52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 21, MILITARY: Col. Jacob MORGAN, 1716-1792

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week, it was Black Sheep.  This week, the theme is Military, in keeping with the Memorial Weekend events in the USA [I'm Canadian].  

My 5th great-grandfather, Col. Jacob MORGAN, came to Pennsylvania from Wales with his parents, Thomas MORGAN & and Elizabeth ABREY, and his four older brothers, before 1718.  The Morgan family settled near Caernarvon township, in an area which includes the village of Morgantown which Col. MORGAN laid out in approximately 1779, after the Revolutionary War [about 1770, according to several accounts].  

Jacob MORGAN was born in Wales on 7 Nov 1716, and in 1739 he married Rachel PIERSOL [1723-1791], daughter of Richard PIERSOL and Bridget BROWN.  Jacob and Rachel had the following children, in Caernarvon PA:

1. Rebecca, b. 1741; m. John Price
2. Gen. Jacob jr., b. 1742, d. 18 Sep 1802; m. Barbara Leisure Jenkins; 6 children
3. Benjamin, b. abt 1745;  m. 27 Jun 1793 to Harriett Ashton, 1 child known
4. *Mary [ancestor], b. 20 Jun 1748, d. 1795; m. 20 Jun 1768 to John HUDSON, 7 children known
5. Sarah, b. abt 1750; m. to Joseph Jenkins
6. Frances, b. abt 1752 [not listed in his will]
7. John, b. abt 1755

With both senior and junior versions of Jacob MORGAN men in Pennsylvania, both active in military duty at the General/Colonel level, there are some confusing details in histories of the region.  The pronoun 'he' without a clarifying detail such as each man's birthyear, makes it a small challenge. I have quoted details from the article "Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families" printed in Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol III, p 469. Additional details may be found in histories of Pennsylvania, and histories of families and individuals who fought in the two Wars in which he participated.

Jacob Sr. amassed a large amount of land over his years, inheriting about 400 acres from his father Thomas MORGAN when he died in 1740.  When Jacob died he owned over 5,000 acres of land.  

From 1755 to 1760, he was a Captain in the First Battalian of the Pennsylvania Regiment; later his company formed part of the Second Battalian, in the "Seven Years War" - the French/Indian Wars - receiving 3,000 acres for his service as Captain. He enlisted again in the Revolutionary War, June 1776 to Dec 1780, receiving the title of Colonel. 

He was commissioned as a Justice of the Peace and of the courts, during the period between 1764-1784. 

"From 22 May, 1777, until 8 January, 1781, he was Lieutenant of Berks County, with the rank of colonel, and as such, was at the head of military affairs in that county, and rendered constant and most valuable services to the cause of Independence."

Jacob and his wife, Rachel apparently moved to Philadelphia after 1784, where Rachel died 19 Dec 1791, aged 68.  

A year later, on 11 Nov 1792, Jacob died at the age of 76. He is buried in the cemetery of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Morgantown, Caernarvon township, Berks, PA.  

If you have more information on the MORGAN family, including Jacob MORGAN Sr., please do not hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. I appreciate being corrected or having additional sources pointed out!  

Blogger is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You make my day.

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, #11: Elizabeth ABREY

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow, here is my 11th installment, for Elizabeth ABREY, wife of the immigrant settler, my 6th great-grandmother on my maternal lines.

I have so little information on Elizabeth, that I'm embarrassed.  Which is why I'm writing about her - this tiny bit. I have only her first name;  her surname is unsubstantiated by any quality documentation. 

Her husband was Thomas MORGAN, b. abt 1659 in the northern part of Wales, Caernarvonshire [possibly], in Wales.  All their boys were apparently born in Wales, again possibly in Caernarvonshire:
 - Thomas, abt 1697  - Note: Thomas is NOT listed in his father's will of Dec 1740, and is not confirmed as his eldest son, to date. The following four sons are listed on the will:
 - John, abt 1700-1754
 - William, abt 1705-1768
 - Francis, 1710-1779
 - Jacob [direct ancestor], 1716-1792 [Revol.War, Col.]

As far as is known, the MORGAN family immigrated about 1718, settling in Pennsylvania.  Most information on Thomas is based on descriptions of his youngest son, Col. Jacob MORGAN and his exploits.

Several genealogies and historical records of early settlers in PA show that the family settled on the north bank of the Conestoga Creek, in what is now Berks county, with 400 acres of land in late 1718, settled in 1719.  This tract of land was in Caernarvon Township area - a map of the township is available with names of the principal land owners.  The land is very close to the site of Morgantown, laid out by his son, Jacob Morgan

Elizabeth?  She is not mentioned - except for her first name, listing her as his wife [living] at the time of Thomas' will, 6 Dec 1740, probated in Philadelphia, 25 Mar 1741. 

The only information I have about her is from a number of family trees who have no documentation attached.  Her birth date is estimated only - looking at the birth years of her 4 or 5 sons - to be likely 1668-1675, place unknown but likely in same area as her husband Thomas.  Their marriage date is also unknown, but likely to be approximately 1695.  Her death date is not listed anywhere that I have found as yet, but is likely to be from 1741-1750.

The Morgan family settled in the Caernarvon area of PA with a large number of Welsh immigrants: Jenkins, Piersol, Morgan, Davis, Evans, Bowen, Hudson, Williams, Allen, Martin, and others.  I have an early .pdf map of the area with drawing of land plots, Warrants from early 1700s onwards. Contact me if you wish a copy of this map. 

If you have any information or questions about Elizabeth ABREY, wife of Thomas MORGAN, the immigrant settler, do contact me via calewis at telus dot net, and/or comment below.