Monday, April 1, 2024

It’s Family Time~Morgan David and Catherine Howell

In 1927, Harry Alexander Davis published the family history of Morgan David of Wales in a book entitled “The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America : genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania.  

Some believe the book is a glorious gift while others believe it to be a curse. The book contains errors but from my point of view it an excellent guide book to places my ancestors lived after their arrival in America. 

Morgan David was borne about the year 1622/23. He migrated to America from Pembrokeshire, South Wales to Welsh Settlement, Merion Township, PA. 

Morgan David married Catherine Howell about 1680 and migrated in 1684. Their first child, John, was borne in Wales about  1680/81. The other four were borne in Pennsylvania.  

From a Deed executed on 17 March 1700 we can identify the 3 sons of Morgan and Catherine – John, Evan and David. 


Page 38

To all whom these presents shall come John Davis of Philadelphia Carpenter, lawful heir and survivor of Evan David his brother deceased, the third day of the sixth month 1700 send greeting whereas Evan David late of Marion in the County of Philadelphia, husbandman hath bin possessed and seized in fee and in a certain tract of Land situate on the West side of Schuyikill in the County of Philadelphia Beginning at a stake by the Land of Morris Llewellyn, thence So. So. east by the land of David David his Brother ninety perches to a post thence West So. West by the same land fifty perches to a black Oak marked thence So. So. East Eighty Eight perches to a stake, thence West So. West by the Land of Richard Walter one hundred and sixty perches to a marked tree thence No. No. West by Land of Robt Loyd one hundred and seventy Eight perches to a stake thence Est. No. Est. by the land of Mos Llewlyn aforesaid one hundred and sixty perches to the place of beginning Containing two hundred acres of Land given and bequeathed to him the said Evan David in and by the last will and Testament of Morgan David their father deceased to wit the 25th day of the 12th month in the year 1694 being part of seven hundred and fifty acres of Land, sold and conveyed to him the said Morgan David & his Heirs forever by a deed duly executed under the hand and seal of Christopher Penock bearing date the twenty fifth day of ye ninth month in ye year 1693 acknowledged in open Court held at Philadelphia the ninth of the first month 9 3/4, granted and confirmed to sd Penock, and his Heirs forever by Patent from the Commissioners of property, dated the thirteenth day of ye first month in the year 1689 Recorded in the Rolls ( 3 patent Book A folio 194, The fifteenth Day of Twelfil month (1691) Now know ye that ye sd John David for ye consideration of sixty pounds current money of Pennsylvania to him payed by David Llewellyn  of in Township of Haverford in the Welsh tract, the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge and thereof doth acquit and discharge the sd David Llewellyn, and his Heirs and assigns forever by these presents hath given granted aliened sold and enfeoffed and confirmed and hereby doth give grant alien sell enfeoff and Confirm unto the said David Llewellyn all the first two hundred Acres of Land be it more or less with all its appurtenances, and all the Right Title and Interest of the sd John Davis, of in and to the same And the Reversions Rents and Profits thereof and all Deeds evidences and writings concerning the same To have and to hold the said two hundred acres more or less and all other the premises, hereby granted with the appurtenances unto the sd Llewellyn his Heirs To the use of him the said Dad Llewellyn his Heirs and assigns forever (over)(pg 39) Under the Yearly Quit rent thereof accruing to the Chief Proprietary for ye same And the said Four Hundred acres of Land be it more or less by the said John David and his Heirs granted with the appurtenances unto the said David Llewelyn his Heirs and assigns, against him the sd John [David] and his Heirs and against the heirs of the sd Evan David and against the Heirs of the sd Morgan David and against all other persons whatsoever Lawfully claiming or to claim by from or under him them or any of them, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents and hath made Evan Thomas his Attorney to delyoor those presents in Open Court according to Law. In Witness whereof he hath hereunto set his hand and seal ye seventieth day of ye first month Anno Domini 1700/3. 

                                          John David {seal}

Sealed and Delivered in the presence of 

          Ellis Ellis, Dowell Humphreys, Morris Llewellyn Acknowledged in the Court of Common Pleas held at Philadelphia the 5th Day of June 1701 Certified under my hand & County Seal 

         Recorded the 11th Day of May Anno Domini 1780.


https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXB-XFX4


The Haverford Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 of Births and Burials provides us with the actual birth dates of the last three children borne to Morgan and Katherine David. 


Morgan David and Catherine Howell had the following children:

i. Capt. John David, born 1680, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales; married Ann Thomas; died 1753, Pencader Hundred, New Castle, Delaware.

ii. Evan David Sr., born 1685 or 1686, Merion, Montgomery, Pennsylvania; married Jane Rees, 12 Jan 1711, Merion Townshp, Bucks, Pennsylvania; married Jane Morgan, 1724, New Castle, Delaware; died aft 21 Aug 1748, Pencader Hundred, New Castle, Delaware.

iii. Catherine David, born 18 Oct 1688, Merion Hills, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; married Griffith Lewis; died bef 1 Apr 1747, Pencader Hundred, New Castle, Delaware.

iv. Elizabeth David, born 1 Oct 1691, Merion Hills, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; married John Morris, abt 1712, Chester, Pennsylvania; died Pencader, New Castle, Delaware.

v. David David, born 20 Apr 1694, Merion Hills, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; married Sarah Dickenson, 31 Mar 1716, Pencader Hundred, New Castle, Delaware; married Martha Thomas, bef 4 Feb 1717; died 11 Aug 1759, Princton, New Jersey.


Morgan David wrote his Will on 15 February 1694/5.

He had lived his life as a Husbandman, a farmer, until later in life when he became affluent enough to be called "yoeman". 



[#149]

The will of David Morgan, "of Merion, yeoman," marked 15. 12mo. 1694, in presence of Robert Owen, Robert Powell, and of John Humphreys, proved 18. 7. 1695, by wife Catherine, sole executor. William Howell, Morris Llewellyn, Francis Howel and David Lawrence, overseers. His estate to go to his two eldest sons, John and Evan, mentions son David. Legacies to daughters Katherine and Elizabeth, and to the Meeting House in Haverford. By deed of 8. 3 mo.1695, the relict and the overseers conveyed David Morgan's 100 acres to James Thomas, who willed the same to his second son, Nathan Thomas. In 12 mo. 1701, James Thomas had 100 acres of the Richard Davies patent located in Merion, and altogether, at this time, he held 300 acres in the Welsh Tract." [Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania, Browning, Page 227]


Morgan David died 17 February 1694 in Montgomery, Pennsylvania. After his death, his Widow, Katherine married Evan Harry on 3 November 1697. To this union no children were borne. Evan Harry died about 1719. Then in 1720 Catherine married a James Thomas. Katherine (Howell)(David)(Harry) Thomas died, a widow, on  25 May 1741 in Pencader Hundred, NewCastle County, Delaware.   


Morgan David and Catherine Howell are my paternal 7th Great Grandparents    


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