Zackquill Morgan facts for kids

Colonel Zackquill Morgan was an important person in the early history of West Virginia. He was the son of Welsh immigrants, Colonel Morgan Morgan and Catherine Garretson. His parents were among the first known white settlers in what is now West Virginia. Zackquill was born in 1735 in what was then Orange County, Virginia (now Berkeley County, West Virginia). He is famous for founding the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, which is named after him. He passed away on New Year's Day in 1795 when he was sixty years old and was buried at Prickett's Fort State Park. His grave had a simple stone with "Z. M. Jan. 1, 1795" carved into it.

Zackquill Morgan's name was spelled in many different ways in old records, like Zacuil, Zackwell, and Zackil. However, his father, Colonel Morgan Morgan, spelled it "Zackquill."

The Life of Zackquill Morgan

Early Adventures

Family stories say that Zackquill and his brother David fought with the Virginia forces in two important expeditions. They were part of General Braddock's expedition in 1755 and General Forbes's more successful one in 1758.

In 1761, Zackquill received 1,000 acres (about 4 square kilometers) of land from his father in Berkeley County, West Virginia. This land had been officially claimed in 1735. Many historians believe that David Morgan and his younger brother Zackquill Morgan were the next Europeans to try to settle permanently in Monongalia County.

Around 1765 or 1766, Zackquill and David moved to Georges Creek, Pennsylvania. They left Delaware and arrived in the area that is now Morgantown in 1766 or 1767. Some family traditions say Zackquill settled in 1768, but he might have still been living in what is now Fayette County, Pennsylvania, at that time. Records from 1771 show Zackquill living in Great Meadows, Pennsylvania, when he sold his farm there.

We don't know exactly when Zackquill Morgan settled on the land where Morgantown now stands. However, a survey record from April 29, 1781, shows that land was surveyed for him. This survey included his settlement from 1772 near Deckers Creek and the Monongahela River.

Revolutionary War Hero

During the American Revolutionary War, Zackquill Morgan was a "County Lieutenant" for Monongalia County, holding the title of colonel. He led a group of about 600 Virginia Minute Men during the war. He fought with General Gates at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777, where he lost almost half of his men.

Founding Morgantown

In 1782, a disagreement about the border between Pennsylvania and Virginia was settled. This meant Zackquill Morgan's home became part of Pennsylvania. Because of this, the main county office for Monongalia County moved south. It first went to Colonel John Evans's home and then to Zackquill Morgan's home in what is now Morgantown.

The county court met in Morgan's home while a new courthouse was built in the town square. This new town was first called Morgan's Town. The wooden courthouse was finished between 1782 and 1785. Around this time, in 1784, George Washington even visited the area!

In October 1785, Colonel Morgan asked the Virginia General Assembly to officially establish a town. They agreed that 50 acres (about 200,000 square meters) of his land would be divided into half-acre lots. This new town was named "Morgans-Town." The lots were sold at auction, and the money went to Colonel Morgan.

At first, people who bought lots had to build a house of at least 18 square feet (about 1.7 square meters) within four years. But because of conflicts with Native Americans, this time limit was extended by five more years in 1789.

Later Life

Zackquill Morgan opened the very first tavern in Morgantown in 1783. He lived in a house on Front Street until his death in 1795. This house was later owned by his son, also named Zackquill. His granddaughter, Drusilla, was born in that house in 1814 and lived there until she passed away in 1904.

Family

ZACKQUILL MORGAN was born on September 8, 1735, in Orange County, Virginia. He died on January 1, 1795, in Morgantown, Virginia.

He married Nancy Paxton in 1755. She was born in 1735 and died in 1762. Zackquill Morgan and Nancy Paxton had the following children:

• Nancy Anne Morgan (born 1759)
• Temperance Morgan (born 1760)
• Evan Morgan (born 1762)
• Catherine Morgan (born 1763)

He then married Drusilla Springer on September 15, 1765. She was born on May 9, 1746, and died in August 1796. Zackquill Morgan and Drusilla Springer had the following children:

• Levi Morgan (born 1766)
• Morgan Morgan (born 1767)
• Charles W Morgan (born 1769)
• James Morgan (born 1771)
• Uriah Morgan (born 1774)
• Zadock Morgan (born 1776)
• Horatio Morgan (born 1778)
• Zackquill Morgan II (born 1782)
• Sarah Morgan (born 1784)
• Hannah Morgan (born 1786)
• Drusilla Morgan (born 1788)
• Rachel Morgan (born 1790)