Morgan, William (07 August 1774–12 September 1826?), leader of the Antimasonic movement, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia. Information about his parentage has not survived. He served as a stonemason apprentice to Joseph Day in Madison County, Virginia, then removed to the west (probably Kentucky), finally settling in Richmond, Virginia. For a time he worked on the construction of the Orange County (Va.) Courthouse. It is believed by some that Morgan fought in the War of 1812, thus adopting the title, if it was not his rank, of captain. In 1819 he married Lucinda Pendleton of Virginia and moved to western New York State by 1823. They had two, possibly three, children and resided in Batavia, where it is assumed he pursued his trade, sometimes having to move far afield of his home to find work. Extant correspondence from 1824 reveals that Morgan was literate, even eloquent, and a responsible spouse and caring parent....
