Individual Details

Jacob Harman is on a list of landholders of Philadelphia Co, 1734, as submitted to Proprietor Thomas Penn, Esq. His land was in the District of Colebrook Dale. Four of his brothers were also listed - Adam and Mathias each had 100 acres in Hanover District and George had 50 acres in Cheltenham.
[Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Dec 1898, Misc. No. 2]

One database reports that in John Newton Harmon's book Harman Genealogy, Southern Branch he writes that a Jacob Harman died in Saucon Twp of Bucks Co, PA in 1741. His wife might have been a Freeley since Jacob Freeley became the guardian of Jacob's children after his death in 1741. The children were Mary, b. 1734, Jacob, b. 1735, Elizabeth and Mathias. If this record exists, it considerably confuses the issue - it would indicate that the Jacob who settled at New River and was killed by Indians in 1756 cannot be the brother of Adam.

The brothers Adam, Valentine, and Jacob were some of the earliest settlers on the New River in the western part of Virginia prior to May, 1745. Orange County records mention a road to be viewed from the Frederick County line to Adam Harman's. The Orange Co Order Book 4, p.331, shows Adam and Jacob to be executors of the estate of William Mack, deceased, 1745.

The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, 1745-1800, Volume I, Mary B. & F. B. Kegley.
John Buchanan was responsible for taking charge of the affairs of the Wood's River Company and apparently kept a journal which was in turn noted in this book. On the 15th of Oct, 1745, he confirmed to Israel Lorton his land on Tom's Creek of New River.
On the 17th of Oct, 1745, he entered for Adam Harman, a place called Tom's Place, and one for Adam Harman, Junior, on Thorn Spring which he was to improve. The rate was £30 with the Harmans paying the rights and fees. On the 18th, Adam and Jacob Harman appriased the estate of William Mack's estate, no other person being to be had. On the 22nd of Oct, Buchanan met with "sundry" people at Jacob Harman's - presumably his house was located in the big Horsehoe of the New River where his survey was made in 1750. On the 24th, Buchanan sold to Valentian Harman, 1000 acres on the head of the great Pine Run which he was to improve immediately or forfeit.

Chalkley's Chronicles 1, p.23 & 25 list Adam Harman appointed to the militia for Augusta Co, 1746. He was also overseer of the road to New River and workers on the road included George, Valentine, and Jacob and his three sons. [we can assume the sons were old enough to work in that manner].
“19 Nov 1746 … Road ordered from Adam Harmon’s to the River and No. Branch of Roan Oak – Adam Harmon, overseer, with these workers: Geo. Draper, Israel Lorton and son, George Hermon, Thos. Looney, Jacob Hermon and three sons, Jacob Castle, John Lane, Valentine Harmon, Adren Moser, Humberston Lyon, James Shaggs, Humphrey Baker, John Davis, Fredk. Stering and two sons and all other persons settling in the precincts.

There are land records.
Col. John Buchanan, agent for the New River Company, made an entry 13 Oct 1746 for Jacob Hermon, Sr for 1000 acres on Little Pine Run.

21 Aug 1747 Son of Philip Smith to be bound to John Buchanan, Admr of Philip, and one daughter be bound to Thos. English and one to Jacob Harmon
another listing - 21 May 1750: Orphan Elizabeth Smith[age 4] bound to Jacob Harman. [if this is the same daughter of Philip Smith, she was barely a year old in 1747.]

1 Feb 1748, Adam, Valentine & Jacob signed for 400 acres each near the head of Walker's Creek.

Moravian Diaries. Brother Leonard Schnell & John Brandmueller left Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 12 Oct 1749. On Sunday, Nov. 19, they wrote of visiting New River and the Germans who lived there. Jacob Hermann received them with joy. On Nov. 23 Mr. Hermann went with them to visit Jacob Goldman.

From The Preston and Virginia papers of the Draper Collection:
15 Jun 1750 Council. Land grant to Adam Harmon, Jacob Harmon, Valentine Harmon and Valentine Sevier for 15,000 acres of land on Bluestone Creek and on the first and second creeks below Bluestone in Augusta County. [Bluestone is a tributary of the New River]
It is also reported that this same year Jacob obtained a survey for land in Horseshoe Bottom, more than 900 acres, across the river from his brother Adam at the mouth of Tom's Creek.

Tradition holds that Dr. Thomas Walker stopped off a Jacob's home as his party traveled through southwest Virginia on their way to the Cumberland Gap in 1750.

18 Jun 1752. Jacob Lorton & Jacob Harmon's bond as administrators of Israel Lorton. Sureties Tobias Bright & Wm English.
Jacob Jr. is said to have married Sarah Lorton, a daughter of Israel - this record could have been his.
County Court Judgements,
Mar & part of May, 1753
Michael & Augustine Price vs. Lorton & Patton. In July of 1748, Prices agreed with Israel Lorton to purchase from Lorton land on New River. Lorton had bought 3 tracts from James Patton: 400 acres at mouth of Toms Creek where Lorton had entered & Improved, called Lorton's first Improvement. 2nd, 400 acres at HorseShoe Bottom, 3rd, 400 acres at Beaver Dam. Prices bought the 1st & 2nd tracts. Tract # 1 is in possession of Michael Price. # 2 is in possession of Augustine Price & his brothers Daniel & Henry. Amended bill filed, but Israel Lorton Died. Jacob Lorton & Jacob Harman were Lorton's administrators.


Order Book 3
19 Aug 1752 Adam Harmon qualified Capt of Troop of Horse.
Jacob Harmon, qualified Cornet.

22 Aug 1753 Jacob Hermon. Patent for 160 acres on branch of New River, Neck Creek. Virginia PB 31, p.398 [this is believed to be the location where he was killed]

Deeds, Augusta Co
2 Jan 1754 To Jacob Lorton, 560 acres on Tom's Creek, corner Jacob Harmon, Price's land
2 Feb 1754. 210 acres, patent to John Adams, adjacent Lorten's line, Jacob Harmon's line, Price's line
2 Feb 1754 Patton to Augustine, Henry & Daniel Price, 1130 acres on Tom's Creek, branch of New River, corner Jacob Lorton, John Adam's land
2 Feb 1754 Patton to Jacob Harmon JR, 625 acres, Tom's Creek, Jacob Lorton
10 Feb 1754 Jacob Harmon to Wm Byers, 170 acres conveyed to Harmon by Patton 1 Feb 1754 on Tom's Creek.


No record of Jacob's marriage has been found. In one report it is said his wife was killed by Indians at the same time Jacob was killed, along with a son of Jacob's, but that seems to not be true.

Augusta County Court Order Book V
21 May 1756 Jacob Harmon, dead.
A Register of the persons ....killed, wounded or taken prisoner by the enemy in Augusta County:
1756, February. Vallentine Harman, at North River, killed. Jacob Harman and one son at North River, killed.

Other than the unnamed son that died with his father, Jacob is believed to have had sons named Jacob, Peter, and Valentine - born approximately 1730-1740, likely in Pennsylvania.
A daughter Christina is suggested. She was the wife of James Lyon, who was b. ca 1736, died 29 Dec 1817, Stokes Co NC. James was a Lt Col. in the Revolutionary War with the Virginia Troops from Henry Co, VA. Their son Stephen Lyon was given power of attorney by Jacob Harmon, in Pulaski Co KY, 1783. Another son, James, b. ca 1771 named a daughter Christina Harmon Lyon, b. about 1798.
Found online and stated that much more was in the Bible record....
"Contributed by Dr. J. L. Miller": "Bible Records of Col. James Lyon, Sr., of Henry County, Va., now in possession of Mrs. Helen Deas. Of New York City, a daughter of Francis Strother Lyon, of Alabama, shows the following: Col. James Lyon, born in March 1736, departed this life Dec. 29, 1817, in his 81st year of his age, in Stokes County, North Carolina. Christian Lyon, 1st wife of Col. James Lyon, died Feb. 23, 1784. Major Stephen Lyon, oldest son of James and Christian Lyon, departed this life on the 20th day of May, 1820 in Grainger County, Tennessee."

Birth	Ca 1705	Germany
Death	1756	Augusta County, Virginia

Child	?Adam Harmon ( - 1756)
Child	Jacob Harmon II (New River) (1730 - 1803)
Child	Peter Harmon (1732 - 1800)
Child	Christina Harmon (1738 - )
Child	Valentine Harmon (1740 - 1808)
Child	William Harmon (1745 - )
Child	John Harmon (1748 - )

Father	?Johan Michael ?Hermann (1670 - )
Mother	Living
Sibling	(Heinrich) Adam Herrman (1700 - 1767)
Sibling	Valentine Harmon (1706 - 1756)
Sibling	Mathias Hermann (1707 - 1742)
Sibling	George Harmon (1710 - )
Sibling	Daniel Harmon (1712 - )
Sibling	John Harmon (1714 - )