Edgecombe-Guilford-Nash County NcArchives Biographies.....Morgan, James 1725 - 1784 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Sheffield-Hegi msheffield2003@yahoo.com April 18, 2010, 3:51 pm Source: Wills, Deeds, Estate Records, Census Author: Mary Sheffield-Hegi DNA Matches for James Morgan Sr. of Edgecombe Co, Nash, NC born about 1725, wife Elizabeth By Mary Sheffield Hegi, James Doug Morgan Contributor's Janice Clark, Dorothy Smith, John Morgan IV, Martin Sewell, Micheal Walsh James Morgan Sr. Will Nash County, North Carolina, Will Book I, page 19 I Give and bequeath to my Loving son John Morgan all that part of land begining at the Mouth of Norflits branch thence out to the back line line and up to Benjn. Tanns line also one Cow and Calf to him his heirs &c for Ever Item. I Give and bequeat to my loving Son James Morgan all that part of land on Et. Side of the deep bottom branch up to the bogg branch then up the bogg branch to the head thence a Strait coure to John Taylor's line also one Cow and Calf and two year old heifer to him his heirs and assigns for Ever Item. I Give and bequeat to my loving son Henry Morgan one Cow and Calf and one two year old heifer to him his heirs and for ever Item. I give and bequeat to my loving son Hardy Morgan the reminder of my land with the plantation I now live on after his mothers death to him his heirs and assigns for Ever Item. I give and bequeat to my loving wife Elisabeth all the Remainder part of my Estate to raise my Children with and what remains at her death I desire may be Equally Divided between my son Stone and Cealle Morgan Bette, and I do hereby Nominate and appoint my loving wife Elisabeth Morgan my Sole Executrix of this my last Will and testament utterly disallowing all others before by me made and Ratifying and confirming this and no Other to be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have herento Set my hand and affixed my Seal in the day and date above Writen Signed Sealed published his and pronounced by sd James X Morgan (Seal) Morgan to be his last Will mark and testament C W Moore his Mark John X Finch mark her Mary X Kiff mark" Morgan DNA Y DNA is handed down from father to son, leaving a DNA trail, so the importance of DNA can't be over stated when genealogy research throws you a curve and you hit a brick wall as we did with our known ancestor James Morgan from Edgecombe, NC. DNA gave us the answer and not in the direction we were all researching. What a surprise to see and old Edgecombe document I had stored for years held the clue along with a letter from Dorothy Smith sent to me this Spring a DNA match. Even then it wasn't until I sat down and started this article that the answer jumped out at me. All the puzzle pieces fell into place thanks to Doug Morgan's DNA. Doug Morgan who ancestors were; James Morgan SR Edgecombe, and Nash NC. John Morgan Sr. B: 1749 Nash NC, William b:1772 Nash, Ezekiel b: 1797 Nash NC, Melvin Walker co , Alabama b: 1846, Burt (AKA Sweet) b:1887, James b:1920, all from Walker Co. Alabama. Doug's DNA can be found at ysearch.com User ID KY6E2 & small-stuff.com/Morgans #M106181 My cousin Doug Morgan a retired, Fire Chief from Birmingham AL,. became a DNA donor and had 2 very interesting matches! One DNA 25/24 match was from Lott Morgan son who were all born and lived in Monmounthshire, Glamorgan Co. Wales until 1950 when Lott Morgan moved to America. His son's DNA proves we were related to this Welsh family in the early 1700's. Letter from our 25/1 DNA Match in Wales Hi! My Dad was (Cecil Owen Lot Morgan b. 10/11/1923 Maerdy, Glamorgan, Wales d. 1/990 Port Orford, Oregon). We were actually from Monmouthshire Gwent My Great Grandfather, Lot Morgan, settled in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorgan, but he was born in Pontypool, Monmouth. My Mom does remember her Father-in-Law (my grandfather Robert Henry Morgan) stating that we did have family in America. Who and when, no-one knows. We were also told we were descended from the Family of Tredegar Wales and Henry Morgan the Pirate family, so I take it all with a grain of salt Janis Clark sent me copies of her father's g-father's and ggg-father's birth records to verify her ancestor's history. One question still remained which Morgan crossed the pond and came to America? The answer is: James Morgan Sr. born in England, as stated by John Alexander Morgan s/o Seth s/o Henry s/o James Morgan Sr. The answer found in Dorothy Smith letter who's nephew Raymond Morgan is a perfect 25/25 DNA match with Doug Morgan, and who's family descends from Seth Morgan from Birtie and Hertford NC, son of Henry, son of James JR. Seth later moved to TN then White Co Arkansas. James Morgan Jr. born about 1757 served in the Rev War and died without a will. James Jr is believed to be buried in Hwy 97 out from Samaria Baptist Church. Dorothy Smith letter Letter from our 25/25 DNA Match, Dorothy writes in this letter to me just before she died of a heart attack last spring. Mary, My nephew Windy (DNA donor) is the son of my brother, Raymond W. Morgan, Sr. (1915-1996). Our father was Luther Thomas Morgan (1878-1946), born in Center Hill, White County, AR. Luther Thomas Morgan was the son of John Alexander Morgan and Mary Elizabeth (Bette) Wood. Luther's siblings were: Martha Ida Morgan (1868- 1941), Mary Ella Morgan (1871-?), Arthur David Morgan (b. 1875-d. 1958 in Texarkana, Miller County, AR.), Kate M. Morgan (1885-?). Mary Elizabeth (Bette) Wood was the daughter of David Simpson Wood & Sarah Jane ?). John Alexander Morgan b. 4-26-1841 in Brownsville, Haywood County, TN., d. 6-13- 1918 in Kensett, White County, AR. He was the son of Seth Morgan b.1801 in Bertie County, NC; d. 12-23-1863 in Center Hill, White County, AR. and Nancy Valentine (b. 1814 in Bertie County, NC; d. between 1860-1863. John Alexander Morgan enlisted at Pocahontas, AR in the Confederacy 11-1-1861,Co, E 7th Infantry (Desha's Battalion). He was in the battle of Peach Tree Creek and the Chicamoga battle. He was captured at Harrodsburg, KY on 10-9-1862 and exchanged at Vicksburg, Ms. He was wounded and sent to a hospital near Atlanta, GA in 1864. In a 1911 census for Confederate veterans he stated his grandfather was James Morgan who had come to this country from England and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and that he soldiered 6 years under Gen George Washington. However, the dates do not correspond and I have been unable to verify this. Perhaps it was his great grandfather who served in the Revolutionary War. Dorothy had not seen Henry's court doc from Edgecombe when she wrote this letter to me. If she had she would seen that Seth, and Henry Morgan descended from James Morgan and his grandfather was indeed James Morgan Jr who did in fact serve in the Rev. War. If he served in under Gen George Washington then that should be easy enough to prove and Washington letters and diary were full of references to a Morgan. I did research the census records for this line of Morgan's and Dorothy did do her homework. Harrell Census Hertford NC In chapter 4, of the Harrell Genealogy. I noted a land purchase Nathan made in Bertie County in 1793, and that he still owned the land on the Chowan River at his death in 1802. The Bertie County land was divided among several of his heirs in 1818. It appears the division of this land was based on Nathan's will. The Bertie County Court appointed Commissioners to establish an equal division into four parcels of 32 acres each to be drawn by four of Nathan's heirs. James and Celia Harrell Morgan drew lot number 1; Starkey S. Harrell drew lot number 2; George and Sarah Bond drew lot number 3; and William and Nancy Harrell Smith Yancey drew lot number four. [1] (Nancy's first husband was William Smith; her husband at the time of the land division was James Yancey.) This has to be Selah or Celia, married to our James Morgan Sr. that we all have thought to be Milton but she died in 1790. NC Tester of Wills page 70 Morgain (Morgan) Elizabeth Selah May 4 1790 James (eldest), William Ex. Brother William Morgain, Elias Owens. Wit: James Taylor, Robert Vick. 1784-1787 Johnston Co NC census Hardy, John, and William, but not James. As he died in 1774 James Battle, Sheriff, sale Jan 25 1782, Also this same family in the Hertford census, .Hardy and Cealle Morgan. were mentioned in Nash Inventories. The Harrells write: Celia does not appear to have been with her mother, Elizabeth Gordon, in the 1810 census when she would have been 16 to 19 years old. I did not find her with her future husband, James Morgan, either. There was a James Morgan in Hertford County, but he was a bit too old to be Celia's husband. The 1810 entry for James Morgan listed him as over 45 years of age, and his wife as over 26. (The age category for James is very difficult to read from the microfilm, but based on his age in the 1820 and 1830 censuses, I think he should have been in the 26-45 age category in 1810, and Celia would not have been over 20 years of age.) By 1820, there is a census entry that has James and his wife in age categories more appropriate for Celia's estimated age. James should have been age 30-40, Celia should have been 26-30. She was age 26 to 45 in 1820, and 30 to 40 in 1830, so we can put her age at between 26 and 30 in 1820, which gives a birth year of between 1791 and 1794 Henry Morgan Court Doc. Edgecombe NC Henry Morgan s/o James Morgan JR. Edgecombe County, North Carolina Court Record State of North Carolina Edgecomb County In Equity To the Honorable the Judge of the Court of Equity for the County of Edgecomb The Bill of Complaint of Henry Morgan of the County of Edgecomb & of Zylphia, Lavinia & Seth Morgan all of the County of Hertford Humbly complaining shew (sic) unto your Honor Your Orators the said Henry, Zylphia, Lavinia & Seth Morgan, that James Morgan the father of your Orators & Oratrices was a private soldier in the War of the Revolution & served therein during the period for which he was enlisted which as your Orators & Oratrices believe was for three years, & until he was regularly discharged that in consequence of his said services the said James Morgan became entitled to a military land warrant for 247 acres - for which said warrant he was entitled to have a grant issued wherein from the State of North Carolina, having enlisted & belonged to the North Carolina line during the Revolutionary War as will appear from the Muster Rolls & the Books of the Land Office of said State - & that a warrant did, as your Orators & Oratrices are informed & believe, accordingly issued in the name of the said James Morgan, which was numbered 3272 for 274 acres, and was deposited in the land office in Tennessee - that the said James Morgan departed this life some years past intestate and that in consequence of his death the said warrant was not located but remained in the said land office -that the said James Morgan left surviving him your Orators & Oratrices together with Monica Morgan Exact 25/25 DNA matches Letter's from John Irvin Morgan and Martin Sewell Mary, Thanks for all your information. Most of my data came from Rocky Strickland who is a descendent of George Washington Morgan and FEREBEE LAFAYETTE Finch (common ancestors of mine). Beyond the information he has provided, I don't have much to offer. I do have detailed birth/death/marriage information on my line from John Morgan, Jr b. 2-25-1777 onward if you are interested though I don't have any original source data at this time. My line has stayed very close to Nash County over the years, in fact I was born in Wilson, NC and grew up in Farmville, NC just east of Nash County. At this time, I live in Virginia in the suburbs of Washington , DC John Morgan IV Dear Doug and Mary, My name is Martin Sewell and I recently obtained your names and email addresses from John Morgan IV. I am assisting a cousin of mine, Raymond "Windy" Morgan, in researching his Morgan line. Ray and John have matched in their 67-marker Y-DNA tests from Family Tree DNA in Houston. This indicates a very recent common ancestor. Thus, we have a genetic trail that indicates a relationship but we are severely lacking in the 'paper' trail (conventional family tree). John has indicated his known ancestors are: John Morgan, Jr b 2-25-1777 Nash County, NC, d 11-1841 Nash County, NC John Jackson Morgan b 2-8-1816 Nash County, NC, d 5-17-1900 Nash County, NC George Washington Morgan b11-5-1851 Nash County, NC d 1-5-23 Nash County NC John Irvin Morgan, Sr b 9-28-1880 Nash County, NC, d 3-19-45 Farmville, NC John Irvin Morgan, Jr b 4-9-1910 Wilson, NC, d 7-31-1981 Farmville, NC John Irvin Morgan III b 2-13-1948 Wilson, NC, d 5-13-1987 Alexandria, VA The Morgan line Ray and I are chasing: Seth Morgan, b. ca. 1801, Bertie Co., NC, d. 1863, White Co., AR., m. Nancy Valentine. John Alexander Morgan, b. 1841, Haywood Co., TN, d. 1918, White Co., AR. (notable data exist as a result of his CSA military service). Sons of John Alexander: Arthur David Morgan, Sr., b. 1875, White Co., AR, d. 1958, Miller Co., AR. (my maternal grandfather) Luther Thomas Morgan, b. 1878, White Co., AR, d. ca. 1940, AR. (Ray Morgan's paternal grandfather) In the 1911 Civil War Veterans' Survey, John Alexander Morgan noted that his father, Seth Morgan, of Bertie Co. NC, was the son of one James Morgan of NC. It is possible (but not confirmed), from other records, that this James was born before 1760 and died around 1819 in Hertford Co., NC. Also, John Alexander claimed that grandfather James "came from England" and "served six years in the Revolutionary War under Gen. Washington". Due to James' age and, very likely, his poor health at this time in his life, the details on the Revolutionary War service and 'coming from England' are questionable. We've been up against the proverbial brick wall for years with Seth. Assuming that this James Morgan mentioned in the 1911 document is indeed his grandfather, then James Morgan (b. 1707)--discounting the part about coming from England--is right for a possible link. Would you know if he had a son named James, Jr., who had a son named Seth? Letter from Mary Yes, but Martin, James Morgan 1707 is not our line! Seth father is James Morgan Jr. Please see the court document from Edgecombe Co. 1827. James Morgan JR's father of Seth and Henry died without a will and was in the Rev War and maybe with his brother John. James Morgan JR's father James SR and wife Elizabeth did leave a Will. It is likely some of James SR children came over from England, like his grandson said in the 1911 document. I would not began to dispute that historical document! John Morgan Sr 1749 Will JOHN SR. MORGAN s/o JAMES was born 1749, and died April 4, 1836 in Nash County, NC. He married" RUTHA STALLINGS d.1853 John served as a Revolutionary War soldier as a Private in Captain White's Company of the Sixth Regiment from April 26, 1776 until May 10, 1779 as certified August 5, 1844 by William Hill, Secretary of State of North Carolina. Per Deed BOOK 2-98, The State of North Carolina ; Governor Alexander Martin on November 1, 1784 granted to John Morgan a tract of land of 160 acres on Turkey Creek adjoining Robert Vick. Will of John Morgan written April 4, 1836 recorded Nov 1840 Nash County Court. To wife Rutha - lend to her all my land, negro woman Rachel , man Bunn; etc after her decease , land & man to go to daughter Nancy, woman to go to my son James. to son John Morgan - Daniel to son James Morgan - Ben to daughter Nancy Morgan - Clary to daughter Sela wife of Hutchens Ferrel Caroline to daughter Ana wife of Benet Smith Tim to daughter Susana wife of Irvin Finch - Peg etc Remainder to go to my 4 daughters and two sons Ex : Irvin Finch, son James Morgan Wit: H. Finch, Claburn Finch (his mark) Note attached: Probated Aug Court 1837 & recorded as of date above. Rutha Stallings Morgan : In Nash County Court a petition was made by A.B. Baines, admr. in the estate of Ruthy Morgan, who died intestate in 1853; listing of heirs for a total of nine shares. (1.) Ezekiel Morgan , a grandson and child of William who had been a son. (2.) Grandchildren: Wright Morgan, Moses Morgan, Jackson Morgan, Toppin wife of Reuben Murray, Gray Morgan and Winnefred were children of John Morgan, who had been son. (3.) Cherry Bryant wife of Joseph Bryant had been a daughter (4.) Great Grandchildren: Harriett Denton wife of Archibald Denton, Alsey M. Cone, Henry R. Cone, James Cone, John Cone, Nancy Perry wife of Blount Perry, Susan Cone and William Cone, all children of William Cone who was the son of Elizabeth Cone a daughter of the intestate. (5.) Ana Smith was a daughter (6.) James Morgan was a son (7.) Susan Finch wife of Irvin Finch, was a daughter (8.) Nancy Morgan, who recently died had been a daughter. (9.) Children of Celia Ferrell, who had been a daughter. Samaria Cemetery According to relative, Mary Ellen Brantley who still live in the area, John Morgan SR (born l749) died in l837; married 1771; Rutha Stallings Morgan, born 1750, died 1853. I also notice an Elizabeth Morgan born before 1780; died before 1850; suppose this was his John's daughter, appears she married William May Cone, born before 1809; died 1850. This goes back to before my great, grand fathers even. Also, I note a son, James Morgan, JR died 1781. That is all the information I have on them. But these are the people you are seeking information on. I think they are buried on Hwy 97 out from Samaria Baptist Church in this church cemetery. I am quite sure of this. In a phone call to her she said, they are buried across the road from the church and because they were well to do they had markers on their graves. Other DNA matches other than the one's listed Above to date. Just to keep things interesting we have 2 DNA matches from about 400 years ago with Micheal Walsh from Ireland a variant name of Morgan, and who's Morgan's are related to us thru Tredgar line of Philip the Welshman. Hello, I'm FTDNA kit N54638 and YSearch RXYKH. Although I wouldn't say we are really close relatives, the FTDNA comparison tool says there is a very high probability of having a common paternal ancestor in the last 500 years. By the way, 2 of the other 5 people that are possibly related to me in this way are also of the last name Morgan. I've been told that Morgan is a traditional surname in Wales (west side of Great Britain.) My family is from southeastern Ireland (County Kilkenny) but the family story is they (the Walsh's) came from Wales circa 1200 A.D. with the Cambro-Norman Invasion of Ireland. Walace Wilkins Morgan Eliza Caroline Pate Walace Morgan born in Dora Walker Co. Alabama, s/o Melvin Morgan b: 1846 Horse Creek Alabama wife Sophronia Caroline Elmore from Ga, s/o Ezekiel Morgan born Aug 26 1797 wife Lenny Brantley both of Nash NC. s/o William Morgan born 1772 Nash NC and Deliah Nash, s/o John Morgan Sr B:1749 and Rutha Stallings of VA, s/o James Morgan SR born about 1725 and Elizabeth Monmounthshire, England. At the time James came over to America Monmounthshire was England. This changed depending on the time period to Wales so when researching records, look in both Wales and England. EZEKIEL2 MORGAN (WILLIAM1) was born August 21, 1797 in Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina, and died November 26, 1881 in Dora Alabama. He married (1) LINNIE BRANTLEY 1820 in Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina, daughter of RILEY BRANTLEY. She was born February 20, 1802 in Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina, and died December 27, 1874. EZEKIEL MORGAN: Burial: White Church Cemetery- Near Dora AL LINNIEBRANTLEY: Burial: White Church Cemetery-Davis Cemetery-Dora AL My Cousin Charles Morgan wrote me wanting a conclusion to this story! Here is my reply. Really Charles, there is no conclusion in genealogy! The story does look unfinished and it is! The point was just tracing Doug Morgan's DNA as far back as we could and we still don't know exactly who and when we crossed the pond to America. If you want a conclusion, according to Henry Morgan descendant's John Alexander Morgan said, his grandfather James Morgan came here from England after 1740. We know this from the letter's of James descendants, who matched Doug DNA 100%, John Alexander Morgan was right, his grandfather James Morgan came to this country from England/Wales according to Doug's DNA, and descended, a good chance from Janis Morgan line but she has a gap in her research of about 60 years from our line. Too, we know from letters we have a varient named Micheal Walsh, who descended. from "Phillip the Welshman" from Ireland about 600 years ago and he believe's he tie's into the Tredgar line thru Helen who he says was sleeping with about everyone back then!!!. How he know this I don't know but I am sure he knows his history in Ireland, as he still lives there. Janis Clark believes her family who is a close DNA match to Doug and her family is from Careleon Wales and she has always been told her family descended from this Tredgar line too. So that ties both of them in to the Tredgar line. Her family has always lived just down the road from Tredgar near Pontypool Wales. Charlie, if you are still awake, LOL, I posted these letters hoping it would help researcher's who were looking to tie into our James Morgan line (husband of Elizabeth), and maybe someone from Edgecombe reading this book after it is published will have more answers but until we get more DNA perfect matches down the road from other Morgan's in Wales and America there is no conculsion and to many still unanswered questions to reach a conclusion. All I could do was publish the letters from our Morgan's who had matched Doug and hope someone before the next book is published can add to our DNA history. Matches are coming in all the time and everyone wants me to know how they fit into our line but it will be up to them to trace their history to these ancestors especialy 100 years from now! Anyone who wants to add or has good reason to believe something different is always welcome. Nancy Moore who said she paid thousands on her research of her Henry Morgan line. (s/o Jame), I would welcome to see her research as she has doc of James Rev War doc records and according to her a file cabinet full of records from the court house basement in White Co Arkansas and Archives in DC. I think she may hold the Key to James Morgan coming to American! but she wants me to come to Washington State to go over them, and I am in the middle of Elizabeth, my daughters Physical Therapy and may not be able to go right away. Well Charlie, I hope all is well with your move. I know it is a lot of work. I do hope you do the DNA 67 and let us know how it comes out. We have 2 DNA 67 matches already. The Arkansas Raymond "Windy" Morgan, descendant of Henry Morgan line did a 67 and John Irvin Morgan III, MD from VA. who descended from John Sr , John Jr, George Washington Morgan. I need to get It is interesting that Henry line, John Alexander Morgan said, his grandfather served under Gen Washington and John Jr. named his son George Washington Morgan. Must be a grain of truth to this story of John Alexander Morgan.! Good night Charlie! Additional Comments: I would like to thank all my Morgan cousins for their contribution's and stories to our James Morgan Sr DNA history. Anyone having any questions on our Morgan line are welcome to contact me at msheffield2003@yahoo.com Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/edgecombe/photos/bios/morgan104gbs.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 24.0 Kb