The whole purpose of this video is to explain who Laban Morris’s parents probably are and to correct the record of who they DEFINITELY AREN’T.
They definitely aren’t Thomas Morris and Rachel Platt of Burbage, Wiltshire, England. That is incorrect information that was published in a Morris genealogy book by a distant family member close to 30 years ago. The book has a lot of good information in it, but the couple listed as Laban Morris’s parents are incorrect. Watch this video to learn the truth!
In the video, I unravel decades of misinformation surrounding the ancestry of Laban Morris, born around 1781 in Craven County, North Carolina. While many genealogical trees claim he was the son of Thomas Morris and Rachel Platt, meticulous research, DNA evidence, and historical records tell a very different story. Laban was not connected to this couple from England. Instead, he was likely the illegitimate son of Rowland Ledbetter, a Revolutionary War soldier, and Betsy Morris, a North Carolina native.
Where Did the Mistake Originate?
The misconception about Laban’s parentage seems to have started with a genealogy book published in the late ’90s. This book, while containing a great deal of valuable information about the Morris family, incorrectly identified Thomas Morris and Rachel Platt as Laban’s parents. The error was an understandable one, made at a time when access to detailed historical records and genetic testing was limited.
Early internet genealogy platforms boosted the error, with users copying and pasting the information into family trees over and over again. Unfortunately, the mistake has become widespread, making it for Laban Morris researchers to learn the truth.
DNA Evidence Points to Rowland Ledbetter
In recent years, DNA testing has provided conclusive evidence to correct this historical inaccuracy. Male descendants of Laban Morris have undergone Y-DNA testing, which traces direct paternal lineage. The results link Laban’s male descendants not to Thomas Morris but to the Ledbetter family, specifically Rowland Ledbetter, a Revolutionary War veteran.
Rowland was just 16 years old when he joined the war effort, traveling through parts of eastern North Carolina, including old Dobbs County, where Betsy Morris’s family lived. It is plausible that Rowland and Betsy had a brief relationship, resulting in Laban’s birth, probably around March 1781.
Why Was Laban’s Name Legally Changed?
Adding to the complexity of Laban’s story is his legal name change in 1810. Before this, Laban was legally known as “Laban Henby” (or Henley), likely reflecting a stepfather’s surname. Betsy Morris is believed to have married Dennis Henby after Laban’s birth. However, by 1810, Laban petitioned to change his name to Morris, a decision that aligned with his maternal lineage.
The timing of the name change may have been influenced by Craven County legal proceedings he was involved with. In early 1810, Laban appeared in court as a witness in a land dispute between John Chapman and Joel Walls. During the case, it’s possible that questions arose about his legal name, prompting him to make the change official. By the end of that year, his name, along with his two oldest sons, John and William, was formally changed to Morris by the North Carolina General Assembly.
The Role of Betsy Morris
While DNA evidence confirms Rowland Ledbetter as Laban’s father, Betsy Morris’s role as his mother is supported by circumstantial evidence and family lore. Betsy, the daughter of William Morris, likely lived in Dobbs County (now Wayne County) during the Revolutionary War era. Her family connections in the area make it plausible that she crossed paths with Rowland Ledbetter during his military service.
The details of her life after Laban’s birth remain somewhat speculative, but evidence shows that she later married Dennis Henby and relocated to the Fayetteville area in what was, at the time, known as Anson County. This would have provided some stability for her and her son, even if Dennis was not Laban’s biological father.
Correcting the Record
As genealogists, we have a responsibility to ensure the accuracy of our family histories. For those with Laban Morris in their family tree, it’s time to revisit his story. He wasn’t the son of Thomas Morris and Rachel Platt of England, but rather the product of a unique and complex set of circumstances involving Rowland Ledbetter and Betsy Morris.
Watch the video above to learn more about the research process, the evidence uncovered, and the importance of dispelling genealogical myths.
For more on Laban Morris, please start here:
- https://eastcarolinaroots.com/laban-morris-family/
- https://eastcarolinaroots.com/laban-morris-father-identified/
- https://eastcarolinaroots.com/laban-morris-changed-name-from-henly/
- https://eastcarolinaroots.com/is-it-henly-henley-or-henby/

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