Historedia
AmericasEvent

William Morgan disappears at Batavia, New York

When
1826–1827
Where
Batavia, New York; Lake Ontario
Episodes
4

William Morgan, a Batavia resident, disappeared in September 1826 after announcing plans to publish a book exposing Freemasonry. Contemporary belief held that freemasons murdered him, sparking public outcry and political movements, though direct evidence of murder remains unconfirmed.

Episodes

  1. Post-1826 · Batavia, New YorkLegal Consequences

    Eli Bruce, a Mason and sheriff, was convicted of conspiracy for his role in kidnapping Morgan and served 28 months in prison.

  2. Post-1826 · Batavia, New YorkPublic Outcry

    Morgan's disappearance sparked a public outcry, leading to protests against Freemasons in New York and neighboring states.

  3. September 11-14, 1826 · Batavia, New YorkArrest and Release

    Morgan was arrested on September 11, 1826, for alleged debt and theft, then released by men who transported him to Fort Niagara.

  4. October 1827 · Lake OntarioBody Found in Lake Ontario

    A badly decomposed body washed up on the shores of Lake Ontario in October 1827, potentially linked to Morgan's disappearance.

Background and detail

Background. William Morgan settled in Batavia, New York, working as a bricklayer. In 1825, he received the Royal Arch degree at Le Roy's Western Star Chapter Number 33. However, Batavia lodge members disapproved of his character and questioned his claims to Masonic membership, denying him participation in local lodges.

Conflict with Freemasons. Morgan announced his intention to publish a book exposing Freemasonry's secrets. Batavia lodge members denounced him for breaking his oath not to reveal passwords and grips. On September 11, 1826, Morgan was arrested on charges of nonpayment of a loan and stealing items, which could have prevented his book's publication.

Disappearance and Allegations. Morgan was released from jail by a group of men who took him to a carriage on September 12, 1826. He arrived at Fort Niagara two days later. While some sources cite a third-hand account of murder by zealous Freemasons, others state he was merely 'carried away' without confirming death.

People involved

Sources

  1. William Morgan (anti-Mason) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-09

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.