John Harpole

Notes:

1792-John Harpole was born in Virginia [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN

1797-"John Harpole came from Virginia to Wilson County, Tennessee when a young man..." [Harpole, Andrew J. (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]. A suggested hypothetical date might be later than 1797, however, we know that his father Solomon purchased land in Sumner County in 1797---when John would have been five years old

1808-Death of John's father, Solomon Harpole. John was sixteen years of age. John Harpole Sr was guardian of William and Polly, and may also have been named guardian of John. This close relationship indicates that John Sr. might actually have been another son of Solomon's, and not just a nephew.

1812-[The twenty year old John Harpole] was a soldier in the War of 1812. [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recoreded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN] John Harpole, Trumpeter, Major General Andrew Jackson, Capt. E. Kirkpatrick, Mounted Gunmen [Sistler, Byron & Barbara (1992) ENLISTED MEN, WAR OF 1812]

1813-Allotment to the heirs of Solomon Harpole. Heirs: William Harpole, Polly Patterson, John Harpole. 21 June 1813. Recorded in Deed Book E.

1814-On a receipt dated 25 Nov 1814, "Rec. from Wyatt Bettis the sum of ninety-six cents for the direct tax ont he property of John Harpole. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes TENNESSEE COUSINS]

1815-John Harpole...married Elizabeth Swigley...(of) Wilson County, TN [Harpole, Andrew J. (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed] This marriage took place on 26 January 1815 and the bondman was [John's first cousin] George Harpole. [Whitley, Edythe Rucker--compiler (1981) MARRIAGES OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE 1802-1850]

1815-John Harpole was bondsman at the marriage of George Bullard and Elizabeth Spradlin of 2 Mar 1815 in Wilson County, Tennessee

1815-Solomon Wesley Harpole [the oldest child of John and Elizabeth] was born in Wilson [County] Tennessee (later that same year of 1815) [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]

1816-"This is to certify that I, John Jr., heir of Solomon Harpole deceased do relinquish all claims to a tract of land to Thomas Patterson who conveyed it to Wyatt Bettes, Jr. Dated 30 July 1816." Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

"This is to certify that John Harpole, Sr., guardian for William Harpole and Thomas Patterson, heirs of Solomon Harpole reqlinquish their claims to land on Spring Creek to John Harpole, Jr. dated 30 July 1816." Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

Thomas Patterson and Polly, his wife, formerly Polly Harpole, daughter of Solomon Harpole, deceased, transferred ownership of 56 acres on Spring Creek to Wyatt Bettes on 16 August 1816. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book F. Presumably this was the land she inherited from her father.

"This is to certify that we John Harpole, Jr. and Thomas Patterson relinquish our claims to land on Spring Creek being a part of the dower of Christina Bettes, formerly the wife of Solomon Harpole to William Harpole. Dated 30 July 1816. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

1816-John Harpole was a soldier (again under General Jackson) int he Seminole war which was fought from 1816-1818 in the Florida Everglades. [Harpole, Andrew J (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN

1817----Received this 21st day of Feb 1817 from John Harpole the sum of 92 1/2 cents for the direct tax of Wilson County for 1816. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1819-The first settler, Elisha Parker, was recorded in the Western District of Tennessee. This was the same area that John, and his brother William, were to settle a few years later. Obion County was eventually created from this Western District in 1832 from the Chickasaw Indian Cession and named after the Obion River.

1820-John Harpole and Jonas Swingley had 314 acres of land on Barton's Creek, Wilson County, transferred to them by Joseph Swingley on 25 May 1820. Recorded in Wilson County, Tennessee Deed book H [Partlow, Thomas E. (1984) WILSON COUNTY TENNESSEE DEED BOOKS C-M, 1793-1829 [An Index] page 252]

1822-Received of John Harpole Jr Four Hundred and Eighteen Dollars Thirty Six cents in full of my estate January 26, 1822. /s/ William Harpole [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS] William Harpole must have sold his share of their father's estate to John Harpole Jr. If this reference is to sixty acres, as is understood, John paid $7 an acre

1824-John's first wife, Elizabeth, dies in December in Wilson County, Tennessee. This was the same year their daughter, Milly, was born and the two events may well have been connected. [Acklen, Jeannette Tillotson compiler (1976) TENNESSEE TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS Lebanon, Wilson County]. Extant Obion County marriage records start in this year and the first Circuit Court is held there in the home of W.M. Wilson.

1825-John Harpole transfers 200 acres of land in Wilson County to Jonas Swingley on 3 December 1828. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book L. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1984) WILSON COUNTY TENNESSEE DEED BOOKS C-M, 1793-1829 [An Index] page 198]

1826-John Harpole marries for the second time, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. This county is next door to Wilson County on the southside. His wife, Mary Ann, is probably in ther late thirties based on the 1830 census. She is identified as Mary Ann McMinamy. She is not described as a widow.

1826-[John Harpole's military] services was acknowledged...by the [Tennessee State] Government granting him 160 acres of land in what was to become Obion County, Tennessee. [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]

-John Harpole was listed, among others, as an early settler in the north-east of Obion County (later District No. 1 of Obion County). "Among other early settlers were Obidah Roberts, northwest of Union City; Benjamin Totten at Totten's well, in the northeast part of the county; also in the same locality Jethro L. Byrd, John Harpole and Thomas Sayles." [Goodspeed (1887) THE GOODSPEED HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN] It is recorded that John's son Solomon Wesley Harpole...."came to Obion County in 1826 (when he would have been eleven years old) and resided on the farm later owned by (his own son) John T(homas Harpole), for two years..." [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]

"The first wheat planted in Obion County was planted by Lemuel Curlin and John Harpole. They cleared the land together. The forest was so very heavy, clearing land was no easy task." [Curlin, Thomas R. in convesation with his son R.T. Curlin. Extracted from Marshall's OBION COUNTY HISTORY and quoted in "Obion Origins" pub. by Obion County Genealogical Society in August 1986]

1827-Pamelia C. Harpole, the precise spelling varies, was born in March, and almost certainly in Obion County. There is no known contemporaneous record of this event. She appears to have been the first child born to John's second wife, May Ann McMinamy. She was incorrectly thought to have been born seven years earlier to John's first wife. This misunderstanding was recorded in HARPOLE COUSINS but this secondary record (original source unknown) is still an important source and in independant of Kenneth Harvey's family confirmation of her close relationship to John Harpole. Pamelia is listed as the wife of John M. Gentry on the 1850 Obion County, Tennessee census. William Harpole was once considered as her possible father, however he was ruled out because of the existance of a full listing of William's children in both the Obion County History [Obion County History Society (1985) OBION COUNTY HISTORY, VOL II Pub. Union City, Tennessee] and in HARPOLE COUSINS.

-Received of John Harpole 25 cents in full of state and county tax for 1827. /s/ Joel S. Enloe [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

-John Harpole of Obion County, Tennessee transferred 56 acres on Spring Creek, Wilson Co, Tennessee to Thomas Kindred on 23 July 1827. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book

1828-[John and his family, including Solomon Wesley Harpole] ...then moved two miles north of that [original] farm...[Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed] Presumably the homestead was relocated a few miles north. John most likely kept both farms, as a grandson of his was to be born on and inherit the southernmost property. It seems probable he received two land grant of 80 acres each, two miles apart. One of these pioneer log residences, presumably the second, was still standing until 1991, when it burnt down. It was known, at the time, to be the oldest house in north-west Tennessee. [Correspondence of Dr. David Harpole of Richmond, Virginia with Kenneth Harvey]

-Received of John Harpole 37 1/2 cents in full of his state and county tax for the year 1828. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1829-John Harpole, J.P. is given as the officiant at the marriage of Joseph Scott to Martha Jackson on 2 September 1829.

1829--"Some Interesting Facts About Early Obion County and Union City, TN" by T.D. Ozment states: Lem Curlin and John Harpole cleared some land in about 1829 and planted the first wheat ever planted in the county. According to Marshall's history this was just a few miles northeast of Union City."

1830-Rec. of John Harpole $3 and 50 cents for Smith work done in the year 1828 and 1829 up to the present date. February 19, 1830 /s/ Jesse Thompson. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1830 Federal Census: John was listed in the first Federal census of the county and his household age structure was reported as one male between ages 5/10 (Wilson P, age 8), two males aged between 10/15 (Solomon W, age 14 and Albert C., age 12) One female between 5/10 (Millie, age 6) and one female, presumably Mary Ann, aged circa 45. It is puzzling that Pamelia is not accounted for, who would have been around three years old. Kenneth Harvey does not believe that Millie is a nickname for Pamelia, as both individuals are recorded in different households in the 1850 Obion County census.

--Rec. of John Harpole two dollars and thirty seven and one-half cents in full for State and County tax. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1833-Rec. of John Harpole one dollar and 62 and 1/2 cents in full of State & County tax for the year 1832. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1834--Both John and James Harpole are summonded by the Sheriff to serve as Grand and Petty Jurors at the Circuit Court meeting in Troy in November 1834. [Minutes of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Obion County 1834-1836. Transcriptions of the County Archives of Tennessee 1941] The identity of James Harpole is unknown. Could this have actually been William?

1835-Rec. of Douglas and Ward by the hand of John Harpole five dollars and sixty two and a half cents in full of the state and county tax on 1,000 acres of land in Obion County for the year 1835. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1837-John Harpole was assessed as "W(hite) Poll 1" like all other 94 taxpayers in Obion County, District 1. He was recorded as owning 250 acres and no slaves.

1850-The 1850 census index for Obion County, Tennessee shows: John Harpole (59), born in Virginia, and those of his children at home; (Wilson) Page (28), Millie (26) and William (Alexander) (18). John's mother, the elderly (Anna) Christianna Bettes, born in 1770, was living in their home.

1857-John Harpole is recorded as possessing no slaves, three horses, one mule, eleven cattle, fifteen sheep, thirty five swine, 72 bushels of wheat and 250 bushels of corn. [Agricultural Wealth of the County of Obion 1857 (extracted from a book containing the statistics in the Registry of Deeds Office in Obion County]

1860-Not located in the 1860 census.

1861-Date of death cited in HARPOLE COUSINS was 12 February 1861. May actually have died prior to the 1860 census.

The Harpole cemetery is located on land belonging to Tom Elam (as of 1986), east of Jordan Highway on the old Hickman-Dresden Road. No tombstones have been found but John Harpole and his two wives are buried to the east of the Log House, according to CEMETERIES OF OBION COUNTY, TENNESSEE VOL. ONE. This reference to John Harpole, and his two wives by a non-family source, confirms that John was known locally to have married a second time. The "second wife" referred to in this case was probably actually his mother, Anna Christina Dice. His real first wife, Elizabeth Swingley, was buried in Wilson County.

John married Elizabeth Swingley on 26 Jan 1815 in Wilson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth (daughter of George Swingley) was born on 1 Apr 1792 in Virginia; died on 28 Dec 1824 in Wilson County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Solomon Wesley Harpole was born in 1815; died in 1880.
2. Albert Carroll Harpole was born in 1818; died in 1889.
3. Wilson Page Harpole was born in 1822; died in 1895.
4. Milli(Cent) Harpole was born in 1824; died after 1850.

John married Mary Ann McMinamy on 21 Sep 1826 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Mary was born on 20 Jun 1788; died before 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
1826-John Harpole marries for the second time, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. This county is next door to Wilson County on the southside. His wife, Mary Ann, is probably in ther late thirties based on the 1830 census. She is identified as Mary Ann McMinamy. She is not described as a widow.

(Lucas, Silas Emmett-compiler (1981) 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870)

1. Pamelia C Harpole was born on 20 Mar 1827 in Obion County, Tennessee; died on 19 Jul 1903 in Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; was buried in Alma Cemetery, Alma, Stephens County, Oklahoma.
2. William Alexander Harpole was born in 1832; died in 1856.

John married Malinda Patterson on 29 Dec 1842 in Obion County, Tennessee. Malinda was born before 1822; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Solomon Harpole and [Anna] Christiana, his wife, whose maiden name was Dice. Solomon Harpole came to the United States from Germany. locating in Pennsylvania some time prior to 1790, and moved from there to Virginia, where he resided until his death." [Harpole, Andrew J. (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compile for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSE. pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN] It is significant that only one of the two great-grandsons quoted by Goodspeed, Andrew Harpole, recalls that Solomon died in Virginia and that her personally came from Germany. This places of Solomon's origin and death as given by Andrew Harpole are incorrect. The Harpole family did come from Germany, but it was the generation before Solomon in 1737. The informant, Andrew, who was age 30 at the time, was eleven years younger than the other descendant Goodspeed quoted, great grandson John Harpole. John was age 41 at the time. John never mentioned the German birth or Virginia death. It is clear from this that the family origins were beginning to be obscured by the passage of time even in 1887.

1769-Solomon Harpole was born in Virginia. [Harpole, Belma Carroll & Agnes S. (1986) HARPOLE COUSINS]

1790--Solomon and Christina Harpole moved to Sumner County, TN from Virginia in the 1790's with their young family. [Obion County Historical Society (1985) Obion County History, Vol Two. Pub. Union City, TN] Solomon, along with his brothers Adam and Paul, presumably followed their probable cousins John and Martin. The newcomers cannot have been unaware of John and Martin's earlier exploits in the area of Wilson County. John was to become the guardian of Solomon's children following his death. Adam was in Wilson County from at least early 1792.

1797-Solomon purchased 480 acres of land in Sumner County, Tennessee, from Ephraim Payton in January 1797. [Sumner County Deed Books] Sumner was the parent county of Wilson County.

1799--On December 23rd, Wilson County, Tennessee, was founded in the [John] Harpole [Sr.--cousin of Solomon] home. [Merritt, Dixon Edit. (1961) THE HISTORY OF WILSON COUNTY---ITS LAND AND ITS LIFE History Associates of Wilson County] Dr. David Harold Harpole of Richmond, Virginia, in his correspondence with Kenneth C. Harvey noted that the Wilson County Court met there for its first five sessions until the courthouse was built. That building in turn later proved inadequate.

1800-Governor Sevier issued captain's commisions in the new militia regiment created for Wilson County on May 30, 1800. Solomon Harpole was one of the five men named. [Merritt, pg 41] He appears to have relinquished this role of Captain a few years later.

1803-Solomon Harpole acquired 840 acres of land on Main Spring Creek, Wilson County form William and Gideon Pillow of Davidson County, Tennessee on 7 Nov 1803. Deed Book A. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1987) WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSE DEEDS, MARRIAGES, & WILLS 1800-1902, p. 412]

1803/4-Solomon Harpole to Zebedie Hicks 200 acres on the south side of the Cumberland River in Wilson County. Witnesses: James Hicks, Benjamin Clarke, and William Reynolds. Deed Book A. [Partlow, p. 396]

1804-Solomon Harpole is listed as #662 in Capt. Wilee Charry's (William Cherry) Company for the payment of tax in Wilson Co. He is recorded as owning 400 acres on Spring Creek. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1974) WILSON CO., TENNESSEE, TAX LISTS]

1805-Solomon Harpole is listed as #791 in Capt. Mann's Company for the payment of tax in Wilson County. He is recorded as owning 400 acres in Spring Creek. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1974) WILSON CO., TENNESSEE, TAX LISTS]

1805-Solomon Harpole transferred a building lot in the town of Lebanon to Samuel Hinkle of Pennelton, Co., Virginia on 23 September 1805. Deed Book B. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1987) WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSE DEEDS, MARRIAGES, & WILLS 1800-1902, p. 50]

1806-Solomon Harpole (along with cousin/brother John Harpole) signed, with sixteen other Justices of the Peace of Wilson County, a Petition, on 15 April 1806, on behalf of Edward Mitchell. Mitchell was commissioned to "complete the public building Courthouse etc" Due to "unforeseen difficulties" the funds allowed to Mitchell were insufficient and the petitioners requested that a County tax may be levied to relieve the situation. [Tennessee Legislative Petitions (1805-1812) in microfilm roll #3]

1806-Solomon Harpole was recorded as the bondsman at the marriage in Wilson County of George Allin & Sally Johnson on 28 August 1806. [Whitley, Edythe Rucker--compiler (1981) MARRIAGES OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE 1802-1850]

1806-Solomon Harpole is listed as #1070 in Capt. Carruth's District for the purpose of tax collection in Wilson County, Tennessee. He is recorded as owning 400 acres of land in Spring Creek. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1974) WILSON CO., TENNESSEE, TAX LISTS]

1807-Solomon Harpole is listed as #347 in Capt. Mann'sDistrict for the purpose of tax collection in Wilson County, Tennessee. He is recorded as owning 400 acres of land in Spring Creek. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1974) WILSON CO., TENNESSEE, TAX LISTS]

1807-Solomon Harpole and John Harpole are created administrators of the Vinson Crumpton Inventory on 21 March 1807 [Partlow, Thomas E. (1981) WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE WILLS, BOOKS 1-13 (1802-50) Lebenon, TN page 132]

1807/1808-Solomon Harpole dies. Probate is granted in the will. A copy of this will should be obtained and examined. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1981) WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE WILLS, BOOKS 1-13 (1802-50) Lebenon, TN page 6]

According to Partlow's WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE WILLS and to his index to WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE DEED BOOKS, the following transactions took place as a part of the settlement of Solomon Harpole's estate:

1808-Solomon Harpole sale on 20 Feb 1808. Among buyers are Mrs. Harpole and John Harpole. John Harpole administrator. Recorded 16 May 1808.

1813-Allotment to the heirs of Solomon Harpole. Heirs: William Harpole, Polly Patterson, John Harpole. 21 June 1813. Recorded in Deed Book E.

1816-"This is to certify that I, John Jr., heir of Solomon Harpole deceased do relinquish all claims to a tract of land to Thomas Patterson who conveyed it to Wyatt Bettes, Jr. Dated 30 July 1816." Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

"This is to certify that John Harpole, Sr., guardian for William Harpole and Thomas Patterson, heirs of Solomon Harpole reqlinquish their claims to land on Spring Creek to John Harpole, Jr. dated 30 July 1816." Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

Thomas Patterson and Polly, his wife, formerly Polly Harpole, daughter of Solomon Harpole, deceased, transferred ownership of 56 acres on Spring Creek to Wyatt Bettes on 16 August 1816. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book F. Presumably this was the land she inherited from her father.

"This is to certify that we John Harpole, Jr. and Thomas Patterson relinquish our claims to land on Spring Creek being a part of the dower of Christina Bettes, formerly the wife of Solomon Harpole to William Harpole. Dated 30 July 1816. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

1823-William Harpole transferred 56 acres of land on Spring Creek, it being part of the dower of Christina Bettes, formerly the wife of Solomon Harpole to John Cowger on 24 March 1823. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book I.

Solomon married Anna Christina Dice before 1792 in Virginia. Anna (daughter of Matthias Dice and Eva Catherine Harper) was born on 2 Jun 1770 in Pennsylvania; died on 17 Aug 1852 in Obion County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ken Harvey shows that she later married Wyatt BETTES Jr.

Notes:

Twin.

1738-Nicholas arrived as a child in Philadelphia with his mother and young brothers aboard the British belinder (two-masted ship) the "Thistle." It should be noted that on disembarkation in the new world his age was thought to have been recorded in Philadelphia as "8" on the ship's captain's list. Later evidence suggests that this was probably a misreading by the transcriber of the numeral "3" in the perhaps poorly written original record held in the archives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is much more likely Nicholas was in fact three years old. (From "Harpole Cousins"). His family name was spelt both as Herbolt and Herbold by transcribers of the original ship's list. The family name was probably written either as Herboldt, Harpoldt or Harbold in the German script. It is also probable that the spelling had not been standardized in German written form by 1730. It would probably have been vocalised by native German speakers as Hairbolt (emphasis on hair) to the English speaking ear. It should be noted that in German "b" and "p" were used interchangeably both at the beginning and in the middle of words.

It is probably that the family stayed in the Philadelphia area. The assumed remarriage of Anna Herboldt ca 1740 and marriage of Nicholas ca 1754 should be researched at the local parishes. It is probable that Nicholas went to a German church school, and it is almost certain that he was fluent in English by the time he moved to Virginia.

It is noticeble that Nicholas does not appear to have been involved in the hostilities of the French and Indian War (1754-1763). If he had been a soldier in the Virginia Militia, he would have been. This suggests he did not arrive to Virginia until after 1763. Indeed, He was involved in a lawsuit that same year (Peter Steenberger vs. Nicholas Harbold--Defendant [living] on [the valley of the] South Branch [of the Potomoc], [and in this lawsuit it was indicated that he was] not [a resident] in this County [of Augusta, West Virginia as of February 1763]. However, according to the book A HISTORY OF PENDELTON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA (1910) by Oren Morton, Nicholas Harpole (age 28) moved to the frontier in what was then Augusta County, Virginia in 1763. {Augusta County, (West) Virginia Court Judgements}.

The following land transactions were also recorded: "Same to Nicholas Harpole, $15, 195 acres, on Mill Creek [This creek was a branch of the South Branch of the Potomoc River. It was an area later to be located in the jurisdiction of Hampshire County] as above, &c. [dated 24th May 1763] Delivered Nicholas Harpole, October, 1766 {Augusta Co Deed Book 11, pg 458}

"Nicholas Harplore (sic), Paul Shaver and Jacob Wees, to view road on North Mill Creek from the Upper Tract to the County line below Jacob Peterson [dated March 21, 1765]. {Augusta Co, (West) Virginia Court Records. Order Book IX , page 251}.

"[195 acres, on Mill Creek] Delivered Nicholas Harpole, October, 1766. {Augusta Co, (West) Virginia Deed Book 11, pg 458}.

In 1767 Processioners (an Episocopal Church position) appointed, viz; ... .... Nicholas Harpole and Martin Peterson on North Mill Creek... ... (Augusta Parish Vestry Book, page 429.)

1772-George Fult's (Foltz) will--To wife Catherine Barbara, .... etc. ....Teste: Adam Loff, Adam Harpole, Nicholas Oswedy. Proved, 16 March 1773 (written in the "German Tong" and translated by Anthony Ayler) by Adam Lock and Adam Harpole. Widow Catherine Barbara qualified with Nicholas Harpole, Adam Lock." (Chalkley, Lyman (1912) Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800 (Published in three volumes) Vol 1, page 173.)

1773--Nicholas Butcher's bond (with John Poage, Nicholas Harpole) as administrator of Valentine Mischoris Butcher [dated 16 March 1773]. (Augusta County, (West) Virginia Will Book No, V, pg. 47).

1773--Nicholas Harpole qualifies (to act as an) Ensign (on 17 August 1773). An ensign was a commisioned officer in the Augusta county Colonial Militia. The rank was between a second Lieutenant and Cornet. The entry in the Court minutes records him, in effect, taking the requiste oath of office to the Crown. (Chalkley, Vol 1, page 173).

1774--On petition of John Hopkins, Samuel Moral, Peter Vaminon, Michael Wolf, John Gordon, and Nicholas Harpole--to view a road from the widow Moses's to Gabriel Cock's (dated 18 May 1774). (Augusta County, (West) Virginia, Court Records. Order Book No. XV, page 471)

--[Adam Harpole] Volunteered [in Lord Dunmore's War] in August, 1774 under Capt. John Skidmore, Lieut Robert Davis and Ensign Nicholas Harpole (his father or uncle?) in Augusta County, Virginia; marched from there to Kanahay (Kanawah River, now in West Virginia) to a place called Point Pleasant where he met the Indians and had a battle [on 10 October] in which we were successful. We were about 1,500 [militia men]....we had about 80 killed and wounded. Thence to near the town of Chillicothe and peace being made with the Indians we were marched home....[Adam] served on this tour something more than three months....[Adam Harpole (?) Revolutionary War Application No. 4632 held at the National Archives] Presumably Nicholas Harpole served about the same length of time as his close relative, Adam Harpole, recounted that he had served. Nicholas' name has not yet been found on militia lists of this period.

1775--There is no record of Nicholas Harpole, now forty years old, serving in any rank as a Revolutionary War soldier between the years 1775 and 1783. [Gwathmey, John H. (1938) HISTORICAL REGISTER OF VIRGINIANS IN THE REVOLUTION---SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES 1775-1783

This is in stark contrast to his son, Solomon's, maternal uncle-in-law, Nicholas Harper, also born in Germany; who lived locally and was the same age. Many German colonists were loyalists. Clearly, Nicholas Harper did not fit this category. Nicholas's son (or nephew) Adam was later refused a revolutionary war pension as he could not prove six months continuous service.

1776-Nicholas Harpole and Adam Lock, securities for Barbara Oldham, widow and administratix of George Fultz, but now wife of John Oldham, demand counter security [Augusta County, (West) Virginia, Court Records, Order Book No. XVI, page 101]

1782-Nicholas Warpole (sic) [made a successful claim for financial compensation, recorded at the Rockingham County Courthouse for two impressed bullocks, dated Monday 23rd September 1782. Mathias Dice, both spelled correctly and incorrectly and on the same list in another place totally incorrectly, is listed a number of times just below. Mathias' daughter, Anna Christina, was to marry Nicholas Harpole thirteen year old son, Solomon, nine years later and lived nearby. Also listed near Nicholas as claiments are the Harpers, Jacob and Philip; Anna Christina Dice's uncles. The DAR records that Nicholas Harpole had provided patriotic (as opposed to military) service in Virginia. Presumably this was the service so described. [Abercrombie, Janice L & Slatten, Richard (c. 1980) VIRGINIA PUBLICK CLAIMS, 3 Vols.---Vol 1 reference to Rockingham County Court Revolutionary War Public Service Claims Booklet dated 29 August 1782)

1786-A Nicholas Harpole paid tax in Hardy Co, (West) Virginia [Fotherfill, Augusta B. and Naugle, John Mark (1940) VIRGINIA TAX PAYERS 1782-87] The parent county of Hardy was Hampshire, in turn Hardy's parent count was Augusta. Could this have been a reference to a namesake son of Nicholas?

1794-Nicholas Harpole purchased 19 acres on Mill Creek in Pendelton Co, (West) Virginia in 1794 [Pendelton County, West Virginia, Deed Books Vol 1, page 115] Might this also have been a namesake son instead of 64 year old Nicholas?

1800-Death of Nicholas Harpole in Virginia [Harpole, Belma Carroll & Agnes S. (1986) HARPOLE COUSINS-THE HARPOLE-HARPOLD-HARPOOL FAMILIES IN AMERICA West Point, Mass (privately published)]

Nicholas married Margaret ??? about 1754 in Pennsylvania. Margaret was born after 1735; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Matthias married Eva Catherine Harper in 1791 in Pendelton County, West Virginia. Eva was born before 1773; died in 1799. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to be the son of Hans Adam and Eva Catherina Herboldt.

Baden was a small principality on the river Rhine beside the Palatine; this area was later to become part of the heart of modern Germany. Hans Adam Herboldt is not recorded arriving in Philadelphia with his young family, which means that he may have died prior to the date of their emigration. No records have been found of him in the New World. The family was almost certainly Protestant.

Hans married Anna Barbara Barball about 1724 in Germany. Anna was born about 1709 in Germany; died about 1769 in Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mrs Anna Barbara Harpole and her family arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 28th, 1738. She was a twenty-nine year old Protestant widow with five young sons. They arrived aboard the bilander Thistle of Philadelphia. George Houston was the captain. The ship had sailed from Rotterdam, Netherlands, via Cowes, England. This was because only British ships were permitted to land at American ports of the period. The passengers imported on this voyage consisted of forty-two men, thirty-six boys, forty-one women and twenty-three girls. A total of 142 passengers.2 3

A bilander was a two masted vessel and its distinguishing feature was the large trapezoidal mainsail, the forward end of which came as far forward as the middle of the ship. Steerage passengers were densely packed, often with poor food and bad water. Disease was commonplace. Christopher Sauer, a German printer in Philadelphia, mentioned in a letter, in that same year of 1738, that 2,000 Germans had just died of a "pest" on immigrant ships. No doubt this was an exaggeration, Sauer was crusading on behalf of the German immigrants; but we can be sure there was some truth in his assertion.

Upon arrival in Philadelphia, Anna, as head of the family, was probably immediately marched under guard to the Court House where she was required to swear the Oath of Allegiance to the Protestant King George the Second and explicitly state her refusal to give any allegiance to the former Catholic King James, or any of his heirs. She was then taken back to the Thistle.

Afterwards Anna would have been free to leave the vessel if she had enough passage money. If she did not, she was consigned, along with others in that sorry state, to a merchant. An advertisment would have been printed in a Philadelphia newspaper. Buyers would have bargained with her for a stated period of her domestic or other service. After the Indenture, her sworn and witnessed agreement, was signed by her. The buyer would have paid the merchant her passage money and any other debts that she owed to the Captain. The buyer then received the servant in exchange. Families were often divided at this point, the able-bodied children being "sold" into temporary servitude to pay the family's passage.

What precisely happened in the Herboldt family's case is currently unknown. Nicholas, we can be reasonably certain, was too young to be separated. Anna must have found some immediate employment. It is at least possible that she had a contact in the New World and some money before she made the fateful decision to take her young family across the Atlantic. The probability is that Anna made the transition successfully as we know that her son Hans was later apprenticed to a brickmaker.

1782 - A "Widow Harple" of New Hanover Township, County of Philadelphia, was assessed for ?0.18.9 being her annual effective supply tax. Her total valuation was listed as ?150.4

1783 - A "Widow Harple" of New Hanover Township, County of Philadelphia, was listed as possessing 85 acres but no horses, cattle, sheep or negroes for her annual Federal tax assessment.5

1790 - A "Widow Harple" was living in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania with, presumably, her five children all under sixteen; three girls and two boys. Census 1790

A John Harple of Montgomery county, PA, [born 1752] is listed as a Pennsylvanian [Military] Pensioner, [former rank of] pr[ivate in the] P[ennsylvanian] L[ine, pension payments were activated on] March 1 1821[when he reached the age of 69]; [he then] d[ied on] June 22, 1832, [at the age of] 80.6 Square here brackets denote assumptions.

Harple, John, Pa., Mary/Maria/Maricha, W3138 7 These papers would be available.



Sources
1. Harpole, Belma Carroll & Agnes S. (1986) Harpole Cousins - The Harpole-Harpold-Harpool Families in America West Point Miss.(privately published)
2. Strassburger, R. B. & Hinke, W.J. (1934) Pennsylvania German Pioneers Vol 1
(List 63 A) A List of Palatinate Passenger's Names
3. Rupp, I. Daniel 1876 (rp.1965) A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776 etc.
4. Montgomery, Thomas Lynch edit. (1906) Pennsylvanian Archives Harrisburg Publishing Company:Harrisburg PA Third Series Vol. 16 page 259.
5. Montgomery, Thomas Lynch edit. (1906) Pennsylvanian Archives Harrisburg Publishing Company:Harrisburg PA Third Series Vol. 16 page 624.
6. Montgomery, Thomas Lynch edit. (1906) Pennsylvanian Archives Harrisburg Publishing Company:Harrisburg PA Third Series Vol. 23 page 512.
7. Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications in the National Archives (1976)
8. Harpold, William Cody Rev. (1986) Correspondence with B. C. & Agnes S. Harpole
quoting genealogist
Cornelia Schrader-Muggenthaler, Heimeranstrabe 2, 8000 Munchen 2, Germany

Courtesy of
Kenneth C. Harvey
iconoclast@truvista.net