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One interesting clue to the ancestry of Daniel Morgan comes from Dr. John J. Dickey, who kept a diary of his interview of
Joseph G. Morgan of Laurel Creek, KY on 9 Apr 1898. In this interview, Morgan claims to be a descendant of Hannah Morgan,
a sister of General Daniel Morgan. In addition, he claims that she had other brothers: John, James, William and David.
He claims that the Morgans of Whitley County are descendants of James Morgan.
This suggests that Daniel and William might have been the sons of James Morgan, Sr., the father of James Morgan, Jr. who
lived in Knox County, KY.
Here is what the Diary says:
KY. Genealogy from the Diary of Dr. John J. Dickey
Joseph G. MORGAN, Laurel Creek, KY., 9 April 1898
I was born in HARLAN CO. 23 March 1827. My father was Jesse MORGAN, born in 1806. He was the
son of Zachariah MORGAN, who came from New River, VA. to Harlan Co., perhaps around
1810. My grandfather was the son of Hannah MORGAN, a sister of General Daniel MORGAN.
His father was John BENTON. John Benton later moved to Estill Co. and raised a family.
My Great Grandmother, Hannah MORGAN, married a man from VA. named William WEST.
They came to Harlan Co. with my Grandfather, Zachariah MORGAN, where WEST died. They
had two children, William and Polly. William and his mother moved to Clay Co., where
it was told that his mother died at the age of 118. I was a married man with a family, when
she died.
My father and grandfather moved from Harlan, to what is now Leslie Co., when I was a small
boy. My father settled at Bunt Camp Creek and my grandfather, below the mouth of
John's Creek, on and that he bought from David GARRARD. We bought our land from the
LACEYS. We went west and lived on Bull Skin. Hannah MORGAN WEST is buried there.
She told me she was the sister of General Daniel MORGAN, of the Rev. War. She had other
brothers, viz; John, James, William, and David. I once met William MORGAN'S grandson,
Nathan, of Lee County, VA., near Jonesville. The MORGANS of
WHITLEY CO. are descendants of James MORGAN. I have talked with John MORGAN of
Lexington, and he told me he was a descendant of the MORGAN family mentioned above. During a
conversation between him and my father, they decided that they were second cousins. I also
have talked with Daniel WHITE'S wife, and she said that her father, General Daniel MORGAN of
Fleming Co., was a lineal descendant of General Daniel MORGAN of Rev. War fame. There
are MORGANS in PULASKI, Garrard, Lincoln, and other counties. Old Si COCKERILL of
Breathitt Co., told me that his mother was a daughter of one of General Daniel MORGAN'S
brothers.
[Provided by Carol Wyatt 3 Dec 1997, transcribed from another source]
To summarize, this appears to be the family tree for Joseph G. Morgan:
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Joseph G. Morgan, born 23 Mar 1827 Harlan Co., KY, son of
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Jesse Morgan, born 9 Jun 1804 Lee Co., VA, son of
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Zachariah Morgan (grandfather), born 1772, son of
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Hannah Morgan (great grandmother) and John Benton. Hannah later married William West.
Hannah said she had brothers John, James, William and David. The Morgans of Whitley
County are supposedly descendants of her brother James.
The narrative does not explain why Zachariah Morgan was given his mother's last name.
My research indicates that Hannah Morgan was the daughter of Charles Morgan of Chatham
County, NC. The 1787 Will of Charles Morgan mentions Hannah West and sons John and
William Morgan, but not James or David.
Charles Morgan Will, dated Nov. 12, 1787, no probate date
Chatham Co., NC Record of Estates, Vol. 1, pps 32(b), 33
NC State Archives film # C.022.50002
In the name of god amen I Charles Morgan of the County of Chatham being thro the abundant
mercy and goodness of god tho weak in body yet of a sound and perfect understanding and
memory do Constitute this my last Will & Testament and desire it to be received by all as
such imprimis I most humbly bequeath my soule to god my maker beseeching his most acceptance
of it thro the all sufficiant merits and mediation of my most compassionate redeemer Jesus
Christ who gave him himself to an attonement for my sins and is able to save to the utmost
all that come unto god by him seeing he ever liveth to make intersession for them and who I
trust will not reject me a returning penitent sinner when I come to him for mercy in this
life and confidence I render up my soule with comfort humbly beseeching the most blesd and
glorious trinity one god most holy most merciful and gracious to prepare me for this time of
my dessolution and then to take me to himself unto that peace and rest and incomparable
felicity which he has prepared for those that love and pr his hold name amen blessed be god
imprimis I give my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken in full assurance of its
resurection from thence at the last day as for my Burial I desire it may be desant without
pomp or State at the discretion of my executors heareafter mentioned who I doubt not will
manage it with all requisite prudence, as to my wourdly Estate I Will and order that all my
just debts be paid, Item, I give to my six son name Joseph Morgan, & Charles Morgan Jr,
Edward Morgan & John Morgan & Zachariah Morgan &
William Morgan and my two Daughters Hanna
West and Rachel Stewart this house and Land and Mill wherein I no live and all the
residues and remander of my wourldly Estate of what kind or quality so ever it be only the
Beds and furniture thereunto belonging that I now ly on to be Equally divided amongst my six
sons & two Daughters above named to them their heirs and assigns forever the Bed and
furniture above mentioned I give to my grand daughter Jean Stewart to her her heirs and
assigns forever lastly I do Constitute and appoint my son Charles Morgan and Joseph Morgan
executors of this my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
the 12th day of November in the year of our Lord 1787
Witness
John Stewart
James Smith
I Charles Morgan here I take off my seal and declar this to be my Last Will and Testament
A Copy Test. John Ramsey C. C.
[http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/NC/ChathamWill/17]
If Charles is her father, she does not appear to be connected to the Morgans of Whitley
County through a brother James. However, it does suggest that the Morgans of Whitley
County were descendants of a James Morgan, for what that is worth. |