Biography of Charles W. Morgan
Excerpted from “Charles W. Morgan” by Virginia T. Coope (Log of Mystic Seaport, v. 34, no. 4):
Charles Waln Morgan was born in Philadelphia on September 14, 1796, one of six children of Thomas and Anne Waln Morgan.
At 21, Morgan began a trip west with his cousin, Richard Wells, which was made partly for business, partly for pleasure. In the journal he kept of the trip, Morgan described cities and downs in detail, architecture, prosperity of the people, and cultural activities.
On June 3, 1819, Charles married Sarah Rodman, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Rodman of New Bedford. Soon after arriving in New Bedford, Morgan was made a partner in the town’s leading whaling firm, operated by William Rotch Sr. and Charles’s father-in-law Samuel Rodman. He began investing in New Bedford whaling ships in 1820, and by 1841 had managed fifteen different whaling vessels. He also owned lesser shares in eighteen whalers between 1821 and 1845. Ashore, Morgan owned a candleworks that produced spermaceti candles. Between 1833 and 1840, he obtained a ready market for his whale oil through a contract to supply the oil that illuminated American lighthouses.
By 1841 Charles and Sarah had four daughters and one son and lived on County Street in New Bedford. Morgan’s business affairs were extensive and varied. He had purchased property in New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, as well as a large amount of land in New Bedford. He was part owner of the Pocasset Cotton Mill in Fall River, of which Samuel Rodman had been president and principal stockholder; also invested in the Acushnet Paper Mill; iron works in Duncannon, Pennsylvania; a nail factory in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; coal fields; and railroads. He was president of the Bedford Commercial Bank, an incorporator of the New Bedford Institution for Savings, and an investor in various insurance companies.
Morgan was involved in such philanthropic pursuits as Friends Academy, which he helped found; the New Bedford Free Public Library; the Lyceum, which he helped found in 1828; the New Bedford Temperance Society; the Port Society to benefit sailors; and the Unitarian First Congregational Society which he joined not long after settling in New Bedford, despite his Quaker upbringing.
Charles W. Morgan died on April 7, 1861 at the age of 64.
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
Available for use in the Manuscripts Division
Restrictions on Use
Various copying restriction apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Persons:
Coffin, William–Estate
Dixson, Catherine–Estate
Dixson, Lewis D.–Estate
Morgan, Sarah Rodman, 1793-1888.
Pope, William Greenleaf Eliot
Rodman, B. (Benjamin), 1794-1876–Estate
Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):
Abigail (Ship)
Charles W. Morgan (Ship : 1841)
Condor (Ship)
Duncannon Iron Company
Emily Morgan (Ship)
Frances Henrietta (Ship)
Magnolia (Ship)
Mary Ann (Ship)
Rodman (Ship)
Wareham Iron Works
Subjects:
Decedents’ estates–Massachusetts
Insurance, Marine
Iron industry and trade–Massachusetts–Wareham
Iron industry and trade–Pennsylvania–Duncannon
Lighthouses
Paper mills–Massachusetts–Acushnet
Real property–Michigan
Real property–Ohio
Ships–Equipment and supplies
Whale oil
Whaling–Massachusetts–New Bedford
Document Types:
Account books
Cashbooks
Deeds
Diaries
Insurance policies
Journals (accounts)
Letter books
Letterpress copies
Occupations:
Merchants–Massachusetts–New Bedford
Shipowners–Massachusetts–New Bedford
Administrative Information
Coll. 27, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Correspondence; 1796-1861. Volumes; 1817-1862.
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 1 | Deeds executed at New Bedford, Mass and Newport, RI. Images |
| 2 | Deeds and Quit claims for properties in New Bedford. Images | |
| 3 | General Business Papers, including indentures for seamen on Ship EMILY MORGAN, and deeds to land. Images | |
| 4 | Receipts for payment of loans and insurance premiums, also promissory notes and duty bonds for goods shipped to New Bedford. Images | |
| 5 | Promissory notes and payment receipts. Images | |
| 6 | General business papers including certificates for Charles W. Morgan as life member of American Seamen’s Friend Society, receipts for payment of loans, deed for pew in Meeting House, bond for forming a company to purchase government lands and other Midwestern real estate. Images | |
| 7 | Bonds of Indemnity for assault and battery of John McCraken to Ephraim Harding and George Dexter while on board Ship CONDOR, receipts for debt payments, agreement to pay William W. Swain two dollars per lamp per year for contract with government for supplying oil for lighthouses, and miscellaneous receipts. Images | |
| 8 | Receipts for stock purchases and notes paid. Images | |
| 9 | Receipts for insurance, notes, etc. Images | |
| 10 | Lease agreements on store rentals, notes for loans, protest against Fulton Bank for payments due and other general receipts. Images | |
| 11 | Receipts for insurance premiums, notes and stocks purchased. Images | |
| 12 | Notes for loans, receipts and insurance policy, and papers concerning sale of Ship MAGNOLIA. Images | |
| 13 | Receipts, life insurance policies and a deed to a cemetery lot. Images | |
| 14 | Financial statements; notes due and paid, value of real estate, ship’s inventory, stock, ship’s cargo. Morgan states that he is over extended in business, thus damaging his credit. Images | |
| 15 | Articles of Agreement with Banks for loans, and payment receipts. Morgan is using properties and vessels as collateral for bank loans. Images | |
| 16 | Insurance policies on factory, whale oil manufacture and bleaching house, cooperage, and barn. Also contains Morgan’s account of a trip to Pennsylvania to visit his iron works. Images | |
| 17 | Receipts for money received from Eagle Bank. Images | |
| 18 | Letters, from C.W. Morgan to his friend, partner, and fellow Quaker, William Logan Fisher relating to business and personal matters. Images | |
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 1 | Bank releases of C.W. Morgan’s land upon completion of mortgage payments, also a lease to Charles H. Leaonard for oil and candle works, yards, sheds, etc., called the “Marsh Works,” and receipts. Images |
| 2 | Receipts, deeds, etc.. Images | |
| 3 | Insurance policies, stock certificates, and an estate settlement for which Charles W. Morgan was administrator. Images | |
| 4 | Bills of Lading for sperm oil shipped from Australia and other places to New Bedford. Images | |
| 5 | Estate papers; Charles W. Morgan and Elizabeth Rodman. Images | |
| 6 | Insurance policies, on the Ships ABIGAIL, CONDOR, HECTOR, PIONEER, RUSSELL, THOMAS DICKERSON, and WAREHAM, and the Barks PIONEER, and RUSSELL, and the Brig CHARLSETON PACKET. Images | |
| 7 | Bills of sale, Ship ABIGAIL; Brig AGATE, Bark Benezet, and Bark BALTIC. Images | |
| 8 | Bills of sale, Schooner CATHERINE, Ship CHARLES, Ship CHARLES W. MORGAN, Brig CLARICE, Bark CLARICE, Ship CONDOR, Sloop CORINTHIAN. Images | |
| 9 | Bills of sale, Ship EMILY MORGAN, Ship FENELON, Ship FRANCES HENRIETTA, HAYWARD P. CUSHING, Ship HECTOR, Ship HERCULES, Ship HESPER. Images | |
| 10 | Bills of sale, Schooner JASON, Schooner JANE, Bark LEWIS, Ship MAGNOLIA, Schooner MASSACHUSETTS, Ship MASSACHUSETTS, Ship MILWOOD, Schooner NAPOLEON, Bark OSPREY, Schooner ONECO. Images | |
| 11 | Bills of sale, Brig PARTHIAN, Brig PIONEER, Bark PIONEER, Propeller POTOMCHA, Bark PRESIDENT, Brigantine PRESIDENT, Schooner REGULATOR, Ship RODMAN, ship ROSCOE. Images | |
| 12 | Bills of sale, Brig TROY, Propeller WAMSUTTA, Ship WAREHAM, Schooner WILLIAM BROWN, Ship WINSLOW, Bark WINSLOW. Images | |
| 13 | Plots of land in New Bedford and Fall River, Massachusetts and descriptions of land owned in Williams County, Ohio and Eaton, Monroe and Hillsdale Counties in Michigan. Images | |
| Box | Folder | |
| 3 | 1 | Bill of Sale for Land sold to Charles W. Morgan and tax receipts. Images |
| 2 | Tax receipts for Western Lands. Images | |
| 3 | Tax receipts and letters regarding buying and selling of western properties. Images | |
| 4 | Advice by appraiser and agents on purchase and use of western properties, also tax receipts. Images | |
| 5 | Recommendations by George G. Pope to Morgan to sell some of his Western properties due to the fact that many prospective buyers were going instead to California. Images | |
| 6 | Letters regarding the building of a saw mill in St. Joseph’s, Michigan. Images | |
| 7 | Papers relating to Western Land. Images | |
| 8 | Deeds for land in St. Joseph’s County, Michigan. Images | |
| 9 | Receipts for labor an sawmill at St. Joseph’s Hillsdale County, Michigan. Images | |
| 10 | Receipts for labor an sawmill at St. Joseph’s, Hillsdale County, Michigan. Images | |
| 11 | Tax receipts and receipts for labor on sawmill at St. Joseph’s Hillsdale County, Michigan. Morgan sells some properties. Images | |
| 12 | Papers regarding St. Joseph’s, Michigan, sawmill. Images | |
| 13 | Papers regarding St. Joseph’s, Michigan, sawmill. Images | |
| 14 | Papers regarding St. Joseph’s, Michigan, sawmill. Images | |
| 15 | Papers regarding St. Joseph’s, Michigan, sawmill and tax receipts for other properties owned by Morgan. Images | |
| 16 | Papers and correspondence regarding problems with St. Joseph’s Mill dam due to flooding. Images | |
| 17 | Papers concerning St. Joseph’s Mill property and decision made by Morgan to sell. Images | |
| 18 | Papers regarding problems at saw mill, now called Morganville Mills; dam keeps breaking. Images | |
| Box | Folder | |
| 4 | 1 | Papers relating to Western Lands; including correspondence from and regarding Richard W. Drinker who has offered to act as agent for New Bedford businessmen owning property in Michigan and Ohio. The Morganville Mill property is put up for sale. Images |
| 2 | Papers relating to Western Lands, letter that mentions the death of Morgan’s brother Thomas W. Morgan. Images | |
| 3 | Letters and papers regarding general business at various mills in Morgan’s western properties. Work proceeding on gristmill at Morganville, the saw mill is now running well. Images | |
| 4 | Sale of property at Bridgewater, Williams Co, Ohio and Fall River, MA.. Images | |
| 5 | Paper relating to Wareham Iron Works. Images | |
| 6 | Papers relating to Duncannon Iron Company, PA. Images | |
| 7 | Papers relating to Duncannon Iron Company, PA, including a statement of assets and liabilites. Images | |
| 8 | Papers relating to Acushnet Paper Mill, Fall River, MA and deeds and insurance policies for properties in New Bedford, MA.. Images | |
| 9 | Papers relating to William Coffin Estate. Images | |
| 10 | Papers relating to William Coffin Estate. Images | |
| 11 | Papers relating to William Coffin Estate, including claims against the estate. Images | |
| 12 | Papers relating to William Coffin Estate. Images | |
| 13 | Papers relating to Estate of Lewis D. and Catherine Dixson, contains inventory of household articles. Images | |
| 14 | Papers relating to Benjamin Rodman Estate, contains list of liabilities against estate. Images | |
| 15 | Papers relating to Benjamin Rodman Estate. Images | |
| 16 | Papers relating to Benjamin Rodman Estate. Images | |
| 17 | Various vessel accounts with William G.E. Pope. Images | |
| 18 | Scattered papers, including a letter concerning slavery and a petition to Congress regarding whaling. Images | |
| 19 | Personal letters to C.W. Morgan, mentions sister Rebecca’s death, Schooner JANE, and Ships MAGNOLIA and RODMAN. Images | |
| 20 | Personal letters, C.W. Morgan to his wife Sarah Rodman Morgan. One letter gives an account of the death of Thomas W. Morgan (Charles W. Morgan’s brother,) and the other family news. Mentions made of Ships ABIGAIL, MAGNOLIA, and HECTOR. Images | |
| 21 | Personal letters from Sarah Rodman Morgan to C.W. Morgan regarding news of family and friends. Mentions Ships CHARLES W. MORGAN, ABIGAIL, and MARY ANN. Images | |
| 22 | First letter is undated but written to Sarah when she was seventeen. Includes a printed copy of an article by Alfred Rodman Hussey about the life of Charles W. Morgan, and several letters of condolence on the death of Isabel;,Sarah and Charles W. Morgan’s daughter. Images | |
| 23 | Letters to and from Samuel Rodman Morgan. Images | |
| Volume | ||
| 1 | Diary; 1818 Nov 1 – 1819 Jan 24. Images | |
| 2 | Diary; 1841 Jan 1 – Dec 31. Images | |
| 3 | Diary; 1848 Oct 8 – 1850 Feb 23. Images | |
| 4 | Diary; 1850 Feb 24 – 1851 Jun 7. Images | |
| 5 | Diary; 1851 Jun 8 – 1852 Nov 27. Images | |
| 6 | Diary; 1852 Nov 28 – 1854 Jan 21. Images | |
| 7 | Diary; 1854 Jan 22 – 1855 Aug 4. Images | |
| 8 | Diary; 1855 Aug 5 – 1857 Mar 31. Images | |
| 9 | Diary; 1858 Jul 11 – 1859 Nov 13. Images | |
| 10 | Diary, entries between February 5 and April 7 written by his wife; 1859 Nov 14 -1861 Apr 7. Images | |
| 11 | Letter copybook, regarding supplying oil to lighthouses; 1833 Mar 16 – 1838 Mar 30. Images | |
| 12 | Letter copybook, regarding supplying oil to lighthouses; 1838 Mar 30 – 1840 Nov 10. Images | |
| 13 | Letterpress copybook copybook; 1852 Nov 1 -1853 Dec 26. Images | |
| 14 | Letterpress copybook; 1853 Dec 26 – 1855 Jan 16. Images | |
| 15 | Letterpress copybook; 1855 Jan 16 – 1856 Dec 31. Images | |
| 16 | Letterpress copybook (letter of request to by the MORGAN back in this copybook); 1857 Jan 1 – 1858 Jan. Images | |
| 17 | Letterpress copybook; 1858 Feb 1 – Oct 4. Images | |
| 18 | Letterpress copybook; 1858 Oct 5 – 1859 Dec 13. Images | |
| 19 | Cashbook; 1842 Dec 1 – 1846 Jul 30. | |
| 20 | Cashbook; 1846 Aug 1 – 1851 May 31. | |
| 21 | Cashbook, entries similar but totals different than in Vol 20; 1848 Aug 1 – Dec 16, 1850 Apr 16 – 1851 May 28. | |
| 22 | Cashbook; 1851 Jun 1 – 1856 Feb 29. | |
| 23 | Cashbook; 1856 Mar 1 – 1861 Apr 6. | |
| 24 | Waste book; 1842 Dec 31 – 1850 Nov 30. | |
| 25 | Waste book; 1858 May 3 – 1862 Apr 4. | |
| 26 | Ship outfits, cargos, and crew list book; 1836-1843. Images | |
| 27 | Ship outfits, cargos, and crew list book; 1843-1853. Images | |
| 28 | Invoice copybook, outward bound vessels; 1843-1861. | |
| 29 | Memorandum Book of whale oil received and shipped; 1852-1854. | |
| 30 | Memorandum and petty cash book; many accounts with H.H. Barrow & Son and records of th sale of Candle Paper; 1848-1858. | |
| 31 | Memorandum and petty cash book, accounts with Fisher, Morgan & Co. and H.H. Barrow and Son; 1858-1861. | |
| 32 | Receipt Book; 1854 Jul 7 – 1861 Mar 14. | |
| 33 | Notes and bills receivable and payable; 1847-1858. | |
| 34 | Crew account book, Ship RODMAN; 1851-1855. | |
| 35 | Journal; 1842 Apr 5 – 1848 Mar 31. | |
| 36 | Account book; 1848 Apr 1 – 1862 Apr 4. | |
| 37 | Ledger; 1842-1851. | |
| 38 | Ledger; 1848-1861. | |
| 39 | Diary (3 vol.); 1817 Nov 30 – 1818 Feb 17. Images | |
| 40 | Small diary of miscellaneous nots and information; 1851 May – 1852 May. Images | |
| 41 | Small diary on the first half of a business trip to northern New York (see letter copybook, vol 11, for additional information); 1833 Sep 9 – Sep 30. Images | |
| 42 | Small diary on the second half of a business trip to northern New York (see letter copybook, vol 11, for additional information.); 1833 Oct 2 – 16. Images | |
| 43 | Account book of; 1820-1835. Images |