HARKNESS - the Delaware County, NY Genealogy and History Site

John, s, 15; Julia, d, 13; Austin, s, 11; Prudence, d, 9; George A, d (sic), 5; Ransom, s, 3; Nancy, d, 10/12. All of whom born Delaware County.57 Abstracts of Wills of Delaware Co., N.Y. from Sept. 1796 to Dec 1833. Copied from the original wills at the Surrogate’s Office, Delhi, N.Y. Volume 1. Copiedand compiled by Gertrude A. Barber. 1940: p. 219: Samuel Bell of Harpersfield. Dated May 9, 1828. Mentions nieces: 1. Martha dau Wm Smith and 2. Esther& Mary Bell and nephews: Samuel Anthony Bell, James Zankin Smith, William Harkness and James Bell Harkness. Executors: Rev. William Mc Auley,Ebenezer Rowland, James Bell. Witnesses: William Mc Auly (sic), John Stevenson, William A. Hendry.58 Early MI Census indices, which are sparse, show no Harkness entries through 1830. There is no John through 1850.59 See material on the Michigan Mc Ilwain/Mc Elwain family following.60 The North Kortright Cemetery has a stone for “Ann Tailor, d/o Tomas J. and Catherine Harkness.” She died 5 Feb 1811, age 2 yrs.61 Margaret62 See will of Samuel Bell of Harpersfield, Dated 9 May, 1828 and Probated 18 Sept 1828. It mentions nieces: Esther and Mary Bell and Martha, dau Wm.Smith; nephews: Samuel Anthony Bell, James Zankin Smith, William Harkness and James Bell Harkness. Executors: Rev. William Mc Auley, EbenezerRowland and James Bell. p. 219 of Vol. 1. Extracted by Gertrude A. Barber.63 See the will of Samuel Bell of Harpersfield, dated 9 May 1828 mentioned previously. The 1810 Census index for New York show three Harkness men inDelaware County who are 45 or over:James 12101-31 . . .John 20101-11 . . .Thomas 20101-21 . . .The #s mean: col 1: males < 10; 2: 10-16; 3: 16-26; 4 26-45; 5: > 45; fem < 10; ....[Also: Thomas Jr. 00100-00 . . .]According to History of Delaware County, N.Y. W.W. Munsell & Co., New York, 1880, p. 235: “Thomas, James and John Harkness came fromIreland and settled sometime previous to the year 1800. Thomas settled on lots 50 and 35. James on lot 49, and John on lot 64. These three brothers all raised largefamilies. Many of their descendants have left the town, but some remain.”The North Kortright Cemetery contains a stone for: Thomas Harkness died 6 April 1838, age 75 years. In 1810, he would have been 47 and so maybe the Thomas J. who wed Catherine and had the daughter of the stone: Catherine Ann Tailor Harkness, d/o Thomas J. and Catherine, died 5-11-1811, age 2 years.64 This was spelled Whitford by the administrator’s of Abigail’s estate. The Surrogate officer also spells it with an ‘E’, but he also spells Mead as ‘Meade’.Whitford does appear to be correct, however; it is the spelling used by Joseph A. Douglass in his deposition.65 1855 Census Records of Delaware County, New York. p.292 (Harpersville) show:Henderson, Robt. 68 Ireland 44 FarmerMargaret w. 62 “ 44Nancy d 28 Del Co 28Charles s. 19 Del Co 19Kortright North Cemetery; Delaware Co., NY: Charles Henderson 1836-1913, w, Ann Tate 1836-1899; Leonard Henderson 1893-1947, w, Anna K. 1895- ;Fannie 1864-1950 and Harold Lee 1892-194266 Will Book D, entry 22. Delaware County, New York.67 Biographical Review...Delaware County New York. Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company. 1895 p. 287-8.68 Published by Chapman Bros., Chicago, Ill. 1891. pps. 230-231. The 1850 Federal Census shows the family in Barry, Barry Co., Michigan., on page73B. Enumerated on 2 August are:MacIlwain: Samuel 50 m Farmer 1000 NYEliz A. 40 f NYThomas 21 m Laborer MIRobert 19 m Laborer MIHenry 17 m Laborer MIGeorge 15 m Laborer MIBy 1880, the brothers have grown and we see Samuel now living in Robert’s home, as is the widowed Jane E. (Harkness) Sloan. The 1880 Census (BarryTownship, Barry Co., MI; e.d. 48; page 18; taken 14 June by H. P Sidriam (189/196)) showsMc ElwainRobert w m 50 Head m Farmer NY NY NYSusan R. w f 39 wife m Keeps House OH PA OHAlma B. w f 14 dau s At School MI NY OHRobert E. w m 03 son s MI NY OHSamuel w m 80 Father w NY Ire IreSloan