Male

January 8, 1752

April 20, 1820

Litchfield, CT

Elizabeth Hubbard Morris (December 20, 1781)
Rhoda Morris Wheeler (March 6,1815)

James Morris was born on January 19, 1752 to Deacon James Morris Jr. and Phebe Barns Morris. He was a Continental Army officer from Connecticut during the American Revolutionary War and founder of the Morris Academy, a pioneer in coeducation.

Born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, James Morris spent his early life hoping and training to be a minister. However, after graduating from Yale College, Morris accepted a commission of First Lieutenant from the Continental Army and joined the fight for American Independence. Morris was captured during the Battle of Germantown and spent most of the remaining war in captivity. Upon his release, Morris was promoted to the rank of Captain and supported Alexander Hamilton in the Siege of Yorktown. When he returned from the war, Morris began and ...ran an academy in the South Farms area of Litchfield which trained both boys and girls together, a rarity at the time.

By 1790, it had become common for children to come to Morris's house for instruction and access to his library. Morris welcomed all of these students, both male and female. Morris's coeducation caused some stir within the community when some claimed that his education of women was, "blowing up their pride so that 'they would feel themselves above their mates and they would feel above labour." In 1794, these frustrations were brought to fruition when a hearing was held in the church. The charges were dismissed and the publicity from the controversy brought so much attention that, by 1803, he had instructed students, "from all the New England States except Rhode Island, and from the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Also from the Island of St. Thomas in the West Indies, and from the Island of Bermuda."

By the turn of the century, Morris found it necessary to formalize his instruction and construct a proper Academy building.[28] The estimated cost was $1200, so Morris enlisted wealthy residents of Litchfield and South Farms.

On November 28, 1803, The Morris Academy moved out of James Morris's home and into the brand new building. From 1803 to 1812, the Morris Academy grew to an average of 50-75 students per year. After Morris' death in 1820, the Academy was handed to several other heads of school until, April 12, 1888, the Morris Academy closed.

Toward the end of his life, Morris compiled his memoirs, which were subsequently published as Memoirs of James Morris of South Farms In Litchfield. James Morris died on April 20, 1820 and was buried in the graveyard at what is now commonly referred to as the East Morris cemetery.
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There is a plaque across from the Morris Community Hall (3 East Street) that shows the location of the Academy, next to a step that was at the entrance.

Studied under Dr. Joseph Bellamy in Bethlehem, CT and then Dr. Salmon Hurlburt in Litchfield (South Farms), CT. He later graduated from Yale College in 1775.

Educator

Justice of the Peace Litchfield (South Farms) May 1783