Margaret Morel was the niece of Hannah Morel, though they never met. Her father, Peter Henry, was Hannah’s older half brother. If you want to read Hannah’s story, follow the link here.
Anything that I include in italics are just my thoughts, they are in no way verified, they are purely conjecture.
February 20, 1757
Margaret’s father, Peter Henry Morel, is born in Savannah to parents John Anthony & Mary Anne.
1770
Ann Valleau, Margaret’s mother, is born in NYC to parents Fauconnier & Elizabeth; the exact date is unknown.
October 15, 1778
Peter marries Tryphena Dunbar in Liverpool.
He and Tryphena had six children during their marriage:
- Henry, July 22 1779 – August 12, 1779
- John Henry, August 15, 1780 – June 3, 1834
- Louisa, February 14, 1783 – August 19, 1784
- George Dunbar, May 24, 1784 – November 4, 1784
- Thomas Dunbar, September 13, 1785 – October 5, 1785
- Tryphena Dunbar, January 21, 1787 – September 9, 1822
Tryphena Sr. died on March 15, 1787. Peter was a single father to a seven year old and a newborn.
I can’t say what Peter was doing over in England. But his father owned Ossabaw Island, using it for ship building and growing indigo. His father died in 1776 when Peter was 19. It seems likely that he was going back and forth from England on behalf of the family business.
February 25, 1790
Peter marries Margaret’s mother, Ann, in Savannah.
They had twelve children during their marriage:
- Susan Eliza, December 1, 1790 – December 28, 1791
- Louisa, August 16, 1792 – July 15, 1795
- Henry, September 12, 1794 – July 30, 1795
- William, 1795 – August 5, 1868
- Charles Harris, October 31, 1798 – October 18, 1820
- Anne, October 7, 1801 – July 4, 1804
- Cause of death: fever (note that causes of death in Savannah are not available before 1803)
- Louisiana Jefferson, June 27, 1803 – October 8, 1812
- Cause of death: fever
- 1803 was the year of the Louisiana Purchase under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson
- Harriet, December 19, 1804 – April 1, 1868
- Edward, September 13, 1807 – unknown
- Mary, May 6, 1809 – unknown
- James Seagrove, July 4, 1811 – April 29, 1900
- Margaret, 1812-1818
May 9, 1812
Peter passes away in Bryan County, GA. He is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah. His cause of death is unavailable.
Ann never remarries; while her stepchildren are grown adults, she is now a single mother to a seventeen year old, fourteen year old, nine year old, eight year old, a five and three year old (depending on the dates of death for Edward & Mary), a one year old and an unborn baby.
August 1, 1812
Margaret is born as the last of twelve children. Like her Aunt Hannah in 1776, she is born just months after her father’s death.
October 8, 1812
Margaret’s older sister, Louisiana, dies from fever at age nine. Her grave is unmarked in Colonial Park Cemetery.
December 13, 1821
Margaret dies at age nine.
Her epitaph reads:
“Margaret, daughter of Peter Henry & Ann Morel, born August 8th, 1812, died Nov. 18th, 1821. Of such is the kingdom of heaven. This stone is erected as a tribute of affection by her brother Jas. S. Morel”
Her epitaph notes she died a month earlier than what is recorded; it also notes her brother James erected the stone, but he was only ten at the time of her death. My theory on this is a lot of tombstones in the cemetery have been damaged or removed and because of this James had her headstone replaced when he was an adult. Because he was so young when she died he got the date wrong.
Where to find Maragaret
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