Crump v. Morgan

“Supreme Court of North Carolina case 38 N.C. 91 (N.C. 1843) was a suit of nullity of marriage, instituted in August, 1841, by Letitia M. A. Crump, acting by her committee, [William] R. D. Lindsay, against the pretended husband, Henry Morgan, and praying that a marriage de facto, celebrated between those parties in October, 1839, may be pronounced null and void, by reason of the said Letitia being, at the time, of unsound mind, and not capable of assenting to the same.” (https://casetext.com/case/crump-v-morgan)

Court documents state that Letitia Crump “was of most respectable parentage in Guilford County, and that she was there well bred and educated, and formed a part of the best society…”

Indeed, Letitia M. A. Crump, born about 1802, is the daughter of Samuel Lindsay (1774 – 1813) and Henrietta Causey (1783 – 1850) from Guilford County, North Carolina. According to an Oct 2006 newspaper article in the Greensboro News & Record, the Lindsay’s are a distinguished family who “led in the founding of Guilford County in 1771 and the town of Greensboro in 1808.” Again, the newspaper states, “The Lindsay’s lived on what is now Sandy Ridge Road in a house on a hill near a fork in the Deep River. The Great Hall in the spacious home served as the first courthouse of Guilford County from 1771 to 1774.”

18 Dec 1826, Letitia wed Col. John Bushrod Crump, who “resided in Montgomery County, and was a gentleman of fortune and character.” John Crump is from a distinguished family that hails from Virginia. Most research suggests that John’s father is James Bushrod Crump, married Isabelle Monroe, said to be a relative of President Monroe, and being active in the state government, served as one of five representatives from Montgomery County to the State Convention, which met in Hillsborough, Chatham County, in July 1788. The delegation voted overwhelmingly not to accept the United States Constitution without a Bill of Rights. James again served as a representative when North Carolina ratified the Constitution, as well as headed the North Carolina Militia until his death about 1805. Like his father, Col. John Crump also commanded the NC Militia and was a prominent planter.

Between 1779 and 1850, a John Crump had many Land Grants issued in Montgomery County, North Carolina. Dates for John Crump’s birth are varied, but most researchers believe Col. John Crump, husband of Letitia Lindsay, was born about 1790 – 1794. Certainly more research is required to sort out who the John Crump is who obtained Land Grants in Montgomery County, but it is most likely the brother of James Crump, father to Col. John Crump.

Name	County	Entered	Issued	Acres	Location	File #	Images ...
John Crump	Montgomery	1794	1795	7680	Beg. at a poplar	776	Patent
John Crump	Montgomery	1795	1799	90	On the waters of Cedar Creek	1163	Patent
John Crump	Montgomery	1814	1814	70	E. side of Yadkin River	1979	Patent
John Crump	Montgomery	1819	1819	81	N. E. side of the yadkin River	2235	Patent
John Crump and James Crump	Montgomery	1781	1785	288	On the Yadkin River	322	Patent
John Crump, Jr.	Montgomery	1790	1795	200	On N. E. side of the Yadkin River	830	Patent
John Crump, Jr.	Montgomery	1793	1795		On N. E. side of the Yadkin River	904	Patent
John Crump, Sr.	Montgomery	1792	1800	350	Beg. at a post oak	1382	Patent
John Crump, Sr.	Montgomery	1789		250	On waters of Garr Creek	068	Text Only

“she [Letitia] arrived to about the age of thirty and had five children; that, at the birth of the last of these children, she was attacked with puerperal fever attended by mania; and that she was then partially restored to her reason, but subject to occasional alienations of it; that while in that unsettled state of mind, her husband died in 1836 [1835], and that by that event she became entitled to an independent property.”

On 18 Jan 1835, Col. John Crump died in Montgomery County leaving Letitia a widow with five minor children, James, John, Thomas, Laura and Henrietta. John Crump wrote his will on 15 Jan 1835 in what seems to be in haste, leaving much to be decided by his Executor, Thomas Steele Esq. in the County of Richmond. Ultimately, Thomas Steel Esq. renounced his right to execute the will, probably due to health issues, as he died two years after Col. Crump; the court appointed Littleton Harris and Lockey Simmons instead. A copy of the full will can be found at www.familysearch.org

When James M. Crump, the eldest son of Col. John Crump and Letitia Lindsay, came of age 12 Dec 1848, he sought, through the courts, a division of his father’s property amongst his siblings. His mother, Letitia, having already acquired her dower rights and, in his will, Col. Crump left the plantation where he lived to his wife, Letitia, along with all household and kitchen furniture, tools, stock, crop and other items needed for the family. Col. Crump made no other division of his lands in Montgomery and Davidson Counties in his will. 

An article dated 12 Aug 1851 from the Fayetteville Weekly Observer, shows that the land owned by Col. John Crump, several tracts containing about 1500 acres and included the Narrows of the Yadkin and the dower lands of Letitia Lindsay Crump were listed for sale.

“The bill then states, that soon afterwards she [Letitia] became a confirmed lunatic, having no intervals perfectly lucid, and generally with but little glimmering of reason; that in July, 1838, she was duly found to be a lunatic and incapable of managing her affairs, and that she had so been continually from April, 1837; and that the Court of Montgomery then appointed her brother, William R. D. Lindsay, the guardian and committee of her person and property.”

In James Crump’s court petition, he makes note that his mother, Letitia, is a lunatic and had so been found by a jury of the county.

The case file goes on to say:

“He [Letitia’s brother, William Lindsay, after taking Letitia to Guilford County for several months in hopes of renewing her mind and memory] took her again to Montgomery [because being in Guilford County only seemed to make her condition worse] and placed her in the family and under the care of Mr. Littleton Harris, a respectable person, and the friend and executor of her late husband.”

Littleton Harris and Lockey Simmons were appointed, by the court of Montgomery, executors after Thomas Steel Esq. of Richmond County renounced his right to execute the will of Col. John Crump.

“that in October, 1839, Mr. Harris, expecting a large company for some days at his house upon the occasion of the marriage of one of his children, placed Mrs. Crump under the care of a family in his neighborhood, named Palmer, of good reputation, that she might be duly attended to during the festivities in his own family; that on the succeeding Sunday Mrs. Palmer, having occasion to leave home for the day, took Mrs. Crump and her servant to the house of Charles Morgan, the father of the present defendant, who resided near, and requested that she might be received and kept out of harm; and she was accordingly so received by Mrs. Morgan and the family;”

In the opinion delivered by the Court it states: “Mrs. Palmer went for Mrs. Crump; but was refused access to her and could only see her through the window of a room in which she was shut up. That lady sent immediately to Mr. [Littleton] Harris to advise him of her suspicions, and he hastened to the scene of action, but did not arrive until the marriage had been just concluded.”

“and that during the day, the defendant, Henry Morgan, a young man of the age of twenty or a little more, without education, standing, property or expectancy, and with a view to gain the property belonging to the lunatic, availed himself of the opportunity of having her in his power, and with the help of the other members of the family, prevailed on her to agree to marry him; that she was then held under guard until a license could be procured, and the next day they were married by a Justice of the Peace, clandestinely, in a field, at a distance from any house, and without the knowledge of any friend or relation of hers, and in the company only of the family and relations of the defendant;”

The case notes state that Henry Morgan is a young man of about 20 years of age (maybe a little more), making his year of birth somewhere between 1814 and 1819. The years agree with later Census information for Henry. Unfortunately, the case notes do not make known the name of Henry’s mother, referring to her only as Mrs. Morgan; no other family member’s names mentioned. I cannot help but wonder if Hardy Morgan was the Justice of the Peace who married them. I have not been able to find a marriage record for Henry and Letitia yet, but continue to look in hopes of finding one.

“that [Charles] Morgan resided in the mansion house situate on Mrs. Crump's dower, which he leased from her guardian, and that he and the defendant [Henry Morgan] and the whole family had actual knowledge of the state of this person, and that it was notorious that she was a lunatic and under the care of a guardian.”

On the 13^th day of Nov AD 1838, Charles Morgan and Willis Morgan made an Indenture between themselves and Green Davis and A.H. Saunders. Charles Morgan and Willis Morgan gave a note to William R D Lindsay Guardian for Letitia A Crump for the sum of Ninety-five dollars payable the first Day of Oct 1839. Should Charles and Willis not pay the note on or before the 25^th day of Dec 1839, Green Davis as security for the debt was to pay the note; then turn around and sale the 50 acre tract of land on the East side of the Uwharrie River and South side of Spencer’s Creek and North side of the big road (current day Hwy 109) crossing at Morgan’s ford (current day Uwharrie River bridge on Hwy 109) on said river and leading to Fayetteville adjoining the land of William Hamilton William Harris and the said Aaron H Saunders and N & P Harris & David Morgan in order to get his money back. The deed does not state what the $95 was for, but a possibility could be for the rent of the dower land of Letitia.

The bill further states that she [Letitia] has continued a lunatic ever since; though she has borne a child since the marriage.”

Most researchers believe that Charles Madison Crump is the son of Henry Morgan based on the statement in the court file that a child had been born of the marriage of Henry and Letitia. Charles was born after the death of Col. John Crump (1835) and there is no mention of Charles in Col. Crump’s will.

Overwhelming documentation says that Charles Madison Crump is not the son of Henry Morgan either. Charles is noted as age three on the 1850 Census, age 14 on the 1860 Census, age 23 on the 1870 Census and age 34 on the 1880 Census. All dates making him born in 1846/47 – four years after Henry and Letitia were divorced and at least a year after Henry remarried and was on his way to the state of Georgia.

I found only one record that could back up the claim that Charles was born earlier than 1846; a newspaper article from the Charlotte Observer dated 27 Feb 1894. The article states, “Mr. Crump was about 53 years of age” making him born in 1841, about the same time that Henry and Letitia were granted a divorce from the state of North Carolina. It would be quite interesting to see the DNA results from descendants of Charles Madison Crump.

 

I now have documentation that links Henry Morgan to Charles Morgan of Montgomery County. Some researchers believe Charles Morgan to be the son of Charles Morgan Senior of Chatham County; of whom I am attempting, through historical records and DNA evidence, to prove is the common ancestor of the Morgan’s of Montgomery County. The problem thus far, as previously noted, is lack of a complete paper trail to connect any of the Morgan lines together and lack of DNA matches to a Morgan line in Chatham County.

Family members who descend from the same Morgan line as I do (Joseph Morgan and Susannah Smart) have DNA tested, and while we all have numerous Morgan DNA matches, none of them hail from Chatham County, North Carolina. This could be because no Morgan’s, or allied Morgan families from Chatham, have DNA tested. It could also mean that the Morgan’s from Montgomery County are not related to the Morgan’s from Chatham County.

Now that I have a confirmed child of Charles Morgan in Montgomery County, Henry Morgan, my goal is to find a male descendant of this line and ask him to Y-DNA test. The only male child is Charles Madison Crump. Henry Morgan had only one child, a girl, Ida Bethany Morgan. She is the daughter of Elizabeth Bailey Hannah, whom Henry married in 1852. If there is a match between Henry Morgan’s male lines, I will know this Morgan line does share a common ancestor with my Morgan line. Thus far, I have confirmed that my fourth great grandfather, Joseph Morgan, and Willis Morgan, who made that Indenture with Charles Morgan, father of Henry Morgan, do share a common ancestor. Descendants of these two lines are a Y-DNA match. I am diligently searching for a paper trail that shows their relationship.

Final comments from the court:

“Therefore, the Court doth pronounce and declare the said pretended marriage de facto, contracted and celebrated between the said Letitia M. A. Crump and Henry Morgan, to have been and to be utterly null and of no effect; and that the said Letitia was and is, and of right ought to be, free and at liberty from any bond of said pretended marriage de facto; and doth pronounce that she ought to be divorced, and doth decree that she, the said Letitia M. A. Crump, be freed and divorced from the said Henry.

And the Court further decrees that the said defendant pay all the costs of this suit, to be taxed by the proper officers.”

Electra Ann Morgan, wife of James Smith

On 7 Apr 1843, The Raleigh Register reported, on page 3, that the Montgomery County Court House (in Lawrenceville) was destroyed by fire the previous week. The fire, as modern day historians and researchers can attest, completely devastated the county. Lost were the Register books and court papers, burned were the marriage records, land records incinerated; in the course of one night, Montgomery County lost the ability to function as a government entity. The county's entire history went up in smoke. It was utterly devastating, as the Clerk of Court stated the next day in a letter to Governor John Morehead.

"Our Court House with all the records of our County were burnt on the Knight of the last day of March; the Seal of County Clerk's office is injured so much that it will not answer the purposes for which it was intended. The Seal of the Superior Court office will answer with some repairing. Please send to Fayetteville to the care of Henry Lilly a Seal for County Clerk's office 2 copies of the Revised Statues, and the acts of Legislature—and the County will pay all the expense when she gets able. There is no doubt but it was fired inten-tionally. 2 men have been committed to prison on strong circumstantial evidence who it is believed committed the crime—by the names of Elijah Spencer and Harbert Spencer--We are in a wretched situation -- by order of Court."

Today, historic Lawrenceville can be found at the Uwharrie Trail trailhead on Hwy 24/27 between Troy and Albemarle. Permanent depressions of old roads seen running through what was once the middle of town, stacks of rocks, undoubtedly, chimney falls of businesses or homes that once stood in town, and the old town well itself, sit silently in the Uwharrie National Forest now. The hustle and bustle of the busy town have now gone quiet and given way to hikers and campers. I am fascinated with this old town; I guess because it is where I found my third great grandfather, William Marks, making a purchase in Daniel Freeman’s General Store in 1833.

Visiting historic Lawrenceville and seeing the old road and the old well, standing in the same place my ancestors stood to make a purchase at the General Store or handle their day-to-day business at the courthouse, located across the way from the old well, was an awe-like experience for me. From that day, I was hooked on learning the history of Lawrenceville and the people who called it home.

On 21 May 1843, a few weeks after the fire that destroyed the courthouse in Lawrenceville, James Smith obtained a marriage bond to wed Electra Ann Morgan, who is believed to be the daughter of Hardy and Nancy Hearne Morgan. S. H. Christian signed as the bondsman. I am not sure where the county was holding court after the courthouse fire, but it is obvious that the local officials quickly began the recovery process to put the town of Lawrenceville back in business.

Thus far, I have found no concrete proof that Electra Ann is the daughter of Hardy and Nancy Morgan, but the circumstantial evidence certainly leads in that direction. On the 1850 Census for Pontotoc, Mississippi, I found that James and Ann Smith migrated with several other Morgan’s from North Carolina to Mississippi. Their two oldest children, Mary and Sarah, were both born in North Carolina in 1844 and 1845, respectively. The two younger children, William and James, were born in Mississippi in 1847 and 1849, respectively. James Smith is listed as 32 years old, making him born about 1818 and Ann is listed as 30 years of age, being born about 1820.

In dwelling number 1848, two houses down from Hardy Morgan, lives Nelson Morgan, also born in North Carolina, with wife Narcissa, and children Amanda, Ann, Henrietta, Alfred and Mary. More on this family in another Blog, but suffice it to say that I believe Nelson is probably the son of Hardy and Nancy Morgan, and brother to Electra Ann Morgan Smith.

I found the marriage of James Smith and Electra Ann Morgan a bit curious as it was a James Smith who was witness to the will of Charles Morgan Senior in 1787, Chatham County, NC, and it is this same Charles Morgan Senior whom I am attempting to prove is the common ancestor for my Morgan line in Montgomery County. Could James Smith, who married Electra Ann Morgan in 1843, be a descendant of the James Smith who witnessed the will of Charles Morgan Senior in Chatham County? Did the Smith family migrate from Chatham into Montgomery with the Morgan and Stewart families? Certainly more research is required to straighten out this Smith line!

I am beginning to see why researchers who have studied the Chatham County Morgan’s believe that some of them migrated into Montgomery County. It is certainly true that Hardy Morgan did, as well as, John Stewart and his wife Rachel Morgan. If genealogy research was only finding common first and last names, this case would be solved for me. Unfortunately, just because someone has the same name does not necessarily prove they are the same person or of the same family. It is, though, a very beneficial clue and would be neglectful on my part if I did not investigate it further.

A James Smith had four land grants issued between 1780 and 1792 in Chatham County. Two of those grants were on the waters of Poke Berry (also seen as Pokeberry) Creek, a third on Wilkinsons Creek and the fourth on Cedar Creek.

Curious to know who else lived on or near Pokeberry Creek, I did a search on nclandgrants.com and discovered the infamous Mark Morgan also had a land grant for 600 acres on the Branches of Cub Creek and Pokeberry Creek in 1763, when the area was still Orange County. Chatham County would be formed from Orange in another 11 years, in 1771. Of note, Cedar Creek lies to the east and closer to what is now the Moore County line.

Updated 06-13-2020: Y-DNA testing has shown thus far that there is no connection between Mark Morgan descendants and the Hardy Morgan family. 

Mark Morgan is believed to be the son of John Dorian Morgan, born about 1650 in what is now south Wales and the youngest child of Edward Morgan. In the 1680s, John emigrated to Essex County, Virginia where he settled with this wife, Hannah. Their son, John Morgan, married Ann Barbee. John and Ann settled in Essex County, Virginia in St. Ann Parish on Occypacia Creek. Ann remarried after the death of her husband to Dr. Thomas Caruthers who sold all her property rights in 1739. The family moved to Onslow County, North Carolina where Ann died. Her sons had to start over acquiring their own property.

Ann’s son, Joseph Morgan, became one of the first Judges of Onslow County, North Carolina. Another son, William became the county Constable, and son, Nathan opened a trading post in the wilderness, trading with Indians. Another son, Mark Morgan (1712-1792), obtained 400 acres in then Bladen (now Orange) County, North Carolina on October 9, 1747. The property joined the South side of Newhope on Morgan Creek. Mark lived there with his wife Sarah Hinton until his death. (http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~jentaylor/genealogy/Morgan.htm)

Another interesting article I read at townofchapelhill.org in regards to Mark Morgan tells a history of this early North Carolina Morgan family that is ‘seldom seen in the family trees that bear his name.’ Mark Morgan married Sarah Hinton of the powerful North Carolina family ‘who developed plantations and built mills along the Neuse River in eastern Wake County. Extended kin to Mark and Sarah Hinton Morgan were the Barbee (Mark Morgan’s mother was a Barbee), Alston, Hardy (or Hardee), Hunter, Johnston, Jones, Kimbrough, Lane, and Patterson families.’

These families became the movers and shakers of early Orange, and later Chatham County, who ‘had the surplus and capital to invest in land, plantations, gristmills, sawmills and slaves. Mark and Sarah Hinton Morgan had at least four children (but probably more), sons John and Hardy and daughters Anne, married Benjamin Hart and Sarah, married first John Tapley Patterson (died of smallpox in VA 1781) and second, Benjamin Yeargan (also seen as Yeargain). It was from these families that land was donated to build the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.’

I am most curious of the names Hardy and Alston. It is a known fact that some children born to this era were named after their maternal families, most of the time their mothers maiden name. So, names are an important clue. The Hardy Morgan I am researching who migrated from Chatham into Montgomery bears the same name (Hardy) as the son of Mark Morgan. Was my Hardy Morgan the grandson of Mark Morgan? Or was his mother’s maiden name Hardy? Could Charles Morgan Senior be a son of Hardy Morgan, son of Mark Morgan?

I have not done much research on the Alston name yet, but my male cousin who Y-DNA tested for our Morgan line, Y-DNA matches to a descendant of Moses Alston Morgan from Tennessee. Collaborating with this match, I found out that Moses Alston Morgan was born 1803 and died in 1860. His parents were William Morgan and Martha Polly Reeder. The family lived in Wilson County Tennessee prior to 1800, yet Alston maintains he was born in North Carolina. It is certain that my cousin and the descendant of Moses Alston Morgan have a common ancestor. I hope to figure out how these Morgan families connect.

In reading through deeds in Orange County, I found a most interesting deed from David Davis to Hardy Morgan, son of Mark Morgan. Mentioned in the deed is 50 acres of land where Angelica Johnston whose husband (not named) is buried on said land and where she is to live during her natural life. Yet, another mystery, who is David Davis and Angelica Johnston?

Back in Montgomery County I found three land grants to a James Smith, definitely not the James that married Electra Ann Morgan, but perhaps the father or Uncle of the James that married Electra Ann Morgan. The first grant for 50 acres of land on the north east side of Pee Dee River adjoining John Christian’s second corner. Remember, S. H. Christian signed the marriage bond for James Smith and Electran Morgan in 1843? How is S.H. Christian related to John Christian? The grant is dated 7 Jun 1799.

The second grant, dated 17 Feb 1801, is for 100 acres of land on the Moccosin (Moccasin) Branch of McLains (McLeans) Creek and adjoins Purnell Hearn’s corner near the Great Road (current day Hwy 109) and intersects with James Harris’ corner. The Hearn’s and the Harris’ are a whole other Blog post. I have confirmed via the War of 1812 pension file that Nancy Morgan’s (wife of Hardy Morgan) maiden name is Hearn. She descends from one of these Hearn’s in Montgomery County, however, I am not sure which Hearn as yet.

The third grant, dated 30 Nov 1801, is for 30 acres on the north east side of Pee Dee River and adjoins John Christian’s corner. The Smith’s, Christian’s, Hearn’s, and Harris’ all seem to be established in Montgomery County before Hardy Morgan’s arrival around 1805/6. Hardy married Nancy Hearn in 1807 and her War of 1812 widow pension file claims he was born in 1785. There is not much wiggle room here. Hardy would have been about 21 years old when he left Chatham County for Montgomery.

By 1860, I have lost track of James and Electra Ann Morgan Smith. However, I found their two daughters, Mary Ann and Sarah H., living with Electra Ann’s sister, Nancy, and her husband Milton Ferguson in Drew, Spring Hill, Arkansas, where most of the Morgan family settled after leaving Mississippi.

Electra Ann Morgan Smith most likely died in Mississippi, either in childbirth or from some epidemic, perhaps like the one that killed her eldest brother, Alexander. James Smith and the two male children, William and James, have eluded me thus far.

The year 1870 finds Mary Ann Smith in Beauregard, Drew, Arkansas married to Hugh Johnson (H. J.) Donaldson and mother of two children, James W and Syntha (Cynthia). Living next door is Uncle Whitfield Morgan, and in his household lives Grandmother, Nancy Hearn Morgan.

In 1880, the Donaldson’s are found in Lincoln, Smith, Arkansas. Children include James, Hugh, John, Chester, and Whitfield. Syntha (Cynthia) is missing from this Census record and it is possible that she died between the Census years. As she was only 6 months old at the 1870 Census, she is not old enough to have married by 1880; perhaps she was just missed or overlooked by the Census taker. Three of the boys, John, Chester and Whitfield all grew up to marry sisters, Edna, Gertrude and Agnus Myhand.

William Morgan and Amelia Brewer

Fold3

William Morgan was born about 1789 probably in Montgomery County, North Carolina. His parents may have migrated from Chatham County, North Carolina to Montgomery County, North Carolina around 1788, about the same time that John Stewart and his wife, Rachel Morgan, migrated there. Most internet research I read says that William was the son of Zachariah Morgan, the son of Charles Morgan Senior, from Chatham County, North Carolina. This claim looks to have originated from a 1908 statement given by Catharine Lavinia Morgan Layman, William and Amelia Morgan’s daughter, when she submitted a Cherokee application claim. In answer to questions 7, 16, 21 and the Remarks section, Catharine states that her grandfathers are Abel Brewer and Zachariah Morgan.

Ancestry

Some researchers believe that Zachariah Morgan died prior to 1840 in Chatham County, while others believe he was the illegitimate child of Hannah West, and that after a stay in South Carolina, he migrated to Kentucky. Y-DNA testing has proven that there are two distinct Zachariah Morgan’s. My male cousin’s Y-DNA does not match those who claim descent from the Zachariah Morgan line in Kentucky.

However, we do match a Moses Alston Morgan line from Tennessee. Collaborating with this match, I found out that Moses Alston Morgan was born 1803 and died in 1860. His parents were William Morgan and Martha Polly Reeder. The Reeder line is from Shenandoah, Virginia and Martha’s mother was Lydia Morgan. The family lived in Wilson County Tennessee prior to 1800, yet Alston maintains he was born in North Carolina. Both surnames, Morgan and Reeder (Reader), are found in early Montgomery County, North Carolina records. Y-DNA testing has taken my research to Tennessee.

Update: I have been working through my cousins Y-DNA matches and MAY have finally broken through a brick wall with one of the matches who descends from Alston Morgan (1803-1860). The Y-DNA match had claimed that the parents of Alston Morgan were William Morgan and Martha Reeder. However, after more than a year of researching William and Martha Reeder Morgan, I now think these two have been confused as the parents of Alston Morgan.

Alston's father is most likely Anderson Morgan born about 1783 in Chatham County, North Carolina

FTDNA Morgan Project

I know for sure that, prior to 1809, there was a Zachariah Morgan who lived in Montgomery County on the road leading from Fisher’s ferry to Fayetteville; joining the land of Andrew Dennis, my forth-great grandfather. Andrew Dennis lived on Cedar Creek, current day River Road area. 100 acres of Zachariah’s land sold for taxes due in 1809, 1810, 1811 and 1812. Zachariah Morgan also had two land grants entered 1816 and 1825, but neither were issued.

Newspapers, Digital NC, NC Land Grants, Google Maps

Zachariah Morgan is in Montgomery County as late as 1833, because in an interview conducted by Hardy Morgan, Zachariah vouches for John Stewart for his Revolutionary War pension transfer to Tennessee. No relationship between John and Zachariah is noted in the file, but it does state that Zachariah was 12 or 13 years old at the close of the Revolutionary War, making his birth around 1770.

This date puts Zachariah at about 19 years of age when William would have been born. It is a bit unusual for this period for a 19 year old to be out of his father’s home or without a legal guardian as the adult age back then was 21 years. If Zachariah were the child of Charles Morgan Senior from Chatham County, he would have been 17 years old when his father died. I am not able to find any guardian papers for Zachariah. It is a stretch, no doubt, to believe that Zachariah is William’s father, but the possibility does exist.

Ancestry

William may have grown up near the town of Henderson, at the confluence of the Yadkin (Pee Dee) and Uwharrie Rivers. Based on his War of 1812 pension file at Fold3, William seems to have had some education, as he was able to sign his name.

Digital NC

In October 1813 at the age of 24, William volunteered at Henderson for six months service in the War of 1812. He served a term of six months beginning in Feb 1814 and honorably discharged at Salisbury, Rowan County on the 11th day of August 1814. Both Hardy Morgan and my fourth great grandfather, Joseph Morgan, served in the War of 1812 with the Tenth Company, detached from Montgomery Regiment. 

Fold3

Of note, there were two William Morgan’s from Montgomery County who served in the War of 1812. William Morgan Senior and William Morgan Junior were both issued pay vouchers on 7 May 1815 for their service. Vouchers were issued in lieu of cash by the governor after the auditor had validated a claim. The vast majority were issued for military service by detached militia, either those called out to defend the coast in 1813 or companies ordered to rendezvous at Wadesboro in 1815. When a voucher was redeemed, it was cancelled by punching a hole through it. Both of these vouchers were redeemed. (digital.ncdcr.gov)

 

Digital NCDCR

Since the William Morgan I am writing about was not old enough to have a son to serve alongside him, I wondered if he was the junior and William Morgan Senior was his father. There was a William Morgan in Montgomery County as of the 1790 Census who had a son under age 16 and 6 daughters.

I also wondered if the two William Morgan’s were related at all. Sometimes the terms Senior and Junior were used to differentiate between an elder and a younger person of the same name who may not have been related at all. My questions were answered when I found in the file that the Auditor had noted William Morgan Junior served from 1 Feb 1814 to 15 Mar 1814 when noted as being deceased. That of course leads to another question. Who redeemed the pay voucher for William Morgan Junior dated 7 May 1815?

Based on the date of death for William Morgan Junior (the younger) I know this William Morgan is the man that married Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) and is the father of Mary Polly Morgan who married William Hamilton. Joseph Hamilton, son of William and Mary Morgan Hamilton, and grandson of William Morgan Junior (the younger) who died in the War of 1812, married my third great aunt Cyrona Anna Marks and Lee Thomas Hamilton, another son of William and Mary Morgan Hamilton and grandson of William (the younger) married Cyrona’s sister, Julia Ann Marks. There is a War of 1812 widow’s pension file for Elizabeth Morgan. After Elizabeth died, her daughter, and only surviving heir, Mary Morgan Hamilton, claimed the pension of William, her father.

It looks like there was some confusion with William Morgan Senior (the elder) who married Amelia Brewer, as the Treasury Department noted on his pension application both Senior and Junior. The two William’s were not father and son. They were listed as Senior and Junior only because they had the same name. 

Fold3

I learned from Amelia’s widow pension file at Fold3 that William married first, Nancy (maiden name unknown), prior to 1820, in Montgomery County. I have no idea who Nancy is or what happened to her. It is likely that she died either in childbirth or from some epidemic that struck the community of Henderson or even from an accident. Newpapers.com has no information and a search of what remaining records for Montgomery County exists, found nothing.

I have found only one clue that might lead me to believe that a child was born from the marriage of William and Nancy. On the 1870 Census for Jefferson County, Tennessee, there is a Charles Morgan, age 55 showing in the same household with William Morgan (age 82) and Amelia Brewer Morgan (age 67). Charles would have been born in 1815 and his place of birth is showing as North Carolina. He is too young to be William’s brother and too old to be a son of Abel Morgan, who is the son of William and Amelia, and listed as head of household in this Census.

William and Amelia married around 1820 making Charles 5 years old. The 1820 Census for Montgomery was destroyed or lost so I am not able to check that Census for a William Morgan. There is no William Morgan on the 1820 Census for Chatham County that I could find. Perhaps William and any children he and Nancy had were living with relatives.

At this time I have no idea who Charles Morgan, age 55, is on the 1870 Census for Jefferson, Tennessee. He is not listed in Jefferson County on the 1850 or the 1860 Census. 

Ancestry

Charles married, 8 Dec 1871, to Joannah Riddle in Jefferson, Tennessee and the two are found on the 1880 Census for Jefferson County living next door to Joannah’s father, James Riddle. Charles maintains his birthplace as North Carolina but claims he is only 56, making his date of birth 1824. If he was born in 1824, then he is the son of William and Amelia. However, Catharine Morgan Layman in her 1908 Cherokee Claim does not note him as a sibling.

 

Ancestry

In 1884, Charles and Joannah Riddle Morgan had a son and named him James. The 1900 Census shows Joannah, a widow, living with her son in Jefferson County, Tennessee. I am still researching James to find his descendants. I believe he may have married Mary Ethel Turner in 1911, but I am still trying to prove this connection. Joannah remarried to James C. Gervin in 1913. She passed away in 1931 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. 

Ancestry

William, as already noted, married second, Amelia Brewer, from Chatham County in Feb 1820/21. Thus far, all research I have read states that Amelia is the daughter of Abel Brewer and Mary Polly Morgan from Chatham County and the granddaughter of Joseph and Fereby Morgan. Catharine Morgan Layman’s Cherokee Claim also states her grandfather as Abel Brewer from Chatham County.

Joseph Morgan is the son of Charles Morgan Senior who died in Chatham County between Nov 1787 and Feb 1788. Both Joseph and Fereby Morgan mention their daughter, Mary Polly (Morgan) Brewer as the wife of AbelBrewer.  

 

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According to the Jefferson County, Tennessee 1850 Census, William and Amelia’s daughter, Catharine was born 1845 in North Carolina. Three-year-old Adeline was the first child born in Tennessee. Therefore, William and Amelia left North Carolina after Catharine’s birth in 1845 and arrived in Jefferson County before Adeline was born in 1847. 

Ancestry

On 20 Sep 1850, William Morgan, age 62 years, appeared before the Justice of the Peace in Jefferson County, Tennessee to apply for the bounty land, which he may be entitled to for his service in the War of 1812. William Baker and Samuel Price sign as witnesses.

 

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The 1860 Jefferson County, Tennessee Census shows William Morgan, age 71, with wife, Milly (Amelia) and children Sarah, Martha, John, Kate (Catharine), Adaline, Susan (Susannah) and Riley, who would be the last child born to William and Amelia.

Ancestry

On 11 Mar 1871, William Morgan, age 82, again appears before the Justice of the Peace in Jefferson, Tennessee. This time to claim a pension for his service in the War of 1812. He, once again, states that his wife’s name is Amelia Brewer and they married in Chatham County, North Carolina in the year 1820. James Fuller and Abel Morgan, son of William and Amelia, signed as witnesses.  

 

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On 13 May 1880, William Morgan died and was buried in Balch Cemetery in Jefferson County, Tennessee. His gravestone has partially sunk into the ground. 

Find-a-grave

The 1880 Jefferson County, Tennessee Census enumerated on 14 Jun 1880, one month after William died. Amelia is listed as a widow living with her son, Edmond, and his wife Sarah Edgar. Directly next door to Edmond is his son James Patteu Balch Morgan who is newly married to Almeda Acuff.

Ancestry

On 18 Jun 1880, Amelia applied to claim a widow’s pension. She provided the same information on her application that William had provided on his, verifying their date of marriage and the places where they had lived during their marriage.  Her application was approved 16 Sep 1880 for $8.00 per month. That equates to nearly $200 today.  

 

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Amelia Brewer Morgan died on 9 Feb 1893 and is buried beside her husband at Balch Cemetery in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Several of Amelia and William’s children are also buried here. 

Find-a-grave