I have attempted to be as objective as possible in compiling the information contained in this paper. Proof is given when possible and questionable data is also noted. Much of the information contained may not be accompanied by the necessary proof, but this data was taken because of many coincidences that tied it to the family and it could not be ignored. I hope future readers and researchers will help prove or disprove any of the information contained as proof is found.

One thing I wish to stress in this paper is the haphazard way that almost all geneological records of our family have been written with only one possible exception. There was only one geneological paper that I have found that made any attempt to present proof of the information it contained. This was a short paper on the DeHart family which I found in the Geneology department of the Bassett Public Library in Bassett, Va. It contained bits of information and the primary sources where found. (Courthouse records, etc.) All of the other papers I have found appear to have been recollections by older family members and thus, even though these ancestors of mine meant well, almost all of their writings must be researched to be proven. I have proven some of these recollections and disproven others.

The most popular theory that I have disproven is the idea that the four brothers came to America in 1770. The four brother idea may be correct but the date, I have proven to be wrong.

The original story that has been written about and passed down from generation to generation is the theory that four brothers landed in Charleston, S.C. in or around 1770. I guess that all of the family has heard this story at one time or another. This story goes on to say that the fourth brother was killed by Indians shortly after their arrival. It also says that two of the three remaining brothers probably migrated to Kentucky while the third brother, Aaron, settled in Henrico Co., Virginia.

Much of this story may well be true, especially, the part about Aaron DeHart settling in Virginia possibly near Richmond. I doubt that two of his brothers migrated to Kentucky because I have fairly firm proof that two of his brother, Elias and Simon Jr., settled with Aaron in the county of Albemarle as early as 1760.

First, before I get any deeper into this paper, I will explain how I came to find out the names of Aaron's brothers. I found Aaron's name in a book entitled "Heads of Families". This book is a written record of the 1790 United States Census reduced to book form on the basis of certain tax records. This was necessary because the original records were almost completely destroyed by fire during the War of 1812. This book lists Aaron DeHart as a resident of Amherst Co. Virginia in the year 1783. The Census lists Aaron with 9 white persons living under his roof and no black persons as it was the custom in those days because of slavery.

This may have been the biggest break in my search because from there I went to Amherst Co. to search the records at the Court House. There I found Aaron listed in the Deed Book as buying land from a Simon DeHart in 1770. At this point I thought I had proven the four Brother Theory. As I will show later I was wrong.

But even more important were the two new names that appeared. These were Simon and Elias DeHart. Who were they? Why did these names appear along with Aaron's? Where they related? These were the questions that came to mind.

Later, while browsing through the geneological book in the Stuart Va. Public Library, I cam upon a listing of published works on individual family names. A book entitled "DeHart - Preliminary Study of the Origin and History of the DeHart Family" was listed. It was published in 1935 by the DeHart Association in Bryson City, North Carolina. This book had a University of Virginia catalog number so I wrote the Alderman Library to se if they had the book. I received a reply that it was in the Rare Books Room of the Library. I finally got a reproduction of this book after a trip to Charlottesville.

While reading the book I found a letter that was reproduced. It was written on 3 May 1858 by a Nathan DeHart to his grandson, Martin DeHart. This was an answer to an inquiry by Martin asking his grandfather, Nathan DeHart, about the family. Nathan's answer was a real breakthrough. Nathan explained that his (Nathan's) grandfather's name was Simon DeHart and that Simon had three sons. Their names from the oldest to the youngest were Simon, Elias, and Aaron. He went on to explain that Elias was his father. Nathan gave the exact date of his father Elias death (there is a hand written note that says "birth and") - 10 March 1730 - 1 April 1821. Nathan continued to tell about "Uncle Aaron's" family living in Patrick Co. Virginia. It was too good to be true. It was all fitting together like the pieces of a puzzle. Even without the proof of birth and death records there were too many coincidences not to believe that these three - Simon, Elias, and Aaron were brothers. The Amherst Co. Virginia deed records seem to verify this. I will tie all of these points together further as I describe each of the older Deharts individually. The previous letter also mentioned for the first time, Simon DeHart Sr., who according to Nathan was Aaron's father.

In the remaining text of this paper I will tell all I know about the old line of DeHarts, starting with Simon Sr. and ending with Stephen DeHart. Also at this point in the paper I will explain that I have came to a standstill in my attempts to find out where our ancestors came ashore and where they sailed from. I also could not find the exact date of arrival in this country.

I wrote to the South Carolina Archives in Columbia, S.C. to try to find any port records and passenger lists for the port of Charleston. The reply I received as a letdown. All passenger lists for the port of Charleston were destroyed and did not survive.

I have recently written to the French Archives and several Geneological Societies in France, but because of the language barrier I am having many problems with the replies.

Contributed by Pat DeHart Long
Document Prepared by Gloria Lambert

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Last updated: Thursday, 21-Aug-2008 15:36:17 MDT