William Morgan (abt. 1600 - abt. 1650)

Born about 1600 in Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales

Husband of Elizabeth Morgan — married after 26 Mar 1633 in Wales

Descendants

Died about 1650 at about age 50 in Brecon, Wales

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Anne B [send private message], Jerry Smith [send private message], Connie Wade [send private message], John Putnam [send private message], and Jathan Pfeifle [send private message]

Biography

William Morgan matriculated to the Middle Temple on 17 April 1616 at which time he would have been about 16 years old, and he was called to the bar in 1623.^[1][2]

He was in an extended relationship (married?) first with Sybil Wayte by 19 Nov. 1624.^[1][3] He married Elizabeth Morgan, youngest daughter of William Morgan of Tredegar, after 26 March 1633.^[1][4] His only known son and heir, and only son named in his will, was William Morgan who left no heirs, and the estates William Morgan of Y Dderw were eventually inherited by his daughter Blanche.^[5]

William Morgan was a wealthy lawyer and landholder and a member of parliament from 1640 to 1649, King’s attorney, recorder of Brecon, etc. Even the information that he ever lived in Bristol is wrong. He lived, worked served, died, and is buried in Brecon with no records of his life pertaining to England. His monumental inscription in Brecon church “"Here lyeth the body of William Morgan, Esq., king's attorney of South Wales and recorder of this borrough, who married Elizabeth, daughter of William Morgan, of Tredegar, and had issue William, Elizabeth, Mary Ann.”^[6]

Birth

Born: About 1600.

Estimate based on his matriculation to the Middle Temple on 17 April 1616 at which time he would have been about 16 years old.

Marriage and Children

Married: 1st - Maybe Sybil Wayte by 19 Nov. 1624. This marriage was actually litigated over a period of a couple of decades with Sybil Wayte claiming that they were married in 1624 producing several children. William Morgan denied the marriage stating that he lived with Sybil who was his "wench" and acknowledged one illegitimate daughter.

Married: 2nd - Elizabeth Morgan, youngest daughter of William Morgan of Tredegar, after 26 March 1633.

Children of William Morgan and Sybil Wayte:

1. They had at least one daughter who William claimed was illegitimate. Sybil claimed they had several children including one son.

Children of William Morgan and Elizabeth Morgan:

His effigy shows he had 1 son and 4 daughters.

1. William Morgan. His only son and heir. He was the primary heir in his father's will and inherited all of the estates.
2. Elizabeth Morgan. Her name is given his monumental inscription in Brecon church.
3. Mary Ann Morgan. Her name is given his monumental inscription in Brecon church.
4. Blanche Morgan. He provided up to £2000 for her marriage in his will. There is apparently some question as to whether she was his daughter or if she was the daughter of his son William.
5. Two more daughters. The monumental inscription apparently used to name two more daughters, however, their names can no longer be read (one of the two would be Blanche is she belongs in this generation).

Death

Died: 1650.

Will:

Dated 27 May 1649.

Morgan directed that he be buried in Brecon church next to his father. He left his estates to his son, William, and provided for a portion of up to £2,000 for his daughter, Blanche. Morgan entreated his children to be guided by his brother-in-law, Thomas Morgan† of Machen and, mindful of his legal difficulties and earlier indiscretions, advised them that ‘generally the choice of youth in the way of marriage is heady and foreruns hasty, and late repentance which followeth at the heels’. Blanche eventually inherited the Dderw estate and married William Morgan of Machen, who represented Monmouthshire in Richard Cromwell’s Parliament and also in the 1660s and 1670s.

Research Notes

Miles Morgan, an immigrant to New England is said in many secondary sources and across the internet to be the son of William Morgan of Y Dderw and his wife Elizabeth Morgan - this is incorrect. There is no evidence that Miles was from Wales. William Morgan did not have a son Miles. He married Elizabeth Morgan long after Miles Morgan of Springfield would have been born. By dates, there is no way Miles could be the son of William and Elizabeth Morgan.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} History of Parliament Online. Biography of MORGAN, William (c.1600-1649), of Y Dderw, Llyswen, Brec. and the Middle Temple, London.
2. ↑ Hopwood. Middle Temple Records: 1603-1649. (1904): page 604, page 682.
3. ↑ Sybil Wayte of London sued William Morgan to prove her claim they married in 1624 and had children including one son. William Morgan denied the claim they were married though admitted he lived with Sybil and acknowledged one illegitimate daughter. These suits continued from the 1620s until long after his death.
4. ↑ This date appears to be the date of a marriage agreement, though I haven't yet found the document. Multiple sources agree to this date though.
5. ↑ Blanche may actually have been a granddaughter of William Morgan (daughter of son William). Sources are conflicting and the abstract of William's will leaves both interpretations as an option.
6. ↑ Poole. Illustrated History and Biography of Brecknockshire. (1886): page 45.

• From the Morgan Famiiy History by Appleton Morgand c. 1902. (online at http://www.hausegenealogy.com/morgan.html) regarding Sir William Morgan's father William born about 1550
• Find A Grave: Memorial #195959212. No stone