John Morgan (abt. 1740 - 1819)

Descendants

Died 1819 at about age 79 in Stokes County, North Carolina, USA

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Biography

Capt. John Morgan was an early resident of Stokes County, North Carolina. Little work has been done to identify his origins or he details of his life. He is mainly documented in genealogy due to his association with the McAnally family of Stokes County, North Carolina. His daughter, Elizabeth, married Jesse McAnally the son of one of the county's Founding Fathers; Capt. Charles McAnally.One of the best documents concerning John Morgan is his estate papers found in Stokes County's court records at the North Carolina State Archives [re: June Court 1819]. In 1819, John Morgan dies leaving 150 acres which James Davis Sr. petitions the court to sell for debt. Though their grandchildren would marry, the relationship between Davis and Morgan appears to be one of creditor and debtor. James Davis was a wealthy planter in the area. The petitions reads, "James Davis the administrator of John Morgan deceased states that the personal estate of said Morgan is insufficient to pay and satisfy the debt due the said James Davis of the amount of twenty four pounds with interest on that sum from the year 1808.." and mentions the "...tract of land...in the County of Stokes adjoining James Davis, Vawter & others on the North side of Dan River containing about 150 acres". This same record mentions that "...Morgan has children Elizabeth Macannally (sic) and others living out of the state". Early Stokes County tax records show John Morgan with the title of "Captain" and with property in Capt. Bostick's District. His title appears to have come from service in the American Revolution. However no pension was awarded to Morgan, due to his death before pensions were issued. Proof of his war service is found among the records of men who served under him and drew pensions based on that service. Some of the men who served under Morgan are: Joel Hill (W-23288), John Wilkins (W-9893), and Joseph Banner (W-9716). Wilkins' pension indicate that Capt. John Morgan was at Guildford Court House, before the famous battle, it is not clear if he an his men fought in the battle. An early deed dated 1780, grants 200 acres on Kevin Creek to John Morgan [re: D.B. B-28, pg. 29]. Deeds and grants dating from 1789, 1793 and 1795, locate Capt. Morgan in Stokes County on Hewins Creek bordering upon the lands of Charles McAnally, Terrance Burnes and John Dunlap [re: Grant #1109 and other records]. A deed dated 1784 is witness by John and Betty Morgan; indicating his wife's name. Betty must have died before 1819, since she is not named in his estate papers. In 1790, John Morgan is listed with 750 acres and no taxable slaves. By 1791, tax records show he is neighbored by Valentine Morgan, probably his son. Beginning in 1792 John's land holdings decrease to 525 acres in 1792 and 475 acres in 1793, but by 1795 he is shown with 725 acres again. By 1801, John is listed with only 12.5 acres, but still polled and Valentine had disappeared from the lists by then. John Morgan is mentioned in 1779 as a constable under Charles McAnally, Esq. in Capt. Camporlins District. He is found often in the records as a juror and collects the taxes in Bostick's District for at least 1787 and 1788. These fragments of records concerning John Morgan do not provide many clues about his life. He often appears as a witness and juror, suggesting him to have been well known and respected in the county. Evidence of Morgan's debts at his death and small wealth indicate he did not thrive in Stokes county. His daughter Elizabeth McAnally was relatively well off, marrying into one of the founding families of Stokes County, which probably insured Morgan some comforts in later life. The fate of his other children is unknown

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