Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/111

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VIRGINIA IJIOGRAPHV


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the two children to feed some stock at his cabin some half mile from Fort Prickett. where the family took refuge, he being un- well at the time, due to previous illness. He fell asleep and dreamed that he saw the children walking before him scalped by In- dians ; in alarm he awoke and found that they had not returned, so he took his gun and went in search of them ; on coming near the place he saw them busily engaged in some work, and without his presence known, he sat down near them. Presently he was startled to see two Indian warriors stealing upon them. In the fight that fol- lowed he shot one Indian, mortally wound- ing him before they reached him, and clos- ing with the other one in a desperate en- counter, finally stabbing the Indian with his own knife. Exhausted and wounded, he made his way to the nearby fort. A monu- ment was erected on the spot of Morgan's fight, near Rivesville. W'est \^irginia. which was unveiled, September 25, 1906.

Stephen Morgan, the son, was born Oc- tober 14, 1761, in Frederick county, \"irginia, and was therefore about seventeen years old when the above mentioned occurrence took place in 1779; his sister, Sarah Morgan, was perhaps fourteen years old ; their father was then upwards of sixty, and much weakened from prior illness lasting several weeks. Stephen Morgan married Sarah Somer\ille. daughter of Joseph Somerville, ot Berkeley county (now West Virginia). She was born ther-e, January 11, 1770, and was the mother of eight children : Charles Stephen, of whom more hereafter: Henry Stephen, a twin, born June 4, 1779; Wil- liam Stephen, born September 7, 1801 ; P^lizabeth Stephen, born August 24, 1803: Ann, born May 22, 1806; Rudds, born July 30, 181 1 ; Albert, born January 30, 1813; George Pinckney, born August 27), 1820.

Charles Stephen Morgan was born June 4' 1 799' on a farm near the present Mor- gantown, West \^irginia. died February 15, 1859, in Richmond, X'irginia. He was a member of the \'irginia house of delegates, 1820-23; member of the senate, 1823-32; member of reform convention of 1829-30; superintendent of \^irginia penitentiary, 1832 to 1859, the year of his death. He mar- ried. May 12, 1833, Alcinda Gibson Moss, born August 28, 181 1, died December 15, 1880. Children: Alcinda, Charles Stephen. Stephen Elisha, William de Clififord, Henry


Lee. a son who died soon after birth, and X'irginia. heretofore mentioned.

(IX) Morgan Poitiaux Robinson, son of John Enders and Virginia (Morgan) Rob- inson, was born February 11. 1876, in Rich- mond. X'irginia. He attended Mrs. Camm's private school in Richmond from 1885 to 1888; McGuire's school from 1888 to 1894; Harvard University summer schools of 1894, and the University of Virginia from 1894 to 1897, and again from 1902 to 1910 He received the following degrees, to wit : B. A. (1905), M. A. (1908), B. L. (1910), all from the University of X'irginia. The in- terim from 1897 to 1902 was spent as an in- valid from a severe football accident at his home in Richmond. From 1908 to 1914 he engaged in the practice of law at Richmond, and since February, 1914, has been historian for the war and navy departments, stationed at Richmond, to ascertain the whereabouts of all original records, both military and naval, relating to the American revolution- ary war, 1775 to 1783. This is a matter of great importance to historical students, librarians, institutions of learning, patriotic societies, and all persons interested in their country's struggle for independence. It is believed that many such records are in the hands of private owners as well as in official archives and libraries. It is not desired to purchase these papers, but to obtain a com- plete list of them and their location, with a view to publication. Information in regard to all such papers will help complete the record of X'irginia's part in the revolution. Archivist of X'irginia State Library. Janu- ary. 1915.

From 1892 to 1894. Mr. Robinson served as pri\ate in the Ashby Light Horse, Troop G. First Regiment of Cavalry. X'irginia Vol- unteers, and in 1894 became one of the char- ter members of Company B, Richmond Light Infantry Blues, of Virginia militia. He is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in local affairs. He is a member of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church of Richmond, X'irginia. He is a member of the following professional, his- torical and patriotic organizations and clubs : American Bar Association ; X'irginia State Bar Association, and a member of its membership committee ; National Geo- graphic Society ; American Historical Asso- ciation, and a member- of its general com- mittee ; American Political Science Associa-