Kenan T. Morgan (1805 - 1889)

Born 7 Jun 1805 in Wilmington, New Hanover, North Carolina, United States

Died 6 May 1889 at age 83 in Chesterfield, Cheraws District, South Carolina, United States

Biography

Kenan T. Morgan, born 7 June 1805 in Wilmington, New Hanover, North Carolina, came to Chesterfield District being first enumerated in 1850. He was married to Sarah (McManus) Morgan and had only one child, Rebecca J., 10 years. Kinnon and Sarah were 45 and 34 years respectively.

Kinnon was a "Com. Merchant" with an estate value of $1500.00. His name is variously spelled Kenan, Keenan, and Kinnon. Sarah could not read but Rebecca attended school. ^[1]

At some time in 1850 he made a loan of $4,000 to James E. Horne, apparently for some kind of construction in Wadesborough, (sic) Anson Co., North Carolina. Horne neglected to remit at the appropriate time and Kenan took him to court along with two others, H.B. Hammon and G. W. Little. The suit lasted until Dec 1852; even requiring a retrial submission to the State Supreme Court which refused to continue litigation. Eventually, it seems Kenan obtained his funds. ^[2]

In 1850 and 1860 he owned the same number of slaves ~ eight. Two were older couples and the other four were young adults. His household included himself at 55, Sarah at 44, Rebecca J., 17 (off 3 years from 1850), and Wm. McManus, 22, her son from before her marriage, and lastly, her niece, Henrietta, daughter of Sarah's brother, Capt. Amos McManus. Henrietta's mother died soon after the infant's birth and Sarah reared the child until adulthood.

In 1860, K. T. was a Hotel Keeper. The real and personal estate values were next to Sarah's name at $3,000 and $7,000. ^[3] They lived well according to the 1866 IRS Tax list which shows two carriages with a tax bill of $2.00 ^[4] [1]

Sometime after the war, Kenan, as shown in 1870, became an Auctioneer. The household estate values were seriously reduced, $1200 and $250, as were all Southerners' post war. ^[5]

On 9 March 1867, Keenan T. MORGAN qualified to be a Notary Public and Magistrate. ^[6]

During the difficult period of reconstruction, K. T. MORGAN of Cheraw, wrote to the Governor Scott on the advice of associates that the state owed him twenty dollars, which had been due Jan. 1, 1868. Writing that he was “a poor and affected old man,” he hoped that the governor “might perhaps . . . pay in Bills receivable at 70 cents on the Dollar, Which I will take if I can get nothing else, it will do to pay my tax.” ^[7]

He was also, apparently, an Agent with the Freedman's Bureau as shown in their records, year unknown, as being a Debtor to the tune of about 60 dollars during various months. The responsibility of the Freedman's Bureau was much like social assistance program during Reconstruction to help freed slaves established their Independence. That he was dubbed "Agent" tends to conflict with "debtor" so the situation is not entirely understood. ^[8]

K.T. Margan (sic) died 6 May 1880 in the town of Cheraw of Rheumatism, which he had suffered for about 35 years. He was 75 years old. The attending M.D. was Dr. J. K. McLean. ^[9]

SC Chesterfield Co. Court Case 604B holds the Letters of Application of William H. McManus to Administer the estate of his mother, Sarah Morgan and (step) father K. T. Morgan. He is granted the L of A and testifies to a value of about $50.00; that they died about 26 Sept 1886 (Sarah's dod) and that he will provide a copy of the estate sale and settle all just debts accordingly. There are no sales receipts or final solutions, just the pages requesting Letters of Administration. [2]

The markers for Kenan and Sarah and Rebecca buried at Old St. David's Church in Cheraw are nearly illegible; however the photographer was able to read the dates. Kenan's photo can be seen a bit better enlarged, but not completely.

{FindAGrave|94292016||Kenan T. Morgan}

Sources

1. ↑ 30 Jul 1850 Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; No ED listed, hh#3
2. ↑ North Carolina Supreme Court Cases Box 248 Box 248 cases 6505-6528; Images 418-427
3. ↑ 1860 25 Aug 1860 Cheraw, Chesterfield, SC pg.170 Dw.1187, K.T. Morgan.
4. ↑ Ancestry IRS Tax Lists
5. ↑ 1870 US Census 15 Aug 1870, Cheraw, Chesterfield, SC pg. 55, Dw 447.
6. ↑ 1866-1966, Notaries Public Book of Chesterfield Co., SC
7. ↑ Chesterfield District Chronicle, Vol. VI, No. 3 Summer 2003, K.T. Morgan letter to Governor.
8. ↑ "South Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872
9. ↑ 1850-1880 Mortality Index ED3 pg. 1, Line 17 Chesterfield, South Carolina

• 1850 US Census [3]
• NC Supreme Court Cases: K.T. Morgan Vs. James E. Horne:[4]
• 1860 US Census [5]
• 1860 Slave Schedule [6]
• 1866 IRS Tax Lists [7]
• 1870 US Census [8]
• US 1870 Non-Population Schedule: [9]
• "South Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872," [10]
• 1850-1880 Mortality Index ~ K. T. Morgan [11]
• Researched and written by Barbara Breece Roesch
• Research by: Jerry C. McManus, Jefferson, SC