Person:David Harkness (2)

From One Hundred Years A Country Town, The Village of Tecumseh, Michigan, 1824-1924 by Clara Waldron, published by Thomas A. Riordan, 1968, pp. 99-100: A group of men left for the California gold fields in March 1849 including David Harkness from Raisin Township. All arrived in California, but two (Lovett and Harkness) died there.

[From Lenawee County Probate Records, Reel 808, File 607]

Petition of Sarah Maria Harkness, Tecumseh, 14 June 1850 states that David Harkness died Sunday the thirteenth day of January 1850 in California and names his heirs as "David Smith Harkness, Mary Jane Harness, heirs at law, and Sarah Maria Harkness Widow, and Joseph John Harkness heir at Law who has died since the death of said David Harkness all of whom are residents of the Town of Tecumseh County and State aforesaid, and the said heirs at law are both Minors", requests that administration be granted to Smith Laing of the town of Raisin [father of Sarah and father-in-law of David.]

1. ↑ Peterson, David P. Descendants of Adam Harkness
   p. 8.

   David Harkness, b. Peru, NY, 1809 in Peru, d. Logan, MI, 6 Jan 1850, m. 25 Sep 1834 Sarah Marie Laing.
   [Note: death did not occur in Michigan as indicated here, see probate excerpt above. Note that Find A Grave places death in Tecumseh, MI, while showing the gravestone of an individual with an age of death of 1 year!!]

2.   Lenawee, Michigan, United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   line 4.

   1840 US Census for Raisin Twp, Lenawee Co., MI
   David Harkness, Jr. has 1 male under 5 plus himself 30-40; 1 female bet. 5&10 plus his wife 20-30.

3.   Lenawee, Michigan, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M432)
   lines 1-2.

   [Note: not listed with family.]
   1850 US Census, Tecumseh, Lenawee Co, MI
   Harkness, Sarah M, age 34, seamstress, NY [transcribed as Hackness]
   Harkness, David, age 11, MI
   Harkness, Mary, age 6, MI

4.   United States. United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850. (FamilySearch Record Search)
   line 3.

   Name: David Harkness
   Age: 40
   Sex: M
   Condition: M
   Place of Birth: N.Y.
   Month of Death: January
   Occupation: Farmer
   Cause: Drowned
   Number of Days Ill: Sudden

5. ↑ Births and deaths 1766-1847, in Society of Friends. Peru Monthly Meeting (Clinton County, New York : Orthodox). Monthly meeting records, 1766-1868. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1950)
   p. 4 (viewable at Family History Centers).

   David Harkness Born 4 of 6 M'o 1809
   Parents: David Harkness and Ruth his wife
   Place of Residence: Peru