Miles Morgan

Miles Morgan (1616 – 28 May 1699) was a Welsh colonist of America, a pioneer settler of what was to become Springfield, Massachusetts. Being one of the few settlers whose homesteads were successfully defended during the attack on Springfield, Morgan was lauded as a hero of King Philip's War in 1675 for providing shelter and successfully contacting troops in Hadley. Today, a statue of Miles Morgan stands in the city's Court Square in Metro Center. He is the great ancestor of well-known banker J.P. Morgan.

Of Welsh ancestry, Miles Morgan was born on 1616 in Llandaff, Glamorganshire, Wales to William Morgan (of Dderw). His family had been settled some years in Bristol, England, by the time Miles Morgan decided to set sail for the New World. He was aged 20 when he embarked from Bristol aboard the ship Mary. Accompanying him were his older brothers, James and John – either aboard the same ship, or travelling soon after Miles.

Miles Morgan arrived at Boston in April 1636. Joined by his brothers, they lived in Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay for a time.

Soon after settling, Miles married Prudence Gilbert. Morgan family lore maintained that they had become acquainted on the voyage from Bristol, Gilbert being aboard the ship with her family. Once settled in Agawam he had a letter proposing marriage written to Gilbert, who had settled in Beverly, north of Boston. She accepted and in 1642, accompanied by a Native American guide, a pack horse, and two companions, Miles set out for Beverly, where the couple were married. Prudence, her possessions piled on the horse, walked the 120 miles (190 km) back to Springfield with her new husband.

Miles joined the company of Sir William Pynchon in the colonization of western Massachusetts and was one of the founders of the city of Springfield, originally named Agawam after the Indian tribes that lived in the area. One of the company of colonists, Miles, though he was only 21 years of age, quickly became the second-in-command. He was one of the leading citizens of the new town and was regarded as an intrepid Indian fighter, farmer, and town leader. He had been given the title of "Sergeant Morgan" on the journey from Boston. In addition to establishing the farms that meant survival to the colonists he was also the butcher in the community and, in later years, operated a boat on the Connecticut River, trading with other colonists and with the Indians. He was subsequently known as "Captain Morgan." Unable to read or write, his mark on the town records was the sign of an anchor.

Morgan built one of the few fortified houses in town, on a bank of the Connecticut River. He was active in the local militia and was depended upon in the protection of the frontier town. By 1658, Morgan is listed as a sergeant. Miles appears in the records as a selectman, constable, surveyor, fence viewer, and overseer of highways. He was also appointed to sit in the upper gallery of the church during services and maintain order among the young men in the congregation. ("... up in ye gallery, to give a check to disorders in youth and young men in tyme of God's worship"). Given the piety of the early settlers this was a position of some honor and also attests to his force of personality.

During the fighting that swept the colony during King Philip's War in 1675, Springfield was attacked by the indigenous people. On 5 October 1675, much of the colonizer town, along with stored supplies needed for the winter, were destroyed. During the attack, Morgan's fortified blockhouse became a place of refuge for the town's colonists. Under Morgan's command, they held off the attack. After the burning of the settlement, an Indian servant who worked for Morgan managed to escape and headed for Hadley, where he alerted the Massachusetts Bay Colony's standing army, on maneuvers there at the time. Commanded by Major Samuel Appleton, the Massachusetts Bay troops broke through to Springfield and drove off the attackers.

Morgan's sons also fought in battles with Indians of the territory. His third son, Peletiah, was killed in a battle in 1676, at the age of 26.