Historical Notes

Historical Notes

Transcribed from the March 1953 issue of the Harnsberger Newsletter.

In the Court Records of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, we find the following:

At a Court held for Spotsylvania, February 1, 1725, Court Order Book 1724 - 1730 pages 89 and 90: " On a petition of Hans Horrensburger, in order to prove his right to take up lands according to the Royal Charter, made oath that he came into this county in the year of our Lord 1717, and that he brought with him Anna Purve, his wife, and Stephen, his son, and that this is the first time of his proving their said importations, whereupon certificate is ordered to be granted them of rights to take up one hundred and fifty acres of land. . . .

Note: John Motz made a similar declaration at the same time.

In Patent Book no. 12, page 475, Richmond, Virginia, there is a record of a deed for 400 acres of land in St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania County, patented to John Harnsberger ( anglicized name ) and John Motz, 24th day of June 1726. The description reads: One Certain Tract or Parcell of Land containing four Hundred acres lying and being in the said Parish and County and in the first forks of the Rapidan river and bounded as followeth: Begining at two Hickories and a red Oak Thence South Twenty five degrees West Three Hundred and Twenty Poles to two red Oaks and a poplar Thence South Sixty five degrees East two hundred poles to Three White Oaks Thence North Twenty five degrees East Three Hundred and Twenty Poles to two white Oaks Then North Sixty five degrees West Two hundred poles to the Begining Place ....... "

This was the first land patented to any Harnsberger.

( From the "History of Rockingham County" by John W. Wayland)

"Adam Miller, who appears to have been the first settler of Rockingham and adjacent sections of the Valley, was born probably at Schreisheim, Germany . . . about the year 1700." ( W.W. Scotts History of Orange County places date of his birth as Nov. 17, 1703, and date of death as 1783) . . . . " In 1733 eight men, Adam Miller being one, addressed Governor Gooch in a petition, praying him to confirm their title to 5000 acres of land in Massanutting, purchased four years past from Jacob Stover, reciting that they had moved upon the said land from Pennsylvania immediately after the purchase, and that they had located thereon at the time of the petition nine plantations and 51 people. . . . On March 13, 1741-2, Adam Miller received from Governor Gooch a certificate of naturalization which recites that the said Miller had been a resident on the Shenandoah for the past fifteen years. This fixes the date of his first settlement in 1726-7. . . . In religion he was Lutheran, and was probably buried at St. Peter' s church, four miles north of Elkton. Among his descendants are the Millers, Bears, Yanceys, Gibbons, Hopkins, Mauzys, Harnsbergers and other prominent families of East Rockingham . . . . .

HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY also quotes from a diary of Brother Gottschalk, a Moravian brother . . . . Dec 3, 1748 - Sunday. Towards evening a man from another district, Adam Mueller ( Miller ), passed. I told him that I would like to come to his house and preach there. He asked me if I were sent by God. I answered yes. He said if I were sent by God I would be welcome, but he said there are at present so many kinds of people, that often one does not know where they come from. I requested him to notify his neighbors, that I would preach on the 5th, which he did. On December 4th we left Schaub's house, commending the whole family to God. We traveled through the rain across the South Shenandoah to Adam Mueller, who received us with much love. We staid overnight with him. On December 5th I preached at Ad Mueller's house on John 7: "Whosover thirsteth let him come to the water and drink." A number of thirsty souls were present, especially Adam Mueller took in every word, and after the sermon declar ed himself well pleased . . . . . . . In the afternoon we traveled a short distance, staying over night with a Swiss (*). The conversation was very dry, and the word of Christ's suffering found no hearing."

(*) Honorable Charles E. Kemper, of Washington D.C., who published valuable papers regarding the pioneers, believes this "Swiss" was likely Jacob Baer, Sr., a native of Zurich, and at this time a resident of East Rockingham.

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Adam Mueller's ( also spelled in early records, Muller and Miller ) granddaughter Anna Barbara Miller ( b. January 10, 1757 ) married Conrad Harnsberger, grandson of John and son of Stephen.

Adam Mueller's granddaughter Christina Miller ( sister of Anna Barbara) ( b. August 10, 1766) married Robert Harnsberger, brother of Conrad.

Catherine Miller daughter of the pioneer Adam Mueller, married John Bear. Their daughter, Anna Barbara Bear married Jacob Miller who was a brother of the sister Anna Barbara ( wife of Conrad Harnsberger) and Christina Miller ( wife of Robert Harnsberger). Their daughter Elizabeth Miller married Jeremiah Harnsberger, a son of Adam Harnsberger, brother of Conrad and Robert above.

Henry Harnsberger, brother of Adam, Conrad and Robert, married Mary Ann Bear ( b. March 27, 1757), daughter of Jacob Bear and Barbara Miller ( daughter of Adam Mueller, the pioneer).

So it is established that all descendants of Henry, Robert and Conrad Harnsberger, and all descendants of Jeremiah Harnsberger, son of their brother Adam, are directly descended from the pioneer, Adam Mueller.

Doubtless other Harnsbergers are also directly descended from him, also, as there have in later years been other marriages between the Harnsbergers, Millers and Bears. ( The name Bear was originally spelled Baer)

 

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