USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 15
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Stewart, Jolın, of Hanover, d. April, 1777, leaving a wife Jennet, and children : Anna, m. Smiley, Sarah, Jean, m. John Mc- Callen, Margaret, Mary, m. Johnson, James, John, and Samuel.
Stewart, James, of Hanover, d. November, 1783, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Charles, Lazarus, and James; grandehil- dren Lazarus Stewart, son of Lazarus, and William Campbell.
Stewart, Frances, widow, of Hanover, d. November, 1790, leaving children : William, who had a daughter Frances, Lazarus, who had a daughter Frances, Johu, Mary, m. George Espy and had Mary, Jean, m. Armstrong, George, and James.
- Snoddy, William, of Derry, d. May, 1735, leaving a wife, and a number of children. Executors were John MeQuown and James Laird.
-Snoddy, John, of Derry, d. May, 1736, leaving a number of children. Exceutor was John MeQuown.
- Snoddy, Jane, of Hanover, d. November, 1746, leaving danghter Isabella, and step- daughter Margaret Snoddy. Executor was Jolm McQuown.
- Snoddy, Matthew, d. August, 1780, leaving a wife Mabel, and children : John, Mary, Isa-
bella, Matthew, William, Elizabeth, and Mabel. Executors were wife and son John.
Simpson. John, of Fishing Creek, d. Sep- tember, 1738, leaving his estate to Thomas Armstrong.
Simpson, Thomas, of Paxtang, d. May 1761, leaving a wife and children : John, Thomas, Michael, Rebecca, William, Samuel, Joseph, and Edward. Executors were wife and son John.
Simpson, Thomas, of Paxtang, d. Novem- ber, 1772, leaving a wife Jean, and children : Samuel, Thomas, Nathaniel, and Sarah, m.
Forster, and son-in-law William Harper, living in Ireland.
Simpson, Thomas, of Paxtang, d. Febru- ary, 1777, leaving a wife Mary, and children : Michael and Thomas. Exeentors were Mar- garet and Michael Simpson and John Elder.
Simons, Michael, of Hanover, d. in Mar. 1775, leaving a wife Margaret, and children: Peter, John, Mary, m. Thomas Hears, Eliza- beth, m. William Weiriek, a daughter m. Henry Fensler, and Catharine, m. Peter Weirick.
Sawyer, William, of Londonderry, d. in October, 1784, leaving his estate to his " dear auld woman Sophia," and children : William, Benjamin, John, and Hannah.
Steckley, Christian, of Derry, d. in Octo- ber, 1767, leaving a wife Catharine and children: John, Barbara, Chrisly, Abraham, Mary, and Catharine. The exceutors were Jacob and Jobn Lehman, of Derry.
Sloan, John, d. in September, 1741, leaving a wife Jean, and children : James, Robert, William, John, Sarah, and Agnes. Execu- tors were James Walker and George Espy.
Sloan, Sammuel, d. September, 1777, leaving brothers John, James, Archibald and Will- iam ; sisters Mary, m. James Michaels, and Elizabeth ; nephew Archibald Sloan, son of John, and nieee Elizabeth, daughter of William. Exeeutors were Archibald Sloan, David Allen and John Campbell.
Sloan, James, of Hanover, d. December, 1775, leaving a wife Mary, and children : William, James, and Mary ; son-in-law Peter Hastings. Executors were William and James Sloan.
Swan, James, of Hanover, d. December, 1741, leaving a wife Mary, and children : James, Alexander, Margaret, and Jane. Ex- eeutors were Alexander and Mary.
Swan, Alexander, of Hanover, d. Febru- ary, 1778, leaving a wife Margaret, and be- sides other children : Samuel, Alexander,
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and Jean. Executors were Joseph Barnet and John Gilchrist.
Swan, William, of Paxtang, d. October, 1782, leaving a wife Martha, and children : Margaret, Sarah, and Moses, and brother Richard. Executors were Richard Swan and John Wilson.
Steele, Thomas, of Hanover, d. March, 1746, leaving a wife Agnes, and son David. Executors were Richard McClure, John Steeass, and Agnes Steele.
Sterrett, John, d. April, 174S, leaving a wife Martha, and children : James, Joseph, Mary, Ann, Rebecca, Elizabeth, m. Edward Crawford, Martha, mn. Joseph Wilson, and Sarah, m. Abraham Lowrey.
Sterrett, Martha, d. April, 1754, leaving children: Anne, Rebecca, James, and Joseph; grandchild John, son of James. Exeentors were Andrew Work and Andrew Sterrett.
Sterrett. Samuel, of Hanover, d. March, 1776, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Alexander, Benjamin, Samuel, Elizabeth, John, and William : sons-in-law Moses Shaw and William Hall; granddaughter Sarah Shaw, child of Moses. Executors were John and William Sterrett.
Sterrett, Robert, of Paxtang, d. March, 1777, leaving a wife Mary, and children : Agnes, m. - Hanna, Mary, m. John Bowman, William, James, David, and Rob- ert ; grandchildren James and Robert Ster- rett and Mary Bowman, daughter of Mary.
Semple, Hugh, d. May, 1719, leaving a wife, and brother-in-law James Graham. Executors were William Cunningham and Jolin McClure.
Semple, James, of Derry, d. October, 1758, leaving a wife Ann, and children : John, Isabella, Sarah, and Ann ; son-in-law James Henry. Executors were wife Ann and brother Robert.
Sempie, John, d. January, 175S, leaving a wife Hannah, and children: Robert Mc- Coses, William, and James.
Smith, Robert, of Paxtang, d. March, 1757, leaving a wife Mary, and children : Matthew, m. Agnes - , Rebecca, Robert, b. 1747, and David, b. 1749.
Smith, James, of Paxtang, d. September, 1775, leaving a wife Mary, and children : John, James, Williams, m. Mary -- and had Thomas, who was a surveyor, Robert, Samuel, Agnes, Joseph, and Mary. In the will he speaks of his " brother John Cate, of Neelytown, in the county of Ulster, New York."
Strain, John, d. August, 1752, leaving a wife Mary, and children : David, William, Gilbert, John. Mary, and Robert. Executors were James Dixon and William Watson. Granddaughter Elizabeth Strain.
Strain, Robert, of Hanover, d. September, 1753, leaving brothers John, David, William, and Gilbert ; sister Mary Thompson. Ex- ceutors were James Dixon and William Watson.
Strain, Thomas, of Hanover, d. February, 1780, leaving a wife Hannah, and children : Sarah, m. Edwards, John, and Thomas; sons-in-law James Miliken and William Thompson ; granddaughter Mar- garet Miliken. Executors were sons John and Thomas.
Strain, David, of Hanover, d. September, 1783, leaving a wife Elizabeth, and chil- dren : John, Alexander, and William ; sons- in-law James McCreight and John Wilson.
Snodgrass, James, d. May, 1750, leaving a wife, and children : William, James, Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Executors were Andrew Caldwell and John Snodgrass.
Snodgrass, Alexander, d. May, 1750, Icav- ing a wife, and children : William, James, and Robert. Executors were John Caldwell and Patrick Johnson.
Snodgrass, Robert, of Hanover, d. March, 1777, leaving children: Joseph, James, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Susannah, and Isabella. Exceutors were George Sanderson and John Snodgrass.
Smith, John, of Paxtang, d. May, 1777, leaving children : Robert, Andrew, Marga- ret, and Rebecca. Executors were Matthew and Andrew Smith.
- Smith, Jacob, of West Hanover, d. July, 1815, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Elizabeth, m. Ziegler, Hannah, m. Henry Balsbaugh, Abraham, David, Daniel, Jacob, deceased, and John, deceased, leaving a son Samucl.
Sharp, Thomas, d. January, 175S, leaving a wife Ketrine, and children : John, Ann, Sarah, Thomas, and Mary. Executors were Philip Robinson and John Sharp.
Sharp, Edward, of Paxtang, d. October, 1765, leaving a wife Sarah, and children : Henry, Edward, and Eleanor. Exceutors were William Sharp and Michael Graham.
Sharp, Dietrick, of Paxtang, d. April, 1765, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Sophia and Eva. Executors were Jacob Locser and John Backenstocs.
_Steliley, Christian, of Derry, d. October,
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1767, leaving a wife Catharinc, and children : John, Barbara, Chrisley, Mary, Abraham, and Catharine.
. Stehley, John, d. Oetober, 1776, leaving a wife Elizabeth, and children: John, Eliza- beth, Martin, Christian, Mary, and Jacob. Executor was wife Elizabeth.
Stouffer, Jacob. of Derry, d. February, 1768, leaving a wife Magdalena, and chil- dren : Christian, Anna, Mary, and Eva. Ex- ecutors were Ulrich Burkholder and Yost Brand.
Stecle, William, of Paxtang, d. July, 1769, leaving children : John, Samuel, Agnes, m. John Boggs, Elizabeth, m. Thomas MeNutt, David, Mary, Jean, and William ; grand- children William MeNutt and William Boggs.
Stephen, Andrew, of Paxtang, d. Febru- ary, 1770, leaving a wife Ann, and children : Hugh, Ann, Andrew, and Hezekiah. Ex- ecutors were wife, John Gilehrist, and John Forster.
Symons, Nicholas, of Hanover, d. May, 1775, leaving wife Margaret, and children : Peter, John, and Elizabethi, m. William Wariek ; son-in-law Henry Fensler. Ex- ecutors were Peter Hedriek and Abraham Hubley.
- Schweigert, Peter, of Upper Paxtang, d. August, 1775, leaving a wife Christina, and children : Peter, John, Adam, Andrew, Jonas, Elizabeth, and Ann. Exeeutors were Peter Sehweigert and Valentine Brauch.
Sherer, Joseph, of Paxtang, d. November, 1776, leaving a wife Mary, and children : Samuel, John, William, Catharinc, Mary, m. Samuel Cochran, Jean, Richard, and Joseph.
Sturgeon, Samuel, d. March, 1750, leaving children : Thomas, Jean, and Sarah. Ex- ecutors were James Armstrong and Thomas Sturgeon.
Sturgeon, Samuel, Sr., of West Hanover, d. Oetober, 1801, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : William, Jeremiah, James, Samuel, Andrew, Martha, John, and Allen.
Sturgeon, Jean, widow of Robert, d. Febru- ary, 1809, leaving children : Jean, Effic, Jere- miah, who had Jean, Thomas, who had Jean, Timothy, who had Jean and Samuel.
Snyder, Leonard, of Upper Paxtang, d. October, 1801, leaving children : Leonard, Nicholas, Catharine, Jacob, Christopher, and Samuel.
Snyder, John, of Hanover, d. July, 1791, leaving a wife Veroniea, and children: John, Christian, Abraham, Barbara, and Peter.
Snug, Christian, of Upper Paxtang, d. February, 1786, leaving a wife Catharinc, and children : Catharine, m. John Nicholas Baer, Elizabeth, Eva, Catharine, m. Christo- pher Yeager, Margaret, Ann, Mary, Char- lotta, Susannah, Margaret, m. John Yeager, Christine, Christian, Philip, Magdalena, and John. Executors were John Motter, Sr., and Leonard Snyder.
Sawyer, Sophia, widow of William Sawyer, d. September, 17SS, leaving children : John, Sophia, Hannah, m. John Logan, Benjamin, a daughter m. William Duncan and had William, William and daughter Mary, Thomas and son William.
Sawyer, William, of Derry, d. in October, 1784, leaving a wife Sophia, and children : John, Hannah, William, and Benjamin. Executors were William and Benjamin Saw- yer.
Sawyer, Benjamin, of Londonderry, d. January, 1792, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Thomas, William, James, and Hannah.
Singer, Simon, d. in 1763, leaving a wife Elizabeth, who afterwards married Henry Eby, and children : John, Simon, Barbara, Elizabeth, Jacob, Catharine, Henry, Anna, and Mary.
Singer, John, of Derry, d. May, 1790, leav- ing a wife Barbara, and among other chil- dren : Conrad and David.
Singer, Jacob, of Derry, d. November, 1S00, leaving a wife Franey, and children : Jacob, Daniel, Anna, and Ephraim.
Shope, Bernard, of Paxtang township, d. August, 1813, leaving children : Barbara. m. Henry Michael, Julianna, m. George Sil- sel, Jacob, Margaret, Mary, Christiana, Mag- dalena, Adam, Bernhart, and Evc, deceased.
Shearer, Michael, of Paxtang, d. January, 1777, leaving a wife Ann, and son Daniel.
Shaw, Daniel, of Hanover, d. in March, 1778, leaving a wife Phebe, and children : Samuel, Jcan, m. William Haggerty, and Robert. Exeeutors were Joseph Brown and William Hutchison.
Shaw, Samuel, of Hanover, d. in Novem- ber, 1778, leaving a brother Robert and sis- ter Jean, m. William Haggerty.
Shaw, Alexander, of Paxtang, d. in De- cember, 1785, leaving his estate to James Monteith. Executor was Samuel Lyon.
Scott, Patrick, of Paxtang, d. in June, 1782, leaving a wife Ann, and children : Robert, Janc, m. -- - Flannigan ; and
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grandeliildren Alexander, Samuel, and Violet Jackson.
Stoner, Catharine, of Paxtang, d. June, 1785, leaving children : Susanna, m. - Cowen, and Jolm ; grandehild Catharine Cowen.
Tait, William, of Derry, d. 1749, leaving a wife Rebecca, and children: Mary, m. Robert Stratford, and Robert ; grandchildren Mary and Margaret Tait, children of Robert. Executors were wife Rebecca and Alexander McCane.
Teas, John, of Hanover, d. May, 1752, leaving a wife Martha, and children : Mary and Thomas. Executors were wife Martha and James Harris.
Taylor, Robert, owned the farm at Pine Ford, in Derry township. In 1762 his widow was the wife of Charles McCormick. The farm of 150 aeres was purchased by the eldest son for £270. The children of Robert Taylor then living were: Henry, Catharine, m. John Sterling, William, Robert, Matthew, Jane, John, Elizabeth and Ann. The son of John was then a minor, and John Laird was appointed guardian of his estate.
Taylor, David, of Derry, d. November, 1761, leaving a wife Agnes, and children : John, Mary, Esther, Agnes, and Janet. Ex- ecutors were wife Agnes, and John and Pat- riek Hays.
Todd, Hugh, of Hanover, d. 1772. Records of will missing.
Todd, James, of Hanover, d. November, 1783, leaving a wife Mary, and children : John, James, David, and Isabella, m: John Johnson.
Thompson, John, of Hanover, d. Septem- ber, 1778, leaving children : William, Jean, m. Jolin Robinson, John, and Andrew.
Trousdale, William, of Hanover, d. April, 1785, leaving a wife Elizabeth, and children : Jean and Henry; also brothers Thomas and John Trousdale.
Thornton, Matthew, of Hanover, d. April, 1786, leaving a wife Agnes, and children: Mary, Nancy, m. - - Jamison, and had Matthew, William, Martha, m .- - Thomp- son and had Agnes, Margaret m. Butler.
Tifebauglı [Diffenbaugh], George, of Pax- tang, d. November, 17SS, leaving a wife, Mary, and children : Elizabeth, m. John Shoop, Catharine, m. Moore, George, Mary, Adam, John, Jennie, and Daniel. Executors were wife, son George, and brother Michael.
Templeton, Robert, of Hanover, d. Octo- ber, 1789, leaving a wife Agnes, who d. Feb- ruary, 1790. Their children were: Jean, m. Robert Henry, Mary, m. Charles McCoy, Ruth, m. John Johnson, John, Agnes, m. Samuel Stewart and had Agnes and Mary, Sarah, m. William Clark, Barbara, m. Henry MeCormick, Susannah, m. James Hathorni, Hannah, m. Duncan Sinclair, and Robert, who had William and Richard.
Vance, Moses, of Paxtang, d. April, 1786, leaving a wife Anna, and children : William, Adam, Jane, m. Edward Ashcraft, Elizabeth, and Sarah. Exeeutors were wife and son William.
Vance, John, of Hanover, d. July, 1734, leaving a wife Mary, and children : Hugh, George, and Jean. Executor was Jared Graham.
Van Lear, Christopher, of Derry, d. Au- gust, 1750, leaving children : John, Willianı, James, Mary, Michael, and Christopher.
Van Lear, Michael, of West Hanover, d. April, 1801, leaving a wife Mary, and chil- dren : John, Agnes, m. John Thompson, and Sarahı.
Wilson, John, of Paxtang, d. September, 1738, leaving his estate to his father Alex- ander and brother Joseph Wilson.
Wilson, David, of Hanover, d. August, 1739, leaving a wife Rebecca.
Wilson, George, of Paxtang, d. 1750, leav- ing a brother John Wilson and sister Eliza- beth Wilson, m. Thomas Lennox.
Wilson, John, of Paxtang, d. May, 1762, leaving a wife Martha, and children : John, Sarah, William, Martha, and Jean. His wife and brother Joseph Wilson were execu- tors.
Wilson, David, d. in Mareh, 1766, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Samuel, Robert, and Elizabeth, m. Samuel Woods and had Nathan.
Wilson, Moses, of Derry, d. February, 1781, leaving children : John, Catharine, Mary, Martha, Susannah, and James; grandehil- dren Moses and William Wilson, Jane Kear, and Elizabeth Wilson.
White, John, of Ilanover, d. March, 1740, leaving a wife Barbara, and children : Alex- ander, Thomas, and Anna. Executors were John Brandon and James Sturgeon.
White, Josiah, of Hanover, d. July, 1753, leaving a wife Agnes, and children : Josiah, Benjamin, Samuel, John, James, Daniel, and Isabella. Exceutors were John Bar- nett and Josiah White.
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White, William, of Derry, d. July, 1783, leaving a sister Mary, m. Thomas Mont- gomery, and nephew Thomas White. Ex- ecutors were James Scott and John White.
Watson, William, of Hanover, d. in Octo- ber, 1770, leaving a wife Sarah, and chil- dren : Samuel, William, Hugh, David, Pat- rick, a daughter m. Alexander Kennedy, Sarah, Eleanor, Mary, Martha, Ann, and Jean.
Welsh, James, of Paxtang, d. April, 1754, leaving a wife Mary and children : John, Thomas, James, Robert, Joseph, Jean, Isa- belle, and Mary. Executors were wife and son John.
Welsh, James, of Derry, d. September, 1769, leaving a wife Jane, and children : Elizabeth, m. McConnell, Mary, m.
-, Anna, Margaret, Martha, and Samuel.
Woods, Adan, of Hanover, d. August, 1756, leaving a wife Sarah, and children : Andrew, John, Margaret, m. Patton, Janet, m. - Calhoun, Jiles, m. McAllister, Sarah, m. ---- Cochran, and Martha, m. James McClenaghan.
Woods, Andrew, of Hanover, d. April. 1769, leaving a wife Jean, and brother John. Executors were wife and brother John.
Woods, John, of Hanover, d. December, 1769, leaving a wife Mary, and children : George, Andrew, Samuel, Sarah, Anna, Margaret, Janet, Mary, Elizabeth, and Mar- tha. Executors were wife, Josiah Espy, and James McClenaghan.
Woods, Rev. Matthew, of Hanover, d. Jan- uary, 1785, leaving wife, and several chil- dren, not named. Executors were Samuel Kearsley and John Ainsworth.
Wylie, Oliver, of Paxtang, d. October, 1757, leaving a wife and children : Margaret, Oliver, and William. Executors were John Harris and Thomas.
Wiggins, John, of Paxtang, d. February 1762, leaving a wife Mary, and children : John, Agnes, James, Jean, Martha and Mar- garet. Executor was John Wiggins.
Wright, James, of Hanover, d. March, 1764, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : William, Margaret, Ann, Agnes, Jean, and Eleanor.
Wright, William, of Hanover, d. October, 1782, leaving a wife Margaret, and children : Margaret and Mary, m. John Elder. Ex- ecutors were Margaret Wright and James McMillan.
Walker, James, of Derry, d. April, 1753,
leaving a wife Margaret, and children: James, Agnes, Archibald, Sarah, m. Caruthers, and Mary, m. Andrew Roan ; grandchild James Caruthers.
Walker, James, of Paxtang, d. October, 1784, leaving a wife Barbara, and children : William, Isabella, James, David, Robert, Thomas, and John ; grandchildren Catharine and Rachael Galbraith. Executors were wife Barbara and John Forster.
Walker, James, of Londonderry, d. prior to 1785. His widow Martha in 1787 was the wife of Samnel Weir. The children were: Archibald, William, Margaret, Mary, and Lettice.
Whitley, Michael, who died in 1777 from wounds received at Chestnut Hill, left a wife Martha, and children : Michael, William, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, and Martha.
Walter, Jacob, of Paxtang, d. March, 17S2, leaving wife Juliana and son Michael.
Wallace, Robert, of Hanover, d. April, 1783, leaving a wife Mary, and children : Moses, James, Isabella, and Mary ; sons-in- law Thomas McNair and Joseph Boyd ; grandchildren Mary Boyd, Robert Wallace, son of Moses, and Martha McNair.
Wallace, James, of Paxtang, d. March, 1784, leaving a wife Elizabeth, and step- children: Robert and Rachael Elder ; and grandchild Thomas Elder.
Wetherhold, Susanna, widow, of Harris- burg, d. July, 1812, leaving children as fol- lows : Margaret, m. - Barnett ; Eliza- beth, m. Wingert, and had Charles and John ; John, of Hummelstown, m., and had Elizabeth, m. Peter Snyder, and had Charles, and Susanna ; and George.
Willson, John, of Londonderry, d. July, 1812, leaving his estate to his brother Will- iam Willson and wife Mary, and sister Syble, nephews Moses, Hugh, and John Will- son, and nieces Ann and Mary Willson.
Willson, John, Sr., d. October, 1S01, leav- ing his estate to his nieces Jean Robinson, Martha Young, Sarah Willson, Martha Smith, Jean Willson, wife of John ; Sarah Galey, and Martha Caddow; to nephews Samuel, John, Abraham, William, John, and James Willson ; sister Jean Willson.
Willson, James, of West Hanover, d. Oc- tober, 1806, leaving children : James, Eliza- beth, m. Robert Sturgeon, Ann, m. James Moorehead, Mary, John, Samuel, Rachel, Thomas, Lucy, mn. Thomas Bell, and Mar- tha. Executors were Samuel Willson and William Allen.
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Young, Alexander, of Paxtang, d. March, 1751, leaving a wife Mary, and a number of children. Mentions father-in-law James Willson.
Ziegler, Jacob, d. October, 1750, leaving a wife Barbara, and children : Margaret, Mary, Philip, and Ann.
Ziegler, George, d. September, 1769, leav- ing children by first wife Mary : Jacob and Mary; by second wife Catharine: Ann, Bar- bara, George, and Frederiek.
Zent, Jacob, of West Hanover, d. in 1809, leaving children as follows: Elizabeth, m. Valentine King and had a daughter Su- sanna, John, Phoebe (Pevey), m. Christian Kish, Mary, m. Abraham Houser, Catharine, in. John Snyder, Susanna, m. Jacob Moyer, and Jacob.
CHAPTER VII.
Some Early Dauphin County Families.
[It is not intended to give a complete genealogieal record of Dauphin county faini- lies. Records of other families have ap- peared in print or it has been proposed to publish them in distinct publications. Taken in connection with the Chapter of Genealogi- cal Records, this information, limited as it may be, is of great value. There may be errors here and there, but these will prob- ably prove unimportant. The editor ean- not verify every statement given him .. The hope is that from this meager data many may see the value thereof, and at onee pro- ceed to gather up the valuable records of their own family, and preserve it for those coming after.]
THE FAMILY OF THE FOUNDER OF HARRIS- BURG.
JOHN HARRIS, the first, was a native of Yorkshire, England, where he was born about the year 1673. He was a brewer by occupation, and at his majority came to America with several of his brothers. Wat- son, the annalist, states that John Harris' " entire capital amounted to only sixteen guineas." Although spending a few years in the new city of Philadelphia, at a time when it was decided to lieense but English born persons as Indian traders, he with one or two of his brothers entered that luerative business. In January, 1705, the commis-
sioners of property authorized and allowed him " to seat himself on the Sasquahannah at Pextang, to creet such buildings as are necessary for his trade, and to enclose and improve such quantity of land as he shall think fit." Mention is made of him in the Colonial Records, and among the fae-similes of Indian autographs is that of John Hans. An examination of the original show this to be a misprint for John Harris. The auto- graph I. H. is especially amusing, placing him among the Indian chiefs of the time. By comparing this signature with one in our possession we are perfectly satisfied that the " big Indian" John Hans was our pioneer John Harris. Of the ineidents in the bor- der life of this early settler it is not our in- tention to say much at the present time. That he was an adventurous spirit, hardy and daring, his seating himself in the midst of the perfidions and treacherous Shawanese is sufficient evidence. "He was as honest a man as ever broke bread," was the high eulogium of the Rev. John Elder, who knew him well in the early days of his ministry. John Harris died at Harris' Ferry, in De- cember, 1748, his will being probated at Lancaster the latter part of that month. At times we are inclined to the belief that John Harris had been twice married. If not, his first and only wife was Esther Say, whom he married late in life. She was many years his junior, and concerning whom we have much traditionary history. It is said that Harris, on his frequent visits to Phila- delphia, met her at the house of Edward Shippen, the first mayor of Philadelphia, an intimate friend of Harris. She was also a relative of the family with whom she was residing. They were married in old Christ Church, but the exact year we have 110 record. Esther Say Harris survived her husband, and four or five years thereafter married William McChesney, who resided on the west side of the Susquehanna, in what is now Newberry township, York county. She died there in 1757, and was probably buried in Silvers Spring church graveyard. The names of John Harris' children who reached maturity, and probable dates of birth, are as follows:
i. Elizabeth, b. 1720; m. Jolin Findley.
ii. Esther, b. 1722; m. William Plunket. iii. John, b. 1726; m., 1st, Elizabeth Me- Clure; 2d, Mary Reed.
iv. William-Augustus, b. 1730; m. Mar- garet Simpson.
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v. Samuel, b. May 4, 1733; m. Elizabeth Bonner.
vi. David, b. 1737 ; m. Miss Mahon.
At his death, it may be noted, the pioncer, Jolin Harris, was buried at the foot of a large mulberry tree on the river bank, as was also his first wife, and several of his children who died in early life. The in- closure in Harris Park and the fast decaying stump of the old tree mark the site of the last resting place of the first John Harris.
ELIZABETH HARRIS, the eldest child of John Harris, married John Findley or Fin - ley. She died in 1769 at the age of forty- nine years; her husband in 1771 at the age of almost fifty. Little is known of him, save that lie was the ancestor of the Findleys or Finleys of Western Pennsylvania. The children of Elizabeth and Jolin Findley were: i. Esther, who married " William Pat- terson, Esq., of Fermanagh." Pat- terson had been previously married to Isabella Galbraith, of Derry, and their only son, Galbraith Patterson, was a noted lawyer in the early days of the Dauphin county courts. The children of Esther and Will- iam Patterson were: John, Isabella, William-Augustus, Margaret, and James, all of whom married and left issue.
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