Morgan Davis

Biography

Morgan Davis first appears in New York records in 1799 as a 'musical instrument maker in general.' By 1801 he had entered a partnership as Gibson & Davis, pianoforte-makers, at 63 Barclay Street, a firm well known for decades afterward. Spillane judges Davis to have been a Welshman, based on both his surname and his distinctively Welsh Christian name. The partnership can be traced through city directories until about 1820, when Davis and Gibson separated: Davis continued making pianos at 61 Barclay Street while Gibson kept the old address at 63. Davis's business lasted until 1836, after which his name disappears from the trade directories the following year, suggesting he died around that time. Spillane found no evidence that any children of Davis continued in the piano trade under his name.

Highlights

• Appears as a 'musical instrument maker in general' in New York in 1799, judged likely Welsh from his name.
• Partnered with Thomas Gibson as Gibson & Davis, pianoforte-makers, at 63 Barclay Street from 1801.
• After the partnership split around 1820, continued making pianos alone at 61 Barclay Street until the business disappeared from directories after 1836.

Source

Daniel Spillane, History of the American Pianoforte (1890), p. 102.

Public domain.