Thomas Harbert, was born July 4, 1734, the second of four children to Daniel and Susannah Harbert of Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
Thomas was baptized in Christ Church, Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., New Jersey on August 11th, 1734
Isabel was born in the year of 1738, to Edward and Mary Helen (Wathen) Wright in Burlington, New Jersey.
Thomas married Isabelle at Christ Church, Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., New Jersey on August 6th, 1758, Thomas was twenty-four and Isabelle was twenty.
Thomas & Isabelle had seven children listed below.
Samuel B. Harbert - 1760 - 1847 (Tennant Genealogy)
Edward Harbert - 1762 - 1854
William Harbert - 1765 -
Thomas Harbert - 1768 - 1818
John Wright Harbert - 1769 - 1857 (Bennett Genealogy)
Celia Harbert - 1775 - 1778
Isabel Harbert - 1780 -
Thomas & Isabelle moved moved to Apple Pie Ridge north of Winchester, Virginia about 1765, Six years later in 1771, Thomas and family moved to Decker's Creek, Monongalia Co., Virginia, and Four years later, in 1775, Thomas and family moved to Jones Run, Harrison Co., Virginia.
Assisted by others in the area, Thomas Harbert, Sr. built a blockhouse, later known as Harbert's Fort or Harbert's Blockhouse. The forts like Fort Harbert became a part of the frontier defense which was first ordered by King George II before the revolution started. This defense was to consist of a group of volunteers serving under officers as follows: A colonel and a major directing their activities with a county Lieutenant charged with the responsibility of raising the men. These officers were recommended by the County Court and appointed by the Governor of the State. Additional officers were elected by the militia volunteers, or commissioned after raising a set number of men. These were captains, lieutenants, ensigns and sergeants. The men were formed into companies of 50, but this number sometimes varied. Thomas Harbert (Sr.) was a part of this militia. In April, 1775, captain Morgan formed the first known company of the militia in the area. The roster of his battalion lists 126 names. Thomas Harbert, Sr. was among them. The enlistment ran from 3 days to 12 months. The pay was given in pounds sterling. Translated into continental currency, this was: Major $2.64 /day, Captain $2.20/ day, Scout $1.10 /day, Private 24c / day. In addition to pay, which was not always paid, each man was entitled to claim land in Ohio, and unclaimed land in Virginia, as an additional reward for his service. This is one of the main reasons so many of the early defenders left the area later to settle in Ohio.
"The first entry of land in this district was made March 12, 1775. The actual settlement was made on Jones Run; Thomas and Edward Cunningham; John Hull; Capt. Thomas Harbert, John Wood, Benjamin Robinson, Samuel Harbert; Peter, John and Elizabeth Cornelius and Nathan Reece, first settlers" Thomas Harbert, Sr. served as a captain in the militia under major Benjamin Robinson.
On the 3rd of March 1778, the Harbert Blockhouse was attacked by Indians. Thomas Harbert, John Murphy and some children were killed and one or two children captured. The "Attack on Harbert's Blockhouse" was described as follows in the book, the History of Harrison County : "By early 1777 the war of the Revolution was now in high tide and Great Britain considered it a legitimate mode of warfare against the rebellious colonies to let loose a horde of savages against peaceful settlers and children. However the winter of 1777 was so severe that it prevented the Indians from penetrating the county and committing further aggressions. The settlers became assured of safety and devoted much of their time to repairing the old forts for the storm that everyone expected would break upon the defenseless frontier in the spring of 1778. The murder of Cornstalk, while a prisoner in the hands of the whites, had stirred the war-like nation of Shawnees to avenge the death of their chief. Other tribes were urged to attack settlements by English officers, who furnished them with arms, ammunition and supplies and gave rewards for prisoners. Anticipating the commencement of hostilities at an earlier period of the season than usual several families retired into Harbert's blockhouse situated on Jones Run in Eagle district a tributary of Ten Mile, about eleven miles from Clarksburg in the month of February. But notwithstanding the prudent caution manifested by them in the step thus taken, yet the state of the weather lulling them into false security, they did not afterwards exercise the vigilance and provided care which was necessary to insure their future safety. On the third of March 1778, some children were playing with a crippled cow at a short distance from the yard, espied a number of Indians proceeding towards them, and running briskly to the house told that "a number of red men were close by." John Murphy stepped to the door to see if danger had really approached, when one of the Indians turning the corner of the house, fired at him. The ball took effect and Murphy fell back into the house. The Indian, springing directly in, was grappled by Thomas Harbert and thrown on the floor. A shot from without wounded Harbert, yet he continued to maintain his advantage over the prostrate savage, striking the Indian as effectively as he could with his own tomahawk. Another gun was fired at Thomas from without the house. The ball passed through his head and Thomas Harbert fell lifeless. His antagonist then slipped out of the door, sorely wounded in the encounter.
Thomas was killed at the Harberts Fort / Blockhouse on Jones Run, Harrison County, Virginia on March 3rd, 1778 while defending it from Indian attack.
Isabel died in the year of 1805 in Harrison Co. Virginia.
