Conrad Harness (bef. 1728 - abt. 1758)

Born before 1728 in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Died about 1758 after about age 30 in Hampshire Co., VA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Dee Christophel D'Errico [send private message], Sara Patton [send private message], and Bernie Cinkoske [send private message]

Biography

Although there are no known birth records for Conrad Harness, we know that when he was selected to be on a coroner's Jury which met on 14 April 1749, he'd have had to be at least 21 by law--and thus born before 1728 when his parents still lived in the Tulpehocken settlement in what is now Berks Co, PA.

No documents have yet been found to suggest when or who he married. Many family histories claim he married a Mary/Molly Yoakum/Yocum and had a daughter, both of whom were killed when he was. Unfortunately there is no marriage record or other documentation that give the wife's name or child's gender. Only the inventory and appraisement of Conrad's estate showed such personal items as "two womans Gowns," four Pettycoats" and "Childs Cloaths" to testify to a marriage and a child.

Conrad was a well respected member of the South Branch Valley community. In addition to serving on the coroner's jury, he was appointed as an appraiser for several estates, and was nominated to receive a commission as a lieutenant in the militia.

There are at least 3 different stories as to how and when Conrad died. All agree that he and his child (some claim it was a daughter; others include his wife) were killed by Indians. Most claim his death occurred in 1764 but the initial bond to administer his estate was signed by his brother Michael on December 14, 1757, right in the middle of the French and Indian War. A SECOND bond, dated Feb 1764 was later signed by another brother-- John-- to finally settle Conrad's estate, as brother Michael had also been killed by Indians in August 1763.

Versions of the Legend: Conrad, his wife and baby daughter, were returning from Fort Pleasant (Van Meter's)after the baby's baptism when the Indians suddenly jumped out of the woods, grabbed his daughter and wife, who screamed "Conrad!" He rode up to assist them and was shot under the chin by the Indians who then killed his wife and child. The remains of the little girl were not found for three years. He is said to have been buried with his two brothers, Adam and Michael Jr. also killed by Indians. They (and other two brothers) were buried in family burial ground near Harness home in Hardy Co. Burial ground last identified in 1976.

Another version is that sometime between 1757-1763, Conrad and his wife and daughter were on way home from a big party at Van Meter's when they were attacked. The Indians took Conrad to Ft. Harness and scalped him in front of his mother. They also killed his wife and daughter, who had begun to cry, and was grabbed by her feet and dashed against a tree. Body found several years later and identified by a necklace around her neck.

According to Mrs. Black's 1872 letter, Conrad, his wife, and child were "all killed at one time by the Indians. All three were tomahawked and scalped: and found and carried to the Fort, and died in their mother(')s presence." In her 1873 letter, Mrs. Black writes, "Conrad's wife and child were killed at the same time and their remains were found 3 years to a day by a mulatto woman and her gold purse, clasp and scissors chain, the silk rotted from the purse and the money gone."

William Fisher told an entirely different story about the deaths in his early 1879 letter. His account claimed that the wife was rescued from the Indians after the child's death.

The inventory of Conrad's estate was filed 11 May 1763. 1764 - Inventory of Conrad Harness, decd- No amount but included carpenter tools and fabrics for quilts. signed Richard Barn, Thomas Parsons & George Z ( his mark) See.

Dec 12, 1764 -- Estate of Conrad Harness, decd, examined and settled by Capt John Harness amounting to L156 and 8 shillings. Appraisers: Felix Seymour, Jonathan Heath, and Thomas Parsons, recorded March 12?, 1765.

For more detail, documentation and analysis, please see John Tevebaugh's discussion of Conrad Harness from "JOHANN MICHAEL ERNST HOERNER." by John L. Tevebaugh. http://www.wvgenweb.org/hardy/harness/sonch.htm

Sources

"JOHANN MICHAEL ERNST HOERNER." by John L. Tevebaugh. http://www.wvgenweb.org/hardy/harness/sonch.htm

"Appraisement of Estate of Conrad Harness" 11 May 1763, in Hampshire County Court Records, 1736-1785, Box 1, Envelope 6 [5 pages]; [LDS microfilm # 0186352].

George Trumbo's undated interview in the Draper Manuscripts, 12CC, 113-114.See

Helen Black, Letter to Jesse Cunningham May 30, 1873. Two other letters attributed to her, dated October 29, 1872, and May 30, 1878[?1873], both tell slightly different, and less detailed, versions of family tradition, and those two seem to contain items added by others.

William Fisher's letter written 8 March 1879, transcribed by George Williams.

Martin L. Yokum, The Harness Family, 1980, 32.

Helen Yoakum Black Letters (contributed by Sara Patton)