University of Virginia Library

COLONEL FRANCIS MORRYSON, OR MORRISON.

Major Francis Morryson, or Morrison, embarked from London with
his brother loyalists, Colonel Henry Norwood and Major Richard Fox,

for Virginia, September 23, 1649, and arrived in the colony in November
following. They were kindly received by Sir William Berkeley,
the Governor, whe gave Morrison the command of the fort at Point
Comfort. He became a member of the Council, and it is presumed
County-Lieutenant of James City County, since his later designation was
Colonel. He was Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1656, and from
April 30, 1661, to sometime in the fall of the following year (during
the absence of Sir William Berkeley in England), Governor of Virginia,
March 26, 1663, he was sent to England as the agent of the colony, with
an annual salary of £200. The records do not evidence that he ever
returned to Virginia. He married Cecilia, the sister of Giles Rawlins,
who died during her residence in Virginia, and she petitioned afterward
for a share in the distribution of his estate.