Morris was born 15 June 1865 in Winchester, England to auctioneer Thomas Shewell Morris (1832-1877) and Harriet Chick (d.1865 in childbirth) [REF].
Upon his father's death in 1877 he was placed in the guardianship of his uncle Joseph Morris (1836-1913) and aunt Emily (1829-1916) in Reading, Berkshire.