Documenting my thoughts on the family of Samuel Morgan of Beverly and Manchester, Essex,
Massachusetts.
I believe Samuell Morgan married first, Jean/Joan Stone of Beverly. They moved to Manchester
and had several children. I believe she died between 1725 and 1730 and Samuell married a
second time to Hannah Carter and had many more children. I believe both Hannah and
Samuell died around 1745-46. I can find birth and marriage records for this family, but I can find
no death records.
According to Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1621-1850 for Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts:
birth: Samuell Morgin, s. Samuell and Sarah, Apr 23 1700
marriage: Samuell Morgan and Jean [Joan, int.] Stone, Jan. 26, 1720-1
And from A history of the family of Morgan, from the year 1089 to present times, page 137:
The date shown above for the administration of the estate, would lead one to assume a death
date of around 1783-84. I can find no death for Samuel Morgan during that time. Instead, I
have found probate records for a Samuel Morgan, administered by John Morgan, covering the
years 1746-1748. I believe the above date is a transposition.
I find the following birth/baptismal records in Manchester, Essex, Massachusetts for children of
Samuell and Jane Morgan:
Andrew, bp. May 17, 1724. C.R.
Samuell, bp. July 19, 1724. C.R.
Luscy, Dec. 25, 1725.
Then, children where only Samuell is listed as the father. Did Jane die before the baptisms?
Anna, bp. Dec 3, 1727 C.R.
Sam[ue]ll, bp. Feb. 8, 17[29-]30. C.R.
There were two children named Samuell born to Samuell and Jane. It seems likely that the first
Samuell, baptized in 1724, died before the Samuell baptized in 1729/30 was born. No record of
this death is found.
Samuell marries a second time in Manchester:
Sam[ue]ll Morgan and Hannah Carter, May 18, 1732.
But who is Hannah Carter? Birth records for a Hannah Carter just weren’t showing me
anything. I came across a probate record from 1731 for a guardianship case. In this case,
Hannah Carter, a widow, was to become principal guardian for Hannah Carter, a minor of about
3 years, daughter of John Carter. Later in this probate package, the guardian is listed as
“Hannah Carter alias Morgan”. Thus, we have the correct Hannah Carter and it seems clear
that she must have first married John Carter.
I found a marriage record from Manchester:
John Carter and Hannah Foster, Dec. 15, 1726
In addition, I found the birth of young Hannah Carter in Manchester. She seems to be their only
child:
Hanah, d. John and Hanah, Nov. 21, 1727
Another probate record in 1742, shows that Samuel Morgan and Hannah Morgan are the
guardians of Hannah Carter, upward of fourteen years of age, non compos mentis. In this same
packet, John Foster (either her grandfather or uncle) becomes her guardian in 1746,
presumably after the death of both Samuel and Hannah Morgan. Hannah Carter’s name can
not be found again. Her grandfather died in 1763 and her uncle in 1766, so she must have died
by at least 1766.
Looking for birth records for Hannah Foster, we find a birth record in 1708 in Beverly and a
baptismal record in 1717 in Manchester.
Hannah Foster, d. John and Margaret, Jan. 6, 1708-9. (Beverly)
Hannah Foster, d. John and Margaret, bp. Dec. 8, 1717. C.R. (Manchester)
In fact, all of John and Margaret (Jacobs) Foster’s children were baptised on the same day in
1717. [Hannah Foster’s mother is of particular interest because of her connection to the Salem
Witch Trials. That story will have to wait for another post.]
Manchester birth/baptism records for the children of Samuel Morgan and Hannah Foster are:
[John. C.R.], s. Samuel and Hannah, Feb. 9, 1732/3.
Israel, s. Samuel and Hannah, Feb. 17, 1733/4.
Jacob, s. Samuel and Hannah, Dec. 16, 1735.
Sarah, d. Samuel and Hannah, Mar. 4, 1736/7.
Jeney, Jane. C.R.], d. Samuel and Hannah, Aug. 18, 1738.
Margaret, d. Sam[ue]ll and Hannah, bp. Jan. 13, 1739/40. C.R
Martha, d.twin, Sam[ue]ll and Hannah, bp.Mar. 8, 1740-[41] C. R.
Mary, d. twin, Sam[ue]ll and Hannah, bp. Mar. 8, 1740/41. C.R.
Margret, d. Samuel and Hannah, Feb. 9, 1742[/3].
Hannah, d. Sam[uel] and Hannah, Mar. 10, 1743/4.
Daniel, s. Samuel and Hannah, Mar. 31, 1745.
Though there are no death records for the Samuel Morgan family, there are guardianship
records for their children from 1746. In addition, the settling of Samuel Morgan’s estate
(1746-1748) shows a bill requesting payment for tending to Samuel Morgan’s wife in her last
illness. Thus, I feel we can reasonably assume both Samuel and Hannah died between 1745
and 1746.
For most of the children, guardianship fell to either Samuel’s or Hannah’s brothers: John
Morgan of Beverly; Luke Morgan of Gloucester; John Foster of Manchester. The exception is
the child, Samuel Morgan, from Samuel’s first marriage with Jane Stone. It appears he may be
starting an apprenticeship, as his primary guardian is Richard Whittradge of Salem, a
housewright. He is the only child over age 14. Presumably, his older siblings do not need
guardians.
Samuel (upward of 14) - Richard Whittradge, John Foster, Luke Morgan
John - Luke Morgan, John Foster, John Morgan
Israel - Luke Morgan, John Foster, John Morgan
Jacob - John Morgan, John Foster, Luke Morgan
Sarah - John Foster, Luke Morgan, John Morgan
Jane - John Morgan, John Foster, Luke Morgan
Martha - John Morgan, John Foster, Luke Morgan
Margaret - John Foster, Luke Morgan, John Morgan
Hannah - John Foster, Luke Morgan, John Morgan
Daniel - John Foster, Luke Morgan, John Morgan
Missing from the list of children are Margaret (bp. 1739/40) and Mary. Presumably, Margaret
died before the second Margaret was born in 1742/43. And Mary died before the probate date
in 1746.
Date taken from:
Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1621-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New
England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).
Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org.
New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)
