Leonard Morris (spy)

Leonard Morris, Gent born Morriss (1748 – May 17, 1831) was an American spy, justice and sheriff, and was one of the founders of Charleston, West Virginia in 1789. As compensation for serving as a Spy during the American Revolution Leonard was granted large tracts of land in the Kanawha Region and became a freeholder, in addition he was made Justice of Kanawha County in 1789, where he received the title of gentleman, part of the gentry class. While holding no official military rank in the militia, Leonard was serving as an agent for the state of Virginia under General Andrew Lewis and George Washington.

Five years later Leonard was named as one of the trustees of Charleston when the town was incorporated by the Virginia House of Delegates in 1794, alongside Ruben Slaughter, Andrew Donnally Sr, John Young and William Morris. William Morris Jr, and Young were also spies from 1778-1782 and subsequently rewarded appropriately.

Leonard replaced John Alderson as Sheriff in 1798. Alderson demanded backdated taxes to be paid on lands owned by Bushrod Washington or risk forfeiture, Bushrod sent a letter to his uncle, President George Washington, on January 9, 1798 stating the Sheriff of Kanawha County, John Alderson, was levying heavy tax deficits against Bushrod and George's property in Kanawha; George responds ten days later in a letter to Bushrod agreeing to assist in the matter. Leonard, a trusted former agent, was deemed as the appropriate replacement.