Person:Paul Larsh (1)

"PAUL LARSH - Founder of the Larsh Family in America "In the 1750's, Paul Larsh was living in Canada when he decided to become a trader among the Indians. So providing himself with appropriate merchandize, he headed south into the Ohio valley. He set up shop near Zenia, Ohio and traded for furs with a Shawnee Indian tribe that was located near Zenia. He spent two or three years at that location and anglicized his name from L'arche to Larsh. "His background is clouded, because no definite proof has been found. Some of the old obituaries of his grandchildren say that he along with a sister and a brother, came from Strasburg, France in 1745. However, Hazel Lewis of Danville, IL in her extensive research, believes that he was originally a L'Archeveque who came to Canada in the early 1640's. Maybe someday we will find out for sure. "To continue the adventures of Paul Larsh, it so happened that the Shawnee Indians had made a raid on a settlement near Fort Dinwiddie in Pennsylvania in September, 1756. The home of George Kincaid was one of the homes that was raided. George was killed and the wife, Elizabeth and three children were brought back to their camp. (Two children, Samuel and William, were away from home at the time and thus were saved.) Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Sarah (Campbell) Dean of New York. Two of the three captured children were eventually killed. The other was found years later but his name has not shown up in any record. "Paul abandoning his goods, rescued Elizabeth by carrying her on his back the two miles to his boat. He then paddled down the little Miami and the Ohio Rivers and up the Mississippi to the French settlement of Kaskaskia. On June 19, 1759 they were married in the Church of St. Ann at Fort Chartres. "They resided there several years, and a son Charles was born. The family evidently turned to farming as Paul reportedly had "400 acres in the bottoms". They eventually moved back to Fayette Co. Pennsylvania. In 1790 a daughter, Hannah was born. Paul had either bought or settled on a farm near Uniontown, Pa. He died there on June 14, 1794. It is not known where he is buried, but his daughter Hannah was buried in Smithfield Cemetery. "Charles Larsh married Sarah Van Swearingen, the daughter of John and Catherine (Stull) Van Swearingen. They, first, moved down the Ohio River to Maysville, KY., and then settled near Lexington, Ky. for many years. They later moved back to the Ohio River near the present site of Manchester, Oh. where he and some of his sons were employed in making flat-boats for floating down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. They also ran a ferry across the Ohio River near there. Most of his children eventually settled in Preble Co., Ohio. It is not known where he died, but one report has him living in Preble Co. with one of his children when he died. Incidentally, his wife, Sarah was a sister of Marmaduke Van Swearingen, who was captured at an early age and later became the great Chief Bluejacket." LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of Paul Larsh, Fayette County Pennsylvania Will Book 1, Pg.26-7 (Source K55) "In the name of God Amen. I Paul Larsh of the County of Fayette in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling to mind the mortallity of all flesh and that it is appointed for all to die do on this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, publish, this my last will and testament in the way and manner following. First and principally, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and my body to the dust, nothing doubting but that I shall receive the same again at the general Resurriction of all flesh according to the mighty power of God and as touching my temporal estate with which it has pleased God to bless me with, I will and bequeath it in the way and manner following after funeral expenses is paid. I allow all my just debts to be paid. Also I will and bequeath to my well beloved wife Elizabeth, her wearing apperial, her choice of all my beds and furniture, her saddle and bridle, three cows to be chose likewise by herself, all the stock of sheep, a set of teaware, six pewter plates, two Basons and two potts, the one third of the land on which I now live, during her widowhood which must include the house I now live in and fifty acres of clear land adjoining thereto and privilege of firewood and necessary timber from any part of said plantation. 2nd. I bequeath to my son Charles Larsh, the one third of said plantation, my wearing apperel, a large house Bible, and a Rifle given to him and his heirs forever. 3rdly, I bequeath to my daughter Hannah one third of the foresaid plantation to her and heirs forever. And it is my will and request that the residue of my moveable estate to be sold by my Executors hereinafter named at Vendue and the sum ariseing from said Sail together with what may be indue me be equally divided between my wife and children, Charles and Hannah which Third part of my land I now live on & of my personal Estate by this will bequeathed to my wife shall be in liew of her dower and after the marriage or death of my wife, Elizabeth, I will and bequeath to my children the land I bequeathed to her to be equally divided them. My said children and their heirs forever and should the almighty God Bless me with more children, it is my will that they be made equal sherers of my estate not withstanding the former bequeathments and it is my further will and testament that my well beloved wife Elizabeth and my beloved son Charles Larsh and my worthy friend Isaac Griffin to be the whole and sole Executor of this, my last will and Testament herby revoking and renouncing of former wills, gifts and Legacies. Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament in testemony when of I have herunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two. Paul Larsh {his mark} Seal Signed, Sealed and declared by the said Paul Larsh as his last will and Testament in the presence of us. The words "which third part of my land I now live on and of my personal Estate by this will bequeathed to my wife shall be in lieu of dower" inserted before signing and Sealing between the words Hannah & "and" in the third line of this page. Signed and Sealed in presence of Albert Gallatin Thos. Clare Samuel Hyde James Hughes More About PAUL LARSH: Probate: April 13, 1794, Fayette County, Pennsylvania16 Will: November 17, 1792, Written and signed16