Individual Details

This person is often seen in online databases as Heinrich Adam Harman, although all his records are simply "Adam".

This Bible was apparently in the hands of John Newman Harman when he wrote his book, Harman Genealogy:
“The oldest record we have been able to obtain is found in Heinrich Adam’s ‘German Lutheran Bible,’ which was handed down from him to his son, Henry, Sr., and though his grandson, Elias, and his great-grandson, Colonel William N. Harman. This Bible was sent to the writer in October, 1923, by W. H. G. Harman and his sister, Mrs. Blanche Wright, son and daughter of Col. William N. Harman, deceased, who are now residents of the State of Arkansas. While some of these records are dim and others somewhat mutilated, we here insert a very satisfactory translation of them, which was made for us by Mr. Herm Josephy, a linguist of Welch, W. Va., as follows:
“I, Heinrich Adam Herrman, married Louisa Katrina, October 8, 1723, and have together begotten eleven children, and have lived in matrimony as true married folks should up to the year 1749, when my dear wife died March 18th and was buried the 21st, which fell on a monday.
“The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us of all our sins. Amen.
“Lord Jesus for you I lived. Yours I am in death and alive.
“And my wife, Louisa Katrina, her last meditation (thought) was this: ‘I know that my Savior lives, and he will support me when leaving the earth, hereafter will surround me with his _____ and in my flesh will see God the same evening and my eyes will perceive him.’ Died 9 o’clock, 25 minutes. Her last song: ‘My earthly travels are over. I fought a good fight. All men must die, and I must leave. Good night all my loved ones.’
“My son George died July __, 1749, at the age of 22 years, Buried ____.
“My daughter, Philipina, died November 14th. Buried the 15th in the year 1751.


Had 100 acres of land in Hanover Township, Philadelphia Co, 1734. This would become Berks Co, PA.

Orphans Court of Philadelphia Co PA
20 Dec 1742. Petition of Adam Harman, one of the executors of the will of Matthias Harman late of Hanover Township, Yeoman, deceased. To sell 150 acres of land in Hanover Township to settle estate. Account of Jacob and Adam Harmon, Exrs. of Mathias Harman, deceased.

Court Order in Scott’s ‘History of Orange County,’ on page 31: ‘May, 1745, James Patton and John Buchanan, Gent., having viewed the way from Frederick county line through that part of this county called Augusta, made their report: ‘Pursuant, etc., we have viewed, laid off and marked the said road as followeth: to begin at Thom’s brook, at Frederick county line, thence to Benjamin Allen’s ford and Robert Caldwell’s path, thence across Beard’s ford on North river and Alexander Thompson’s ford on Middle river, thence to Tinkling spring, to Beverly Manor line, to Gilbert Campbell’s ford on north branch of James river, thence to Cherry Tree Bottom on James river, thence to Adam Harman’s on the New or Wood’s river.

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 [early name for the New 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.


Augusta County Court - Order Book 1
21 Aug 1747 Son of Philip Smith to be bound to John Buchanan, Admr. Of Philip, one daughter to be bound to Thos. English [Ingles] and one to Jacob Harmon.
Augusta Parish Vestry Book
p.64 21 May 1750. Orphan Elizabeth Smith, age 4, bound to Jacob Harmon.
Order Book 2 - 25 May 1750
Catherine Smith, orphan of Philip Smith to be bound to Thomas Engles; Elizabeth, orphan of Philip Smith to be bound to Adam Harmon

22 Apr 1749 Valentine & Adam Herman were committed for violent robbery of the goods of Jacob Castlean. John Cunningham, jailor

Augusta County Court - Order Book 2
17 May 1749 Jacob Castle was charged by Adam Harmon with threatening to aid the French - ordered to be arrested and brought before a called Court on next Monday.

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]


23 Jun 1750 Adam Harmon, 400 acres, New River, six miles above Wolf's Creek
7 Nov 1752 Adam Harmon, Augusta Co. 500 acres east side New River Virginia PB 31, p.290

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

1753. Adam Herman has served one year as road overseer between Cutalapo Creek and New River and nominates William Leeper.
16 Aug 1753 Order Book 4. Wm Leeper appointed Constable on New River, vice Adam Harman.

Michael Harless, land patent in Augusta Co. 1 Nov 1754. 113 acres, both sides Tom's Creek, branch of New River betwixt Adam Hermons and old Laurtons [Lawton/Lorton?] land. PB 32, p.407. On 31 Oct 1765, the same appeared to be issued to Philip Harless, PB 36, p.931

In 1755, Adam Harman and his two sons were living on New River at the site of what is now Eggleston's Springs in Giles Co VA. They were the men who discovered Mrs. Mary Ingles after her escape from the Shawnee.

Lawsuit of Nov 1764. Looney vs. Harmon. Capt Adam Harman's bond, dated 28 Feb 1754 to Lones Looney of Augusta for 10 #'s with lawful interest from 19 Jul 1746. Grandchild to Adam Harman. Test: John Crockett, Ann Crockett.


The records of the Moravians in North Carolina contain the following:
1763, July 27. Peter Herrmann from New River, passed our mill, and reported, with apparent truth, that the Northern Indians had killed many families on the Roanoke [we later learned it was the James River]; also a few days before he himself had been in a fight with Indians at Trappers Meadows, and had shot one, whose tomahawk he had with him. More families of refugees arrived next day.
1763, Aug 22. A man from New River came to the doctor for treatment of a wound received from an Indian. He brought a letter from our friend the elder Herman [likely Adam, Peter's grandfather] which said that since the last alarm they had seen no more of the Wild men. The Herrmans had built a fort where they and several other families were living together. They were expecting a guard of 100 men from Virginia [which probably never arrived since the next entry suggests the Hermann family relocated]
1764. The Hermann family, who moved a way from New River on account of the Indians came to us as refugees and lived for a time by the mill, but later settled on the southeast border of Wachovia.
1764, Feb 10. From New River comes our friend, the elder Herrman and his son Adam. The rest of their families will follow next week. Herrman says that by spring there will be no families left on New River, for by the King's Declaration the land must be returned to the Cherokees.
1764, Feb 19. The Herman families who have been staying at the mill, moved away today. They will settle near our east line.
1764, Apr 21. Yesterday the elder Hermann and part of his family arrived. Today the rest came, accompanied by many wedding guests, for Daniel Herrman wished to be married to Billy Bughsen's daughter by Justice Loesch. About forty people had to be cared for in the Tavern tonight, but all went with reasonable quiet.
1764, Apr 22. Easter Sunday. In a separate service the little sons of Adam and Henry Harman were baptised. The children are the grandsons of our friend, the elder Herman. Adam's son, six weeks old, received the name of Valentine; the other a year old, was named Henry.
1767, Feb 24. Capt English [probably Ingles] was here on his way to Georgia. He confirmed the report about the murder by the Indians there. He also told us that our old friend Adam Herrman died there four weeks ago.

Note: It was not an inconsequential distance from the New River settlements at Tom's Creek and Horse Shoe Bottoms to the North Carolina Moravian villages. There is no easy river path. Today's maps show a highway, Virginia & North Carolina State Road 8, that runs basically from Blacksburg [where Aaron Harman found Mary Ingles] to Bethania which was the northernmost Moravian town. Many of today's highways do follow the old paths. However the distance is over 100 miles.


Further evidence of kinship in the Harmon family of New River can be found in the following court records.
1806 Poage's Heirs vs. Taylor & Ingles Danl. Harman deposed that he had "known the Abb's Valley by that name 46 years". The case reveals that Thomas Ingles had lived in the Valley. [Abb's Valley was in fact named that for Absalom Looney, son-in-law of Adam Harman - I believe this was near Drapers Meadows.] John Peevy, blacksmith, deposed that in 1772 he came with Jacob Harman [probably the younger Jacob whose wife was Sarah], Samuel Walker, & James Moore to Abb's Valley and saw a cabin belonging to Luna [Looney]. John Taylor had purchased the land in question when the Ingles moved off because of the Indian threat. Moore was killed with part of his family by the Indians in July of 1786. Moore and Robert Poage were brothers-in-law. [It is known that Adam Harman and two of his sons found Mrs. Ingles when she escaped from the Indians.]

23 Jul 1807 Taylor vs. Harman. George Hoopaugh made a survey for 300 acres on Sinking Creek of New River now in Giles County which he sold to George Taylor, father of orator, Adam Taylor. By accident the plat and certificate were made out in the name of Henry Harman to whom the grant was issued. Henry answered that about 1751 or 52 he and his uncle Valentine Harman, were hunting and camped on the land in question and Valentine made an improved and in 1754 he procured a survey under the Loyal Company. Also in 1754 Valentine made a contract with George Hupaugh, who was poor and lived on Valentine's charity, that he could go ahead and live on the place as tenant. In 1756 or 57, Valentine was killed by Indians and the property descended to Adam Harman, Henry's oldest brother and Taylor had purchased Adam's right. Mathias Harman deposed on 27 Feb 1810, that upwards of 50 years ago during Valentine's life, he had settled Hoopaugh on the land. Valentine was killed by Indians on the New River and the deponent's brother Daniel [Harman] and Andrew Moser were taken prisoner. Daniel made his escape. Adam was the eldest brother of Mathias. [So Adam, Henry, Mathias & Daniel are all brothers and nephews of Valentine and the next deposition proves they were sons of the older Adam Harmon.] Jeremiah Pate Sr. deposed on 15 Feb 1810 that he traveled down Sinking Creek with old Adam Harman and his son Adam and old Adam pointed out a marked tree as the land of "Uncle Valentine Harman". Valentine, being old Adam's brother but uncle to his sons. No one but George Hoopaugh had lived on the Creek. Young Adam was Valentine's heir because his brother Jacob's son, Jacob, was "Rakish" inclined and old Valentine never like him. Christina Pate deposed on the same date. Mary was the widow of Valentine. Adam Harman had proved himself Valentine's heir by a will in Carolina. Daniel Harman deposed on 30 Jun 1808, that before Braddock's Defeat his uncle Valentine had employed George Hupaugh as a tenant. Valentine was killed by Indian's less than a foot from him and he was taken prisoner. David Price deposed on 17 Feb 1810 that Valentine was killed by Indians in 1755 or 1756, leaving no children. Jacob Taylor deposed that he was a son of George Taylor. John Looney deposed on 25 Jan 1810 that George Hoopaugh was a Dunker and the first settler on the land. David Price Sr deposed that in 1754 Hoopaugh lived on the land but in 1775 he moved off on account of Indians but came back when he sold to George Taylor. Wm. McAfee settled the same land in 1774 and paid fees to Dr. Walker. Deponent was a son of Michael Price.
My Notes: Adam, Henry, Mathias and Daniel were brothers, all sons of the elder Adam Harman. Christina Pate was their sister, married to Jeremiah Pate. When Valentine Harman died in 1756, primogeniture would have been in effect and since he had no children, the land would have descended to his eldest living brother who has been said to have been Adam - it's unlikely Valentine would have made out his will since he wasn't expecting an untimely death but certainly some provision was made. The Moravian records of 24 Feb 1767, reveal that Capt Ingles reported to them that old Adam Herman had died at New River about four weeks earlier. Primogeniture was still in effect and any land of old Adam's not designated in his will would then descend to his eldest son who was young Adam. Jacob, or his son Jacob, would not have been in line to inherit unless Jacob had been older than Adam - the record does prove, however, that it was Jacob who had a son named Jacob Harman, evidently the Jacob Jr of New River.

About 1805:
Winn v. Inglish's heirs. Valentine Harmon [son of old Adam Harmon] took possession of a tract on the Clinch River in present Tazewell Co and raised a cabin on it. In 1773 he sold it to orator William Winn/Wynn by writing executed in Sept 1800 and acknowledged in Lincoln Co KY. Winn lived on the land from 1773 until the Commissioners sat to adjust title. William Inglish, since deceased, claimed the tract and got a certificate by a survey made for the Loyal Company which orator claims is fraudulent. So here is another Valentine, son of old Adam - brother to young Adam, Henry, Mathias & Daniel above.
William Christian and Daniel Trigg are the executors of William Inglish. Heirs are Abraham Trigg and Susannah his wife, late Inglish; Bird Smith and Rhoda his wife, late Inglish; John Grills and Mary his wife, late Inglish; and John and Thomas Inglish.

27 Oct 1804. Henry Harmon Sr. [son of old Adam] deposed that Obadiah Garwood made the first settlement in 1752. Henry was in the habit of collecting the men and fighting the Indians. On his return from such an expedition he called at his brother's [Valentine's or one of the other brothers?] who lived near the complainant. One of his sons, Daniel, was killed by Indians [not clear whose son… but a later deposition indicates Daniel was a son of Henry Sr.]
Henry Harmon [Jr.] and Hezekiah Harman answer: In 1752 Obadiah Garwood and his sons, Noah & Samuel came from Northward and settled; they remained some time then went to get their families but the Indian War broke out and the country became untenable. Valentine Harman removed to Kentucky about 1775 or 1776. William Inglish died 1782, testate, leaving the land to his daughter Susannah, wife of Abraham Trigg.
Jeremiah Pate deposed that he helped the Garwoods improve the land.
30 May 1805 Thomas Pierie deposed. Daniel Harman Sr is a brother to Henry Harman Sr and uncle to Henry Harman Jr. and is father-in-law and uncle to Hezekiah [obviously Hezekiah married his first cousin, daughter of Daniel]. Jeremiah Pate is a brother-in-law to Henry Harman Sr. and an uncle to Henry Harman Jr. [Jeremiah was married to Christian Harman, sister of Henry Sr and Daniel Sr] Thomas Pierie's son married William Wynne's daughter.
30 May 1805 Daniel Harman Sr. deposed that the spring he moved to the head of the Clinch, Valentine Harman lived on the plantation where Henry Harmon Jr. now lives. Valentine sold the land to Wm Wynne for a mare, a horse, and a wagon.
30 May 1805 Samuel Walker deposed that in 1771 he came to head of the Clinch and met Valentine who said he was coming to this country.
Lawrence Murry deposed that the spring after the Chericee [Cherokee] War he came into this country. William Wynne was in possession of the property that and the next year and then his son-in-law Peter Edwards was in possession for 3 or 4 years, then Wynne occupied it again for one or two years, then a cropper named John Ridgel occupied it.
Christopher Marrs, brother-in-law of Wm Wynne, deposed. Jeremiah Pate of Little River in Montgomery County is brother-in-law to Henry Harman Sr, and an uncle to Henry Harman, Jr. Henry Harman, Sr. had one of his sons killed, scalped and massacred by the Indians in the attempt of settling the land and left a wife and four young children.

Sons Jacob and Valentine are also suggested for Adam - and he is said to have had eleven children, from the Bible record, two of whose names are unknown. Since Jacob and Valentine are common given names elsewhere in the family, it is possible, but no records of sons of these names have been found.

Birth	Ca 1700	Germany
Marriage	8 Oct 1723	Mannheim, Germany - Louisa Katherina ?Mathias
Death	Nov 1767	New River, Augusta County, Virginia

Spouse	Louisa Katherina ?Mathias (1704 - 1748)
Child	Adam Harmon (1724 - 1818)
Child	Heinrich "Henry" Harmon (1726 - 1821)
Child	George Harmon (1727 - 1749)
Child	Daniel Harmon (1729 - 1820)
Child	Christina Harmon (1731 - 1815)
Child	[Daughter] Harmon ( - 1754)
Child	Catherine Harmon ( - )
Child	Mathias Harmon (1736 - 1832)
Child	Phillipina Harmon ( - 1751)
Child	?Joseph Harmon ( - 1785)

Father	?Johan Michael ?Hermann (1670 - )
Mother	Living
Sibling	Jacob Harmon (New River) (1705 - 1756)
Sibling	Valentine Harmon (1706 - 1756)
Sibling	Mathias Hermann (1707 - 1742)
Sibling	George Harmon (1710 - )
Sibling	Daniel Harmon (1712 - )
Sibling	John Harmon (1714 - )