Paternal Ancestors

Most of my early relations linked to the PHILLIPS' family, lived in SC. My grandfather Phillips' mother was a MORGAN. The following is the earliest documented ancestors for the MORGAN family.

George MORGAN (b. ~1800 d. ?) was married to Lavinia EUBANKS (b. ~1807, d. aft 1870) in SC. Research shows two sons born in SC to George and "Viney" MORGAN.

The eldest son was John Gaylon MORGAN (2 Oct 1837- 7 Feb 1912) was married to Henrietta Elizabeth SELLERS (24 Dec 1839 - 21 Nov 1923).

The second son was my grt-grt-grandfather, William Robert MORGAN (1 Mar 1840 - 26 Apr 1919). He married Sara Ann SELLERS (31 Jan 1842 - 19 Apr 1921), sister to his brother John's wife. They had seven children as listed below:
          Henrietta MORGAN - b. 26 July 1842, d. 30 Nov 1949 
          Andrew Jackson MORGAN - b. 12 Jan 1866, d. 1 Apr 1940 
          Rose Ann MORGAN - b.18 Jan 1872, d. ??
          Adam MORGAN - b. 12 July 1872, d. 24 Jan 1938
          Annie Lou MORGAN - b. 16 Nov 1874, d. 9 Jan 1919
          Amanda Alice MORGAN - b. 4 April 1877, d. 29 Jul 1969
          William Robert MORGAN, Jr, - b. 1879, d. 1910

Another family connected to my SC PHILLIPS' family living in the Flat Creek area of Lancaster County in the early 1800's was HILTON. My great-grandfather William Burrell Phillips married Eliza Ann HILTON (b. 22 March 1823 d. 5 July 1900). Eliza Ann was the daughter of Richard "Grand Sir" Burrell HILTON (b. 1782) and Elizabeth MAXWELL (b. 1791 d. 1888). Richard HILTON was the son of Samuel HILTON, Sr. (b. 1765 d. 1826) and Edith BREWER (b.1771). Samuel HILTON, Sr. was the son of Richard HILTON (b. 1720 d. 1789).

HILTON FAMILIES

History has shown the HILTON males to be involved in military matters of their time. Early records show they participated in the Indians Wars, American Revolution, Mexican War and the Amercian Civil War, or as they may have known it "The War of Northern Aggression". One noteworthy example is Major Miel HILTON. One entry in Lancaster Records says "... when Captain Miel HILTON was promoted to be Major of the 22nd Regiment. Major HILTON was a good officer, and a brave man. He faced the enemy unflinchingly at Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, and other places, and was greatly admired and commended fir his courage: "Many brave deeds by the Regimen", writes a correspondent,"have been left unrecorded, but impartial history will honor them." 

I found this obituary in a family document pulled together in "Richard Hilton and His Family" by Roger McLean. It is representative of the era in which it was written, so I felt important to include in the document. 

OBITUARY for R (Richard) T (Tillman) HILTON

While lying near the recent battlefield, awaiting coming events, elated with our glorious and shining victory, and singing paeans of gratefulness to God for the success of our arms and our cause, we recoil in sad feelings and the impulsive throbbings of our hearts in the liveliest moments of joy are filled with emotions of deep, deep unutterable and lasting grief. The dark shaft of death has robbed us - cruelly robbed us - of our esteemed friend and brother-in-arms, our kind, brave and noble hearted Sergt. R.T. Hilton, of the "Lancaster Invincibles,"whose loss we can never cease to deplore.

Upon the desperate field of the hard contested battle of Sunday, 29th June, while in the front rank of his company, he received two severe wounds in the bowels and was ordered to the rear, but previously remarked to a friend. "I intend to go through or die in the attempt," and his unyielding and indomitable will was to remain with the regiment - he sprang upon his feet, musket in hand, and pushed forward again to the front- was again slightly wounded, and again ordered to the rear, but still he pressed upon the enemy with reckless courage until he fell with the fourth, and mortal wound. He lay on the battle field that night, and next morning died on the way to Richmond. There was doubtless no man in the Confederate service, who deserved more worthy mention, or whose acts had won for him a brighter flame, both as a willing and dutiful soldier and high toned gentleman, than our lamented friend. His kind, obligling and pleasing disposition, and the firmness and frankness of his department, with his incorruptible honesty endeared him to all who knew him. and the sad intelligence of his death has spread a darg and melancholy gloom of lamentation and mournfulness among his acquaintances. And although his manly form is gone, the traits of his character still shine forth with undimmed and distinguished lustre. He ascended by the stair-case of chivalry the proud temple of fame to its loftiest summit and therefore carved a name which should ever be remembered, cherished and handed down to the rising generation as a criterion of patriotism.

He was the second youngest son of Mr. Zadock Hilton, who we may judge to be the very soul of Patriotism. The subject of this notice had two brothers and three cousins in the war between the US and Mexico, and only one of the five survived it. He (Captain Miel Hilton) now commands a company from Lancaster in some Regiment on the coast of South Carolina. One of his brothers and two of his cousins died of disease, his other cousin was killed in the ever memorable battle of Churubusco. And in this war he had four brothers, two nephews and twelve cousins, one of whom, a nephew, died in this army last summer of disease. His youngest brother (Leander Hilton b. about 1844 died died 27 Jun 1862 at Cold Harbor), scarcely eighteen years of age, two of his cousins and a nephew, members of Col. T. Frank Clyburn's company wer killed in the gallant charge made by the 12th Regiment of S.C.V.on the 27th ultimo. What a noble family of patroits who would not think it an honor to bear the name of a Hilton. No family can boast of more ardent patriotism, of firmer and more devoted friends to the rights and liberties of mankind, or men of higher excellence or of greater benvolent endowments than are presented this instance.
Camp McLaws, July 17, 1862   B.R.C.   

NOTE: This obituary was written by Benjamin Rutledge "Ben" Clyburn and sent to The Lancaster Ledger for publication in July, 1862. At the time he wrote this, he was the captain of the Lancaster Invincibles and was twenty-two years old. The battle fought on Sunday, June 29, 1862 was at Savage's Station, VA. Richard Hilton's youngest brother, referred to as "scarcely eighteen years of age" was J. Leander Hilton, who was killed at Cold Harbor, VA on June 27, 1862.

MORGAN DNA connection
As noticed, those in the family researching the MORGAN line have hit a 'brickwall' at the moment. It appears that John Gaylon MORGAN and William Robert MORGAN were from the Chesterfield County, SC area. Written records are scarce for this area, from Sherman needing the heat and a former county official having no respect for the need of past records. DNA offers a way to link with other family surname participates that otherwise would rarely come to light. 

One of my MORGAN male cousins, Joel MORGAN of Columbia, SC, has joined in the new "genealogy" and has joined the MORGAN DNA Project. He has received his first results and a match has been identified and verified. His results are posted on the MORGAN surname project website, as Group 12. Even with this match, additional DNA comparsions and additional research will be needed to successfully determine where our MORGAN family branch came from.

I will be glad to help other MORGAN family members, those outside our known relations, to participate in the MORGAN Surname Project, and help you find the process to participate. I strongly urge persons who have MORGAN family connections in South Carolina to participate in the DNA program and y-search. The only criteria is a male with a documented surname of MORGAN.