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Individual:
Kinship to Author: 9th great-grandfatherMilitary Service: Colonial Indian warsResource: http://www.gencircles.com/users/nana44w/2/data/ Title: Morgans, Wm andSons.FBK.FBK.FTWResource:http://www.gencircles.com/users/chesebro/1/data/26727.htmlJames was the immigrant of this family. He was made freeman of Massachusetts May 10, 1645. In early 1650 he had lands grantedhim in Pequot, now New London, as recorded in New London records, whichsoon became his residence "on the path to New street or Cape Annstreet", as it was called in honor of the Cape Ann Company, who chieflysettled there. He removed to Groton where he built his house in 1657residing there until his death. He was one of the selectmen of New Londonfor several years, and one of the first "Deputys sent from NewLondon Plantation" to the General Court at Hartford, May session, 1657,and was nine times afterwards chosen member of the assembly, the last in1670, and he was also an active member of Rev. Richard Blinman'schurch, as his name is prominent in every important movement or proceeding.Title: History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900Author: Richard Anson WheelerPublication: New London, CT, Press of The Day PublishingCompany, 1900Page: page 479Resource: http://www.gencircles.com/users/nana44w/2/data/3474[Morgans, Wm andSons.FBK.FBK.FTW]In 1636, in March, James Morgan and two younger brothers, Johnand Miles, sailed from Bristol on a ship named "Mary" and arrived in Bostonin April following. James Morgan settled first in Plymouth,then moved to Roxbury before 1640; lands were granted to him atPequot in 1650.John Morgan was a high churchman and disliked the austerity ofthe Puritans. He moved to Virginia.Miles Morgan moved to Springfield, MA, and became the progenitorof the Morgan family represented by J. P. Morgan of Morgan and Company,International Bankers.The eldest brother, and our lineal ancestor, may have settledfirst at Plymouth. He is found at Roxbury near Boston, before 1640. Thatyear, August 6, 1640, he married there Margery Hill of Roxbury. He wasmade a freeman there May 10, 1643. He is named as a resident thereinthe inventory of John Graves, 1646, and was a freeholder there aslate as 1650, the same year that he removed to Pequot (now New London)and had a houselot assigned him there.Early in 1650 he had land granted to him at Pequot which wasoccupied by him as a homestead "On the path of New Street" (now AshcraftStreet) and a further entry upon the records shows that " James Morgan hathgiven him about six acres of upland, where the wigwams were, in the paththat goes from his house towards Culvers' among the rocky hills." Thesetracts were located near the present third burial ground, in thewestern suburbs of the city of New London: a location sterile and dreary andwhich in a few years was abandoned by its ocupants for homes and broaderlands of fairer promise on the east side of the River Thames.He continued to occupy this homestead on the path to New Streetor "Cape Ann Lane" as it was called in honor of the Cape Ann Company whosettled there until about March 1657.On the 25th day of December 1656 he sold his homestead andremoved soon after, with several others, across the river on large tracts ofland previously granted them by the town, upon the east side, now thesouth part of Groton.James Avery, William Meades and Nehemiah and John Smith, whoalso had grants of land adjoining to him, were among the first settlers,and the earliest resident farmers upon the east side, now Groton. Grantsof land had been made from time to time after 1652-53 by the colony ofPequot, with a liberal hand, upon the east side of the river, comprisingthe fertile regions of what is now the southern part of Groton, andthese lands were soon after occupied generally by the severalproprietors.It was upon the east side of the River Thames that James Morgansettled, and in a rude log cabin with his family consisting of wife andthree sons and a daughter; and this territory, made the separate town ofGroton May 1705, and again divided by setting off the town of Ledyard in1836, has been and still remains the prolific hive of our name and family.He was a large proprietor and dealer in lands; distinguished inpublic enterprises; often employed by the public in land surveys,establishing highways, determining boundaries, adjusting civil difficulties,as a good neighbor and a Christian man, in whom all appear to have reposeda marked degree of confidence and trust.He was one of the "townsmen" or selectmen of New London forseveral years, and was one of the first "Deputies" sent from New London Plantations to the General Court at Hartford, May session 1657(at which date he deposed his age to be about 50 years) and was nine timesafterwards chosen a member of that grave and important assembly,the last time in1670. His associates and compeers composing theGeneral Court or Colonial Assembly in May 1657, when he was firstchosen, were Governor John Winthrop, John Mason, Jonathan Brewster, ThomasWelles, etc.To this carefully selected body of men was intrusted the wholesovereign power of the colony, and the administration of its government,in original jurisprudence and the most trifling as well as mosthenious offenses and causes of action, and the minutest details in everydepartment.James Morgan seems to have impressed this grave body of men witha high sense of his sterling honesty and integrity of character, and itappears that in a controversy between the General Court and the NewLondon Plantation about boundaries and jurisdiction, it was orderedthat the matter that shoud be submitted to three arbiters, mutuallyagreed upon, New London at once named their own townsman, James Morgan,really party in their own interest, but nevertheless the General Court aspromptly accepted him, and without naming another, agreed to submit tohis sole decision, which when made, seems to have satisfied all parties.He was an active and useful member of the church under Rev.Richard Blinman's ministry, and his name is prominent in every importantmovement or proceeding."James Morgan, Mr. Tinker and Obadiah Brown, are chosen to seatthe people in the meeting house, which they doing, the inhabitantsare to remain silent." This was considered a difficult task, as theseating determined the social standing of all the people.(Minutes from the record.) In 1661 he was one of a committee ofthe General Court to lay out the bounds of New London "On the eastside of the Great River."In 1662 he was one of a committee to contract " for building ahouse for the ministry" at New London.From about this time he signs his name "James Morgan, Senior, ofNew London," his eldest son, afterwards Capt. James Morgan, beingthen near twenty-one years of age.This year, 1662, his list on the the town assessment stands thethird highest in amount; and among the tax-payers of that year, aboutone hundred in number, only seven had a list exceeding 200#. JamesMorgan's list was only 250#, but this was a large estate in thoseprimitive days.The spot where he first built his house in Groton in 1657, andwhere he ever afterwards resided, and where he died, is a few rodssoutheast of the present dwelling (1868) of Elijah S. Morgan, about threemiles from Groton Ferry, on the road to Poquonoc Bridge and thispatriarchal homestead from that day down to the present occupant hasdescended through an unbroken line of James Morgans, for six generations.And it is worthy of note, in connection with this fact, that for eight generations as they hereinafter succeed each other, in regularorder of individual precedence, each one is headed by the name of JamesMorgan.He died 1685, aged 78 years and his estate was divided soonafter his death among his four surviving children.
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