Person:William Earp (4)

From American Genealogy Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 4:
Earp is not an Irish surname. A British surname expert lists only one reference for it — spelled Erpe in 1561 — and claims its origins are unknown. However, American sources note that references to Earp can be found under the spelling of Harp. Being aware of the British's propensity to drop their "H's," genealogists must consider this possibility when researching a surname beginning with a vowel. Wyatt Earp's great-great-grandfather appears on a 1776 Maryland enumeration as William Harp. [21] William Earp, born 1729 in Maryland, along with three of his sons — Philip, Joshua, and Josiah — participated in the Revolutionary War. William's wife was Priscilla Nichols. William was the son of Joshua Earp and Mary Budd. Joshua Earp, born ca 1705, died ca 1760 in Fairfax County, Virginia was the son of John Earp and Rebecca [-?-]. John Earp, born 1680 in Maryland, was the son of the gateway ancestor.

A period just following the end of t he Revolutionary War was a time of upheaval and migration by former soldiers and their families. The Earp/Harp family is a fine example. On the eve of the war the state of Maryland took an unusual census of several of their western counties - a full household listing of Frederick County, Maryland was printed in 1915 in Brumbaugh's Maryland records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church, Vol. I. The census of Lower Potomac Hundred listed the family of William and Pricilla Harp and their eight children. (Westward Ho by Aaron Dodson). The 1776 census shows William in Frederick County, Maryland.

Research of Jean Whitten Edwards in her book Earp Family Genealogy: In 1776, William Earp of Baltimore County, Maryland, sold 100 acre tract there known as "Organ's Forest" for his mother, Mary Earp, who is listed in the land deed as a resident of Fairfax County, Virginia." (Everett Hoyt Turner)

"Other early Earp records of interest include the names of the signers of the 1778 Oath of Fidelity to the newly formed government during the Revolutionary War. They were: Edward Earp, Thomas Earp, Peddicord Earp and two William Earps, all of Anne Arundel County, later Howard County, Maryland; and James Earp and William Earp of Montgomery County, Maryland. It is worthy of note that not a single Earp name is found on the list of those persons who refused to take the oath of Fidelity. Josiah Earp and Erasmus Earp, who were also Maryland Revolutionary War Soldiers, lived in Montgomery County, Maryland."

From Amos Earp Senior of Howard County, Maryland, by Charles Albert Earp, Jr. 1956: "William Earp and at least three of his sons served in the American Revolution. They were Philip, Josiah and Erasmus. William Earp (Harp) signed the Patriots Oath of Fidelity & support to the State in Montgomery County, Maryland, 2 March 1778."

Brumbaugh's Maryland Records, Vol. 1, Census of 1776; Frederick County, Maryland, Lower Patomac Hundred page 183: "A list of the number of souls taken and given unto the committee of observation. The sex and age of white and black."

Harp, William 47 years., Harp, Philip 21 yrs., Harp William Jr. 17 yrs, Harp, Josiah 14 yrs., Harp, Erasmus 11 yrs., Harp, Samuel 6 yr.

Females on page 189: Harp, Priscilla 48 yrs., Harp, Esther 19 yrs., Harp, Anne 10 yrs., Harp, Sarah 1 yr.