Morgan Morgan

Colonel Morgan Morgan (November 1, 1688 — November 17, 1766) is traditionally believed to have founded the first permanent white settlement in present day West Virginia at Cool Spring Farm, and he is credited with founding the first church in what is now West Virginia.^[1]

Early life

Little direct evidence of Morgan's early life and education have survived. His birth date seems to have been November 1, 1688 because Morgans Chapel at Bunker Hill, which he helped to found, recorded the following upon his death: "Colonel Morgan died November 17, 1766 aged 78 years November 1st." No British records have been found of where he was born or when or how he came to America, but according to American records he seems to have been born in Glamorganshire, Wales during the reign of William III.^[2] According to tradition, Glamorganshire was the home of King Arthur-and Arthur was of the House of Morgan. Morgan Morgan was likely educated at Cambridge University, a Reformed Puritan institution at that time.^[3]

Emigration to America

Morgan Morgan emigrated to the United States a single man at the age of 24 during the reign of Queen Anne, or probably about the commencement of the reign of George I. So, he likely arrived in Delaware in 1712 or 1713 and soon after got married, but no record of the date has been found. Morgan commenced business as a merchant at the place now known as Christiana. Some Quaker records record that: Col. Morgan Morgan was educated at Cambridge University and went to Delaware as Crown Council.^[4] In 1713, he married Catherine Garretson in what is now New Castle County, Delaware. Their first child James was born in the fall of 1715 and so recorded in the church recorder. He evidently arrived with some money and very respectable social standing, for the early records list him as a merchant and tailor and in 1717 was appointed executor of the will of Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. At that time what we now know as Delaware was a part of Pennsylvania. Since the trade guilds were very strong in England, one wonders if he learned the tailoring trade in London, from his father, or if he bypassed the law in the new country and started a combined mercantile and tailoring store. As well as being employed there as a merchant he was also a magistrate. He is said to have been an ordained Church of England clergyman, and it is said he set up a church in Westminster County, in 1727 but there is no evidence to support this. He is often incorrectly cited as having arrived at present-day West Virginia in 1727, though he was still living in Delaware at that time, acting as the coroner of New Castle County. His first land transaction that is known was of November 20, 1723 for 245 acres (0.99 km²) for which he paid 70 pounds. Practically, the entire parcel of the land was tillable.^[3] In 1924, a committee appointed by the Governor of West Virginia determined the first crude shelter erected by Morgan Morgan was built on the Morgan Acres property.^[5]

First settlement in West Virginia

Morgan arrived in what is now West Virginia in 1731. In January of 1734, Morgan Morgan, among others, was appointed one of the 'Commission of the Peace.' He likely received a Patent for 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) '[i]n the Forks of the Rappahannock River & Westwood of Sherrando River' on 12 Dec 1734.^[6] In 1735, he 'presented unto Court his military commission and was sworn thereto'. He engineered the first road in West Virginia. The road went from Mill Creek to Winchester, Virginia and was some 12 miles (19 km) long. Morgan Morgan constructed Mill Creek Church. It was the first church of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He became a community leader serving first as Justice of the Peace and Captain of the Militia. He later acquired the title "Colonel". He opened the first Inn for Pioneer travelers. He is reported to have consulted with George Washington. Morgan Morgan was the Presiding judge when the first Frederick County Court met in Winchester in 1742. Also in 1742, he 'presented another, promoting him to the rank of Major.' He died at Bunker Hill, Berkeley County, in what is now Bunker Hill, West Virginia and was buried in the Morgan Chapel Graveyard.^[7]

Family

Morgan had eight children by his wife, the former Catherine Garretson. One son, David Morgan, became famous as an Indian fighter due to an encounter with Delaware natives at his homestead. David developed the area now known as Fairmont, West Virginia. Another son, Zackquill, founded Morgantown, West Virginia. Francis Harrison Pierpont, governor of Virginia and later West Virginia, was a descendant of Colonel Morgan. Morgan Morgan held military and civil positions in colonial VA which entitled his female descendants to membership in the Colonial Dames of America.^[3] In addition to settling West Virginia, Morgan's descendants founded Marion County, Fairmont and Morgantown.^[3]

Firsts

Morgan Morgan is credited with many firsts:

• First permanent white settler of present-day West Virginia
• First church founder
• First civil officer
• First judicial officer
• First commissioned military officer
• First licensed tavern keeper
• First engineer of roads, as well as builder of the first road (about 12 miles (19 km) long)
• First militia organized, 1735, now the 201st National Guard

See also

• Morgan Chapel and Graveyard

References

1. ^ French Morgan, A history and genealogy of the family of Col. Morgan Morgan: the first white settler of the State of West Virginia (1966)
2. ^ The only information comes from the bible of David, the grandson on David Morgan, the Indian Fighter, and the second son of Col. Morgan. Morgan was born in Glamorganshire, Wales during the reign of William III.
3. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.colmorganmorganreunion.org/
4. ^ Hopewell Quaker files from Hinshaw's Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy gives added information.
5. ^ Frances D. Ruth (September 1983). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: William G. Morgan House". State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/berkeley/84003489.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-02. 
6. ^ English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, p. 118,
7. ^ Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, West Virginia, Volume 1 (Genealogical Publishing Com, 1978), pg. 950 ISBN 0806308214, 9780806308210 books.google.com/books?id=BN3IEGZANYUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

External links

• Morgan Family website
• Morgan Cabin Marker