The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-02-18
GEN. DANIEL MoRaAN.

Read before the Historical Society of
-, ~ciSs County. January 2lst, 1890.
Doyiestown tPa.) Democrat.
| Among the illustrious characters
whose names are inscribed upon the
bright record that adorhs the annals
of our country, few stood upon more
elevated ground than the subject of
our sketch, General Daniel Morgan;
and it may be properly remarked
that the name of his family is hon
orably recorded in the history of
earlier and later times.
| 1t has been borne by gallant and
successful warriors, by firm and
gallant statesmen, and is iIlustrious
alike in the annals of colonial times
as well as in the later era.
This circumstance, it is true, can
add nothing TO the dignity of him
whose life we are about to sketch,
and from whose acts posterity will
perhaps claim truer glory, but the
facts preserved among the records
seem properly entitled to insertion.
| The earliest authentic record in
troduces to us the name of Morgan
in this section at period when
military prowcss was indiscrimi-
nately exerted for the promotion of
good or bad ends.
The record shows that with the
development of the iron industry in
Durham, came an influx of promi-
nent iron workers, capitalists and
adventurcrs. The Morgans be-
longed to the former class who came
to develop the iron resources of this
then comparative Wilderness.
General Daniel Morgan, the subject
of this sketch, brigadier general of
the regular line during the RovoIu-
tionary war. was u son of James
and Sarah Morgan, of Durham
township, Bucks county, Pa. The
precise spot of the Morgan residence
is on the east side of the public
road leading from Durham to Rieg-
elsyille, where this road crosses
Durham creek bridge, and where a
small tributary (the Brandywine)
empties into said creek.
The foundations of the Morgan
residence were taken up some TWEEN
ty.five years ago, under the super.
vision of the writer. A portion of
the hearthstone is walled into the
limekiln nearest the creek, erected
by the Laubach Brothers, 1886.
His parents were from Wales; the
precise date of their arrival at Dur
ham cannot be ascertained.
James Morgan, the father of Gen.
eral Morgan, was, however, con-
nected with the Durham iron works
at an carly period, as iron master.
His son Daniel was born in the
Morgan residence, in the winter of
1876, on plat No. 80, on the farm OF
the writer, as noted above. James
/
Morgan resided here while employ
ed at the iron works, and here the
General spent his early years, aid
ing his father at the forge. After
attaining the age of seventeen
years, (l7530 young Morgan find
ing time hanging heavily, he went
TO Greenwich Forge, near Finesville,
New Jersey, this forge being run
at tho time as an adjunct to the
Durham furnace and forges. Here he
remained until some time in 1854;
when he went to Virginia and hired
with farmer Roberts, near Charles
town, in Jefferson county, (then
Berkley county,. At the expira-
ton of one year, Braddock's ex-
pedition against the French and
Indians was spoken of as an event
certainly to take place during the
ensuing summer. Morgan resolved
TO join the expedition.
The year 1855 was rendered
memorable in the annals of history
by the unfortunate expedition and
defeat of General Braddock. Nor
gan Joined the expedition as driver
OF baggage wagon and was pres
ent at the disastrous battle which
ensued. Almost all the baggage wag-
ons, provisions, and artillery, fell
into the hands of the French and
Indians. During the course of this
campaign, Morgan was unjustly
punished; under charge of inso-
lenee to a British officer, he was
brought to the halbert, where he
received five hundred lashes. The
British officer being afterwards con-
vinced of his cruel error, made
every amend in his power to the
maltreated Morgan, who, satisfied
with the officers contrition, mag