The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
John Morgan was born about 1746 at Brunswick County, Virginia. He was of Welsh and English descent. He moved to Surry County (present-day Stokes County), North Carolina after the end of the French and Indian War. He married Elizabeth Allen. During the Revolutionary War, Morgan was made Captain of his regiment. He fought in three battles: King's Mountain, Cowpens as part of the Wilkes County Militia, and Cowan's Ford in the Surry County Militia.
The Battle of King's Mountain was fought by 1100-1600 soldiers under the command of Colonel William Campbell against 900 Tory militia under their commander British Major Patrick Ferguson. Ferguson's militia represented the left flank of Lord Cornwallis's invading army as it marched north towards North Carolina. Ferguson and his men climbed King’s Mountain and were surrounded by the patriot army, who proceeded to destroy the detachment. Major Ferguson as well as 157 of his men were killed, 163 wounded, and 638 captured. The patriot casualties included 28 killed and 62 wounded.
The Battle of Cowpens took place close to the North Carolina-South Carolina border. The 2400-member patriot army was under the command of Brigadier General Daniel Morgan. The British commander was Lieutenant Colonel Banestre Tarleton. He had and a well-trained army of 1100 members. General Morgan had certain militia units to set a trap by forming two lines and firing two volleys and then retreated. Among these units was John Morgan's Regiment. The British took the bait and charged after the Americans. British Army casualties included 110 killed, 229 wounded, and 600 captured. Patriot casualties included 29 killed and 109 wounded.
The Battle of Cowan's Ford was fought on the present day Lincoln-Mecklenburg County line at Four Fords of the Catawba River. An 800 man American Army under Brigadier General William Davidson confronted the invading 200 man British Army under Lord Cornwallis. The battle went badly for the Americans and General Davidson was killed. The patriots fled.
After the war, Morgan wasn't successful in business and went bankrupt. He died in 1819, preceded by his wife, who died in 1810. Morgan had bad relations with James Davis Sr., including a debt he could not repay. Ironically, Morgan's granddaughter Elizabeth McAnnally married Davis' son, James Jr.
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