Robert Harrison (abt. 1755 - 1822)

Born about 1755 in Virginia

Died 1822 at about age 67 in Greene, Indiana, United States

Biography

Robert Harrison, the son of William Harrison of Virginia and Ohio, is said to have been born about 1755 in Virginia.^[1]

Robert married as his first wife, Keziah Van Meter. Their children were:^[1]

• Cynthia Harrison
• Anna Harrison
• Joseph Valentine Harrison
• Arey Thomas Harrison
• Vienna Harrison
• Clarissa Harrison
• Permelia Harrison

Robert lived for a short time in Ohio Couty, Virginia (now West Virginia), then moved to Kentucky about 1791. He was the founder of the town of Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.^[1] It is said that he named the town for his two oldest daughters.^[1][2]

Sometime aroud 1800 Robert and Rebecca moved to Ohio, first to Portsmouth, then to Fayette County.^[1]

Robert moved again, around 1819 to Sullivan County, Indiana area. Robert, James, and Wiliam Harrison were among the earliest settlers in the area. ^[1] In 1820 Robert and family appeared in the US Census for Vigo County, Indiana, which had been created out of Sullivan County.^[3]

Robert died in Greene County, Indiana in 1822. ^[1]

Research Notes

Sources cited for Robert Harrison on "Robert Harrison - Foun[der] Family Tree", Ancestry.com include:^[4]

Chronciles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in VA Extracted from the original Cour Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, p. 403

Quote: "Augusta County Court Records Order Book No. XXIV "William Woods vs. Robert Harrison and William Handley. 28th June 1794. I, Robert Harrison, of Burbon County, Kentucky, 1793. Harrison no inhabitant."

Deed Book B; Records 1808-1812, Cynthiana Court Records p. 78

Quote: "I, Robert Harrison, formerly of Harrison County, KY, now of the state of Ohio, and wife, Rebecca Harrison, by contract some years ago...purchased 1/2 of all John Mellon's claim...also all powers...lands opposite...settlement...on which the town of Cynthiana was laid out...interests in the settlement etc....agreeable to laws...December 10, 1793. It is asked here whether this Robert and Rebecca Harrison may be the parents of Cynthiana and Ann Harrison, for whom the town of Cythiana, KY was named?"

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Christensen, Anthony J. A branch of the Piscataway Dunn family: a few members of the Dunn family whose branches spread from Pisctaqua, New Hampshire, to Piscataway, New Jersey, to Southwestern Pennsylvania, to Harrison County, Kentucky, and to points West. (Salem, Utah: Mac Anthony Corp., c1998) p. 5-8
2. ↑ Boyd, L. (Mrs.). Chronicles of Cynthiana : and other chronicles. (Cincinnati, Ohio: Robert Clarke & Co, 1894) pp. 7-8.
   Cynthiana was named for Cynthia and Anna Harrison, daughters of Robert Harrison
   Quoting the History of Harrison County:
   "But Robert Harrison soon sold out his right to the soil here, for his farm was already, in 1793, laid out into convenient streets and alleys, . . . and he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio.
3. ↑ "Vigo, Indiana", in United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33) Page: 190.
   Robert Harrison, 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 18-25, 4 males 26-44, 1 male 45 and over; 2 females 16-25; 1 male slave, 14-25;
   1 person engaged in agriculture; 4 persons engaged in Manufacture
4. ↑ Robert Harrison - Foun(der) Family Tree], by SEBorre, Ancestry.com Public Trees, accessed 6 Nov 2021

See also:

• First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.