Levi Morgan (1766 - 1825)

Born 26 Jun 1766 in Augusta Parish, Augusta, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Unknown (Unknown) Morgan — married 10 Jul 1793 in West Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Graham) Morgan — married 15 Oct 1815 (to after Sep 1825) in Jefferson, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died Sep 1825 at age 59 in Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Kinman [send private message]

Biography

Levi Morgan is Notable.

Levi Morgan was born on 26 June 1766 in Augusta County, Virginia (now Monongalia County, West Virginia),^[1] the oldest of thirteen children and nine sons of Zackquill and Drusilla Springer Morgan. (Zacquill previously had four daughters by his first wife.)

Levi grew up around the Delaware Indians (his parents and grandparents were from the Delaware area and this is possibly how he learned to speak their language). He was an Indian fighter most of his adult life, and several of his stories (including those crediting Simon Kenton in The Frontiersman) were included in the Allan W. Eckert books about this era. Eckert also used the Draper Manuscripts as one of his primary sources, such as the story about Levi and his brother James, when their Uncle David Morgan (an Indian fighter) came to visit their father (Col Zack). In the book The Frontiersman, Eckert adapted this story about Simon Kenton. [We have the document directly from the Draper manuscripts about Levi, which proves that this is the same story!].

About the year 1791, "A small company of settlers, including Horatio and Levi Morgan, Jacob and John Hays, and several others made an expedition from here (present-day Fairmont, West Virginia) to an Indian town on Sunfish Creek, in Ohio, for the purpose of destroying it. Arriving there they found the village deserted by the warriors, and the only remaining inhabitants a few women and children and old men.

"They stole up to the outskirts of the town, where they could obtain a good view of the situation.Observing an old man sitting quietly smoking a pipe in the door of his wigwam, Levi Morgan told the rest of the party to watch him exhibit his extraordinary marksmanship, and taking steady aim at the center of the old man's forehead, fired.The ball did not vary a hairs breath from the spot, and the old Indian rolled over dead. This was the signal for the attack and the men plundered the village and returned home, bringing with them several prisoners."^[2]

In November of 1791, Levi was with General St. Clair when he was defeated by the Indians. Over 600 of the 1,400 General Harmer's men were killed and 271 wounded. The frontiersmen (probably including Levi) tried to tell the generals how to fight the Indians (which they had done for some time successfully) but the generals would not listen. The formal British soldiers were used and of course, the battle lines did not hold. In some cases the British soldiers panicked as the Indians came at them howling loudly with painted faces and hatchets. Many were hacked to death or beheaded and many of the woolen uniformed British soldiers ran instead of retreating as a group. The result being the greatest defeat in America at that time.

From Wikipedia "Arthur St. Clair": Fort Jefferson (Ohio) was built under the direction of General Arthur St. Clair. Located in present-day Darke County in far western Ohio, the fort was built of wood and intended primarily as a supply depot; accordingly, it was originally named Fort Deposit. One month later, near modern-day Fort Recovery, his force advanced to the location of Indian settlements near the headwaters of the Wabash River, but on November 4 they were routed in battle by a tribal confederation led by Miami Chief Little Turtle and Shawnee chief Blue Jacket. More than 600 soldiers and scores of women and children were killed in the battle, which has since borne the name "St. Clair's Defeat", also known as the "Battle of the Wabash", the "Columbia Massacre," or the "Battle of a Thousand Slain". It remains the greatest defeat of a US Army by Native Americans in history, with about 623 American soldiers killed in action and about 50 Native Americans killed. Although an investigation exonerated him, St. Clair resigned his army commission in March 1792 at the request of President Washington, but he continued to serve as Governor of the Northwest Territory."

On 10 July 1793, , when he was twenty-seven, he married Unknown Unknown

Levi had the following children

1. David Morgan
2. John Morgan
3. Matilda Morgan

On 15 October 15, 1815, when he was forty-nine, he married Elizabeth Graham

In September 1825, when he was fifty-nine, he died in Kentucky when he froze to death while hunting.

Another bio

Born 26 Jun 1766 in Morgantown, AUGUSTA Co., VA (now MONONGALIA Co., WV), Levi Morgan grew up around the Delaware Indians , in MONONGALIA Co. (HARRISON Co., after 1784), VA. and learned to speak their language. Levi was 5'9", stocky built with black hair. He served in the military and was a noted scout. He was an Indian fighter most of his adult life, and several of the stories that were attributed to Simon Kenton in Allen Eckert’s book, The Frontiersmen, actually happened to Levi.

On 4 November 1791, Levi was with General St Clair when they were routed in battle by a tribal confederation led by Miami Chief Little Turtle and Shawnee chief Blue Jacket. More than 600 soldiers and scores of women and children were killed in the battle, which has since borne the name "St. Clair's Defeat", also known as the "Battle of the Wabash", the "Columbia Massacre," or the "Battle of a Thousand Slain." The frontiersmen (probably including Levi) had tried to tell the generals how to fight the Indians but the generals would not listen. Formal British lines were used and did not hold. In some cases the soldiers panicked as the Indians came at them howling loudly and with hatchets, tomahawks, painted faces. Many were hacked to death or beheaded. It remains the greatest defeat of a U.S. Army by Native Americans in history, with about 623 American soldiers killed in action and about 50 Native Americans killed.

A statue in front of the courthouse in New Martinsville, West Virginia, is dedicated to Levi.

Statue depicting Levi Morgan

Researchers have been unable to find the name of Levi’s first wife. The wedding date is known as is the name of the person performing the marriage. The justice of the peace, William Haymond, who married them, was with Levi in the militia, and Haymond’s son wrote in his book that "Captain Levi Morgan was married 10th July 1793 by my father."

In 1792 Kentucky became a state. During the next several years Levi was in various battles and became a "spy" with General “Mad Anthony” Wayne.

Despite his reputation as an Indian fighter, Levi objected to provoking the Indians unnecessarily. On 14 November 1795 he wrote to Virginia Governor Robert Brooke, “ [W]hen I was on my way home from escorting prisoners I met with two men who live in Mason County in the State of Kentucky on the Ohio near a place called Limestone, who told me they were on their way to the Indian Country to steal horses from the Indians. I strove to dissuade them from it telling them we and the Indians had now made peace and a conduct like they were about to engage in might irritate the Indians and likely provoke them to distress some hapless families, on the frontier . . . before I left that country . . . I saw one of the same two men who then told me they had taken off three of the Indians valuable horses, two of which they got into Kentucky and sold them, and they had pushed up river until the alarm (if any should be made) was over.”

He was in the Kentucky militia and probably participated in the War of 1812.

He married Elizabeth Graham in 1815. His first child with Elizabeth was named Melinda, but often called Solinda in old records, was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1818, and the other two children (sons, Springer Newton and Elias Graham) were born within several years.

Levi hunted and trapped most of his life and may have lived on 650 acres in Kentucky near the confluence of Salt River and the Ohio River. This was apparently one of his hunting grounds. In late 1825 he was hunting in this area and an early blizzard caught him unprepared. He was found some time later frozen to death in a sycamore tree.

Levi was fifty-nine when he died. His last child, Elizabeth, was born nearly eight months after his death. His place of burial is not known.

Children:

1. Salinda Ann Morgan (Cir 1818- )
2. Springer N. Morgan (Cir 1820- )
3. Elizabeth Morgan (Cir 1826- )

The Levi Morgan Story

Levi Morgan born 26 June 1766, in Morgantown, West Virginia was the grandson of the first white settler of West Virginia, Colonel Morgan Morgan. The Colonel was named Morgan Morgan (actually old world style: Morgan ap Morgan or Morgan of Morgan) because he was the son of two Morgan parents. The Colonel was born in Wales in 1688 and died in November 1766. Levi was born in June, 1766. The assumption was that Levi never knew his grandfather, only his grandmother, Catherine Garrettson. She died in 1773 when Levi was seven years old.

Levi's father was Colonel Zackquill Morgan, a man very prominent in the history of Virginia, especially during the Revolutionary period. Colonel Zackquill was born 1735, at Bunker Hill, Virginia (now Berkeley County, West Virginia) where his father (Col Morgan Morgan) was a colonial fur trader and wealthy land owner. He is said by many to be the first white settler in the West Virginia area. Col Zack's wife (and Levi's mother) was Drucilla Springer; her Prickett-Springer family was also very rich in the history of Virginia-West Virginia area. Col. Zack was an acquaintance of General George Washington, who thought of Zackquill when a County Lieutenant was needed to settle what became Morgantown, Monongalia County West Virginia. The Colonel owned the land with rights to sell and settle (there are many deeds found in various published books to prove this statement). His wife and children each owned portions of this area, and they were also found in the deed books of both Harrison and Monongalia counties (found by Jae and Dr. Tom Breitweiser on trips to Virginia and West Virginia.) After many years, most of this land is not owned by family members, but there are many allied descendants living in this area.

Levi Morgan is one of my favorite ancestors in over 25 years of research. Several "cousins" from this family line have worked to find the first wife of Levi and as of this date, no avail. The wedding date is known and the person performing the marriage is also known. [The Justice of Peace William Haymonds (who married them) was with Levi in the Militia, and his son wrote in his book that "Captain Levi Morgan was married 10 th July 1793 by my father."] The place was West Virginia at possibly Fort Kerns, a stockade during the Indian troubles. He was often called "Spy Man" in records.

My daughter, Anne had not been very interested in genealogy until several years ago; she helped by entering data into the computer until this report. The Morgan line (also on my father's side) and Sheegog line really began to interest me as I continued reading about the rich family history (most interesting is the Colonial, Frontier, French, Indian and Revolutionary periods.).

Levi's education was unknown; however, in the Draper Manuscripts (compiled by Lymnan Draper and found by Jae Breitweiser) a letter survives which Levi wrote and signed as "an Officer of the Government." He informed the local governor of some horse thieves and the pursuit of retrieving them; this letter was well written. It was known that he, unlike the typical frontiersman, could read and write. Therefore he had some sort of education, possibly with tutors. I-Es grandfather, Col Morgan Morgan, was educated in London, and it was obvious that all of his children could read and write. There are wills, deeds and other public records that survive this group as proof Levi (according to Draper' information) could fluently speak the Delaware (Indian) language.

Levi grew up around the Delaware Indians (his parents and grandparents were from the Delaware area and this possibly was how he learned to speak their language.) He was an Indian Fighter most of his adult life, and several of his stories (including those crediting Simon Kenton in The Frontiersman) were included in the Allan W. Eckert books about this era. Eckert also used the Draper Manuscripts as one of his primary sources, such as the story about Levi and his brother James, when their Uncle David Morgan (an Indian Fighter) came to visit their father (Col Zack). In the book The Frontiersman, Eckert adapted this story about Simon Kenton. [We have the document directly from the Draper MSS about Levi, which proves that this is the same story!].

Levi participated in many great battles and was also a Captain at Fort Paw Paw in Marion County, West Virginia. In November of 1791, Levi was with General St Clair when he was defeated by the Indians. Over 600 of the 1,400 General Harmer men were killed and 271 wounded. The frontiersman (probably including Levi) tried to tell the generals how to fight the Indians (which they had done for some time successfully) but they would not listen. The formal British lines were used and of course, the battle lines did not hold. In some cases the British soldiers panicked as the Indians came at them howling loudly with painted faces and hatchets. Many were hacked to death or beheaded and many of the woolen uniformed British soldiers ran instead of retreating as a group. The result being the greatest defeat in America at that time.

The next year (1792) Kentucky became a state, and Levi and his two sons (David and John) came to this area some time before the 1820's. It seemed that the first (and possibly a second) wife was killed or died in West Virginia, Levi's oldest son, David, was named after Colonel Zackquill's brother, David the Indian Fighter and is our ancestor who married Martha Bunch. They later lived in Jeffersonville Clark Co. Indiana (about 1832.).

During the next several years Levi was in various military or militia battles. He possibly trained under Samuel Brady and Lewis Wetzel and became a "Spy" with General Anthony Wayne, who became known as "Mad Anthony." In 1795 his father Col Zackquill Morgan died. From both Harrison and Monongalia Counties of West Virginia, various court recorders record Levi in these areas as a bail bondsman; he owned a grist mill in Catawba. Levi also testified in many court trials as a character witness; so apparently, he was well respected in these communities. He did not move from Monongalia to Harrison county; Harrison was formed from Monongalia in 1784.

One of the most interesting court cases (found by Jae and Tom is Morgan vs Stealey, OS 82, NS28) in January 1802, this was the result of the entire Morgan family (of siblings etc.) being sued by Levi to regain his Morgantown, West Virginia, property and cabin. Levi (in 1799) had "gone down the river to New Orleans" with some boats belonging to a friend, but did not return until 1802. His family and others thought he had died. He sued, but over several years of court battles, gave up the lawsuit and eventually left West Virginia. He married Elizabeth Graham in 1815, They moved to Kentucky, but in 19 13, he was in the Kentucky militia and in the Battles in Vincennes.

In 1813 Levi's mother, Drucilla Springer Morgan, signed a deed in Morgantown, which was the last time a document with her signature appeared. She may have died about this time. Levi left West Virginia soon after this time. However, some documents show that he was still in West Virginia, until 1818-22. His child with Elizabeth (Melinda, her first) but often called Solinda in old records, was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1818, and the other two children (sons, Springer Newton and Elias Graham) born within several years.

The last known record which concerned Levi was a marriage bond in September 1825. He signed for his niece Catherine (daughter of his favorite brother James) to marry her cousin John H. Morgan in Jefferson County, Kentucky. John is the son of James, who's father was David the Indian Fighter, Levi's cousin. A lot of the Morgans had come to the Kentucky Indiana area by that time. Many other went to Illinois, others later to Oregon.

Levi hunted and trapped most of his life and may have lived on 650 acres near the Salt River and Ohio River. This was apparently one of his hunting grounds. In 1825 (sometime after September) he was hunting in this area and an early blizzard caught him unprepared. He was found some time later "frozen to death in a favorite tree," a camp hideout. In those days, Sycamore trees were large enough inside for a person to make camp.

Levi was fifty-nine when he died. His last child, Elizabeth was born nearly eight months after his death. According to our ancestor, David, in the account he gave to Lymnan Draper in 1850, "Levi was 5'9", stocky built with black hair and had seven children." In the various accounts, Levi was buried near the spot he was found dead. Jae and I think this area became a part of the "eminent domain land" in Fort Knox, Kentucky. [His actual place of burial is not known. We do know he was not buried in the Fairdale, Kentucky, churchyard where most of his wife's descendants and their family are buried.)

Levi has many descendants who are interested in the history of this ancestor. Many live in the Kentucky area, the area where he settled in the 1800's (near Louisville.) I think that his death is as interesting as his life. He was always the frontiersman, hunter, government spy, militiaman and Indian Fighter; and he died the way he lived, hunting and communing with nature. I think Levi really is one of our most interesting ancestors and because of him, we have been able to explore the time and history in connection with his life.^[3]

At the site of the original draft, there are pictures of the Levi statue in New Martinsville in the Court House Square and source documention for the "Levi Morgan Story". «tab» «tab» Web«tab» WV Biographies Last modified: November 14, 2007 11:05:03 AM EST. Please report any problems with this page. Maintained by Tary Wiley. ©1997-2007 West Virginia Biographies Project hosted by wileygenealogy.com.^[4]

From Findagrave.com

Levi Morgan

Birth: 26 Jun 1776 Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, USA; Death: 1825 (aged 48–49) Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA; Burial: Non-Cemetery Burial. Memorial #: 160130958.

Family Members: Parents: Zackquill Morgan (1735-1795), Drusilla Springer Morgan (1745-1795); Spouse: Elizabeth Graham Fisher (1797-1887); Siblings: Morgan Morgan (1767-1852) James Morgan (1769-1855), Zackquill Morgan (1782-1814), Hannah Morgan Barker (1786-1860); Half Siblings: Nancy Ann Morgan Pierpont (1757-1816), Temperance Morgan Cochran (1760-1849), Evan Bradbury Morgan (1762-1821); Children: Melinda Ann Morgan Mitchell (1818-1898), Springer Newton Morgan (1819-1892), Elias Graham Morgan (1822-1898).^[5]

Citations

1. ↑ Anne Hoffpauir, "Levi Morgan, Frontiersman, Indian Fighter, and Government Officer," 1766 West Virginia - 1826 Kentucky Sheegog-Vinson, Pat and J. 27 June 1998, rev 1 Feb 1999 7 Jun 2016 URL: http://www.wvgenweb.org/harrison/morgan.htm Levi Morgan, born 26 June 1766 in Morgantown, West Virginia.
2. ↑ Morgan, William Dallas, “Washington Morgan of West Virginia,” Updated 19 Jan 2010. User Trees. Genealogy.com. URL: https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/o/r/William-dallas-Morgan-PA/index.html Accessed 15 June 2019. HORATIO MORGAN, b. Apr 09, 1778, Morgantown, Monongalia, VA; d. Mar 09, 1867, Morgantown, Monongalia, West Virginia.
3. ↑ Submitted by: Pat Sheegog-Vinson and Bill Cunningham Please visit the original draft version below at Wetzel County site http:/www.rootsweb.com/~wvwetzel/descendantindex.htm.
4. ↑ The Levi Morgan Story Sheegog-Vinson, Pat, and Bill Cunningham Publication: Index: US - WV - Harrison - Levi Morgan US Biographies Project > Biographies of Harrison County, WV The original draft version below at Wetzel County site http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwetzel/descendant/index.htm Last modified: November 14, 2007 11:05:03 AM EST. Maintained by Tary Wiley. ©1997-2007 West Virginia Biographies Project hosted by wileygenealogy.com 19 Dec 2012 URL: http://www.wileygenealogy.com/~usbios/bios/wv/harrison/levimorgan.txt.
5. ↑ Kara Morgan (48128589), "Levi Morgan,” Findagrave.com. Record added 28 Mar 2016. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160130958. Accessed 29 July 2019.

See also:

• Carroll, George. “Lewis Wetzel: Warfare Tactics on the Frontier,” West Virginia History, vol. 50 (1991), pp. 79-90. http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh50-5.html

• Anne Hoffpauir, "Levi Morgan, Frontiersman, Indian Fighter, and Government Officer," 1766 West Virginia - 1826 Kentucky Sheegog-Vinson, Pat and J. 27 June 1998, rev 1 Feb 1999 7 Jun 2016 URL: http://www.wvgenweb.org/harrison/morgan.htm

• Kara Morgan (48128589), "Levi Morgan,” Findagrave.com. Record added 28 Mar 2016. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160130958. Accessed 29 July 2019.

• Morgan:www.swcp.com/~dhickman/gedcom/scott/d0001/g0000025.Htm (printed Out 981004).

• http://www.geocities.com/~rewoodham/morgque5.html 27 Jun 2006 Levi Morgan, 1766-ca 1826 Certainty: 3 LEVI MORGAN 1766 -- ca 1826 Looking for information on LEVI MORGAN, b. 26 June, 1766, son of ZACKQUILL MORGAN and DRUSCILLA SPRINGER. He mar. (1) ca 1793 and had these known ch: JOHN MORGAN, MATILDA MORGAN and DAVID MORGAN (b. 1804, Monon, VA.). Levi mar. (2) ELIZABETH GRAHAM 15 Oct., 1815 in Jefferson Co., KY. She was the dau of ELIAS and ELIZABETH GRAHAM. Their ch were: SALINDA ANN (b abt 1818 mar JOHN MITCHELL); SPRINGER N. (abt 1820 mar MARIA C. WILLIAMS); ELIAS G. (abt 1822 mar MARTHA J. WILLIAMS) and ELIZABETH (abt 1824 mar JACOB S. SWISHER). Floa Swisher> Rt. 3, Box 272 Washington, WV 26181 STEPHEN

• Robards, Melissa, "Springer, Gibson, Lane, Robards, Poorman, Stansbury URL: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/o/b/Melissa-J-Robards/index.html from "The American Springers" By Cliff Radcliff,2004, which Melissa reprints on her website.

• Sheegog-Vinson, Pat and J. Anne Hoffpauir, "Levi Morgan, Frontiersman, Indian Fighter, and Government Officer, 1766 West Virginia - 1826 Kentucky." (27 June 1998, rev 1 Feb 1999).

• The Levi Morgan Story Sheegog-Vinson, Pat, and Bill Cunningham Publication: Index: US - WV - Harrison - Levi Morgan US Biographies Project > Biographies of Harrison County, WV The original draft version below at Wetzel County site http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwetzel/descendant/index.htm Last modified: November 14, 2007 11:05:03 AM EST. Maintained by Tary Wiley. ©1997-2007 West Virginia Biographies Project hosted by wileygenealogy.com 19 Dec 2012 URL: http://www.wileygenealogy.com/~usbios/bios/wv/harrison/levimorgan.txt

• Vercoe, Josephine McCord, A genealogical history of the Scott family : descendants of Alexander Scott, who came to Augusta County, Virginia, circa 1750 with a history of the families with which they intermarried Ancestry.com. URL: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/genealogy-glh31429580/ Accessed 20 June 2019.

• Wikidata: Item Q6535473, en:Wikipedia
• Levi Morgan

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Glenn Smith for creating WikiTree profile Morgan-4725 through the import of Appleyard Family Tree.ged on May 2, 2013.