Robert Morgan (1803 - 1862)

Born 10 Apr 1803 in St Pancras, London, England

Husband of Susannah (Yolland) Morgan — married 5 Jan 1826 in St Pancras, London, England

Descendants

Died 12 Sep 1862 at age 59 in St Pancras, London, England

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Notes

Note that baptism in IGI gives birth as 7 April.

In 1817, one week after his 14th birthday, Robert entered a 7 year apprenticeship under his father Samuel as a Tallow Chandler. As with all apprenticeships, this placed him under a strict code of good behaviour, and forbad him to marry during the term of his apprencticeship. 7 years later, on the 12 May 1824, he was duly granted the Freedom of the City of London as a Tallow Chandler, and, on the same day, elected to the livery of the Company of Tallow Chandlers. This cost him the sum of £34-9-0, being £3 for the Freedom and £31-9-0 for the Livery and Steward fees, a reduction overall from the £40-1-6 paid by his father 14 years earlier, when his father had apparently bought his own Freedom for £8-12-6 without serving as an apprentice.

Less than two years after finishing his apprenticeship, , he married Susannah Yolland, the daughter of Thomas and Ann Yolland. Born at 111 Tottenham Court Road in the Parish of St Pancras, she would have lived just down the road from Samuel. It is interesting to note that although married at St Pancras Church, she was baptized in Providence Chapel, and would appear to have brought with her into the MORGAN family the Independant Church tradition which it has since followed, at least in our line. Certainly, letters by Robert to his sons bear frequent references to the prayer meetings he attended, and to sermons by Mr Brock. Both he and Susannah carried with them a strong faith and teetotal habits.

Robert did not remain long in either his father's employ or in the Tallow Chandler's trade. His first child, Elizabeth was born in Little Stanmore on the then-outskirts of London in December 1826. The remaining children (Samuel, Robert, Thomas, Ellen, Mary Ann, Eliza, William and Catherine) were all born in adjoining Edgware between 1828 and 1846, where he was a Nurseryman.

In approximately 1849,after over 20 years in Edgeware, he and most of his family moved to London where he went into partnership with Robert Kenneth, a fishmonger, at 36 Marchmont St., Brunswick Square, in the Parish of St Pancras. Robert Kenneth was married to Sarah Elizabeth Yolland, a sister of Susannah's. (When Robert married Susannah in 1826, one of the witnesses was a Kenneth). At this time, eldest son Samuel would have just been finishing an apprenticeship, assuming that he did so and started at 14 as his brother, Robert, did. Third son, Thomas, would have been of an age to commence an apprenticeship. Second son, Robert was already apprenticed to a grocer. It is interesting to speculate that he made this move in order to set his sons up in business. This is supported by the fact that his will drawn up in 1849 gives sons Samuel and Thomas first option to buy the business, and both boys certainly worked for their father.

In 1851, although the business is still shown as "Kenneth + MORGAN", the Census lists the MORGAN family only as living at 36 Marchmont St.

Robert jnr, then aged 20, would have just completed his apprenticeship.to a grocer in Whetstone near Edgware. Mary Ann (14), Eliza (11), and William (9) were also presumably living elsewhere. Where did they get their schooling?

By 1853, the business is listed under the name of Robert MORGAN only.

In 1852, Robert's eldest son, Samuel, emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, to be followed in 1854 by Robert jnr, and in 1857 by Thomas. Fortunately, we still have many of the letters which Robert wrote (principly to Robert jnr) from then until his death in 1864. Hence we have a better idea of the man and his movements during these last years.

The business at 36 Marchmont St was renovated in 1858, with £400 worth of alterations being carried out in order to upgrade the Business and the residence above and allow them to expand into Poultry. He constantly complained of the state of business over these years, and was taking £30/week, compared to the £100/week takings that son Samuel (b 1728) was getting in Australia at that time. In 1859, he found it necessary to recall his son Thomas (1832-1882) from Australia to help him in the business, one suspects as a result of ill health, or perhaps because he could not afford to hire an assistant. Tom was able to relieve him of Market duties, but Robert still worked in the shop. Youngest son William (1842-1908) was by 1860 also working in the shop, being the only man in the Poultry shop, and hence the Foreman. His father described him as "so clean and particular".

Since the 1860's, Marchmont St. has been renumbered and the cross street at which they were located renamed. However, there remains at that site a Fishmonger as of 1995 (Morgan fish shop 1977). The current building dates from the turn of the century. The picture, "Morgan fish shop receipt", is a receipt from the late 1860's (when the shop was run under wife Susannah's name) and includes a sketch of the shop as it was then.

Robert suffered healthwise, particularly each Winter, and complained of Rheumatism, severe Chilblains, and bad coughs during the winter. It became their habit in these last years to take turns to have a holiday during the Summer months. In August 1860, having described the further improvements to the front of the shop by the addition of 28 Yards of new Blinds, he wrote "I am not idle, yet, tho I get certainly much less able to do as I used". Nonetheless, in Jan 1861, after a severe snow storm, Robert "had to turn out on the Top of the house + throw the snow off"".

In 1864, in what would appear to be a surprise visit, son Robert jnr (1830-1926) returned to London, and was there when his Father died on the 12th of September aged 61. (Robert jnr returned almost immediately to Australia, and never returned to London.) Robert is buried at Highgate cemetery, the first of the non-churchyard cemeteries in Greater London. The bill for his funeral has survived and records the items provided - an elm case covered in black cloth, an embossed Plate of Inscription, 2 Mutes in proper dresses and staves covered in silk to precede the procession, a Hearse and Pr state black Horses, Fringed velvets + Hammercloths for ditto, 3 Mourning coaches + Pairs of state black horses in each, again with fringed velvets and Hammercloths.

In his will, Robert left everything to his wife Susannah, with the exception of £50 for his eldest son Samuel John. If Susannah had predeceased him, his estate was to be equally divided amongst all his children, with the exception of the £50 legacy to Samuel. However, Samuel and Thomas were to have the option of buying the business for a fair price.

Biography

Robert MORGAN (1803) was born 10 Apr 1803 at Tottenham Court Road, St Pancras^[1].

Baptised 1 May 1803 at St Pancras, Middlesex^[2] ROBERT MORGAN
Birth: 07 APR 1803
Christening: 01 MAY 1803, Old Church, Saint Pancras, London, England
Father: SAMUEL MORGAN
Mother: JANE

Married to Susannah YOLLAND (1808) 5 Jan 1826 at St Pancras, Middlesex^[3]

Census with Susannah YOLLAND (1808), 1861 in Marchmont St, St Pancras. 36 Marchmont St.
Robert Morgan, Head, M, 57, Fishmonger & poulterer employing 4 men and some of his family, born St Pancras
Suannah do, Wife, 53, born St Pancras.
Thomas, 28, Fishmonger
Ellen, 26, No occupation
Mary Ann, 23, do do
Eliza, 21, do do
William, 18, Fishmonger
Catherine, 14, No occupation.

Died 12 Sep 1864 at Marchmont St, St Pancras^[4].

Buried Sep 1864 at Highgate cemetery, London, England. Robert is buried at Highgate cemetery, the first of the non-churchyard cemeteries in Greater London. The bill for his funeral has survived (See Picture) and records the items provided - an elm case covered in black cloth, an embossed Plate of Inscription, 2 Mutes in proper dresses and staves covered in silk to precede the procession, a Hearse and Pr state black Horses, Fringed velvets + Hammercloths for ditto, 3 Mourning coaches + Pairs of state black horses in each, again with fringed velvets and Hammercloths.

Sources

1. ↑ Sam & Jane Morgan's family Bible:
   See pictures.
   
   Janes Towns Born July 10 1770, Died 4th Feb 1847
   Samuel MORGAN Born September 28th 1766 Died Augs 12th 1850
   The above was Married at St Anns Church Soho London 27th March 1796
   John MORGAN son of the above S & J MORGAN was born 17th Feby 1797
   at 93 Drury Lane in the Parish of St Clements Danes & there regis
   tered _________ Mr Freeman Mr Shackleton and self _____
   Richard Haddock MORGAN son of the above S & J MORGAN was born
   Nov 16th 1798 at 93 Drury Lane in the Parish of St Clements Danes ___
   R H M departed this life 9th of March 1800 and was buried at St Pancras new
   burying ground the ___ 12th of do 1800
   Samuel MORGAN the Son of the above S & J MORGAN was born 20th Decr
   1800 at No 18 Tottenham Ct Road London in the Parish of St Pancras
   Robert MORGAN Son of the above S & J MORGAN was born 10th April 1803
   at 18 Tottenham Ct Road & Christened at St Pancras
   John MORGAN Weighed in full Dress 20 lb 6th Aug 1801
   Jane Towns Mother of the above Jane MORGAN departed this life 19th Dec
   1802 Aged 73 & buryed at Hanwell Midx
   Richard Townes Father of the above J MORGAN departed this life 19th
   of April 1804 Aged & was buryed at Hanwell
   Jane Hannah MORGAN the Daughter of the above S & J MORGAN
   was born 13th of March 1805 at 18 T Ct Rd St Pancras Mid.
   Francis MORGAN the Son of the above S & J MORGAN was born 23
   Sept 1807 at T Ct Rd
   Eliza Debra MORGAN Daughter of the above S & J MORGAN was born
   April 9th 1810
   George MORGAN Son of S & J MORGAN was born July 31st 1812 at
   18 T Ct Rd
   Mary Ann MORGAN Daughter of S & J MORGAN was born Feb 2nd 1815
   at 22 Morning Place
   Mary Ann MORGAN departed this life March 6th 1819 at 22 Morning Place
   
   Susannah Yolland Born Feby 12th 1808
   Robert MORGAN Born April 10th 1803
   The above was Married at St Pancras Church Jany 5th 1826
   Elizabeth MORGAN Daughter of the above S & R MORGAN
   was born Decr 28th 1826 in the Parish of Little Stanmore in Middlesex
   Samuel John MORGAN Son of the above S & R MORGAN was
   born Novr 7th 1828 in the Parish of Edgeware __ Middlesex
   Robert MORGAN Son of the above S & R MORGAN was born
   Septr 6th 1830
   Thomas MORGAN Son of the above S & R MORGAN was born
   Septr 9th 1832
   Ellen MORGAN Daughter of the above S & R MORGAN was
   born Feby 28th 1835
   Mary Ann MORGAN Daughter of the above S & R MORGAN
   was born Feby 16th 1837
   Ann Yolland, Mother of the above Susannah MORGAN
   departed this Life Dec 19th 1838
   Eiza MORGAN Daughter of the above S & R MORGAN
   was born 20th of Jany 1840
   William MORGAN Son of the above S & R MORGAN
   was born 28th of September 1842
   Catherine Susan MORGAN Daughter of the above
   S & R MORGAN was born 21st day of November 1846
   Jane MORGAN Mother of the above & first mentioned
   Robert MORGAN Departed this life Feby 4th 1847 Aged 77
   Samuel MORGAN Father of the above & first mentioned
   R MORGAN Departed this life Aug 12th 1850 aged 84
   Thomas YOLLAND Father of the above Susannah MORGAN
   departed this life Nov 24th 1854 Aged 77
   Robert MORGAN Sept 19 1864 aged 62
   
   
   
   
   
2. ↑ IGI: http://www.familysearch.org/
   
   International Genealogical Index, published at http://www.familysearch.org/ by the Latter Day Saints (Morman) Church. Entries with a batch number are taken from original documents, typically Parish registers. Private submissions have been entered by members of the church from other sources.
   
   More recently known as FamilySearch.
   
   
   
3. ↑ Sam & Jane Morgan's family Bible: ibid.
   
   
   
4. ↑ Sam & Jane Morgan's family Bible: ibid.