An American Family History

Penelope Theobald Morris Land was born about 1650 in Virginia. Her parents were Clement and Mary Theobald.

She married Richard Morris. Richard was born about 1637 in Charles County, Maryland.

Penelope and Richard's children included:
Richard Morris, Jr. (married Dinah Rowland),
Mary Morris Story (December 22, 1680, married Walter Story),
Christopher Morris,
Penelope Morris Douglas (November 13, 1684, married Joseph Douglas).
John Morris, and
Susannah Morris Smoot Maud (married Smoot and John Maud).

In 1682 her 23 year old brother, Clement, Jr. was killed in a horse accident. Penelope Morris and husband Richard were administrators of his estate.

In 1686 cattle marks were registered in Charles County for their children: Mary, Richard, Penelope, Christopher, and Mary (?).

Richard Morris died in 1686. He left personal property to his wife and young children.

She married Richard Land. Their children and life together are described in detal in the section on Richard and Penelope Land.

She became a widow when Richard died on March 22, 1695.

In 1693, 1698 and 1700 her servant, Mary Fountain was presented to the court for having illegitimate, mixed race children. Penelope bought the child born in May, 1698, Thomas Fountain, from the William and Mary vestry. She gave him to Joseph and Penelope Douglas and he was bound to Joseph in 1703/04.

In 1699/1700 the orphan, John Scroggin, son of George Scroggin, was indentured to her until he was 21.

Penelope died on October 29, 1701 in Charles County when she was about 47 years old. She left her personal property to her children; Penelope, Mary, John, Susannah and Eliza. John Scroggin and godson, George Scroggin, also received personal property. Her son John and daughter Eliza were to live with son-in-law, Walter Story, during their minority and to be under his care and that of their brother John Theobald. Susanna was to live with her daughter Penelope and Joseph Douglas until she was sixteen. Walter Story and Joseph Douglas were the executors of the estate and received the residue for maintenance of the minor children.