Person:Valentine Harman (2)

Valentine Harman was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

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Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 2 - Taylor vs. Harman--O. S. 142; N. S. 49--Bill, 23d July, 1807. Orator, Adam Taylor. Many years ago George Hoopaugh made a survey for 300 acres under Loyal Company on Sinking Creek of New River in Giles County, which he sold to George Taylor, father of orator, who devised it to orator. But by some accident the plat and certificate were made out in the name of Henry Harman, to whom the grant issued. Henry Harman answers that about 1751 or 1752 he and his uncle, Valentine Harman, were on a hunting expedition when they camped on the land in question and Valentine made what was called an improvement by killing trees, &c.; and in 1754 Valentine procured a survey under the Loyal Company, in which year he made a contract with George Hubough, who was poor and lived on Valentine's charity, that George should go and live on the place as tenant. In 1756 or 57 Valentine was killed by the Indians and his property decended to Adam Harman, Henry's oldest brother, and in 178_ orator purchased Adam's right. Mathias Harman deposes, 27th February, 1810, that upwards of 50 years ago during Valentine's life, Valentine settled Hoopaugh on the land. Valentine was killed by the Indians on New River and at the same time deponent's brother, Daniel, and Andrew Moser were taken prisoner. Daniel made his escape, but Andrew was held prisoner. Adam Harman was eldest brother of Mathias. Jeremiah Pate, Sr., deposes 15th February, 1810, that in year ____ he was traveling down Sinking Creek in company with old Adam Harman and his son Adam, when old Adam pointed out a marked tree and said it was the land of "Uncle Valentine Harman" (Valentine being his brother, but generally called him uncle when talking of him with his sons). No one but George Hoopaugh lived on the Creek. Young Adam Harman became Valentine's heir because his brother Jacob's son, Jacob Harman, was "Rakish" inclined and old Valentine never liked him. Christina Pate deposes as above: Mary was widow of Valentine. Adam Harman proved himself Valentine's heir by a will in Carolina. Daniel Harman deposes 30th June, 1808, that before Braddock's defeat he remembered that his uncle Valentine employed George Hupaugh as tenant. In 1757 Valentine was killed by Indians in deponents' presence less than a foot from him and deponent was taken prisoner. David Price deposes 17th February, 1810: Valentine was killed by Indians in 1755 or 56, leaving no children. Jacob Taylor deposes ditto: Son of George Taylor. John Looney deposes 25th January, 1810: George Hoopack was a Dunker and the first settler on the land. David Price, Sr., deposes ditto: In 1754 Hoopaugh lived on the land. In 1775 he moved off on account of Indians, but came back when he sold to George Taylor, Sr. Wm. McAfee settled the same land in 1774 and paid the fees to Dr. Walker. Deponent was son of Michael Price.

The Jacob Castlean Incident

About the last week in April 1749, Indians began stealing furs from Heinrich Adam Herman's cabin. The Herman suspected that Jacob Castlean had encouraged his Indian friends to rob the Hermans. So they took matters into their own hands and confronted Castlean. On April 22, 1749 George Robins issued a warrant against Adam and his brother Valentine for "violent robbery of the goods of Jacob Castlean." They were released from jail. Castlean was later arrested but aquitted. Read a more detailed account by Mitchell G. Farish

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 1 - 1749. - John Cunningham, jailor. Account. To keeping the following: John McFarlin, a criminal; Adam and Valentine Herman; Thomas Godfrey, a servant; Samuel Farish; William Previe, he broke prison; James Donoly, a criminal, for murder; George Young, William Johnston, Joseph Doabs and Stephen Newcomb.

• Vol. 1 - 1749. - Commitment of Valentine and Adam Herman for violent robbery of the goods of Jacob Castlean, the warrant of George Robins, 22d April, 1749.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Hamilton, Emory L. Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers of Southwest Virginia, 1773-1794. (Unpublished).

   Seven Harman brothers emigrated from Germany together, Jacob, Valentine, Mathias, George, Daniel, John, and Heinrich Adam. They first stopped off in Pennsylvania, then emigrated to the Shenandoah Valley and some on into North Carolina. At least three of these brothers settled in Southwest Virginia, namely, Heinrich Adam, Valentin and Jacob. They were living in the New River German settlement, the first settlement ever made west of the Alleghenies on the "Western Waters", and were living there prior to 1745. In 1749 Moravian Missionaries conducted the first recorded religious services in Southwest Virginia in the home of Jacob Harman, and Dr. Thomas Walker mentions stopping at the home of Harman on his memorable exploration trip in 1750.
   
   "On the 30th of June, 1808, Daniel Harman, deposes, in the same land suit, saying: In 1757, Valentine was killed in my presence less than a foot away from me, and I was taken prisoner."
   Valentine Harman, who was slain left a widow
   Mary Harman, but no children.

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Valentine Harmon, in Find A Grave.
3.   Chalkley, Lyman. Before the Gates of the Wilderness Road: The Settlement of Southwestern Virginia
   pg. 191.

   Among the very early settlers under the Loyal Company, were members of the Harman family. The general course of business under that company and the trials of settlers may be gathered from depositions relating to their early settlement. In 1751, Henry Harmon and his uncle, Valentine Harmon, were on a hunting expedition when they camped on Sinking Creek of New River, in the present Giles County, and Valentine made what was called an improvement by killing trees. In 1754 he procured a survey under the Loyal Company. In the same year Valentine made a contract with a Dunker, George Hoopaugh, who, it was alleged, was poor and lived on Valen- tine's charity, that George should go and live on the place as tenant. In 1757 Valentine was killed by Indians, in the presence of his nephew, Daniel Harmon, and Daniel was taken prisoner, but escaped. No one but George Hoopaugh (Hoopack) lived on Sinking Creek at the time. He continued living there until 1775, when he moved off because of fear of the Indians. He returned, however, when he claimed the land as by settlement and made a conveyance of it. Although the grantees of the large tracts were speculators on a large scale, yet the same was not generally true of the settlers. While they were, no doubt, influenced by the prospect of rich lands at a small price, yet as a rule they were looking for a place for bona fide settlement, to make their abiding place, establish their households and pursue their fortunes. They were following upon the footsteps of numerous traders, hunters and trappers who had traversed the wilderness, back and forth, named its hills and streams and acted as prospectors and guides, but their mission was ended with the coming of population. The land speculator was not popular. The titles were but badly recorded and became matter of dispute as the lands became more valuable. These troubles became frequent about 1800, when nearly every piece of land was subject of controversy in courts in some form.

4.   Germans (an essay that includes stories about the Harman's) by Mitchell G. Farish