| State | Virginia |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Northampton |
| Other Counties | Accomack, Somerset, Sussex, Kent, |
| Family Name | Harman |
| Family History Notes | 1. William1 Harman, born about 1632, was called "William Harman Negro" in the court and tax records before and after he became free. He arrived in Virginia as a slave sometime before 1648 when he was claimed as one of the headrights of planters Lewis Burwell and Thomas Vause [Nugent, Cavaliers & Pioneers, I:171-2]. In 1654 he was called the slave of William Andrews when he recorded his purchase of a calf in Northampton County court. William Andrews died about this time and his widow, Mary, married William Smart [DW 1654-55, 38, 85, fol.85]. In 1660 Smart sold William Harman to William Kendall who, on the same day he purchased Harman, agreed to sell him his freedom if he could provide sufficient security for the payment of 5,000 pounds of tobacco within two years [DW 1657-66, 70, 74, cited by Deal, Race and Class, 398-412]. This was 1,000 pounds more than his purchase price. He was still listed in Kendall's household in 1664 and 1665 [Orders 1657-64, 198; 1664-74, 15]. In March 1666 he sold a colt to Jane Gossall, the twenty-two-year old daughter of Emmanuel Driggers and widow of free "Negro" John Gossall, and stated in the deed that he intended to make her his wife, promising that the colt would be her sole property as long as she lived [DW 1655-68, pt.2, fol.12]. He had married Jane by June 1666 when he submitted the letters of administration on her first husband's estate to the court. He was head of his own household with his wife Jane in the Northampton County list of tithables from 1667 to 1677 [Orders 1664-74, fol. 24, pp.24, 42; 1674-79, 190]. He appeared to have been equally friendly with slaves, free African Americans, and whites. According to the court deposition of a neighbor, he spent New Years Eve of 1672 drinking rum and sugar with the slaves on John Michael's plantation. He was about forty years old when he made a deposition in court about an argument he had witnessed while at the home of John Francisco [Orders 1664-74, ff. 125, 138, 143, 146, 156a-f, 157]. And in the summer of 1683 there was a court hearing about an argument among six of his white neighbors who were gathered at his house to help him harvest his crop [OW 1683-9, 15-16]. In the summer of 1675 he was involved in a dispute with William Gray over the possession of a gun that once belonged to Francis Payne. Payne's widow Amey had delivered the gun to Harman, perhaps as a gift, and her second husband William Gray, white like her, protested and took it back. The court ordered the gun returned to Harman [OW 1674-79, 58-59]. In September 1673 Jane Harman was the wet nurse for the illegitimate child of Nicholas Silvedo, a Portuguese servant, and English maidservant Mary Gale [Deal, Race and Class, 405]. William and Jane were tithables in their own Northampton County household in 1677. He was about fifty years old on 30 December 1686, called "William Harmon Negro," when he made a deposition about a gun said to be a part of the estate of Edward Jessop, "Maletto" [OW 1674-9, 190; OW 1683-9, 258, 262-3]. William was still living in April 1699 when he recorded the livestock mark of his son Manuel Harman [DW 1651-4, 31 at end of volume]. Jane may have been the Jane Harman who bought a "parcel of cloathes" in the 15 June 1700 sale of the estate of Philip Mongon, deceased [Orders 1692-1707, 262]. William and Jane's children were 2 i. Frances, born say 1667. 3 ii. Manuel1, born say 1670. 4 iii. Edward1, born say 1672. iv. John1, born say 1674. 5 v. William2, born say 1676. 2. Frances Harmon, born say 1667, was the mother of an illegitimate child by a white man, Samuel Johnson, in 1685, another in 1686 by Jarvis Cutler, another before 28 May 1688, and another before 1692 [OW 1683-9, 112, 358, 386; OW 1689-98, 160-1]. In May 1690 Thomas Carter was security for her fine of fornication [OW 1689-98, 35, 58]. She married a slave, Anthony George, by 1693 when she recorded her livestock mark in Northampton County court [DW 1651-4, 26 at end of volume]. She may have been the mother of 6 i. Joseph1, born say 1692. 3. Manuel1 Harman, born say 1670, recorded his livestock mark in Northampton County court with his father in April 1699 [DW 1651-4, 31 at end of volume]. He was a tenant on land in Accomack County on 7 December 1714 [Orders 1714-17, 2]. He was taxable in Matapany Hundred of Somerset County from 1723 to 1738: with John Harmon in his household in 1729, taxable on Simon Collick in 1736 and 1737 [List of Tithables, 1723-38]. He was about "seventy odd years of age and "almost past Labour" on 19 June 1739 when the Somerset County court granted his petition to be discharged from paying taxes [Judicial Record 1738-40, 121]. He may have been the father of i. John2, born say 1712, taxable in Bogerternorten Hundred, Somerset County, in the household of Emanuel Harman in 1729, in Edward Franklin's household in 1737, taxable in his own household in 1739 and with his unnamed "melotto" wife in 1740 [List of Tithables]. 4. Edward1 Harman, born say 1672, was living in Northampton County on 8 November 1702 when he and (his brother?) John Harman, Johnson Driggus, John Driggus, and Samuel George, "Free Negroes," were convicted of stealing a hog and then abusing and threatening several whites "in an insolent manner" [Orders 1698-1710, 102, 106]. He purchased 100 acres in Accomack County a few miles from Chincoteague in the northeastern part of the county in 1711. He and his wife Patience sold this land twenty-five years later [DW 1729-37, fol. 235-p.236; Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore, 1333]. On 10 August 1719 he admitted in Accomack County court that he owed William Johnson 7-1/2 bushels of Indian corn [Orders 1717-19, 1]. He may have been identical to Edward Harman who was taxable in Bogerternorten Hundred, Somerset County, Maryland, from 1738 to 1740. Edward and Patience may have been the ancestors of some of the family members who were in Maryland and Delaware: i. Zachariah, taxable in Bogerternorten Hundred, Somerset County, in William Smith's household in 1733, in Ursley Greer's household (with William Harman) in 1734, in Presgrave William's household in 1735, in Edward Franklin's household in 1737, in Edward Harman's household in 1738, and in Edward Franklin's household in 1739. 7 ii. William3, born say 1715. iii. John2, born say 1718, taxable in Bogerternorten Hundred, Somerset County, in Edward Franklin's household in 1737 and taxable in 1740 in his own household with his unnamed "melotto" wife in Baltimore Hundred, Somerset County. iv. Edward3, born say 1720, taxable in Bogerternorten Hundred, Somerset County, in the household of (his brother?) William Harman in 1739 and the household of (his father?) Edward Harman in 1740. v. Jane, born say 1722, living in All Hollow's Parish, Somerset County, in June 1738 when she was indicted for having an illegitimate child. She was found not guilty. Edward Harmon, planter, was her security for the payment of court fees [Judicial Record 1738-40, 43]. She was a taxable "mulato" in the Bogerternorten Hundred household of Robert Warren in 1740 [1740 Tax List]. On 18 November 1740 she was again indicted for having an illegitimate child, but this time confessed that John Jackson was the father. Robert Warren was her security [Judicial Record 1740-2, 59-60, 310]. 8 vi. Daniel1, born say 1725. 9 vii. Job, born say 1726. 5. William2 Harman, born say 1676, was a "Negro" tithable head of his own Northampton County household from 1720 to 1725 [Bell, Northampton County Tithables, 2, 13, 24, 36, 51, 68, 73]. He was called William Harmon "Negro" in December 1721 when he paid Hannah Carter's fine of 500 pounds of tobacco and indemnified the parish from any charge from her illegitimate child [Orders 1719-22, 144, 146]. He died without making a will before 12 January 1725/6 when his children Jane and Edward Harman chose Philip Mongon as their guardian. His estate was valued at ?32 [Orders 1722-9, 226; DW 1725-33, 32]. His children were i. ?Dinah Mongon, wife of Philip Mongon. 10 ii. Jane, born about 1706. iii. Edward2, born say 1707, a "Negro" tithable in his father's Northampton County household in 1723 and 1724. He was tithable in Philip Mongon's household in 1726, a "negro" tithable in Matthew Welch's household from 1727 to 1731, and tithable in the household of Henry Speakman from 1737 to 1744 [Bell, Northampton County Tithables, 36, 51, 73, 102, 118, 170, 212, 221, 255, 276, 292, 304, 361]. He sued Philip Mongon for his part of his father's estate on 11 July 1727, and he was sued by Daniel Jacob on 11 October 1727 [Orders 1722-9, 285, 299]. iv. ?Nan, born say 1710, a "negro" taxable in Thomas Moor's Northampton County household from 1726 to 1728 [Bell, Northampton County Tithables, 107, 132]. v. ?Jeffry, born say 1712, taxable in Abraham Bowker's Northampton County household in 1727 and 1728. vi. ?George1, born about 1717, a ten-year-old "orphan Mulatto" bound apprentice in Accomack County on 5 March 1727 to Jeptha Perry and then bound instead to Benjamin Salmon on 3 August 1736 when Salmon complained to the court that Perry neither taught him a trade nor "put him to School" [Orders 1724-31, 95a; 1731-36, 190]. On 30 September 1766 the Accomack County court ordered that he be added to the list of tithables [Orders 1765-67, 235]. 6. Joseph1 Harmon, born say 1692, was sued by John McKeel in Princess Anne County court on 4 January 1726/7 [Orders 1717-28, 272]. He left a 23 January 1737/8 Princess Anne County, Virginia will, proved 4 April 1739 by which he left a cow, hogs, a gun, sword, bed and furniture to his son Joseph Harman when he came of age; left a cow, calf, hogs, and furniture to his daughter Mary when she came to age sixteen; and made his wife Elizabeth executrix [DB 1735-40, 355/357]. He was the father of 11 i. Joseph2, born say 1725. ii. Mary, born say 1727. 7. William3 Harman, born say 1715, was taxable in Bogerternorten Hundred, Somerset County in Ursley Greer's household in 1734, in Robert Warren's household in 1737, in his own household from 1738 to 1739 (with his brother? Edward Harman), and taxable in Bogerternorton Hundred with his wife Betty in 1740 "by order of Court" [List of Taxables]. Worcester County was formed from this part of Somerset County in 1742, so his descendants may have been those members of the family counted as "other free" in Worcester County. He and William Butcher owned land adjoining Nathan Brittingham in Broadkill Hundred, 15 miles southwest of Lewes, on 30 April 1759 when Brittingham sold the land to Solomon Parrimore [DB I-9:239]. Jonathan Vaughan sued him and Joshua Bucher in Sussex County court in February 1764 with Daniel Nunez as security for his costs, and Joshua Rocher sued him in August 1764. His death was suggested when the Vaughan's case against him came before the court in May 1768. Perhaps his widow was Tabitha Harmon who was sued by Robert Lacey in May 1770 [RG 4815.017, General Sessions Court, 1761-71, frame 130, 146, 165, 205, 275, 407, 428, 446, 480, 512, 549, 562, 567, 575]. He may have been the ancestor of i. Jeremiah, head of a Worcester County, Maryland household of 6 "other free" in 1790 [MD:124]. ii. Abel, purchased 50 acres in Worcester County called "Scarborough's Castle" adjoining Samuel and Kendall Scarborough for ?50 on 11 February 1791 [DB O:67-8]. On 26 February 1799 he and Edward Scarborough posted bond of ?30 to indemnify the county of Worcester against any charges from an illegitimate child Abel had by Jenny Handby free single woman [DB T:140-1]. He was head of a Worcester County, Maryland household of 10 "other free" in 1800 [DE:744]. iii. Sophia, head of a Worcester County, Maryland household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [MD:830]. iv. Sally, head of a Worcester County, Maryland household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [MD:745]. v. Lazarus, born about 1758, served in the 6th Company of the 1st Maryland Regiment from 1 August 1780 to 15 November 1783 [Archives of Maryland 18:356, 539]. He was head of a Worcester County, Maryland household of 6 "other free" in 1790 [MD:124], 9 in 1800 [MD:745] and 7 "other free" and a slave in 1810 [MD:623]. He mortgaged two cows, two heifers, two calves, seven sheep and a sow to James B. Robins for $130 by Worcester County deed on 24 October 1803 [DB W:2]. He made a declaration in Worcester County court on 10 April 1818 to obtain a pension for his service in the Revolution. On 28 July 1821 he stated that he was about sixty years old and was living with his wife Betty and their sons John, aged 18 years, and Joseph, aged 12 years [NARA, S.34911, M805, Roll 399; M804, Roll 1192, frame 297 of 1046, ancestry.com]. vi. Jacob, born before 1776, head of a Worcester County household of 7 "free colored" in 1830. vii. Elizabeth, a 60-year-old woman from Somerset County who emigrated to Liberia in 1832 aboard the Lafayette with (her son?) Nathan G. Harman, a farmer, and his family [https://www.fold3.com/image/46670390]. viii. Levin, born after 1775, head of a Worcester County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [MD:612] and 4 "free colored" in 1830. ix. Daniel3, head of a Worcester County household 3 "other free" in 1810 [MD:612]. 8. Daniel1 Harman, born say 1725, was a Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware taxable from 1766 to 1773. He died before 10 May 1774 when his widow Elizabeth was granted administration of his Kent County, Delaware estate. She married Joseph Lantern [de Valinger, Kent County, Delaware Probate Records, 289]. Daniel may have been the father of i. Daniel2, a "Mulatto" taxable in the Kent County Levy Assessments circa 1820. ii. Gabriel, born say 1760, married Rhoda Hanser. She assigned her right to the estate of her father, William Handsor, to Gabriel before 24 December 1793 when this part of the account of her father's estate was included in the account of the estate of John Durham [RG 3545, reel 68, frame 621]. Gabriel was a "free Negro" taxable in Murderkill Hundred in 1787 and in Little Creek Hundred in 1798 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1785-97, frame 80, 98, 475, 515], head of a St. Jones Hundred, Kent County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:45] and 3 "free colored" in Dover in 1820 [DE:36]. 9. Job Harman, born about 1725, was a twenty-one-year-old born in Sussex County who was listed in the muster of Captain John Shannon's Company of foot solders in King George's War in September 1746 [Montgomery, Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, 142-3]. He had an account with merchant John Shannon for about ?12.18 for items such as a checked shirt and for cash paid to Mr. Curry in Shannon's account book which is found in the Kent County court dockets [DSA, RG 3505.003, 1735-1779, frame 642]. He was the father of Jemima who was baptized at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River, on 16 April 1750. He was indicted by the Sussex County court for an unspecified offense in February 1759 that was continued through August 1762. John Lockwood sued him in November 1765 [RG 4815.017, General Sessions Court, 1753-60, frames 496, 516, 534, 555, 594, 622; 1761-1771, 17, 41, 72, 85, 109, 287, 376, 404]. He was probably married to Comfort and they were probably the parents of Shepherd Harmon: "Mulattoes: Shepherd son of Job and Comfort _____ b. 15 Apr 177(2)" at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 95, 101]. They were the parents of i. Jemima, daughter of Job Harmon baptized same day (16 April 1750) at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 95]. ii. ?Eunice, born say 1752, married Southy Pride, "mulattoes," on 13 May 1772 at Lewes and Coolsprings Presbyterian Church [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 126]. 12 iii. ?Edward, born about 1758. iv. William4, born say 1770, married Mary Hanser "Free mulattoes" on 11 May 1795 at Lewes and Coolspring Presbyterian Church [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 135]. He was a "Negro" taxable in St. Jones Hundred, Kent County in 1798 and head of an Indian River, Sussex County, Delaware household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:437], 5 "other free" in Cedar Creek Hundred in 1810 [DE:303], and 9 "free colored" in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County in 1820 [DE:220]. v. Shepherd, born 15 April 177_ (probably 1772), "mulatto" son of Job and Comfort ___. He married Lina Oakey, "free Mulattoes," on 10 October 1802 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 318]. He was head of a Sussex County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [DE:458]. vi. ?Adonijah, married Sarah Jacobs, "free Mulattoes," on 19 January 1795 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 310]. vii. ?Kesiah, married Aron Esaw, "Malattoes," on 25 February 1790 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 305]. Aaron Nezor was head of an Indian River, Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [DE:438]. 10. Jane Harmon, born about 1706, was a "Negro" tithable in Philip Mongon's Northampton County household in 1726 and 1727 [Bell, Northampton County Tithables, 102, 119]. She was twenty-one years old in February 1727/8 when she petitioned the Northampton County court to allow her to take control of the remaining part of her father's estate which was then in the hands of her guardian Dinah Mongong, widow and executrix of Philip Mongong. The court ordered Dinah to pay Jane her share of her deceased father's estate [L.P Pk#12, February 1727/8; Orders 1722-9, 316, 317]. Jane was tithable in the household of Richard Malavery (Dinah's second husband) from 1728 to 1731 [Bell, Northampton County Tithables, 135, 148, 169, 221]. She had an illegitimate child before 11 December 1733. She petitioned the court for her estate which was in the hands of Richard Malavery, and on 9 January 1733/4 the court appointed Colonel John Robins and Mr. William Stott to inspect the appraisement of the estate and to be present when Richard Munlavery delivered it to her, "that she may not be wronged" [Orders 1732-42, 87, 88, 89]. She may have been the Jane Harmon who was living in Accomack County on 25 April 1749 when several of her children: Elijah, Harman, Solomon, and Nimrod were bound as apprentice shoemakers [Orders 1744-53, 327]. She was called "Jane Harmon free Negro" in April 1758 when the Northampton County court released her from paying taxes in the future [Minutes 1754-61, 156]. Her children were 13 i. ?John3, born say 1732. 14 ii. ?Emanuel2, born say 1733. iii. Elijah, born about 1735, a fourteen-year-old bound to Hezekiel Purnoll on 25 April 1749. iv. Harman, born about 1738, an eleven-year-old bound to Hezekiel Purnoll on 25 April 1749. v. Solomon, born about 1743, a six-year-old bound out on 25 April 1749. vi. Nimrod, born about 1747, a two-year-old bound out on in Accomack County on 25 April 1749, head of a Worcester County, Maryland household of 6 "other free" in 1790 [MD:124]. vii. ?Jemima, born say 1749, a "free Negro" living in Accomack County on 4 July 1768 when the court presented her for not listing herself as a tithable [Orders 1768-9, 227]. 11. Joseph2 Harmon, born say 1725, died before 17 January 1752 when the audit of his Princess Anne County estate was taken. The sale of the estate totaled ?36.19 [DB 1747-55, 297]. He may have been the father of 15 i. James, born say 1755. ii. Eleanor, bound to George Chappel to read, sew, and knit in Princess Anne County on 17 July 1759, no age or parent named [Minutes 1753-62, 357]. iii. Craftshoe, head of a Liberty County, South Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [SC:806]. Shoecraft Harmon recorded a plat for 97 acres on the Pee Dee River near Marrs Bluff in Georgetown District, South Carolina, on 1 July 1793 [South Carolina Archives, Series S13190, 30:118]. iv. Jaca, born about 1779, registered in Princess Anne County on 3 October 1836: age 57, 5'4", a mulatto woman, born free in Princess Anne County. She was probably the mother of Sally Harman who registered in Princess Anne County on 3 October 1831: 5'2", age 20, a Bright Mulatto woman, born free in Princess Anne County [Register of Free Negroes, 1830-62, nos. 263, 393] 12. Edward4 Harman, born about 1758, received pay from 1 August 1780 to 4 November 1783 for service in the Delaware Regiment in the Revolution [DHS, MS Delaware Regiment Pay Records, 1778-1783, certificates 54,359; 54,480; 54,860; 54,935; 55,181; Public Archives Commission, Delaware Archives, 196, 607]. He married Agnes Jackson on 27 November 1788 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 302]. He and his wife Agnes registered the 11 January 1792 birth of their son Benjamin at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church in Sussex County. He was head of an Indian River, Sussex County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [DE:438], 8 in 1810 [DE:437] and 5 "free colored" in Lewis and Rehoboth Hundred in 1820 [DE:308]. He was about sixty years old on 20 April 1818 when he appeared in Sussex County court to make a declcaration to apply for a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War. He stated that he enlisted under Captain Kirkwood in the First Company of the Delaware Regiment in 1777. Mitchell Kirkwood, Lieutenant Colonel of the Ninth Delaware Regiment, testified in his favor. Hezekiah Lacey testified that Edward worked for his father when he enlisted. He was about seventy and a resident of Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred on 16 November 1820 when he stated that had a wife named Agnes who was about fifty, a twenty-five-year-old son Benjamin and a twenty-three-year-old son Dirickson who did not live with him, a twenty-one-year-old son Paynter, twelve-year-old son Woolsey and a ten-year-old daughter Eliza [NARA, S.36000, microfilm M805, Roll 399; M804, Roll 1192, frame 514 of 1046 and https://www.fold3.com/image/246/22756535]. Edward and Agnes were the parents of i. Benjamin, born 11 January 1792, "son of Edward and Agness" [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 110]. ii. Dirickson, born about 1797. iii. Paynter, born about 1800. iv. Woolsey, born about 1808. v. Eliza, born about 1810. 13. John2 Harmon, born say 1727, was taxable in Northampton County, Virginia, in 1743 and 1744 [L.P. 1743, 1744] and head of a Halifax County, North Carolina household of 4 "other free" and one white man over 16 years of age in 1790 [NC:63] and 9 "other free" in 1800 [NC:316]. On 30 October 1795 he sold 100 acres, tools, furniture, cattle, and hogs in Halifax County to Joseph Lantern, Moses Matthews, and John Kelly [DB 17:920] and sold 100 acres near the road from Halifax Town to Enfield old courthouse to Joseph Lantern on 3 December 1795 [DB 18:130]. (Joseph Lantern was taxable in Dover Hundred, Kent County, Delaware from 1776 to 1785.) John may have been the father of i. James, born say 1755, a "Mullatto" bound as an apprentice house carpenter to George Chappel until the age of twenty-one in Princess Anne County, Virginia, on 17 July 1759, no age or parent named [Minutes 1753-62, 357]. He and his son James were mentioned in the 30 December 1792 Princess Anne County will of his father-in-law, William Shoecraft [WB 1:210]. He may have been identical to Craftshoe Harmon, head of a Liberty County, South Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [SC:806]. ii. Eleanor, bound to George Chappel to read, sew, and knit in Princess Anne County, Virginia, on 17 July 1759, no age or parent named [Minutes 1753-62, 357]. iii. Thomas, a "Negro" taxable on 130 acres and 5 "Negroes" in Prince Frederick Parish, South Carolina, in 1786 [S.C. Tax Returns 1783-1800, frame 119], head of a Georgetown District, Prince Frederick's Parish, South Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1790 [SC:51]. iv. Abraham, head of a South Orangeburgh District, South Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [SC:101]. 14. Emanuel2 Harmon, born say 1733, was sued in Northampton County by John Wilkins, Sr., on 15 May 1754. He was called a "free Negro" on 10 June 1760 when the court ordered him sent to the General Court to be tried for receiving stolen goods from a slave named Will who belonged to the estate of Benjamin Stratton [Orders 1753-8, 100; Minutes 1754-61, 223]. He was head of an Accomack County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 2:153] and 8 in 1810 [VA:29]. He was the father of i. George2, born say 1755, taxable in Accomack County from 1782 to 1813: taxable on 2 free males, 2 slaves and 5 horses in 1782; 2 free males in 1798; called a "fn" in 1806 and 1812; called "Geo: Harmon (of Emawell)" in a list of "free Negroes & Mulattoes" in 1813. His son George was called "of George" in 1812 [PPTL, 1782-1814, frames 8, 149, 248, 314, 378, 447, 630, 791, 835]. He was head of an Accomack County household of 9 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 2:153] and 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:29]. He served as a soldier in the Revolution. His only heirs Betsy, Comfort, Leah and Sarah Harmon applied for a pension for his service in Accomack County court on 25 September 1832 [Orders 1832-36, 16]. Leah Harmon (over the age of 45) was head of an Accomack County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820. 15. James Harman, born say 1755, a "Mullatto" bound as an apprentice house carpenter to George Chappel until the age of twenty-one in Princess Anne County on 17 July 1759, no age or parent named [Minutes 1753-62, 357]. He and his son James were mentioned in the 30 December 1792 Princess Anne County will of his father-in-law, William Shoecraft [WB 1:210]. He was taxable in St. Bride's Parish, Norfolk County, from 1783 to 1811: in the list of "free Negroes and Mulattoes" from 1801 to 1811 [PPTL, 1782-91, frames 415, 450, 592; 1791-1812, frames 8, 191, 400, 548, 636, 716]. On 4 December 1809 he purchased land on Tanner's Creek which was land he was then living on from the widow of William Holland for $69.38 [DB 45:4]. On 21 August 1821 Kinner Shewcraft sued James Harman (Jr.) and his wife Lucy and a minor named Andrew Shewcraft in Norfolk County court to force the sale of land formerly belonging to Moses Shewcraft. The court ordered the proceeds divided equally among the plaintiff and defendants [Minutes 17:141]. Lucy was apparently identical to Lucy Herman who registered in Norfolk County on 15 December 1828: age 28, 4 11-/34, a bright mulatto, Born free. James and Lucy Harman's descendants were considered Indians in Norfolk County [Register of Free Negroes & Mulattoes, 1809-1852, nos. 489, 1230, 1599, 1600]. i. Jaca, born about 1779, registered in Princess Anne County on 3 October 1836: age 57, a mulatto woman, born free, perhaps the mother of Sally Harman who registered on 3 October 1831: 5'2" high, age 20, a Bright Mulatto woman, born free [Register of Free Negroes, nos. 263, 393]. ii. James2, born say, a "F.Blk."/ "free negro" taxable in Princess Anne County from 1807 to 1822 [PPTL, 1790-1822, frames 365, 438, 486, 502, 546, 701, 682, 701]. His wife Lucy Herman registered in Norfolk County on 15 December 1828: age 28, 4 11-/34, a bright mulatto, Born free. James and Lucy Harman's descendants were considered Indians in Norfolk County [Register of Free Negroes & Mulattoes, 1809-1852, nos. 489, 1230, 1599, 1600]. Other members of the Harmon family were i. Thomas, a "Negro" taxable on 130 acres and 5 "Negroes" in Prince Frederick Parish, South Carolina, in 1786 [S.C. Tax Returns 1783-1800, frame 119], head of a Georgetown District, Prince Frederick's Parish, South Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1790 [SC:51]. ii. Abraham, head of a South Orangeburgh District, South Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [SC:101]. iii. Southey, head of an Accomack County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 1:108]. iv. Stephen, head of an Accomack County household of 9 "other free" in 1810 [VA:100]. v. Ann, head of an Accomack County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 1:108]. vi. Scarburgh, head of an Accomack County household of 4 "other free" and a slave in 1810 [VA:101]. vii. Molly/ Mary, head of an Accomack County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 1:157] and 7 in 1810 [VA:102]. viii. Easter, head of an Accomack County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:30]. ix. Emanuel3, born about 1789, registered in Accomack County on 29 September 1807: a light Black, 5 feet 7-1/2 Inches...Born free [Free Negro Register, #5]. |
| Additional Notes | Other descendants in Delaware were i. Thomas, head of a New Castle County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [DE:303]. ii. Abraham, head of a Broadkill Hundred, Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [DE:328]. iii. John, born say 1745, required to provide ?20 security in February 1773 for his appearance in Sussex County court [RG 4805, General Sessions, 1767-94, frame 124]. He left a 6 April 1776 Sussex County will, proved 24 April 1776, in which he left all his estate to his wife Saborah during her widowhood, left a mare and the increase of one young cow to his daughter Saborah and advised that she should leave his daughter Saborah as much as any of her other children. Elizabeth, daughter of Argal Harmon was a witness [RG 4545.009, reel 100, frame 570-1]. The State indicted Thomas Marvel of Dagsbury Hundred for assaulting Sabra Harmon on 8 October 1789 [DSA, RG 4805.021, 1755-1791, MS case files, 1790 Indictments]. She died before 23 December 1794 when William Rigley and Isaac Morris administered her estate [RG 4545.009, reel 100, frame 463]. iv.Argel, sued for debt by James Stephenson, Jr., in Sussex County court in November 1762 [RG 4815.017, General Sessions Court, 1771-93, frame 117], a delinquent taxable in Sussex County in 1767, taxable on the south side of Broadkill Hundred in 1770, head of a Broadkill Hundred, Sussex County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:327], 6 in 1810 [DE:427] and one "free colored" in Dagsboro in 1820 [DE:382]. His daughter Elizabeth was a witness to the 6 April 1776 Sussex County will of John Harmon [RG 4545.009, reel 100, frame 570-1]. v. Eli2, head of a Sussex County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [DE:404]. He left a 17 November 1818 Sussex County will which was witnessed by John Rigwah. He left his house to his brother William, left a dollar to his brother Argel, a dollar to each of his sister Milly Mosely's four children, a dollar to his sister Ann's daughter Jane Street, a dollar to his sister Ann's daughter Ephraim Harmon and $30 to his apprentice Cary Hanshaw (Hanser). He also left $10 to the trustees of Harmony Meeting (the Harmony Methodist Episcopal Church) [RG 4545.009, reel 100, frames 519-527]. vi. Ann, named in the will of her brother Eli Harmon, mother of Jane Street and Ephraim Harmon, born 1776-1794, head of a Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:392]. Ephraim was a "Mulatto" who died before 4 August 1840 when administration on his estate was granted John West [RG 4545.009, reel 100, frame 449]. vii. Henry, charged by the Sussex County court with fornication in November 1777 with Esther Hanzer as witness against him and charged with stealing a mare from Hugh Vestry in August 1791 [RG 4805, General Sessions Court, 1767-94, frames 168, 480; Case Files 1791]. viii. Betsey, head of a Broadkill Hundred, Sussex County household of 8 "other free" in 1800 [DE:327]. ix.John, a "free Mulatto" convicted in November 1794 of having two illegitimate female children by a white woman Ann Jones of Broadkill Hundred, one in 1792 and the other in 1794. He was whipped, and ordered to wear a four inch high red Roman T for six months as a mark of dishonor [RG 4805, General Sessions, 1767-94, frames 561-2]. He was head of a Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:342], perhaps the Jonathan Harman who was head of a Sussex County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [DE:458] and 4 "free colored" in Dagsboro in 1820 [DE:376]. He manumitted slaves "old Arter" and Candis (signing) by Sussex County deed on 30 July 1808 [DB AD-27:359]. x. Benjamin1, indicted by the Sussex County court in February 1749/50, apparently for selling liquor without a license as the clerk made a notation in the case about awarding a license to another person. Robert Fraim sued him for debt in February 1750/1 and Benjamin petitioned the court to serve Frame to pay his debt. He was indicted for an unspecified offense in August 1752, and there were continuances for this and possibly other offenses until August 1758 when he pled guilty and was fined 2 shillings [RG 4815.017, General Sessions Court, 1741-53, frames 437, 470, 515, 537, 555, 579, 608; 1753-60, frames 158, 182, 236, 259, 284, 303, 317, 336, 359, 382, 401, 418, 444]. head of a Kent County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:23]. xi. Nathan1, head of a Dagsborough Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:424], 9 in 1810 [DE:410] and 12 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:372]. xii. Nathan2, born before 1776, head of a Dagsborough Hundred household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:374]. xiii. Benjamin2, head of a Duck Creek, Kent County, Delaware household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:7]. xiv. James, head of a St. Jones Hundred, Kent County, Delaware household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:45] and 3 "free colored" in Dover in 1820 [DE:34]. xv. William, head of a St. Jones Hundred, Kent County, Delaware household of 2 "other free" in 1800 [DE:43], 5 in New Castle County in 1810 [DE:303] and 6 "free colored" in Appoquinmink Hundred in 1820 [DE:147]. xvi. Manuel3, head of a Sussex County, Delaware household of 12 "other free" in 1810 [DE:437]. xvii. Manuel4, head of a Sussex County household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [DE:426] and a Dagsborough Hundred household of 5 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:374]. xviii. Peter, head of a Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [DE:452]. xix. Jethro, head of a Sussex County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [DE:363]. |
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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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