Taken December 25, 1905.  (Click here for an image key)

The purpose of this page is to organize and present information that I have on my Morgan ancestors.  I hope that this will be a useful way to give this information to family members and to help find other related Morgans who may be able to fill in some of the missing pieces of the puzzle.  If you are related to the people outlined here I would love to hear from you whether or not you have any extra information.  

William Morgan (my 6xGreat Grandfather) lived in Northampton County, North Carolina where he owned a farm.  He died around 1765.  In his will he left the majority of his property to be given to his oldest son, Joseph Morgan, once his wife had passed.  This property included land, cattle, hogs, and a "bonded man".  William had seven children listed in his will:  Joseph, William, Arnold, Sampson, Aaron, Timothy, and a lone daughter Mary Toler. 

Timothy Morgan (my 5xGreat Grandfather) was born in approximately 1755.  At some point he moved to Guilford County where he farmed.  His wife was named Mary.  Records show that he was a soldier in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution and he is registered as a patriot with the Daughters of the American Revolution.  His will, dated 1818, lists his children as Lucy Backen, Mary Mathews, Elias, Celah Mills, Thomas, Martha, Kinchen (whose line is documented here), Green, and Enos.  The majority of his property was willed to his son Green (after the death of Mary).  He also instructed that upon Mary's death their lone slave, Joe, was to be given his freedom.

Green Morgan (my 4xGreat Grandfather) was born in the last decade of the 18th century (the 1830 census says that he is between 30 and 40 years of age).  In 1830 and 1840 census information shows that he is living in Guilford County, NC.  He served as Justice of the Peace there and is listed as a witness on many legal documents of that era.  His wife was named Mahala.  They had five children: Spencer, William, Grafton, Harriet, and Elwood.

Spencer M. Morgan (my 3xGreat grandfather) was born in 1821 or 1824 in Guilford County, NC.   February 1, 1840 Spencer Morgan married Sarah Brattain (Bratton). 

Sarah Brattain (my 3xGreat grandmother) was from a Quaker family which had been in that region of North Carolina for several generations.  Her great grandfather Robert Brattain (1 Oct 1746 - 8 Sept 1824) was involved in the Quaker anti-slavery movement and most likely was involved in the underground railroad both in North Carolina and Indiana.  Her 2xGreat grandfather William Millikan (6 Apt 1724 - ~1802) was a pacifist supporter of the American Revolution and is registered as a patriot with the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Her maternal grandfather, James Ward, was also said to have been a soldier in the Revolution.

 Sarah Brattain Morgan, Mother of Quinton Morgan

Spencer, like his siblings was a farmer and became a miller.  Before August of 1840 Spencer and Sarah Morgan had their first child, Quinton (Quainton).  

Spencer was the only of his siblings to move west.  When he decided to leave North Carolina for the west (in 1850) over 80 of his patrons signed and presented him with a testimonial and recommendation that he could present wherever he relocated as proof that he was honorable and qualified as a miller.  They first found their way to Preble, County, Ohio.  They eventually made their way to Wayne County, Indiana and then Missouri, but eventually came back to Indiana and settled in Parke County (where the census showed they lived in 1860).  After five years in Parke County, they moved back to Wayne County, Indiana where in purchased land in Milton.  Spencer was always shown in census forms to be a farm laborer or a farmer.  Spencer and Sarah had at least six children:  Quinton, Henry, Richard, Melissa, James, and Charles.  A seventh child, Margaret, is listed as Sarah's "Step Daughter" in the 1880 census where Sarah is listed as divorced and is living with Richard in Milton, Indiana while Spencer (also listed as Divorced) lives with two sons. 

Quinton Morgan (my 2xGreat grandfather) was born some time before August 1840 in Guilford County, North Carolina.  His name is sometimes spelled Quainton.  I suspect this is because of how a thick NC accent would be interpreted in the midwest.  Quinton left NC with his family at an early age and was living in Ohio by the time he was ten years old.  Eventually his family ended up in Indiana.  On December 16, 1860 he married Mary Jane Kellum in Fayette County, Indiana.   

 Quinton Morgan (age 65)

Mary Jane Kellum (my 2xGreat grandmother) was born in June of 1840.  She was the daughter of Jacob Kellum (1817 - aft 1870) and Catherine (or Katharine) Kellum.  Catherine's maiden name was McKillip.   Mary Jane was born in Fayette County, Indiana.  Her father, Jacob was originally from Ohio and her mother was possibly from Pennsylvania.  

 Mary Jane Kellum Morgan (age 65)

Quinton and Mary Jane Morgan had at least 13 children:  Louisa, Amanda, Alice (Mary?), William, Sarah, Charles, Oliver, Elmer, Catherine, Lawrence, Earl, Della, and Carrie E.  Quinton was always listed in census forms as a farmer.  Quinton died 9 Aug 1908 and Mary Jane died in 1909.  In their last years they were cared for by their son Oliver who did not get married until they had both passed.  Both Quinton and Mary Jane are buried at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery (map) in Madison County, Indiana.

 The graves of Quinton and Mary Morgan, located in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Madison County, IN.

Oliver Morgan (my great grandfather) was born in 1872.  He was a farmer.  He married Minnie Rector on 7 Apr 1910 after both of his parents had passed.  

Oliver Morgan (age 33)

Minnie Rector (my great grandmother) was born 15 June 1881 in Indiana.  (She added the middle initial "M." to her name later in life.)  Her father, James Rector (1835-Apr 1881) was born in Ohio.  Her mother, Amanda Swearingen (1838-Jan 1916) was born in Indiana.  The Rector family can be traced back to the Germanna Colony in early 18th century Virginia (and then to Prussia).  The lineage of James Rector also can be traced back to King Edward III of England and from there to other famous European figures and antiquity.  Amanda Swearingen was a descendant of Garret Van Sweringen, the sheriff of the 17th century Dutch colony of New Amstel (now New Castle, Delaware) and eventually became a prominent early citizen of Saint Mary's City, Maryland.

Oliver and Minnie had five children: Helen Irene, Hazel E., Cletus H., Raymond Paul (my grandfather), and Earnest (who died in infancy).  Oliver Morgan died in 1950.  Minnie died in February 1967.  Both are burried in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery.

The grave of Minnie and Oliver Morgan, located in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Madison County, IN.