Richard Morland is a clergyman living in Wiltshire where he has two livings as well as a considerable independence. He is both patron and incumbent of one living, which earns four hundred a year, and his eldest son's future inheritance is an estate of "at least equal value," meaning Mr. Morland's income is more than eight hundred pounds a year. He is married to Mrs. Morland, and they have ten children together, including Catherine and James Morland.[2]
He did not see either James or Catherine while they were in Bath for at least a month. When James wrote seeking his consent to marry Isabella Thorpe, he agreed; however, with ten children to provide for, Mr. Morland could only promise to resign the living worth £400 a-year to James after he took orders, which was less than Isabella had hoped.[3] She jilted James for the wealthier Captain Tilney, but discovered too late that Tilney had no intention to marry her.
Mr. and Mrs. Morland felt they could not allow Henry Tilney to marry their daughter Catherine until General Tilney also agreed to the marriage. They silently sanctioned a correspondence between the lovers until General Tilney was worn down, and Catherine and Henry married within a year of meeting each other.[4]