Isaac Norris

July 26, 1671 (age 63)

Isaac served an apprenticeship in his father's business. In 1692 he was sent to Philadelphia to consider the prospects of removing to that city. On his return he found that his father had perished in the great earthquake of June 7, 1692, and that most of his other relatives had died. He went back to Philadelphia in 1693 and soon became a successful merchant. Norris was a member of the Assembly from 1699 to 1703 and again in 1705. In the years 1706-08 he visited England where he helped to rescue William Penn from a debtors' prison and played a leading part in settling the dispute between Penn and Philip Ford, Sr. , and his son, over the proprietary rights to Pennsylvania. In return for these services he was appointed one of the five commissioners who acted as agents for the mortgage trustees and he was later named in Penn's will as a trustee of the province. He was an alderman of Philadelphia from 1708 to 1724 and was elected mayor in 1724. From 1709 to 1735 he served in the governor's council and, contrary to the usual custom, was also a member of the Assembly, 1710-13, 1715-16, 1718-20, 1734, and speaker in 1712 and 1720. He was likewise a justice of the Philadelphia county courts from 1715 to 1735 and a master in chancery for several years before his death. In 1731 he was chosen to succeed David Lloyd as chief justice of the supreme court but refused to serve. He attended the Indian conference at Albany in 1722 and was appointed a commissioner in the settlement of the boundary dispute with Maryland in 1734. Norris's fortune was largely invested in real estate. In 1704 he and William Trent purchased from William Penn, Jr. , a large tract of land on the Schuylkill River, including the site of Norristown, and, in 1712, he bought Trent's share of the property. He also owned the "Slate-roof House" in Philadelphia, celebrated as the residence of Penn on his second visit to Philadelphia, and a mansion, "Fair Hill, " in the Northern Liberties, where he lived from 1717 until his death. A letter that he wrote to his son Isaac on the latter's visit to England in 1722 is interesting in this connection and also as an illustration of the workings of the Quaker conscience: "Thou may omit of my orders by thee, The Arabian Nights Tales and bring me Milton's Paradise Lost--octavo, large print".

Isaac Norris

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mayor merchant colonial leader

Background

Isaac Norris was born on July 26, 1671 in London, England. He was the son of Thomas Norris or Norrice, a Quaker merchant, and Mary (Moore) Norris. The family emigrated to Port Royal, Jamaica about 1678.

Career

Isaac served an apprenticeship in his father's business. In 1692 he was sent to Philadelphia to consider the prospects of removing to that city. On his return he found that his father had perished in the great earthquake of June 7, 1692, and that most of his other relatives had died. He went back to Philadelphia in 1693 and soon became a successful merchant.

Norris was a member of the Assembly from 1699 to 1703 and again in 1705. In the years 1706-08 he visited England where he helped to rescue William Penn from a debtors' prison and played a leading part in settling the dispute between Penn and Philip Ford, Sr. , and his son, over the proprietary rights to Pennsylvania. In return for these services he was appointed one of the five commissioners who acted as agents for the mortgage trustees and he was later named in Penn's will as a trustee of the province.

He was an alderman of Philadelphia from 1708 to 1724 and was elected mayor in 1724. From 1709 to 1735 he served in the governor's council and, contrary to the usual custom, was also a member of the Assembly, 1710-13, 1715-16, 1718-20, 1734, and speaker in 1712 and 1720. He was likewise a justice of the Philadelphia county courts from 1715 to 1735 and a master in chancery for several years before his death. In 1731 he was chosen to succeed David Lloyd as chief justice of the supreme court but refused to serve. He attended the Indian conference at Albany in 1722 and was appointed a commissioner in the settlement of the boundary dispute with Maryland in 1734.

Norris's fortune was largely invested in real estate. In 1704 he and William Trent purchased from William Penn, Jr. , a large tract of land on the Schuylkill River, including the site of Norristown, and, in 1712, he bought Trent's share of the property. He also owned the "Slate-roof House" in Philadelphia, celebrated as the residence of Penn on his second visit to Philadelphia, and a mansion, "Fair Hill, " in the Northern Liberties, where he lived from 1717 until his death.

A letter that he wrote to his son Isaac on the latter's visit to England in 1722 is interesting in this connection and also as an illustration of the workings of the Quaker conscience: "Thou may omit of my orders by thee, The Arabian Nights Tales and bring me Milton's Paradise Lost--octavo, large print".

Achievements

Norris was the chief representative of proprietary interests in Pennsylvania from 1708 until his death. The borough of Norristown, Pennsylvania is named for Norris.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

"The many and great obligations I am under to you for your constant good advice and friendly assistance for many years, both to my late Father and since his decease to us his children. " (John Penn)

Interests

Norris was fond of books and his library was the nucleus of a collection that was later given to Dickinson College.

Connections

On March 7, 1694 Norris married to Mary Lloyd (1674 - 1748), a daughter of Thomas Lloyd.

Father:: Thomas Norris
Mother:: Mary (Moore) Norris
Spouse:: Mary Lloyd
Son:: Isaac

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Isaac Norris

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