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GENEALOGICAL
NOTES AND ANECDOTES ROBERT MORRIS, JR.: MORRIS HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA Morris House, Corner of Market and 6th Sts., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The executive
residence of the United States, owned by Robert Morris,
Jr., 190 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The building, which was originally constructed between 1767 and 1769 by Mary Lawrence Masters and later occupied by her daughter, Polly, and her son-in-law, Richard Penn, the lieutenant-governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, and which was, in Philadelphia, the executive residence of the United States, was obtained by Robert MORRIS, Jr. in or about 1781. When the British invaded Philadelphia, General Howe commandeered the house as his headquarters. When the Americans recaptured the city, Benedict Arnold, then commandant of Philadelphia, lived there too. Morris offered the house rent-free to the U.S. Government after the War. When George Washington moved into the house in 1790 after being elected president, he had it enlarged to fit his large family and entourage. At the time, Congress offered Washington $25,000 a year salary as president, but Washington preferred to be reimbursed for expenses as he was used to as a general. Congress refused, and probably saved quite a bit of money as Washington's liquor bill alone his first year in Philadelphia was over $3,000. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' RETURN: Descendants of Andrew Morris (ABT 1685 - 1728) GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND ANECDOTES: TABLE OF CONTENTS GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND ANECDOTES: HOME This web site is always under construction. For entries preceded by an asterisk (*), further information is forthcoming. Persons wishing to contribute information to this web site, or who wish to make inquiries, may do so by addressing their email to:
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