Virginia – Colleen & Jeff's Roots

#52Ancestors: The Revolutionary War Pension Affidavit of 5th Great-Grandfather Ferdinand Harless

My 27th entry in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” family history blogging challenge for 2015.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.

Amy’s 2015 version of this challenge focuses on a different theme each week.

The theme for week 27 is – Independent: This is the week for Independence Day! Which one fought for (or against) America’s independence? Or which of your ancestors was independent?

I am still playing catch-up on this challenge, due to the Boston University genealogy research certificate course taking up all of my spare time this summer. Hence, the belated reference to Independence Day.

My 27th ancestor is my husband Jeff’s 5th great grandfather Ferdinand Harless (1755-1853), who served as a patriot in the Revolutionary War.

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I wrote about Ferdinand’s Revolutionary War service and pension file last year, in the 2014 version of this blog challenge. However, at that time, I struggled with reading the 1834 handwritten document, and I was not too familiar with analyzing these types of records. Fast forward 13-1/2 months to today, and thanks to the Boston University program in which I am currently enrolled, transcribing and analyzing the files is a piece of cake. A piece of cake rich with biographical information about my husband’s 5th great grandfather. So I am revisiting the research I did last year.

Following is a verbatim transcription of Ferdinand Harless’s sworn affidavit applying for his pension for service in the Revolutionary War.² My corrections and annotations are noted in [brackets], but no modifications are made to original spelling, punctuation, or grammar. I have opted to insert a blank line between paragraphs instead of using the record’s indentation style, simply for ease of reading in a blog format.

Soldier’s Affidavit

Harless Ferdinand Revolutionary War Pension Application — Page 1 of the 3-page affidavit.³

State of Virginia
Giles Country
SS

On this 22nd day of March 1834 personaly [personally] appeared before me Robert M. Hutcheson a Justice of the Peace in and for said county Ferdenan Harless a resident of said county aged seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on the oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832—That in the Spring of 1777 in the County of Bottetourt [Botetourt] in that part that is now Montgomary [Montgomery] County Virginia—he volunteered to serve against the Indians and served as herein stated and under the command of the following named officers—That owing to the envations [invasions] and depredations of the Indians committed on the Inhabitants along the frontier settlements of western Virginia the people was compelle[d] to erect Fort and station men in there for their defense—that for this purpose in the spring of 1777 as above stated—he volunteered under the command of Capt Floyd and served in a garrison situated in the County of Bottetourt [Botetourt] Virginia at a place called Smithfield in that part of the county that is now Montgomary [Montgomery]

That he served in this garrison from the 1st of April 1777 until the first of October of the same year

That there was a regulary [regularly] embodied corps stationed in garrison with him under the command Captain Floyd and Col Preston was there—That the nature of his servis [service] was to remain in Fort for its defense in case it was attacted [attacked] by the Indians or to hold themselves in readiness to repore [report] to the assistance of any other Fort that might be attacted [attacked] by the Indians

That again in the Spring of 1778 volunteered and served under the command of the same officers above named and served in the same garrison (at smith field) from the first april 1778 until the 1st of October—and that the nature of this servises [services] this year was the same as the year former and

That in the spring of 1779 he volunteered and served from the 1st of April until the first of October under the command of Capt Lucas and was stationed in a garrison situated on sinking creek a tributary stream of New River then in the county of Bottetourt [Botetourt] in that part that is now Giles

That he volunteered in the springs of 1780 & 81 and served from the first of April until the 1st of October in each year in the last named garrison under the command of Captain Lucas

That the nature of his servis [service] was to remain in garrison for its defence [defense] and to range and reconnoiter in spying parties to watch the approach of Indians That the company to which he belonged was divided and a part remained garrison with him some was stationed in a garrison situated at the mouth of sinking creek & also some was stationed in a garrison the mouth of stoney creek both tributary streams of New river all within the same neighbourhood [neighborhood] owing to the scarsity [scarcity] of men in these new settlements there could not be a sufficient number of men raised to defend these points until there was men drafted and brought out either from Augustia [Augusta] or Franklin Counties and stationed in those Fort

That he was one of the early settlers of western Virginia and had to endure much of the hardships of Indian warfare—That he recollects a party of Indians given chace [chase] after Martin Harless and that he narrowly escaped and arrive[d] in the Fort after a race of 3 or 4 miles then he recollects of the murder and the taken into captivity many of his neighbours [neighbors] among whom was of the Families of Sybrook Chapman & McKindsy and a number of other a Daughter of Sybrooks was skelped [scalped] and beate [beat] on the head with a war club and found living next morning and when she was found asked for a drink of water and soon after expired—in seanes [scenes] like these he passed through the Revolutionary [Revolution] or at least up until the fall of 1781 after which time he declined to be engaged against them.

That the time time he served was with an embodied corps that during which time he followed no civil persuit [pursuit]

That he can support his declaration by the evidence of Philip Harless Parker Lucas and Daniel Harless who served in garrison with him

1st he was born in the county of Shenadore [Shenandoah] Virginia in the year 1755—2d he has no record of his age

3d he was living that part of of Bottetort [Botetourt] Virginia in that part that is now Montgomary [Montgomery] since the revolutionary war he has lived in that part of Bottetort [Botetourt] that is now Giles—4th he volunteered 5th in the years 1777 & 78 Col Preston and Captain Floyd—after 1778 Captain Lucas—6th he never received a written discharge 7th Rev Isaac Scott and Robert W Dennis can testify to my character for varasity [veracity] He [appears to be a mistake, the start of the next line]

He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state—sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Ferdinand Harless X his mark

And I Robert M. Hutcheson a Justice of the peace in and for said county do hereby declare my opinion that the above named applicant served against the Indians as he states

Robert M Hutchisan J P

RESEARCH TIP: Revolutionary War Pension Application Dates On 7 June 1832, Congress passed an act allowing all Revolutionary War veterans, and their widows, to apply for pension benefits. Prior to this act, only those disabled in service had been eligible for pension benefits. Therefore, it was not unusual for a veteran or widow to apply for a pension forty-nine years or more after the war ended.⁵

Next Steps

This pension application raises a number of additional questions about Ferdinand Harless.

Why was his original pension application rejected?
What change occurred that allowed his application to eventually be approved?
Was he illiterate, since he signed his mark rather than his name?
Or was the 79 year old veteran just too ill (possibly losing or having already lost his eyesight) to sign his name by this time?

Sources

Travel Tuesday: Hanging Out With Revolutionary War Hero and Cousin Nathanael Greene

Jeff and Nathanael Greene at US Capitol — Jeff posing with his 3rd cousin 7 times removed Major General Nathanael Greene, on exhibit in the Crypt of the U.S. Capitol.

This past October my husband and I accompanied my parents on a 10 day vacation in Washington D.C., Shenandoah National Park, and much of Virginia. This was the same trip in which we visited my husband Jeff’s ancestral home of Jamestown Colony, where his 11th great grandparents settled after immigrating from England in the 17th century.

The trip allowed us to also visit some spots associated with his 3rd cousin 7 times removed, Revolutionary War hero Major General Nathanael Greene (1742-1786 ). During the D.C. portion of the vacation, Jeff had lined up a tour of the Capitol Building for us on our first day. Jeff told me just prior to the tour that located throughout the building are statues of two significant individuals from every state, and that one of the Rhode Island statues was that of Nathanael Greene. So he wanted to make sure we got to see it and would get a photo with it.

We were pleasantly surprised to encounter two additional Nathanael Greene spots on vacation, at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (also on day one in D.C.), and in Greene County, Virginia just outside of Shenandoah National Park.

Jeff and Nathanael Greene - Smithsonian — Ran across Nathanael mentioned in an exhibit at the Smithsonian.

Jeff Greene at Greene County Virginia — Jeff trekked across brush to pose next to this roadside sign on Highway 33.

We didn’t even realize there was a Greene County in the vicinity when we planned the vacation. Upon checking into our Massanutten, Virginia timeshare, I noticed the county identified on a map of the area. When I showed Jeff, we realized we would drive through the county at least a couple of times on planned roadtrips. We did a bit of quick research on the county, trying to determine what the tie is to Nathanael. Did he live there at some point? Did he have family from there? Nope…the county was just a big enough fan to name itself after the hero.

On the morning we set out for Jamestown, Jeff was thrilled to spot a big “Come To Greene” sign along Highway 33, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. We of course had to stop so he could get a photo by it.

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#52Ancestors: Hanging Out in Jamestown Settlement with 11th Great Grandfather Richard Pace

Plaque honoring Chanco and Richard Pace.

My 35th entry in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks family history blogging challenge.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.

I have fallen way behind in this challenge again due to continued health issues the last few months, but I am trying to catch up by the end of the year.

My 35th ancestor is my husband’s 11th great grandfather, Richard Pace (1583-1627), who is credited with saving the colonial settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. I discovered and started investigating this Richard Pace back in April 2012, when I first wrote about a new research lead. Since that first post, I have done more research, and have spoken with several cousins of Jeff who already knew this family connection and have researched it themselves.

Back during those initial investigations, I found out that there is a plaque dedicated to Richard Pace in the church on the National Park’s Jamestown settlement site.

Visiting Jamestown

Well, last month, Jeff and I finally got to visit the historic Jamestown, Virginia colonial settlement site as part of a 10 day Virginia and Washington, DC vacation with my parents. Early this year, my parents invited us to stay a week with them in their Shenandoah Valley timeshare. Jeff and I jumped at the offer for free lodging, scheduled a few extra days on the trip for all of us to visit DC, and started scouting out day trip options from the timeshare. We realized getting out to Jamestown would be quite the long drive (it turned into a 16-hour day!), but we also recognized that this might be our best chance at visiting Jamestown anytime in the near future. We just couldn’t pass up soaking in the history of that area, and we especially could not pass up getting to walk where Jeff’s ancestor walked, viewing the famous river he crossed to warn and save the town, and getting a first hand look at the dedicated plaque.

Jeff posing next to the plaque honoring Chanco and Jeff's 11th great grandfather Richard Pace. — Jeff posing next to the plaque that honors his 11th great grandfather.

Richard Pace is credited with saving Jamestown from a 1622 Indian massacre. After learning from his Indian servant Chanco about the plot, Pace rowed across the James River to warn the settlement.

The plaque is primarily a tribute to Chanco, with Pace mentioned in a much less prominent placement and font size. I, of course, had to tease Jeff about this. Jealousy. My ancestors were peasants. We saw evidence of his prominent ancestors throughout the entire vacation.

A view inside the church. Jeff is on the left, reading the plaque honoring his ancestor.

This is not the same church (constructed in 1617) that Jeff’s ancestors would have attended. However, this “newer” church (partially built in 1639) is on the site of that original church. So even though Richard Pace and his family never walked or worshiped in this building, it was still pretty cool to go inside one of the oldest European structures in the United States.

National Historic Site plaque on the exterior of the church. — National Historic Site marker on the church.

Jamestown was founded on 4 May 1607, and was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. The Jamestown obelisk was built in 1907, as a tercentennial monument to the founding of Jamestown.

One of the inscribed sides of the obelisk.

Our awesomely funny, entertaining, and knowledgeable docent tells us the history of Jamestown settlement. — Our awesomely funny, entertaining, and knowledgeable park ranger guide.

After the guided talk was done, Jeff and I had to take the opportunity to ask our ranger about Jeff’s ancestor. The ranger was thrilled to tell us that Richard Pace is one of her very favorite people from Jamestown history. But, it quickly became clear that she is an even bigger fan of Chanco, Pace’s Indian servant, and wants to write a book aobut Chanco when retired.

Site of the old fort, which until recently was though to be lost under the river.

Archaeological dig site. — Constant reminders that Jamestown is an active archaeological site. It sent chills up our spines to think that these archaeologists might be unearthing items that Jeff’s ancestors touched.

Pace’s Paines Plantation

Richard Pace, wife Isabella Smyth (1589-1637), and their son George Pace (1609-1655) immigrated from England sometime before 1618. Pace was not among the original settlers of Jamestown, but was among the earliest.

Pace and Smyth received one of the first land grants in the Colony of Virginia, as part of the headright system implemented in 1618, which granted lands to settlers who migrated from England and remained in the colony for at least three years. Recipients of these early land grants were referred to as Ancient Planters. Pace and Smyth — each granted 100 acres — registered a patent on 5 December 1620 for 200 acres located across the James River from the settlement, founding their “Pace’s Paines” plantation, now part of Mount Pleasant Plantation, a private non-profit-owned property (not open for public tours) in Spring Grove, Virginia.

Our family planned to drive by Mount Pleasant Plantation (and get a photograph with that sign, too) after a lunch stop at Cape Henry and Virginia Beach, but it was getting late, and there is no quick route to that area across the river. And we still had to hit Yorktown battlefield. So Jeff and I will have to visit the site of Pace’s Paines on another trip to the beautiful state of Virgnia.

Looking across the James River. Richard Pace's "Pace's Paines" lands were located on the far bank. — Looking across the James River. Pace’s Paines was located on the far bank.

Paces Paines sign — Historic marker designating the location of Pace’s Paines, the lands Richard Pace registered in 1620. Public Domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

Historical Perspective

To put Pace’s Jamestown life and properties in historical perspective, he and Smyth arrived around the time that famous Pocahontas died (1617) while she and her husband John Rolfe and son were living in England. Rolfe died in 1622, two years after Pace and Smyth registered their land patent. Rolfe and Pocahontas, and later Rolfe and his second wife, also owned lands across the James River from the Jamestown settlement.

Richard Pace died in 1625.

Public domain 1850s painting of John Rolfe and Pocahontas, from Wikimedia Commons.

No, not Jeff’s 11th great grandfather Richard Pace. The famous John Smith. Incorrectly portrayed as the object of Pocahontas’s love in the Disney movie, instead of her real husband John Rolfe.

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Census Sunday: Ferdinand Harless In the 1850 U.S. Census

I blogged recently about my husband’s 5th great grandfather Ferdinand HARLESS (1755-1853) and his Revolutionary War service. In this post, I take a look at Harless in the 1850 U.S. Census, the final Census he was enumerated in since he died three years later.

Ferdinand is the grandson of Anna Margaretha “Margaret” PREISS [Price], the grandfather of Miles (Myles) Washington HARLESS (1826-1891), the great grandfather of Leonard Jackson HARLESS (1858-1946), and the third great grandfather of Jean Alice HARLESS (1912-2011).

1850 U.S. Census, Giles County, Virginia. Source: Ancestry.com.

Harless and his household were enumerated in the 1850 U.S. Census on 31 July 1850. No specific town or locality is referenced, just District 20 in Giles County, Virginia. His was the 214th home and family visited by the Census worker. The family is identified as “free inhabitants” of the district. Census details for the household:

(Line 2) Harless, Ferdinand:

Age: 97
Sex: Male
Profession: Farmer
Place of Birth: Virginia.

(Line 3) Harless, Elizabeth B. (not stated, but Ferdinand’s daughter):

Age: 67
Sex: Female
Profession: None stated
Place of Birth: Virginia

(Line 4) Harless, Margaret

Age: 46
Sex: Female
Profession: None stated
Place of Birth: Virginia
Unable to read or write.
A pauper

(Line 4) Harless, Valana

Age: 5
Sex: Male
Profession: Farmer (identified as such as 5 years old)
Place of Birth: Virginia
A pauper

I am not sure who Margaret and Valana are; since they are not in my direct ancestral line, I haven’t done research on Ferdinand’s daughter Elizabeth. Unfortunately, in 1850, the U.S. Census did not yet identify household relationships. But perhaps Margaret and Valana are Elizabeth’s daughter and grandson. I find it interesting that 46 year old Margaret and 5 year old Valana are identified as paupers, and that Margaret cannot read or write.

According to FamilySearch, Giles County was created 16 January 1806 from Montgomery, Monroe County (West Virginia), Tazewell and Wythe Counties.

I am not sure where exactly in Giles County Ferdinand lived (the Census just states District 20), but from this video produced by the county, it looks like a gorgeous area in which my husband and I would greatly enjoy hiking and other outdoors activities while conducting a family history tour! Other family histories and record compilations claim that Ferdinand lived in the Clover Hallow area of Giles County, on land adjoining his father’s property on Sinking Creek. If you recall from his Revolutionary War activities, Ferdinand served at the garrison at Sinking Creek from 1 April 1 October 1779.

#52Ancestors: Ferdinand Harless On Indian Patrol During the Revolutionary War

My 25th entry in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” family history blogging challenge.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.

Giles County, Virginia Revolutionary War Monument, on the grounds of the county courthouse.
Photo borrowed from Grandpa’s Footsteps blog.

My 25th ancestor is my husband’s 5th great grandfather Ferdinand HARLESS (1755-1853), who served in the Revolutionary War — in honor of the Fourth of July.

Ferdinand is the grandson of Anna Margaretha “Margaret” PREISS [Price], the grandfather of Miles (Myles) Washington HARLESS (1826-1891), the great grandfather of Leonard Jackson HARLESS (1858-1946), and the third great grandfather of Jean Alice HARLESS (1912-2011).

Harless was born in Virginia. Different sources give different locations. Some accounts say Frederick County, which was established in 1743 and includes parts of present-day Shenandoah County (established in 1772). Other accounts claim he was born in Shenandoah. It is not clear if that is the county or the town, but since the town was not founded until 1837 and does not reside within Shenandoah County, my hunch is that Harless was born in Frederick County, in an area that is now part of Shenandoah County. I need to dig through records myself to verify this.

Regardless of birth place, Ferdinand Harless lived the latter years of his life, and died in, Giles County, Virginia (established 1806). It is here, on the grounds of the county courthouse that Harless has been memorialized on a Revolutionary War monument.

The name of Ferdinand Harless is located in the bottom left section of the plaque.
Photo borrowed from Grandpa’s Footsteps blog.

On 7 June 1832, Congress passed an act allowing all Revolutionary War veterans, and their widows, to apply for pension benefits. Prior to this act, only those disabled in service had been eligible for pension benefits. It is through these records that we know about Harless’s Revolutionary War service. The pension files (application number R4612) are available on both Fold3 and Ancestry.com. It appears that Ferdinand’s application was initially rejected, but then eventually awarded. He applied for his pension at 79 years of age, in 1834.

First page of the sworn testimony submitted by Harless in his pension application. Written by the Justice of the Peace, not Harless. Source: Fold3.com.

Page 3 of the application includes Harless’s mark, indicating he could not sign his name. Source: Fold3.com.

Sadly, what looks like a digitized pension certificate is illegible.
Source: Ancestry.com

The handwritten testimony provides an account of Ferdinand’s service in the war. But the handwriting is a bit difficult to read. Fortunately, the Pritchard publication (cited below) on the Harless family history types out the details.

Ferdinand Harless volunteered in spring 1777 for the Virginia Militia in Botetourt County (in an area now part of Montgomery County, according to his brother’s pension application). Apparently residents of that area were having difficulties with the local Indian population. Harless spent his entire war service protecting the garrison (near Smithfield). “That the nature of his services was to remain in the Fort for its defense in case it were attacked by Indians, and to hold himself in readiness to go to the assistance of any other Fort that might be attacked.” He served in the Smithfield area from 1 April to 1 October 1777, and then again from 1 April to 1 October 1778. He provided similar service from 1 April to 1 October 1779 in the garrison at Sinking Creek, Virginia, and finally from 1 April to 1 October 1880 in the garrison at Stony Creek. Ferdinand didn’t just defend the garrisons, he also performed reconnaissance with spying parties to watch for approaching Indians.

Map courtesy of the Botetourt County Historical Society.

It appears that Harless was given this duty assignment because as one of the early settlers of Virginia, he had grown up accustomed to dealing with the hardships of Indian warfare.

In his application, Ferdinand Harless claims that he has no record of his birth, and never received any formal written discharge from service.

For Further Reading

Pritchard, J. L. R. (1962). Harless genealogy, John Philip and Anna Margaretha (Preiss) Harless;pioneers in western Virginia and some of their descendents, ([2d ed.].). Cupertino? Calif.]. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89066181694

#52Ancestors: William Pace, Member of George Washington’s Revolutionary War Elite Bodyguard Unit

Washington's Life Guard — Banner of the Guard, illustrated by Benson Lossing, 1852.
Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

My 7th week in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” family history blogging challenge.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.

This week’s ancestor is my husband’s 5th great grandfather, William Henry Pace (1745-1815). I have not spent much of my own time researching this line of my husband’s lineage because it has already been heavily documented and DAR certified by other family historians due to the family’s, and in particular, this ancestor’s, role in the Revolutionary War.

But, in honor of yesterday’s federal holiday celebrating the birthday of President George Washington, I am sharing this particular era in William Henry Pace’s history. Because it is possible that were it not for my husband’s ancestor, Washington might not have lived to become our nation’s founding President.

Joining the Continental Army

William Henry Pace, from Goochland, Virginia, enlisted 23 January 1777 for a 3-year stint in the 14th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army (Godfrey, 1904) as a Private under the command of Captain Henry Conway and Colonel Charles Lewis (Godfrey and DAR). According to the FamilySearch Wiki, Captain Conway was in charge of the 4th Company.

Formation of the Commander-In-Chief’s Guard

Almost a year prior, on 11 March 1776, General George Washington–while overseeing the Siege of Boston–issued a General Order to his commanding officers directing them to select four men from each Continental Army regiment to form Washington’s personal guard (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association).

The unit was to assemble the next day at Army headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Washington’s Order gave specific instructions as to what type of men he was looking for.

His Excellency depends upon the Colonels for good Men, such as they can recommend for their sobriety, honesty, and good behaviour; he wishes them to be from five feet, eight Inches high, to five feet, ten Inches; handsomely and well made, and as there is nothing in his eyes more desireable, than Cleanliness in a Soldier, he desires that particular attention may be made, in the choice of such men, as are neat, and spruce.(General Order)

This elite bodyguard unit has been referred to by many titles. But the most common seem to be the formal name of Commander-In-Chief’s Guard used by the commanding officer, and the less formal name of Life Guard used by the enlisted men.

Most of the original Life Guard did not re-up for this assignment after the initial required one year term. Only a few volunteers remained by January 1777 when the Army was encamped at their Morristown, New Jersey winter quarters, requiring Washington to call up the formation of another guard unit (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association).

Joining the Commander-In-Chief’s Guard

Just three months after enlisting in the regular Continental Army, William Henry Pace was transferred on 6 May 1777 to to join this new guard unit in Morristown, New Jersey, under the command of Captain Caleb Gibbs (DAR and Godfrey).

Godfrey provides a detailed account of Pace’s service in the Guard unit:

(June and July 1777): Sick in the hospital.
(11 September 1777): Battle of Brandywine in Delaware.
(4 October 1777): Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania.
(28 June 1778): Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey.
(18 January 1779): Reenlisted and took a 110 day furlough.
(1 September 1779): Returned from furlough.
(7 June 1780): Battle of Connecticut Farms in New Jersey.
(3 July 1781): Skirmish of King’s Bridge in New Jersey.
(19 October 1781): Battle of Yorktown, in Virginia
(4 June 1783): Promoted to Sergeant.
(6 June 1783): Furloughed in Newburgh, New York, until ratification of the peace treaty.
(3 November 1783): Discharged.

Pace, along with the Guard unit, wintered with Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the brutal winter of 1777-1778 (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association).

William Pace Sr. Headstone — Pace is buried at at the Jones Cemetery in Scotts Valley, Virginia. Courtesy of Find A Grave.

William Pace Memorial Bridge — A commemorative sign marks the road along the cemetery. Courtesy of Find A Grave.

Sources Used

“General Order, 11 March 1776,” The Writings of George Washington, Vol. 4, ed. John C. Fitzpatrick (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office).

Godfrey, C. E. (1904). The Commander-in-chief’s Guard, Revolutionary War. Washington, D. C.: Stevenson-Smith company. Retrieved from http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008555358

Lossing, B. J. (1852). The Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution: Or, Illustrations, by Pen and Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence. Harper & Bros.

Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. (n.d.). Life Guards. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Retrieved February 18, 2014, from http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/life-guards

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. (n.d.). Ancestor Search | Pace, William. DAR Genealogical Research System. Database. Retrieved from http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/default.cfm

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#52Ancestors: Anna Margaretha “Margaret” Preiss (1718-1784)

Headstone erected posthumously for Margaret Price.

This week, I begin my journey participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” family history blogging challenge.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.

My first contribution to the challenge is from my husband’s family tree — the first female ancestor on his Preiss line (sometimes Americanized to “Price”) to immigrate to America — his 7th great grandmother Anna Margaretha “Margaret” Preiss [Price]. I have done almost no research on this particular ancestor, because a) I tend to spend more time on my family lines, and b) the descendants of Margaret Preiss and her husband Johan “John” Philip Harless [Harlas] have been heavily documented (and published) by other family historians.

Margaret was reportedly born in 1718 in Offenbach, Germany. She reportedly married John Philip Harless in 1738, also in Offenbach, and immigrated with him to Pennsylvania that same year. They had seven children together. Margaret reportedly died in 1784 in Christiansburg, Montgomery, Virginia. She is interred in what is now called Harless Cemetery, in Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia with her husband, their second oldest son, and that son’s wife.

Sources Cited

Find A Grave. (2006, May 9). John Phillip Harless, Sr. Retrieved from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14235076

Pritchard, J. L. R. (1962). Harless genealogy, John Philip and Anna Margaretha (Preiss) Harless: pioneers in western Virginia and some of their descendents (ebook.).