James P. and Margaret (Peggy) Turner Hamilton, (1844-1848) estate settlement, and heirs.

This picture of Eliza Ann Hamilton, and her husband Garrard Morgan III (unknown date), is from the gray pamphlet Nicholas G. Morgan put together, with pictures and miscellaneous information about his Morgan family in the East.

In 1844 Garrard III and Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan were living near her parents, James P. and Margaret Turner Hamilton, in Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana. When James died, son-in-law, Garrard, was appointed administrator of James' estate.

P229, May 12, 1845. Garrard Morgan administrator of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased VS Margaret Hamilton the widow and Jesse Hamilton etal [sic] heirs of James P. Hamilton deceased in a petition to sell real estate to pay the debts of the estate. The real estate was eighty acres in Section 33, township 11, range 9.

P231-232, July 20, 1845. Jesse T. Hamilton was listed as an heir and as a non-resident of Indiana in a petition to sell the real estate of James P. Hamilton deceased. Other heirs; Margaret Hamilton, Garrard and Eliza Morgan, George W. and Sarah Jane Hopkins and John T., James A., David M., Francis P. and Garrard M. Hamilton. An ad of this sale was to be placed in the Greensburg Repository.

P247, Feb 10, 1846. Garrard Morgan administrator of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased reported to the court that he had sold James’ real estate in section 33, township 11, range 9 to Parish Aldrich.

P293. Feb 17. [presumably 1848] Final settlement was made of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased. A sum was due the administrator in this final settlement which he agreed to pay out of his own funds.

P394-394, Feb 1848 (from page 552-probate book D) On his application, Garrard Morgan was appointed administrator Feb. 6, 1844 of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased with James B. Foley and Chatfield Howell as his securities. Filed in court was an inventory of James’ personal property appraised by John Whitlow and Joshua Clark, which was insufficient to pay the debts of the estate and the adm. petitioned the court to sell James’ real estate in section 33, township 11, range 9 of 80 acres. At his death he left as his heirs; the widow Margaret, Jesse T. Hamilton, Garrard and Eliza Morgan-late Eliza Hamilton, George W. and wife Sarah Jane Hopkins, and John T., Sarah M., James A., *David W., *Francis P. and *Garrard M. Hamilton. * were minors. Jesse T. was listed as a non-resident of Indiana. The real estate was purchased by Parish Aldrich. Final settlement was made in Feb. 1848 with the adm. paying part of the claims against the estate out of his own funds.

I looked through this book to get a better feel for who the 100 Hamiltons on 1850 Census for Decatur, Indiana are--and I found James and Margaret's entire family--what a thrill! And I already know who some of these folks are.

From Court Records of Decatur County, Indiana 1822-1848, by Maurice Holmes, Copyright 1980, by Maurice Holmes, US/CAN 977.216 P2c

James Morgan, brother of John Hamilton Morgan. Part 2.

(Continued from Part 1 here.)

James' mother, Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan, wrote a news filled letter from her Champaign, Illinois home on April 29, 1895 to daughter-in-law, Mellie Morgan, which is posted here. The paragraph in it, where she writes about James [Jimmie], is below.

James Morgan [1850- ]

Picture taken 1905.

Mr. Richard sent the 20 dollars as you requested (thanks to you both). We gave it out for insurance on the property for the next 3 years and Jimmie sent us 40 dollars to pay taxes. We manage to keep even by being economical and working.

Additional information about James is contained in a July 9, 1900 letter from G. M. [Garrard Morgan] Hamilton of Greensburg, Indiana to Mellie Morgan in Salt Lake City. It appears G.M. is Eliza Ann's brother. John Hamilton Morgan writes in his journal of visiting this same Uncle Morgan.

On October 27, 1882, John wrote in his journal entry, posted here, Started early this a.m. and drove to town and at 10 a.m. took train for Indianapolis where I visited cousin Robbins and uncle Morgan Hamilton. Attended the Grand Opera with cousin Gail Hamilton and saw the Hanlons play. Stayed all night at uncle Hamiltons.

A sample portion of the original 4 page letter follows here. A typed version of the paragraph about James from this letter follows.

Greensburg, Ind., July 9, 1900
Mrs. Helen M. Morgan:
Dear Niece

Your very kind and welcome letter came in Saturday, July 7th ... Eliza Morgan, John’s mother is now in Middletown Neura County Indiana living with her son, Dr. Wm. Morgan. She came near dying last winter in Chicago but she pulled through all right and the last from her was doing very well. Don’t know anything about Jim Morgan only he is N G and if he is dead or his wife is dead I don’t know it. The last I heard from her she was living in Denver with the children. She is a good woman. The last I heard from him was about 1 year ago he was at Bills Worthington [illegible]with a woman he called his wife but not the woman we know as his wife ...

I found a James Morgan in the 1910 census in an Indiana prison. After conferring with the Indiana archivist, I determined he was our James Morgan, and ordered all of the material in his file, including his picture. The left hand side of the 17x22 ledger sheet they sent me is below. Perhaps James didn't know both of his parents were deceased by 1901.

James' wife is shown as Irene. When I read this yesterday, it looked like June to me. James was incarcerated for six years, the last three in a hospital. Many questions answered, so many more to find answers to. The letters are from cousin Karen M., with a big, Thank You! Entries from John Hamilton Morgan's journal at the Marriott Library, University of Utah. Prison documents from Indiana State Archives, Commission on Public Records, 6550 E. 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219.

James Morgan, brother of John Hamilton Morgan. Part 1 of 2.

James Morgan
b. June 12, 1850, Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana
p. Garrard Morgan, Eliza Hamilton
m. Mary, Irene [June]
d.

In 1863, while John Morgan, was serving in Alabama in the Civil War, he wrote his mother. The letter is posted here at The Ancestor Files and illustrates John’s concern for each of his siblings. It is the earliest mention of his brother James, “Jimmie,” other than the 1860 Census, that I’ve found.

Sunday Evening
Maysville, Ala
Dec 21st 1863
Mrs. E. Morgan
Dear Ma:

“... I get letters frequently from Will. Reced one from Lu last evning also one from Morg. Kiss Jap for me. I would give a thousand dollars to see. Is Lon studying any now. Tell him to improve his time above everything else. Let novels and such trash alone. Let him have something solid and something that will give him information to read. Knowledge is more than gold and silver. Poor Jimmie. I am sorry his jaw troubles him yet. He is a good boy and has the go aheaditiveness about him to make a man of himself one that will make his mark.

“Tell Pa that I wish I was home to help him but as long as there is an armed foe to my country at large, I will be found in the ranks of the Patriot army. It is getting late and I must close. Goodby John”

The entries below are from the 1880 Manasa, Conejos, Colorado census. Interestingly enough James Morgan appears on another census in Colorado that year, where he is living in a boarding house in Ammas City, La Plata, Colorado. James’ occupation is Nursery.

In 2008, cousin Flora Lee, and her mother, took a road trip to Manassa, Colorado, and thereabouts. They made acquaintance with some friendly residents, who shared some histories that Flora Lee was able to copy.

From Manassa, Colorado, A history of its Growth from Early Days by Donald L. Haynie, with an account written by his maternal grandfather, Gervacius Wayne Rogers. The Rogers history was published in The La Jara (Colorado) Gazette about 1934.

"Among some of the very early conveniences established was a post office. Peter Allen was the first postmaster and Miss Jane Elledge (now Mrs. Stephen A. Smith) was his assistant. It was located in the Allen home; later, it was moved to the Dillingham H. Elledge residence. The colonists had a tri-weekly mail at first, and Ashbury Huffaker was the first carrier. He packed the mail on foot from Conejos. Later, George Elledge carried it on horseback. The carrier got 40% of the cancellation at the Manassa Post Office, the balance going to the postmaster to pay for upkeep and maintenance of the office.

“A co-operative store sprang up on the Elledge lot. This store was owned principally by Silas S. Smith and the Elledge people. James Morgan, a brother of President John Morgan, was the manager, as well as clerk. He was succeeded by Silas S. Smith, Jr."

There are entries in John Morgan’s journal of his interest in purchasing, and shipping trees to Colorado. Throughout his journal entries he mentions writing to his brother, and meeting him on some of his travels. For example:

On November 10, 1885, from Kansas City, he wrote: Had a horse and buggy and rode out to Blair and Kauffman’s Nursery four miles from the city to see about some fruit trees …

On January 25, 1881, from Salt Lake City, he wrote: In the office today … Wrote a letter to Brother Jimmie.

On June 5, 1887, after arriving in Kansas City, he wrote … Met Jimmie, his wife during the evening. Left for Memphis at 9 p.m.

(To be continued.)
Picture of James (Jimmie) Morgan from Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan's Gray pamphlet. Additional references will appear at the conclusion of Part 2.

John Hamilton of Carlisle, Nicholas County, Kentucky. Part 4.

This small wheel is in the upstairs workroom

in Brigham Young's winter home at St. George, Utah.
(He lived there 1873-1877.)

Top of page 1

This 1828 Sale Bill of The Estate of John Hamilton is just about my all-time favorite document. A year ago I did not know Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan’s grandmother was Elizabeth Hamilton (my 4th great grandmother), and now I have a list of everything she and her husband owned at the time of his death, the names of everyone who attended his estate sale, and what they purchased, the name of each of Elizabeth’s children, and a description and plat map of each land parcel allotted to them. In the document distributing John Hamilton's property, Elizabeth is identified as John Hamilton’s widow, and relict.

From the Sale Bill, Elizabeth received the following items. The price for each is at the right. I added $ signs and decimals. Only the beginning and end of that document is included here. I will be happy to send a copy of the document to any interested family member. Please contact me at the e-mail address in the right-hand column.

Widow Hamilton, 1 ax, .37 ½
Widow Hamilton, 1 Table, .12 1/2
Widow Hamilton, 1 Dining table, .50
Widow Hamilton, 15 head of geese, $1.00
Widow Hamilton, 32 Ducks, .50
[Widow Hamilton], 3 Sheep first choice, .75
Widow Hamilton, 1 womans lamb, $1.00 1/4
[Widow Hamilton], 1 vinegar Barrel, .12 ½
[Widow Hamilton], 1 Tray and Keg, .06 1/4
[Widow Hamilton], 1 Barrel & Keg, .18 3/4
[Widow Hamilton], 10 Chairs, $1.62 1/2
[Widow Hamilton], 1 Lott Carpeting, $1.00
[Widow Hamilton], 1 Clock & case, $5.00
[Widow Hamilton], 1 Glafo [illegible], .56 1/4
Widow Hamilton, 1 Sow & Pigs, $1.00
Widow Hamilton, 5 2nd [choice hogs], $4.00
Widow Hamilton, 1 Bed & beding, $5.
[Widow Hamilton], 1 Chest, .50
Widow Hamilton, 1 empty barrel, .25
Widow Hamilton, 1 Broken legs 7-10 galon kettle, $1.
Widow Hamilton, 1 3 galon pot, .25

The following is what unmarried daughter, Anna, received,

in addition to a piece of property next to her mother's.

Anna Hamilton-1 Bed & beding $7.
Anna Hamilton-1 Small wheel .06 ¼

Bottom of page 2

(Concluded.)

The following is further clarification of a pole in the property description, and on the family plat map, posted in part 2.
5.5 yards = 1 rod, pole or perch

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

I took the picture earlier this week while visiting St. George. FHL film #252,377 p. 443-4.

John Hamilton of Carlisle, Nicholas County, Kentucky. Part 3.

Continued from part 1 and part 2.

The Carlisle, Kentucky, Precinct lands, in the map below, were described in 1882 as, “the surface is rolling, and even broken in places, rising into bluffs along the water courses. The soil is a strong limestone, red loam, rich and very productive in the southern and western part; the remaining portions are rough, poor and rocky. The best soil produces blue ash, the finest of poplar and black walnut, sugar tree, etc., etc. From the latter, sugar is extensively manufactured. The thin lands produce beech, the different kinds of oak, hackberry, hickory, and many other varieties, common to this section. A heavy growth of cane covered the land originally, but has all long since disappeared. It is drained by the Licking and its tributaries, several of which flow through the precinct, thoroughly draining the country and furnishing an abundance of water for stock and farm purposes.”

This map illustrates the course of the Hinkston Creek, that borders Carlisle, Kentucky. The waters that the Hamiltons settled on are Brushy Creek, McBrides Run, and Taylor Creek.

Among the land parcel descriptions, distributed to John Hamilton’s heirs, is this one to his son James:
“And also the Lott afsigned unto James Hamilton ‘Beginning at an elm, Thence 25 … poles to two chessnut a Buckeye; Thence east 51 poles to a stake one of the original corners of the whole survey. Thence … poles to a stake, thence West 47 poles to the beginning.’ Containing nine acres and three rods of Land.”

(To be continued.)

History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas counties, Kentucky, edited by William Henry Perrin, 1882, pg. 351. US/CAN 976.94 H2p.
You may enjoy this Walking tour of historic Carlisle, Kentucky.

John Hamilton of Carlisle, Kentucky. Part 2.

“About 1810 John Hamilton built a mill a little southwest of Carlisle. It was also a horse mill and did an extensive business on account of Mr. Hamilton’s reputation as miller.” See the Carlisle Town Platt at the bottom of this earlier post.

Some time prior to February 12, 1828, John Hamilton died. His land records revealed the names of his wife, children, and heirs. And his land descriptions placed his property in Carlisle near the Brushy Fork of the Hickston Creek.

Note: Thank you to John Hamilton descendant, Marjorie Morgan, for doing the research on this family in 1988, and sharing this family group sheet.

Two of John Hamilton's children were married by Rev. Barton W. Stone; Margaret Hamilton to John Jamison on July 21, 1808, and James Hamilton to Peggy Turner on October 4, 1810.

Reverend Barton W. Stone

The first church organized in what is now Nicholas County was the old Concord Church and stood about two and a half miles southeast of where the town of Carlisle is located. Established about 1795, Reverend B. W. Stone was one of the first, if not the first, minister. He became pastor of the old Cane Ridge Meeting House in Bourbon County about 1789.


This map illustrates the land parcelled to John Hamilton's widow, Elizabeth, and each of his nine children. In the cases of his married daughters, the land is in their husband's names.
(To be continued.)
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4

FHL #252,392, Nicholas Co. Marriages, FHL #252,371, pg. 259, Nicholas Co., KY deeds. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison nd Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, edited by William Henry Perrin, 1882, Art Guild Reportings, Inc., pg. 352. FHL US/CAN 976.94 H2p.