John Phillip Harless

John Phillip Harless

(Alberta Harless Myers Line, wife of James Henry Myers)

John (or Johan) Phillip Harless, a native of the German upper Rhine Palatinate, arrived in Philadelphia, Pa., 5 Sep 1738 with his wife on the ship "Winter Galley" which sailed from Rotterdam, Holland with 252 passengers. 

It is believed that John Phillip was born in the town of Germersheim (not far from Heidelberg). Upon arrival in America John Phillip and members of his wife's family first settled on the Shenandoah River, near what is now McGaheysville, Virginia and in the vicinity of Peaked Mountain Church.

In about 1750 he acquired land on Tom's Creek near what is now known as the German New River Settlement and by 1762 he had a patent to land on Cow Pasture River, 4 miles from Natural Bridge where he moved his family. This land was southwest of what is now Lexington, Virginia.

John Phillip and his wife Anna Margaretha Price had seven children that survived to adulthood, five sons: Martin, John Phillip, Jr., David, Henry and E. Emanuel, and two daughters: Mary Dorthy, and Margaretha. John Phillip Harless, Jr. and his wife Hannah Boscher Harless are also interred in this cemetery.

SOURCE: Ancestory.com

The Myers-Kellison Journey From Missouri to Texas

The Myers-Kellison Journey From Missouri to Texas

(The following information comes from The Family of John W Myers – Mahala Caroline Kellison By Roy E. Gibson:)

With Reconstruction following the Civil War and the pitfalls of farming in general it is assumed life was full of hard work and struggle. What the exact or combined reasons were to convince John W. Myers and his relations to move to central Texas is or are not known. Jacob Myers, his father, had three half-brothers and two half-sisters and their mother to move to Coryell County, Texas in 1871. One can only speculate as to whether letters from the ones in Coryell or other factors made up their mind to move to Bosque County Texas.

In 1950 the compiler had the good fortune of driving Aunt Lee Womack from her home in Brady, Texas to my Mother’s home in Ft. Worth, Texas. This was some five years prior to my actual beginning of the research of my family lines. It has always been a disappointment to me that I didn't have a recorder, for most of her early years of life were recalled as best she could remember. On that particular day she was some 82 years of age. She was either 6 or 7 years of age when the trip from Miller County, Missouri to Bosque County, Texas was made. As I try to recall some of her remembrances on that day, I come up with the following:

(1) There were quite a few wagons in the group or wagon train most of whom were related in some way.

(2) The route they took generally was from near Iberia, Miller County, Missouri via Springfield, Missouri, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Arkansas, McAlester, Oklahoma, Denison, Texas, or near there, Ft. Worth, Texas and Bosque County, Texas.

(3) The scared feeling she and the other children experienced as those times Indians were sighted in the Oklahoma segment of their journey.

(4) Ft. Worth was a very small town when they passed through.

From Aunt Lee’s remembrances and a small booklet pertaining to the Kellison family, it appears the following families were in the wagon train:

(1) Jacob Myers, wife and children

(2) John W. Myers, wife and children

(3) James Peter “Pete” and Abraham “Abe” Myers

(4) Robert L. Kellison, wife Hannah Myers and their children

(5) William Kellison, possibly his wife, and two single children

(6) John Kellison, wife and children

(7) James H. Baxter, wife Mary “Polly” Kellison and children

(8) James Green, wife Sarah Kellison and children

(9) Davidson family (cousins of the Kellisons)

(10) Lawson family (cousins of the Kellisons)

The only record found as to the date of their journey is the year 1874 left by the descendant of Uncle Will Baxter. It would have had to taken place in the last half of this year, for Uncle Charley Myers was born the 11^th of May, 1874 in Miller County, Missouri. Most of the families had small children, which must have restricted their daily distance traveled.

Upon their arrival in Bosque County, Texas, be it 1874 or 1875, most of the families appear to have settled near Meridian and possibly to the west and northwest toward Walnut Springs, Texas. They were all farmers by occupation; however during the off-season John W. Myers and his two brothers, Pete and Abe, worked building rock fences.

Edgar and Gladys Myers Family 1957

This short video is from 8mm film that was converted to digital. It was probably filmed around 1957 at the home of Edgar and Gladys Myers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDWTJjnAlvI&feature=youtu.be

John Philip Harless, Sr.

In 1738, my 6^th great grandparents John Philip Harless, Sr. and Anna Margarette Preisch Harless, along with her brothers (Johann) Michael, (William) Augustine, Henry and Daniel, immigrated to America. They sailed from Rotterdam at the mouth of the Rhine River in Holland to Philadelphia on a galley called Winter (often called the Winter Galley). On 5th September 1738 in Philadelphia, Philip made his oath of allegiance, a requirement of all male immigrants aged over 18 at that time.

The situation in 1738 was quite different and earned the reputation as the Year of the Destroying Angels. The reference was to Psalm 78, verse 49, "He let loose on them his fierce anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels." Events were so horrible that the fatalist mind needed a response.

The six thousand plus emigrants for North America during that year were generally not part of a colonization scheme of any government or proprietor. The would-be emigrants were following a pattern that had evolved since 1717 which had become the typical way of reaching English colonies in America. The emigrants banded together in family and often in village groups and set out for Rotterdam or Amsterdam where they expected to find British ships to take them on to America. Every year a number of British ships, returning with colonial staples, were available for such transport on their way back to America. Passengers were taken aboard after merely signing a contract to pay their fares within a designated time after arrival. This redemptioner system had proven satisfactory for all. Payment could be made by the passengers themselves in cash, from the proceeds of the sale of goods brought along for that purpose, or by relatives and friends already in America, or, what was becoming increasingly common, by parties to whom they indentured themselves to work off the cost of passage.

Preparation for the 1738 emigration season by the shippers was made in the preceding fall and winter months. Germans and Swiss returning for home visits or for purchasing goods needed in the new settlements were approached by shipping firms and individual captains to serve as recruiters. Handsome head premiums and the promise of free return passage for themselves and their goods turned many an incidental traveler into an emissary for shippers and land speculators. These people soon became known as "newlanders."

Read more about the immigration from Germany -- http://www.cjroots.com/52ancestors-john-philip-harless-1738-german-palatine-immigrant-to-america/

For additional information about John Philip Harless, Sr. and Anna Margarette Preisch Harless click on the link below --

John Philip Harless, 1738 German Palatine Immigrant to America

Jacob Myers

Jacob Myers was born on February 10, 1827, in Stoddard, Missouri, to Peter Henry Myers, age 28. Jacob married Susan Tankersly in Stoddard, Missouri, in 1845 when he was 18 years old. When he was 19 years old his son John W. Myers was born in 1846 in Stoddard, Missouri. At the age of 21 his son James Peter Myers was born in 1848 in Dallas, Missouri. In 1850, when he was 23 years old, Jacob lived in  District 26, Dallas, Missouri.

When Jacob was 24 years old, his daughter Hannah M. Myers was born on December 25, 1851, in Dallas, Missouri. At age 27, his son Abraham Jacob Myers was born on March 17, 1854, in Dallas, Missouri. The same years his wife Susan Tankersly Myers passed away in 1854 in Dallas, Missouri, at the age of 25. They had been married 9 years.

When he was 28 years old  he  married Deborah Deby Bly in Dallas, Missouri, in 1855 when he was 28 years old. At age 29 his daughter Paralea Sarah Myers was born in 1856 in Missouri. When he was 31 his child Elizabeth Myers was born in 1858 in Missouri. At age 32 his daughter Rachel Myers was born in 1859 in Missouri. When Jacob Myers was 33 years old he lived in 1860 in Jasper, Dallas, Missouri.

When he was 40 years old his daughter Sarah C. Myers was born in 1867 in Missouri. At age 43 he lived in 1870 in Richwoods, Miller, Missouri. When Jacob was 44 years old his father Peter Henry Myers passed away in 1871 in Dallas, Missouri, at the age of 72. At age 46 his daughter Barbara M. Myers was born in 1873 in Missouri. When he was 47 years old his son George Melvin was born on February 14, 1874, in Springfield, Missouri.

In 1880, when he was 53 years old, Jacob Myers lived in Hamilton, Texas. The same year his son James Peter Myers passed away in Dallas, Missouri, at the age of 32. Jacob Myers lived in Texas during the Apache Wars, when white settlers and native Apache battled for control of the area. In 1886 when he was 59 years old his son John W. Myers passed away in 1886 in Bosque, Texas, at the age of 40. Jacob Myers died on March 30, 1886, in Texas when he was 59 years old. He was buried at Evant, Hamilton County, Texas

The Third Letter Narcissus Graham

(It has been 4 month and 4 days since the second letter)

 Morristown

 Feb.7, 1780 (Monday)

Capt. John Harmon att Suffield in Connecticut, Favor of Sam’l AllenWorthy Capt.

I shall improve this opertunity as a favorable one to salute the news of your Resigning, which reached my Ears the 18th of January, as I came to Camp.

I’ll relate the march I had from Salem, which continued from the 14th to the above date. The 14th I set out with little resolution & gave over the thoughts of ever reaching Camp, but I made ahead as far as Haits, which was ten miles. The Snow was far beyond whatever I did see. In general, up to my knees & some worse & better. My Eyes gave Vent to ease the heavyclod which is heaped in my Breast, of Misery & Distress.

The 16^th in like manner but with the greatest Vexation & Perplexity. (The) 16th I got 18 miles over the River, as far as Soverrends with two Weary Travelers.

The 17th went 31 miles, within nine miles of Camp.

18th I came to Camp, but before this I see Dady at his Quarters, who informed me of your Resigning & being gone home, which I could not hardly believe before he repeated it several times.

 It wounded me to the bottom of heart. Horror, Dispare & Fear increased with no Ease. I felt like one in Dispare, Raving at the thought of Desolation & upon the Brink of Distruction. O pity a Cruel Unfortunate. Hardships fatigue me not, O heart, & be still o’ mind. O My Dearest Capt., I have hope to believe that your mind won’t slip & forgit me, but excuse my unworthiness. I do hope that you will assist in getting me out of the Service & I do request your making Robert hire me a man & don’t let the want or thought of money Spare. I do believe you won’t forget what time you spent here the last time you was in Camp. It’s a little better here now, for we have Provision more Plentyer than then – even to a Supply. But, Dear Sir, a Body has as good Starve as Freeze. Consider my situation, in this inclement Season, without any Supply of Clothing to the least Individual Ragg, nor an’t likely to git anything. I ha’nt a Shoe to my feet of my own. Lt. Fanning says it an’t likely that any Clothing will Come in very soon which by Necessity will Render me very miserable in this Cold Weather. Can heartily wish never to draw another Ragg if I could possibly git Clear from the Service. But, Honored Sir, I ask your repeated Pardons for taking the boldness to write & to subscribe myself your well-wisher & unworthy & begging, Humble Servt

Narcissus Graham

P.S. Be pleased to give my Duty, love & Kind Complyments to all inquiring Friends. I am in usual health at present & the rest of the company in like manner. I have tried to hire a man but I can’t git any. I should be glad that you would tell Dady I had not time to write as I began your (letter) first. I conclude with the kindest Complyment to yourself & Family. Allen has got a Discharge & I have another opertunity unexpected & there fore I shall write one to Dady. 

The Second Letter Narcissus Graham

(2 years 3 months and 16 days have passed since  Narcissus wrote the previous letter.)

Nelson’s Point

Aug. 3, 1779 (Saturday)

Rev’d Father: Sir:

In short – I am unwell, but not so but that I have been about & done my Duty till now, but hope (I am) gitting better. My kind Duty to your Self & Spouse, my love to Brothers & Sisters.

I should have wrote to the rest if had time & therefore must be excused, not having but two or three minets. I received the things that was sent me by Capt. Harmon, which I humbly thank for.

I was at Salem, at Uncle Robert’s, & all well. Cozen Robert has been very unfortunate in & by the art of War. He went out in the Militia & was taken & carried into York Gaol, where I suppose he remains to this Day.

The Army are in good health & in enraged Spirits against those thieves of the Country who waste & destroy the towns & plunder the People. If it wa’nt for those blood-thirsty Tories who lead on to destroy, the Country would have been free this two years, if they had been out of the way.

Subscribing my Self, your Affectionate Son,

Nar. Graham

P.S. I hope & wish that I shall be free soon, for my Mind runs to & fro like a Crazey man, my nature gives faster than age Requires. I find that I can’t travel, not steady, more than twelve miles in a day.

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Some insights to life in 1799

http://foygonebefore.blogspot.com/

From 1799 Newspapers

08/08/1799 Maryland Gazette

08/06/1799 Poughkeepsie Journal (New York)

http://newspapers.com