Allen line: Captain James Morgan 1644-1711

 James Morgan was a pretty important man in his town (Groton, Connecticut).  He may not have been in the very top tier of citizens, but he was well respected and well known.  He left enough records that we feel like we know some of his story, and it's always good to put a little decoration on that "dash" that goes between the birth date and the death date of our ancestors.  We are descended twice from this man, so that makes him doubly important to our family.

James was the son of James and Margery Hill Morgan, and was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts on March 3, 1644.  His parents had arrived there about 1640, so James was a first generation New Englander.  He had at least three siblings, including a brother who died as a toddler.  The Morgan family moved from Roxbury to New London about 1650, probably with a group of people who were with Rev. Blinman.  James then spent his early life in New London, before moving to Groton, which wasn't formed as a town until 1705.  It was just across the Thames River from New London.   

His father, as one of the town founders, was a highly respected man and served the town well.  His son, this James, followed in his father's footsteps.  James was a church deacon, a captain of the training band, a town selectman, a principal magistrate, moderator of many town meetings, deputy to the General Court at least 12 years, and a commissioner to the Pequot Indians (what was left of them) in their affairs.  Have I convinced you yet?  

I don't know if you could call him "wealthy" or not, but he was generally taxed an amount that put him in the first half dozen of the men, as far as taxes owed, based on valuation of his property.  

James married Mary Vine, described as being "of Old England" in November of 1666, the daughter of John and Margery Winter Vine.  The couple had at least seven children together, before Mary died in 1689.  She was one of several people in the town who died of some sort of "throat distemper" within a two month period.  It must have been a frightful time for the town.  James then married Hannah Brewster Starr, the daughter of Jonathan and Lucretia Oldham Brewster (and grandson of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower).  They were past child bearing age when they married, but were able to enjoy each other's company until 1711, when they died just a few days apart.  We don't know if it was a communicable disease or if it was coincidence that they died almost together.  James was 67 and Hannah was about 71.  

We are fortunate to have James's will and inventory preserved.  He wrote the will in 1708 and left provisions for Hannah, who of course was gone when the will was presented.  His two sons got all the land and his homestead, with James getting more than second son William,  and the daughters got the personal property and animals, to be divided among the four of them.  I don't trust the total that is shown on the inventory, and neither do I trust my colonial math, so I'll just say it appears to have been valued at over 400 pounds, when the inventory was taken in 1714.  He did have guns (also left to the sons), a Bible and other books, carpenter tools and some farm equipment as well as household goods.  It's interesting to wonder whether any of this was a Brewster heirloom.  

This family is interesting to study because it involves family names with which we are familiar, as Morgan women married Starr brothers, who were actually their step-brothers.  Through connections, this family had ties to many of the well known names of Groton and New London, such as Avery and Latham, and more names enter into the picture when we consider second marriages, Peabody and Applegate.  

Oh, and did I mention that he is also ancestor to General George McClellan of the Civil War, and to John D., Nelson, and Winthrop Rockefeller (yes those Rockefellers)?  We sure have some interesting cousins!  

Captain Morgan, we salute you for your hard work and your willingness to serve God, your colony, your town, and your family.  

The lines of descent are:                                                             Also:

James Morgan-Mary Vine

Mary or Mercy Morgan-Thomas Starr                             Jerusha Morgan-Nicholas Street

Mary Starr-John Chester                                                   Jerusha Street-Thomas Starr

Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge                                       John Starr-Mary Sharp

Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens                                John Starr-Betsy Havens

Betsy Havens-John Starr                                                   and so on

John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley

Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott

Edith Knott-Edward Allen

Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook