Having studied law, and passed through the prescribed formalities, he was, in regular course, called to the bar. But the author of the “Genuine Account,” whether truly or not cannot be clearly known, states that “not making a shining figure there, he retired into the country, and, after his father’s death, lived chiefly on his estate.” He was, however, well known in the Courts, and had frequently practised at Westminster, and elsewhere; though there is reason to suspect that he never devoted himself very assiduously to the law, and that his predilections, at one period, lay more in a military direction. In the speech which he made at his trial, when referring to the evidence that showed him to have been the confidential adviser of the Pretender, and his being designated the “Pretender’s Counsellor,” he remarked, “as to my capacity as one bred to the law, I confess that I never pretended to much knowledge that way, and therefore was a very improper person to counsel the chief of the rebels, for my advice could be of little value to him.” [37]

From the same source, combined with the fact of his readiness to join the army of the Pretender, I draw the inference of his military tendencies; for, he further observes, that he had “served the Crown of England in two campaigns with some reputation.” [38a] But no further information has been obtained with respect to his movements and proceedings, while engaged with the army, beyond the fact that he was frequently addressed as “Captain” Morgan.

He likewise appears to have taken rather an active share in the political discussions of the day, and to have been a prominent member of the club of independent electors of Westminster; for I learn that, after his execution, two pamphlets where published on the assumed appearance of his ghost at the club. Nor did he confine himself to political questions, for poetry and polemics were somewhat incongruously blended in his studies. Horace Walpole speaks of him as “Morgan, a poetical lawyer;” [38b] and it will be remembered that in the paper delivered to the sheriffs at the execution, he states, “this my faith I have fully set forth in a poem of two books, entitled, ‘The Christian Test or the Coalition of Faith and Reason,’ the first of which I have already published, and the latter I have bequeathed to the care of my unfortunate but dutiful daughter, Mistress Mary Morgan, to be published by her, since it has pleased God I shall not live to see it.”

In addition to his estate in Wales, he possessed some valuable leasehold property in St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch, which, most probably, was acquired by his marriage; for his wife, whose maiden name I have not succeeded in ascertaining, was a London lady. It is not clear whether he left more than one child living at his death; for though he refers to his daughter Mary Morgan only, in the pedigree of Mathews, of Llandaff, [38c] his daughter and heiress is designated “Jane,” which, most probably, was an error, and the name should have been “Mary.” This lady had died unmarried prior to the year 1798, (but how long previously I am unable to determine,) and her estates in the county of Glamorgan were, at that date, held in trust for John William, son of John Chittingden, of Tooting, Surrey, who was then only three years of age, as her heir-at-law, and co-heir with William Morgan Thomas, [39a] of Lanedern, in the county of Glamorgan, whose age was then twenty-two years. It thus appears probable that the property of Morgan either escaped confiscation, or was restored to his daughter on the passing of the act for the restoration of the forfeited estates.

It has already been stated that Penygraig [39b] is now an ordinary Welsh farm-house; and Coed-y-gorres [39c] has long been reduced to the same condition; while their connection with David Morgan, and the recollection of his tragical fate, are only retained in a few shadowy traditions that are rapidly fading out of remembrance.

Glanwern, Pontypool,
Dec., 1861.

PEDIGREE OF DAVID MORGAN, ESQUIRE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW.

FOOTNOTES.

[7] The “Young Pretender,” as he was generally designated. He was the son of James Frederick Edward Stuart, usually called the “Old Pretender,” and grandson of James II.