Lewis Morgan (abt. 1728 - abt. 1814)

Born about 1728 in Chester County, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Cristinia Ann (White) Morgan — married before 1752 in Bedford, Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1814 at about age 86 in Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Lewis Morgan is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A080512.

Lewis Morgan was born about 1727/28 in Chester County, Pennsylvania^{[citation needed]} (see Research Note for another possible birth location). He was a son of Thomas Morgan and his first wife Lettice Evans who married about 1723/27. (On 1 April 1774, Lewis was named as the first son in the Will of his father Thomas Morgan of Bedford, Virginia, who named his 2nd wife, Ester Morgan and his 18 children.^[1])

Lewis' father Thomas Morgan appears on the tax lists of London Britain Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania from 1725 thru 1734. In 1734, Thomas Morgan is named as a Commissioner, Chester County, Pennsylvania.^[2]

In 1741, Thomas Morgan purchased 450 acres, tract 93, on the Shenandoah River at Arnold's Branch, Virginia. Thomas, a blacksmith, constructed a grist mill, houses, and outhouses on the property before selling it on 2 Nov 1749 to Bartholomew Anderson. Lewis Morgan was witness to the deed of sale.

In 1745, Brunswick County, Virginia is divided to create Lunenburg County, Virginia. In 1750, Luis Morgan appears with 1 tithe on the List of Tithes in Lunenburg (the part of the county west of Goose Creek which runs throught the center of current day Bedford County, Virginia). He is listed next to Thomas Morgin with 4 tithes and Thomas Morgin, Junr.^[3]

In 1750, Thomas, his new wife, and sons are in Lunenburg County Virginia. In 1750 Lunenburg, VA, (in the part of the county west of Goose Creek which runs through the center of what is now Bedford County, Virginia), Luis Morgin appears on List of Tithes with 1 Tithe (appears next to Thomas Morgin with 4 Tithes and Thomas Morgin, Junr).^[4]

In 1752, Bedford County, Virginia is created from Lunenburg and Albemarle Counties. Bedford County is then divided to create Halifax County, Virginia.

On 8 May 1755, a survey is recorded of 150 acres on Chestnut Creek.^{[citation needed]}

In 1765, Lewis Morgan is paid as a reader as stated in the Vestry Book of Antrim Parish, Halifax County, Virginia. In Feb 1768, Lewis Morgan was allowed 50 lbs of tabacco for six month’s service as a lay reader.^[5] On 14 Jul 1769, at a Vestry held for Camcen Parish at Pittsylvania Courthouse, Lewis Morgan is ordered to tend at Snow Creek Chappell when the Revd M Stevanson preaches there and that he read Prayers the other Sunday at Wm Hirds and at Potters creek Schoolhouse.^[6]

In 1776, Henry County, Virginia is created from Halifax County.

On 28 November 1771, Lewis Morgan deeded 50 acres of land on Chesnut (sic) Creek in Pittysylvania, Virginia, to Thomas Morgan for 50 pounds.^[7]

On 13 September 1777, Lewis Morgan, age 50, is included in a list of inhabitants of Henry County who, renouncing their fealty to Great Britain, swore allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia.^[8]

About 1779 Lewis and his sons Thomas and Adonijah moved to Washington County, North Carolina (now Greene County, Tennessee). Lewis' son Thomas acquires land there in a deed dated Nov. 29, 1779.

In 1781, Lewis and his wife and son Thomas and his wife enter into an indenture to sell 150 acres of land in Henry County, Virginia for the sum of 250 pounds current money of Virginia. The land is located near the ford and mouth of Chestnut Creek (Chestnut Creek is mostly in what later became Franklin County). In his deposition for this sale, Lewis states that he surveyed the land himself -- as recorded May 8, 1755, in the records of Halifax County [We haven't found records of the actual survey, yet.]. What is not stated is why his son Thomas, also signed the indenture, as he was not living on the land at the time Lewis made his survey.

In 1783 old Washington County, North Carolina, becomes Green County, North Carolina. In 1783, Levi (Lewis) Morgan, Adonjah Morgan, and Thomas Morgan are on the Tax List at Greene, Tennessee.^[9]

Camp Creek was recorded in land records as early as 1788. "For 10 pounds per 100 acres" – to Michael Box 150 acres in Greene County on south side of Nolichucky River on Camp Creek, both sides of Camp Creek, adjoining Thomas Davis, Lewis Morgan, David Reynolds. Samuel Johnston at Fairfield, 11 Jul 1788. ^[10]

Lewis is listed on the rolls of men who participated in the Revolutionary War Battle with the Cherokee "Chicamauga" Indians in the area of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. On 8 September 1792, Lewis and his sons, Thomas and Adonijah, are listed on the Muster Roll of Capt. Samuel Beard's company of Militia comprised mainly of men from Greene County in the Territory South of the River Ohio (Greene County, Tennessee). Territorial Governor William Blount called on the militia to muster in the fall of 1792 in support of settlers in the Cumberland region who were under attack by Native American forces. Col. John Sevier was commander of the East Tenn. brigade, in which these militia companies served.^[11]

"The Chickamauga Wars (1776–1794) were a series of raids, campaigns, ambushes, minor skirmishes, and several full-scale frontier battles which were a continuation of the Cherokee (Ani-Yunwiya, Ani-Kituwa, Tsalagi, Talligewi) struggle during and after the American Revolutionary War against encroachment by American frontiersmen from the former British colonies. Until the end of the Revolution, the Cherokee fought in part as British allies. After 1786, they also fought along with and as members of the Western Confederacy, organized by the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, in an effort to repulse European-American settlers from the area west of the Appalachian Mountains."^[12]

In 1796, land that was in Green County, North Carolina becomes part of Tennessee.

On the 1797 Greene County tax lists, Lewis' son Adonijah Morgan is listed with 200 acres, 1 white poll (adult male), and 1 black poll. Lewis Morgan and Thos. Morgan are listed with 1 white poll each. Adonijah Morgan is also listed as Executor for John Hoptin. In 1798, Adonijah has 200 acres on Camp Creek, 1 white poll, 1 black poll land 18 Squirrel Scalps. Lewis Morgan has no acres, 1 white poll and 2 Squirrel Scalps. Thomas isn't listed.

Lewis and his wife may have moved to Pulaski County, Kentucky with their son Adonijah and his family approximately 1800 (based on a likely match in the 1810 census).

Lewis passed about 1814/1816 at Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States.^{[citation needed]}

Family

About 1750 Lewis married Cristinia Ann White, daughter of Robert White Sr and Margaret (Hoge) White.^{[citation needed]}

Children of Lewis and Christina:

1. Thomas Morgan, born 1751/1752 in Lunenbuerg County, Virginia; died after 1840 and before 2 June 1845 at Camp Creek, Greene County, Tennessee. He married Sarah Willett, and they had 9 children including Thomas, born 1784, and Lewis, who married Mary Evans 1792 in Greene Co TN.
2. Amaziah Morgan, born about 1753 in Bedford Co, Virginia; died 10 Oct 1791 in Detroit, Lansing, Michigan. It has been written that Amaziah was captured by Indians at the age of 5, and although his father later located him, he refused to return to his family. Amaziah married an American Indian woman, had 3 daughters, and was then killed in battle during "St. Clair's defeat.^[13]
3. Adonijah Morgan, born 6 May 1755 in Bedford County, Virginia; died 27 Dec 1827 in Fayette County, Indiana where is was buried. Adonijah married 1st Cleo Coats and 2nd Isabelle McMahon. He had 12 children.

Research Notes

At the time Lewis Morgan lived, the Virginia counties were still being formed and divided. Lunenburg County is in southern Virginia, it was formed from part of Brunswick County in 1746. Bedford County was formed out of Lunenburg in 1753. Halifax, to the south, was formed in 1752, also from Lunenburg. Pittsylvania was formed out of Halifax in 1766, and Henry County was split off from Pittsylvania in 1776. Franklin County was formed out of Bedford and Henry in 1785. So while Lewis' name is found in records of several counties, it is possible that Lewis and family really remained in only one or two places in this area.

Possibly born at Brunswick County, Virginia according to "LEWIS MORGAN (1728 -- ca. 1800) OF BEDFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA" by Elizabeth Pearson White, C.Gp., F.A.S.G., in National Genealogical Society quarterly. (Washington, District of Columbia: National Genealogical Society), Vol 65, No 3, Sep 1977.

Although Ester Morgan is linked as a daughter, there are no source documents or narrative to support this connection and further research is required.

Lewis Morgan, Farmer, is listed in the 1807 Septennial Census, Chester County, Pennsylvania.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Copy of Will in files of [Morgan-8221] as obtained from Greeneville TN Genealogical Library (Elmer T Cox Museum) on 6 Sep 2019. Transcription of Will of Thomas Morgan
2. ↑ "The Pennsylvania Gazette," 4 October 1739 (Newspapers online).
3. ↑ Transcription by Landon C. Bell in "Sunlight On the Southside" (Phila., 1931), pp. 135, 136.] p 136 - [For 1750. List taken by Nicholas Haile]
4. ↑ Transcription by Landon C. Bell in "Sunlight On the Southside" (Phila., 1931), pp. 135, 136.] p 136 - [For 1750. List taken by Nicholas Haile]
5. ↑ Clement, Maud Carter. History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia (1062676), p 116.
6. ↑ Lewis Morgan, in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. (Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Historical Society), Vol 22.[COLONIAL CHURCHES IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY. (Contributed by Mrs. N.E. Clement, Chatham, Va.) FROM THE VESTRY BOOK OF CAMDEN PARISH.] p 174.
7. ↑ Land Deed, Lewis Morgan to Thomas Morgan, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Deed Book No. 2, 1770-1772; Pittsylvania County Courthouse, Chatham, Virginia; pages 354-355; FamilySearch, images 466-467 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-G4K9).
8. ↑ The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, v. 9, Oct 1901, page 139 (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3624039&view=1up&seq=153)
9. ↑ 1783 Tax List: Early Tax Lists of Tennessee, p. 202; Microfilm, 12 rolls. The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
10. ↑ Land Record: "North Carolina Land Grants Recorded in Green Co., TN, by Goldene Fillers Burgner, c. 1981"
11. ↑ Muster Roll of Capt Samuel Beards Militia 1792 09-08; Blackston McDannel Family Papers, 1780-1989, bulk 1830-1890, Accession number D-0015, ID 43126 (https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll14/id/14/)
12. ↑ Chickamauga Wars 1776-1794; (https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Chickamauga_Wars_(1776–94)
13. ↑ A Standard history of Ross County, Ohio Lyle S. Evans, ed. 1917.
14. ↑ 1807 Census, Land & Substitutes, Chester County, Pennsylvania (www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=US/MCV/978155/11039378860814592205)

• The National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 65, #3, Sept 1977 contains a nice summary of the life of Lewis Morgan. However this article doesn't identify his parents and its author apparently didn't know about the will of Thomas Morgan which mentions the son Lewis.
• A History of the Family of Morgan, 1089 to Present, by Appleton Morgan, p92, mentions Lewis and his descendents and mentions that Lewis was living with two sisters Lettes Richardson and Elizabeth Vordman. The author apparently completely messes up Lewis' ancestry, but his name and the names of those sisters matches up with three of the children named in Thomas Morgan's will: Lewis, Elizabeth m. John Vordman (Vardiman), and Lettes (Leatice/Letitia) m. A Richardson.
• https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nicklaus&id=I212
• Source: S-816309206 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.Ancestry Family Tree Ancestry Family Tree 63145980

See also:

• FamilySearch Record: LCPP-QDD profile of Lewis Morgan]
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed January 17, 2022), "Record of Thomas Morgan", Ancestor # A080512.