers that James' poor mum was on her death bed. The officers were convinced to release him to speak to his mother one last time. Whereupon, he was promptly put on a boat bound for the U.S. under another man's travel documents. His mother, you see, was in excellent health. Some of James' political opponents in Richmond spread the idea that he had deserted the British military.
The earliest documents from James' own hand, state that he was born in July 1832 in Abbeyleix, Ireland. There were Morrisseys living there at the time. The Morrisseys of Abbeyleix, Laois County, Ireland arrived in 1775 due to economic incentives by Lord de Vesci.
I suspect that James was naturalized in St. Louis on 5 Nov 1860. He serves on a jury in Richmond immediately after the U.S. Civil War in 1867, so certainly he was a U.S. citizen before that date. So far inquiries in St. Louis haven't turned up valuable leads. Questions: Who were James' parents? Did he have siblings? Why did he immigrate? When? Where did he immigrate to: St Louis, NYC or elsewhere? Where was he naturalized? What roll did he play in anti-British activities? Did he adopt the name on his travel papers to use in the U.S. or revert back to his own name? Is he related to original owners of Morrissey's pub still operating in Abbeyleix today?
Life in St. Louis, Missouri
Work, Marriage and Children
The first documentation we have of him is his marriage to Elizabeth on 2 Jun 1856 in St. Louis City, Missouri. Elizabeth was the daughter of James Keenan and Bridget Barry. James was the son of Michael Morrissey and Catherine King. A Family Bible states that by Jul 1857, Elizabeth has given birth to twin girls, Mary (1 Jun 1857 - 21 Jun 1857) and Elizabeth (1 Jun 1857 - 1 Jun 1857), neither of whom survived the month. John Patrick is the couple's first son, born in St. Louis in March 1858. He was baptized by Father Edward O'Regan and sponsored by Patrick McGlinn and Mary Keenan at the French Catholic Church.
James is listed in the 1860 St. Louis City Directory as drayman (a wagon cart driver, probably for beer and alcohol) and living on Walnut with his business near Pratt and Beaumont Aves.
The family has moved to Richmond, Virginia by 15 Aug 1861 when their 4th child, daughter Mary Ellen is born.
Move to the East Coast
RVA and DC
Based on information we have from multiple sources, we can create a timeline for the next 6 years of his life and his movements.
Richmond, August 1861: The U.S. Civil War began 12 Apr 1861 and it's first large battle, Bull Run, took place 21 Jul 1861. James' next record is for Mary Ellen, their 4th child. She is born in Richmond on 15 Aug 1861.
Washington, D.C., July 1863: James was taxed in Washington, D.C as a "retail liquor dealer," and worked at the corner of 13th and 6th South. D.C. may have been a familial choice as many of Elizabeth Keenan's immediate family lived there.
On 6 December 1864 in DC, their 5th child, daughter Anna Elizabeth (Nannie) was born. According to the city's tax records and directories, it appears that the family moves multiple times during their stay. By this time, James worked at C St South at the corner of 13th St West.
In July 1865, James taxed in D.C. for the last time, at A St South at the corner of 6th St East.
By 1866, James and his family are back in Richmond where his son James was born and where he worked for "The New Nation" newspaper.
Integrated Petit Jury
It appears that James was a member of the petit jury pool for the U. S. District Court in Richmond serving from May to November 1867. See him seated in the lightest-color suit in the photograph above.
Please see the photographs at Encyclopedia Virginia via the Valentine Museum.
An alphabetical list of jurors and details about them based on the photographs. Note how many men are touching others in the photos. There are 13 black and 11 white men.
Further research reveals much about these 24 men. These are only highlights.
Landon Boyd was born into slavery. It's suggested that his mother and sister served Virginia Gov. Wyndham Robertson in his household. Mr. Boyd served as a engineer in the U.S. Army in Ohio and was mustered out in Richmond on 16 Nov 1865. There he married and served the African American community as an officer in a freedman's bank, the vice-president of the Colored National Labor Union and as a member of Richmond City Council from 1872-1873. He died in Abingdon, Virginia in 1899 where he had been a bricklayer.
Albert Royal Brooks was a former slave whose business ventures on behalf of his owner earned him enough money to buy himself, his wife and most of their children. He was a respected man in Richmond, a business owner and philanthropist. He and his wife, Lucy, opened an orphanage for African American children.
Joseph Cox represented the city of Richmond at the Virginia Constitutional Convention 1867-1868 and was active in Republican politics for several years.
Lewis Lindsey, a former slave and musician, was also a Richmond representative at the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868. Later he worked for the U.S. Treasury Department in the Richmond Customs House. He was often the object of ridicule in Virginia newspapers who insisted on recording his speeches phonetically.
John Newton VanLew was the brother of Elizabeth VanLew, an Richmond abolitionist and famous spy for the Union. She was later appointed the first postmistress of Richmond.
Burnham Wardwell was a long-time Richmond businessman from Maine who ran a ice supply business. He was imprisoned in "Castle Godwin" by the Confederates for the duration of the war for his Union sympathies. After the war, he because a vocal proponent of prison reform. He was a Radical Republican politically, he advocated for "perfect equality before the law."
Herman L. Wigand was branded a carpetbagger from the North, but was a long time Richmond resident from Germany. He was imprisoned in Richmond for treason in April 1862. He was chosen for the Jefferson Davis grand jury when other men could not serve.
I will add more profiles as research allows.
His Politics
Party of Lincoln & Radical Republican
By 1863, President Lincoln was already considering reunification. In His "Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction," Lincoln offered full pardons and restoration of property for all but the highest ranks in the Confederate leadership. It would be tempting to think that during Reconstruction, all Union-supporters and abolitionists were Lincoln-style Republicans. That's too simplistic.
Lincoln would eventually support complete amnesty and quick reintegration of all former Confederate states into the Union. James didn't quite agree. During the Richmond City Republican Convention that would nominate candidates for the Virginia Constitutional Convention, "...Morrissey, an Irishman, declaring that he would vote to disenfranchise every foreigner that aided the rebellion."
He sought to invite any Union military or political leaders who visited Richmond to address the Virginia Constitutional Convention.
He supported the rights of former slaves to sue their former masters for back wages.
He voted in support of the new Virginia Constitution which included the creation of the public school system.
Later, James would be elected President of the Irish Republicans Club, an organization that I've been unable to find research on, but is not related to the IRA of the British Troubles.
As the leader of the Irish Republicans Club, the organization passed the following resolutions in Jun 1872:
"Whereas, the Irish-born citizens and their descendants of the United States of America, constitute a large proportion of the people of the country;
and whereas, they have been deprived of their liberty in their native land by the oppression and tyranny of their English rulers, and compelled to seek liberty in the American Republic;
and whereas, they have found in this great country of freedom, an asylum in which the rights and privileges which were denied them in the land of their birth;
and whereas, their safety and prosperity as a people depend in no small degree on their support of the principles of liberty, as laid down by the founders of this great Republic, and now being so faithfully and impartially carried out by the present administration;
therefore be it Resolved, That we hail with pleasure the nomination of Ulysses S. Grant for President, and the nomination of Senator Henry Wilson for Vice President of the United States.
Resolved, That we pledge our undivided support, and will use all honorable means to secure the election of the candidates chosen at the Republican Convention held at Philadelphia.
Resolved, That while exercising, under this Republic, that great boon of liberty which the Almighty wishes all mankind to possess, we do consider it our paramount duty to use every honorable effort to bring to our support, and add to our numbers all of our countrymen, all over the whole country, without regard to their political or religious opinions, our chief object being to harmonize and elevate our people without prejudicing any other race or nationality.
Resolved, That in thus acting we are simply doing our duty as loyal citizens who wish to adopt the means to enlighten the minds and instill into the hearts of our countrymen, differing politically with us, those great principles of impartial justice and equal political rights now pre-eminently enjoyed all over the expanse of this great country, and which, we hope, will ere long be extended to every quarter of the civilized world."
The Cost of Supporting the Union
In a handwritten letter from ca. 1889, James states that he gave assistance to Generals Grant and Sheridan for several years during the War.
The second paragraph states: "Although not serving in the Union Army or Navy as an enlisted soldier during the late war, I rendered valuable service of a private nature to Genl. U.S. Grant and Genl. Sheridan, for over two (2) years, for which I never asked or received any compensation."
I have not, as of yet, investigated the legitimacy of the claims in this letter. Both Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) and Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-1888) were stationed in Missouri prior to and during the early days of the U.S. Civil War. James, having spent time in Missouri may have offered valuable advice. And even a brief time in Richmond might have also made his information valuable to the Union military leadership. He was in the right places and the right times to offer aid.
But, as soon as he moved to Richmond, James was looking for work. He found it difficult considering his political leanings, and enlisted the help of his friends.
James wrote a letter on 9 October 1869 in application to the Commissioner of the IRS in Washington, D.C., for Richmond's Tobacco Inspector. In the older style of letters, it is one sheet measuring 9 3/4" by 15 1/2"and folded in half. On the first page is James' application letter. Page 2 are recommendations from H. G. Bond, Register of Banking, and B. W. Gillis, publisher of the "Daily State Journal" newspaper. Page 3 is empty. Page 4 are recommendations from a "James H. Platt Jr, MC" and Congressman Charles H. Porter. It is Mr Platt's recommendation that draws the most attention. He writes, "I have known Mr. Morrissy for the past two years and believe him to be a most excellent man, he has been a hard working republican, and should be rewarded, he has suffered in person and estate for his political opinions, weilds a large influence here and will be compelled to leave unless he is appointed to position." [All spelling and grammar mistakes are the original authors.] In researching Mr. Platt, I discover that he was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868 and a Congressman. The "MC" suffix likely means "Member of Congress."
Then there is a set in the series regarding James' appointment to Chief of Police of Richmond. In an intimate letter dated 23 February 1969 from Washington, D.C. Hon. J. F. Driggs, a congressman from Michigan, writes to General O. B. Wilcox, "he was imprisoned by the Rebels during the war because of his unionism. He is strongly endorsed by Gov. Wells, by the Mayor of Richmond, and by all of the true men of the City." The Jefferson and Clay Ward Republicans Club in Richmond also endorse James for Chief of Police.
In October 1869, there is a series of letters regarding James' appointment to Tobacco Inspector including those already mentioned. Notably, Richmond Mayor George Cahoon writes on 20 October 1869 to the Secretary of the Treasury, "Mr. Morrissey has labored faithfully, nobly and effectively for the union cause since the evacuation of Richmond, after having lost all that he had during the war."
Also included is a letter dated 23 October 1969, by Major Alexander Sharp (signed Alex Sharp), U. S. Marshall for the District of Columbia (and former postmaster of Richmond). He wrote to General Frederick Tracy Dent (addressed to Gen. F. T. Dent), Military Secretary to President Ulysses S. Grant, regarding James' appointment to Tobacco Inspector. He wrote, "I desire very much, that Mr James Morrisy of Richmond Va, who was one, if not the most influential Irish Republicans of that city, should have a few minutes conversation with the President in reference to the appointment of Tobacco Inspector for which place I cordially endorse him. I shall speak to the Pres. myself at the first opportunity in Mr. Morrissy's behalf."
This is a photocopied letter, but on the left side of the photocopy is another brief note. "Respectfully refered to the Com. of Int. Rev. U. S. Grant [signature], Oct 23, '69"
By 1870, James was listed as a Custom's Inspector in the Port of Richmond, and employed by the U.S. Department of Treasury.