Jonathan Harlan (1755 - abt. 1841)

Born 8 Jun 1755 in West Marborough Twp., Chester, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail Harlan — married 24 Oct 1781 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Husband of Elizabeth (Fawcett) Harlan — married 1790 in Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died about 28 Jun 1841 at about age 86 in Scott Township, Lawrence, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Soozie Evans [send private message]

Biography

Jonathan is No. 443 n the Harlan Book^[1]

Jonathan was born in 1755 in West Marlborough Twp., Chester, Pennsylvania, the son of Jonathan Harland and his wife. Jonathan Harlan was a miller and farmer.

In 1768, Jonathan Harlan is listed on the West Marlborough tax rolls as an inmate (meaning a person living in another's house as a lodger). He is taxed £2, 6 shillings for "Horse & Cow".^[2]

Jonathan enlisted in 1777 as a private, 4th Co, 8th Battalion under captains Trussey and Moore while in the Revolutionary War. His descendants claimed he was at the battle of Brandywine.^[3] His first application for a pension was written on July 31, 1835 when he was 80 years old. In the pension application, written by attorney Brown, Jonathan states that in the winter of 1775-76, he was called to drive a public team for 6 months. Then again in the winter of 1776-77, being a Friend or Quaker, he attended and cared for a large number of cattle and in the spring of 1777, he drove the cattle to Reading to be out of the way of the enemy. He was employed in this duty for five months. On the first of June, he was called out under Captain Trussey Moore. He states he was in service for not less than six months and was in the immediate neighborhood of the British. He states he was discharged, then called up again, was at Valley Forge. He was called into service again in 1781 and served a total of about one year and five months. He says that he is infirm and can not attend court, has difficulty recalling exact dates and can not find anyone still living that can prove his service. Two witnesses sign and swear that Jonathan is trustworthy and is to be believed. A second letter was written on November 2, 1836, in which Jonathan asks that the pension board "considered what he did in the Revolutionary war just discharging duty when our all was at stake, to do our duty for Independence or live under tyranny". He states that he did not like the idea of being a pensioner but he was old, infirm, finding himself needy and less able to provide for himself and his sole companion. His attorney notes that he had held the application back in hopes that Jonathan would have found someone to prove his claim of service, "which is not now very likely". A stamp on his pension card says "Rejected".^[4] He was at Valley Forge and his pension was granted in 1835. More detail to be added.^[5]

He married twice. First, on October 24, 1781, at Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church in Wilmington, Delaware, by Episcopal ceremony, he married Abigail (Harlan) McCall, daughter of Joshua Harland and his wife Abigail Green, and the widow of Benjamin McCall.^[6] They had three children: Abigail, Caleb and Jesse. Wife Abigail died in Kennet Twp., Chester County, October 13, 1790.

In March, 1782 (Quaker 1st month, 1782), shortly after marrying in an Episcopal ceremony, the London Grove Friends Meeting House preparative meeting minutes, Jonathan's case of marriage by a priest was to go to the monthly meeting. In the same month's monthly meeting it was reported that Jonathan Harlan had "deviated from the good order established amongst us as to accomplish marriage by the assistance of a priest to a woman not of our society". Two men were appointed to convince him of the "inconsistency" and report at the next meeting. The April New Garden meeting minutes indicate that the two Friends had "endeavored but missed" an opportunity to meet with Jonathan and the case was continued. The next month's minutes show they had still not met with him and a third man was appointed to meet with him. In June, two Friends had met with Jonathan and were to prepare testimony against him for the next meeting. At the July meeting it was reported that, having met with Jonathan, they had no reason to forbear, prepared testimony against him, would give him a copy and if he declined to appeal, the testimony would be read at the London Grove meeting. In August, 1782 (Quaker 6th month, 1782), the meeting minutes reported that "having treated with him in order to convince him of his error, but it hath not had the desired effect, we disown the said Jonathan Harlan from membership with us ...". The report had been signed by order of the New Garden monthly meeting on July 4, 1782 (Quaker 5th month).^[7]

In 1789, Jonathan was taxed for, it is assumed, an owned tenement in Chester County, PA. He was taxed 1 shilling, 9 pence for the tenement and 1 shilling, 6 pence for one horse and two cattle for a total tax of 3 shillings, 3 pence.^[8]

He married, second, to Elizabeth Fawcett, by magistrate in Chester County, Pennsylvania about 1790. Jonathan and Elizabeth had eight children: Lydia, Mary, Jonathan, Sarah, Betsey, Rachel, Amos and Jacob.

In the 1790 census, Jonathan is living in West Marlborough, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The census lists three males age 16 & up, three males under age 16 and three females. Known children of Jonathan at that time would be Caleb and Jesse under 16 and Abigail. The total family members do not match so there may have been other family members in the household.^[9]

Jonathan was the first settler of the Village of Harlansburg, having left Chester County in 1792 and came to Allegheny County in the Chartiers Valley. He was living there during the "whisky insurrection" of 1794. He was "in the Neighborhood" when Gen. John Neville's house was burned by the insurrectionists. He came to Scott Township (actually North Slippery Rock Township as Scott Twp. was not formed until 1854^[10]) about 1797-98 (or 1796 according to land warrants shown below) and settled 400 acres, including the site of the village. While living here, he laid out the town of Harlansburg in 1800, built the first house in the place and put up his grist-mill just east of the village, on a small run which empties into Slippery Rock Creek. He later moved to another farm, below town, and put up a second grist-mill on Slippery Rock Creek, just above the present bridge, below Harlansburg, about the year of 1808. The house he built was constructed of round logs and stood on a hill. His children Lydia, Mary and Jonathan came to Harlansburg with along with his wife. Their daughter, Sarah, was the first child born after their settlement.^[11][12]

The 1800 census has Jonathan "Harlin" in Mercer County. Persons counted are one male under age 10 (likely Jonathan born 1796), one male age 26-44 (father Jonathan), four females under age 10 (Lydia born 1792, Mary 1794, Sarah 1798, Betsy 1800) and one female age 26-44 (Elizabeth).^[13]

In 1806, Jonathan Harlan and Peter Moury purchased 320 acres of land along Slippery Rock Creek in Mercer County for seven pounds, ten shillings per 100 acres. Jonathan appeared before Justices of the Peace in Mercer county on October 10, 1806, testifying that he first made improvements on the land in the year 1796 including clearing & fenced 10 acres fit for cultivation, had five years of crops of different kinds raised annually, erected a house fit for habitation that is 18 by 26 feet, erected a grist mill, law office and other buildings and planted an orchard. The land was surveyed about November 10, 1806. The land warrant was signed by the Pennsylvania governor on December 22, 1806. This is likely the land where Jonathan built his second grist-mill and built a home.^[14]

The census of 1810 shows Jonathan in Slippery Rock, Mercer County. Persons counted are two males under 10 (likely Amos born 1804, Jacob 1808), one male 10-15 (Jonathan 1796), one male 45 and over (father Jonathan), two females under 10 (Betsy 1800, Rachel 1801), one female 10-15 (Sarah 1798) and one female 26-44 (Elizabeth).^[15]

Jonathan "Harlin", in the 1820 census, is still in Slippery Rock Township, Mercer County. Counted persons are two males age 10-15 (likely Amos born 1804, Jacob 1808), one male over 45 father (Jonathan 1755), two females 16-25 (Betsy 1800, Rachel 1801) and one female over 45 (Elizabeth 1765).^[16]

Jonathan Harlan(d) is in the 1830 census living in Slippery Rock Township, Mercer County, PA. (Scott Township had not yet been formed). Listed is one male 70-80 years old and one female 50-60 years old. The age range is correct for Jonathan but Elizabeth would be about 65 at this time. There is also one male 5-9 years old listed.^[17]

In 1840, the census for Slippery Rock Township has three Jonathan Harlin(d)s all together. However, only one has a male 80-90 years old which corresponds to Jonathan's age. A female aged 80-90 is also listed. Elizabeth would be about 75 but her birth date is estimated. Also, as with the 1830 census, one male age 5-9 is shown.^[18]

Jonathan died in 1841 in Scott Twp., Lawrence, Pennsylvania, and is buried at the Baptist Church Burying Grounds near Harlansburg now called the Harlansburg UP Cemetery.^[19][20]

Birth and Family---

Jonathan was born on 8 Jun 1755 in West Marlborough Twp, Chester Co, PA to Jonathan Harlan and Deborah Marsh. He had 5 siblings--Sarah, Deborah, Rachel, William, and Susana.

Chester Co, PA---

He was born and lived in Chester Co, PA where he was a Quaker.

Marriage---

He married Abigail McCall, widow of Benjamin McCall, on 24 Oct 1781 at Hoy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church in Wilmington, Delaware in an Episcopal ceremony. They had 3 children, Abigail, Jesse, and Caleb and in 1790 Abigail died.

Disowned---

In 1782, after he married Abigail, Jonathan was disowned from the Quakers since he had not married a Quaker woman.

Washington Co and Lawrence Co, PA---

He moved to Washington Co. PA, where he stayed until 1757 and then he moved to Scott Township. Lawrence Co, PA. He settled on 400 acres of land under Dr Peter Lowrey.

He built a ghrist mill and distillery in Lawrence Co, as well as a house that was the first house in Harlansburg, Lawrence Co, PA.

Revolutionary War---

He joined the Military during the Revolutionary War, but did not fight due to his Quaker teachings. Instead, he was hired to attend, feed and take care of the larger animals, primarily cattle, in the spring of 1777. He also drove a wagon, delivering food to the soldiers.

He served 1 year, 5 months, and 6 days in the military, but had to apply 6 times for a pension.

Second Marriage---

About 1790 he married Elizabeth Fawcett in Scott Twp and they had 8 children--Amos, Jacob, Sarah, Betsey, Rachel, Jonathan, Lydia, and Mary.

Death and Burial---

Jonathan died in June, 1841 in Scott Twp and is buried there in the Baptist Church Burying Ground (now called the Harlansburg UP Cemetery).

Daughters of the American Revolution information:

• HARLAN, JONATHAN
• Ancestor #: A050692
• Service: PENNSYLVANIA
• Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, PRIVATE
• Birth: 6- -1755 CHESTER CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Death: 6-28-1841 SLIPPERY ROCK TWP MERCER CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Pension Number: R4610V
• Service Source: R4610V
• Service Description: 1) CAPT MOORE, MAJ SPEER; TEAMSTER FOR MILITIA, 1775-1776
• Comments (Overview) Created: 2014-08-07 07:58:18.0, Updated: 2014-08-07 07:58:18.0, By: 1) PENSION REJECTED FOR MILITARY SERVICE LESS THAN SIX MONTHS.
• Residence: Created: 2002-03-27 23:23:55.3, Updated: , By: Conversion 1) County: CHESTER CO - State: PENNSYLVANIA
• Spouse (1): ABIGAIL HARLAN MCCALL, Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, By: Conversion 1)
• Spouse (2): ELIZABETH FAWCETT, Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, By: Conversion 2)
• Child daughter: LYDIA HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] WILLIAM EMERY
• Child daughter: RACHEL HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] JOHN PAULMORE
• Child daughter: POLLY MARY HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] WILLIAM VOGAN
• Child son: JACOB HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] ELIZABETH GILLISPIE
• Child daughter: MARY HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [2] WILLIAM THOMPSON DEAN
• Child daughter: SARAH HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] WILLIAM WILKIN
• Child son: JONATHAN HARLAN, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] JANE HOGUE

On FamilySearch.org 20 sources of information for: Name • • Jonathan Harlan • • Sex • • Male Birth • • 8 June 1755 West Marlborough Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America Christening Death • • 28 June 1841 Harlansburg, Scott Township, Lawrence, Pennsylvania, United States Burial • • June 1841 Harlansburg U. P. Cemetery, Lawrence, Pennsylvania, United States

Other Information:

Residence • 1789 West Marlborough, Chester, Pennsylvania Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Custom Event • civil 10 July 1797 Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Custom Event • civil 22 December 1806 Mercer Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Residence • 1810 Slippery Rock, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Residence • 1830 Slippery Rock, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Residence • 1840 Slippery Rock, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Occupation • miller, farmer Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Religious Affiliation • Baptist Last Changed: May 14, 2018

Sources

1. ↑ Alpheus H. Harlan, “History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family and particularly the Descendants of George and Michael Harlan Who settled in Chester County, Pa., 1687”, 1914, Page 387, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/11588/dvm_GenMono001113-00001-1?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return#?imageId=dvm_GenMono001113-00001-1)
2. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4; Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794; Microfilm Roll: 322 Source Information Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2497&h=1088465&tid=&pid=&queryId=3f5ccb2a38ac93af9e467817c9503aeb&usePUB=true&_phsrc=mez7&_phstart=successSource)
3. ↑ New Castle News, August 22, 1975, Page 9
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1995&h=70476&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=cuJ4&_phstart=successSource)
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2204&h=1099027&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=tvJ2&_phstart=successSource) and various other applications
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. Delaware, Marriage Records, 1750-1954 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Delaware Marriages. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Hall of Records, Dover, Delaware.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61368&h=117064&ssrc=pt&tid=166476696&pid=242158884405&usePUB=true)
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2189&h=99859050&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Vmb6&_phstart=successSource) and (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2189&h=1107397832&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Rvq5&_phstart=successSource)
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762–1794. Series No. 4.61; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2497&h=1076284&ssrc=pt&tid=166476696&pid=242158884405&usePUB=true)
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKJ-7WY : accessed 29 April 2020), Jonathan Harlin, West Marlborough, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 32, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 8; FHL microfilm 568,148.
10. ↑ New Castle News, February 13, 1975, Page 15
11. ↑ “History of Lawrence County Pennsylvania.” History of Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1877, L.H. Everts & Co., 1976, www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1877/. Pages 107-108, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/24860/dvm_LocHist010039b-00032-0?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return#?imageId=dvm_LocHist010039b-00032-1)
12. ↑ Various articles in the New Castle News: September 4, 1931, Page 6; September 22, 1931, Page 5; January 16, 1958, Page 7February 16, 1963, Page 9
13. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7590&h=418566&ssrc=pt&tid=168461294&pid=422186366299&usePUB=true)
14. ↑ Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Warrant Applications, 1733-1952. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State Archives. Land Warrants. Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2350&h=170670&ssrc=pt&tid=166476696&pid=242158884405&usePUB=true)
15. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7613&h=483649&ssrc=pt&tid=166476696&pid=242158884405&usePUB=true)
16. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.(https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7734&h=76654&ssrc=pt&tid=166476696&pid=242158884405&usePUB=true)
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH57-35P : 12 August 2017), Jonathan Harland, Slippery Rock, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States; citing 142, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 149; FHL microfilm 20,623.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYT-58L : 8 September 2017), Jonathan Harlin, Slippery Rock, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 264, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 474; FHL microfilm 20,550.
19. ↑ Alpheus H. Harlan, “History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family and particularly the Descendants of George and Michael Harlan Who settled in Chester County, Pa., 1687”, 1914, Page 170, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/11588/dvm_GenMono001113-00001-1?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return#?imageId=dvm_GenMono001113-00001-1)
20. ↑ Memorial page for Jonathan Harlan (8 Jun 1755–28 Jun 1841), Find a Grave Memorial no. 38395874, citing Harlansburg U.P. Cemetery, Harlansburg, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Arigeni (contributor 47104610) .

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A050692
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LRXX-493
• https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38395874
• Alpheus H. Harlan. History and genealogy of the Harlan family. [Baltimore]: The Lord Baltimore press, 1914. Open Library Pages 170-171

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Soozie and others.

• *book, The History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family, compiled and edited by Alpheus H Harlan, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1998, pp 170 & 171.

• Us, Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935

4 May 1782, Chester, PA monthly meeting: New Garden Monthly Meeting Yearly meeting: Philadelphia, PA, Chester Co. topic: married a woman not a Quaker Jonathan disowned from membership "until he becomes so sensible of his outgoings as to make suitable satisfaction to this meeting and that he may is our desire."

• Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application P4 #4610, Act 1832, 22 Nov 1836; B 505; 1836 Pension Office

State of PA, Mercer Co Jonathan Harlan of Slippery Rock, Mercer Co, PA under Capt T. Moore June 1777; Jonathan, as a Quaker who did not believe in fighting, was employed to take care and feed the public cattle in the spring of 1717 for the men who were fighting and drove wagons of food to them for 1 year, 5 months and 6 days during the Revolutionary War.

• headstone