James Morgan gave the Point its name after purchasing 1600 acres from Nicholas Clopper in December of 1835 and laying out his proposed town of New Washington. He built his home on the site Clopper had named Orange Grove. General Santa Anna burned the plantation on the day before the Battle of San Jacinto, but it was immediately rebuilt. Although New Washington never prospered, Morgan’s plantation became a popular stopping place for travelers, including Ferdinand Roemer, the Prince of Salms, James Audubon, and Mr. and Mrs. Houstoun, as well as neighbors Sam Houston, David Burnet, and Ashbel Smith. Morgan was influential in the early days of the Republic of Texas, directed the defense of Galveston during the revolution, and was involved in the sale of the Texas Navy after the war. He died March 1, 1866 and was buried with his family in the old Orange Grove Cemetery now used by the city of Morgan’s Point.