Banker, born at Sowerby, near Thirsk. He joined WM in 1814, and the following year was engaged by Beckett's Old Bank, Leeds, moving in 1822 to Glynn Mills, London and a year later to a Ripon bank. In 1828 he married Ann Wilson (1796-1863), the WM daughter and granddaughter of Anglican clerics. Appointed to the York City & County Bank's Selby Branch in 1831, he remained in the town until his death. He was an active WM, a member of the Temperance Society from 1838 and a local historian.
Their son William Wilberforce Morrell (1837-1904) also worked for the York County Bank, was active in York WM and on the School Board. In 1869 he married Lydia Hutchinson (1832-1931), of an old Quaker farming family. Their son John Bewes Morrell (1875-1963) maintained the York WM connection, served as Liberal councillor, alderman and Lord Mayor and became a director of the Quaker firm of Rowntrees. He had close links with the York Friends, was active in preserving a number of the city's old buildings, and his trust gave financial support for the the establishing of the university.