Individual Details

Israel said to appear on a Roster of Troops under Capt Daniel Smith at Maiden Springs Fort, 4 Oct 1774 [Draper]. There were three forts on the upper Clinch River under command of Smith, erected on order of Lord Dunmore. The Roster was the list of the first men to man the forts after their construction. There is a report from Capt Smith to Col. Preston, milita commandant for the entire Clinch River area, that through fear of the Indians, Jacob Harman had moved his family into the New River Settlement. He had also appointed Israel Harman to act as a scout down Sandy Creek.

Found on an Ancestry Family Tree:
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE NAMES, YET PRESERVED,OF THE MEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANTFIRST BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,OCTOBER 10, 1774. THE VIRGINIA COLONIAL TROOPS WERE COMMANDED BY COLONEL ANDREW LEWIS, LATER BRIGADIER GENERAL ANDREW LEWIS, OF VIRGINIA.Virgil A. Lewis, State Historian and Archivist, writing of the national character of the Battle of Point Pleasant, has said:"It is the greatest event in the Colonial Period and stands just at its close—with it, the Revolution begins. It is the connecting link between the two greatest periods in all American history—closing as it does the one, and opening the other."Mr. Lewis further says of the men of the Battle:"Six of them afterwards occupied seats in the American House of Representatives; three were members of the United States Senate; four of them became Governors of States; one of them a territorial Governor; one of them a Military and Civil Commandant of Upper Louisiana. Seven officers in this Battle of Point Pleasant rose to the rank of General. Six captains of that Battle commanded regiments on Continental Establishments in the War for Independence. Four officers of that Battle led the attack of Gwynn’s Island, July, 1776, that dislodged Dunmore, the Tory Governor of Virginia, and drove him forever from the shores of Virginia."Hundreds of the men of the Battle participated on Revolutionary battlefields and one follow, age 63 years, at the Battle of the Thames in 1813, secured a victory that broke the British power in the Northwest. Many of the men of Point Pleasant Battle witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown." (See Page 35, Vol. II, West Virginia Historical Magazine. April, 1903.)AUTHORIZED ROSTERNo Official Roster having ever been prepared, the following Concurrent Resolution No. 17 was adopted by the Legislature of West Virginia of March 1,1935, as follows:"That the Point Pleasant Battle Monument Commission be and is hereby authorized and requested to cause to be inscribed on bronze tablets to be attached to the base of the Point Pleasant Battle Monument, when such base shall have been provided for the names of all the officers and men who participated in the battle of the Revolution fought on October tenth, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, at Point Pleasant, now West Virginia, as ascertained and listed by the Point Pleasant Battle Monument Commission, under the provisions of Chapter forty-three, Acts of the Legislature of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one and reported to the Governor, and to provide space on such tables for inscription of the names of such other officers and men who participated in said battle as shall hereafter be ascertained and listed under the provisions of said chapter forty-three for that session of the Legislature."
Gibson, George, Lieut.
Gibson, Joseph
Harmon, Dangerfield
Harmon, George
Harmon, Israel
Harmon, John
Maxwell, Bezaleel
Maxwell, David
Maxwell, John
Maxwell, Thomas

From Richard Davis:
I have not been able to find records of Israel between 1778 and 1781. I have a good timeline for him before 1778 and after 1781, but nothing for those missing four years. However, I have no been able to find records for other Harmons during that same time period. I think that during the Rev. War, either tax records were not keep for these areas or were destroyed. The last record of Israel that I have been able to find in Virginia is the 1777 list of those that swore allegiance. On that list on Septmeber 30, James Maxwell, James Josslyn, James Harman Sr. and James Harman Sr. all listed next to each other, all swore allegiance. Israel Harman and Samuel Forgison swore allegiance the next day on October 1.
Since Israel was married by 1778, you would think that his father-in-law Isaac Gibson would be from Montgomery County, Virginia. I have not noticed Isaac in any records in Montgomery County, but I have not loooked at every record. Since Israel was a scout as early as 1774, it is possible that between 1774 and 1778, he could have visited different areas of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. I am not sure where he met Jennie Gibson.

Israel is thought to have been in Kentucky by 1782; with his father and brother Jacob following about a year later. However, the following records suggest that he was still in Virginia in 1783.

Court record Washington County, Virginia (from Annuals of Southwest Virginia 1769-1800 by Lewis Preston Summers, 1929, Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore 1996)
20 Aug 1783
Jacob Young, Plaintiff sued Israel Harman, Defendant
Plaintiff won with judgment of 35 pounds and costs.
2 May 1783 Israel Harmon was sued at Washington County, Virginia by Patrick Kendrick and won.

Lincoln Co KY Tax lists begin 1787
13 Jun - Israel Harmon had 1 tithe over age 21, no slaves, 2 horses, 5 head of cattle
On 23 Jun - Valentine and Jacob Harmon were listed - Israel's father and uncle
In July, on another list, were Jacob Harmon & Jonathan Taylor, Israel's brother and brother-in-law.

From researcher Richard Davis: Israel apparently liked to live on the frontier. When he moved to Christian County, Kentucky in 1798 he was living on Hurricane Creek which runs right along the Ohio River near the present day town of Tolu in Crittenden County. He apparently liked to mix it up with the Indians. Something he was doing for more than 20+ years. You are probably familiar with the Battle of Point Pleasant (Dunsmore's War) which took place in 1774 on the Ohio River in present day West Virginia. Thomas Maxwell and Israel Harmon were both listed as participants. The battle lasted several hours and resorted to hand to hand fighting. Of the 1000 Virginia militia men who were there, about 75 were killed and 140 wounded. ....I am guessing that Israel worked as a guard ... scout and Indian fighter after the Rev. War.
Note: A John Harmon also fought with Israel in the Battle of Point Pleasant - as did Israel's brother Jacob whose pension application was rejected. Thomas Maxwell may have been married to Israel's sister Rebecca, but this is speculation and not proved. Deeds listed below in Tennessee indicate Israel's status as a guard.

Married Keziah Thompson, 19 Mar 1788, Lincoln Co KY.
Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, "Lincoln Co Marriages"; Ancestry.com
Valentine Harmon was bondsman - brother or uncle - presumably brother.

21 May 1788 Valentine Harmon sued John Dyer, Lincoln Co, and Valentine was to pay Israel Harmon 100# of tobacco for four day attendance as a witness

19 Mar 1789 Jacob Harmon was assignee of Israel Harmon when he sued George Pointer and judgment was to Israel for 2£ and costs, Lincoln Co.

Madison Co KY Tax Lists
1789 Israel Harmon, 1 male over 21, no slaves, 2 horses
1790 - 2 of 3 tax lists missing
1791 Israel Harmond, 1 over 21, no slaves, 3 horses
1792 Israel Harmon, 1 over 21, 2 horses, 13 head of cattle
1793 - 2 lists missing
1794 Israel Harmon, 1 over 21, 3 horses, 10 cows. Valentine Harmon, 1 over 21, 2 horses and 1 cow
1795 Israel Harmon, 1 over 21, 3 horses, 13 cows. Valentine - 2 horses, 1 cow
1796 4 May. Israel Harmon, 1 over 21, 4 horses, 11 cows, no land. 20 May - Valentine, 1 over 21, 3 horses, 1 cow, no land.
An Abraham Harmmer or Harmon was present in 1796 and from 1797 -1803

Garrard Co was formed from Lincoln in 1796.
1797 Tax List: 24 May. Israel Harmon, no land, no slave, 1 tithe, 2 horses
Boling Thompson was also on this tax list.
[In 1807 an Israel Harmon was listed with no land, 1 tithe and 1 horse, perhaps in place of Stephen Harmon - possibly the son of Israel]

Christian Co KY Tax lists:
1797 - an Abraham Harmon next to Isaac Harmon (in Henderson Co created from Christian)
1798 Israel Harmon
1799 Israel Harmon, 4 horses
In 1799 Livingston was formed from Christian Co and Israel became part of Livingston.
1803 Samuel Harmond, 200 acres in Livingston Co on Skin Frane, 200 acres on Little River in Christian Co
1804 Samuel Harmon, 200 acres in Christian Co on Little River, name of C. Woolf.

Court records Livingston County 27 Nov 1799
The report of the Jury on the Condemnation of Jas. Currin’s mill seat was returned in the following words to wit, Caney Fork of Hurricain Creek, Livingston County, James Curren, we whose names are underwritten on being summoned by Jesse Ford Deputy Sheriff for Edmund Rutter Sheriff of sd county, to attend on these premises have met this 6th day of September 1799 and being first sworn have proceeded to view the lands above and below where James Currin proposed building his water grist mill and are of opinion it will be neither damage to the Commonwealth or others for sd. Currin to build his mill that neither the mansion house offices, curtalages, gardens, or orchards will be overflown by the mill being built and that the health of the neighbors will not be injured that neither the passage of fish nor navigation will be indered. Given under out hands an Seals this day. Jhn Shoemaker, Robert McMillin, Robert Montgomery, Charles Harrington, Rob. Ashley, Thomas Edrington, John Clark, John McElmurry, John Montgomery, Moses Burnett, Israel Harman, Benj. Briant, test: Jesse Fork, Ds for E. Rutter, SLC. Whereupon it’s considered by the court that James Currin have leave to build his mill.

Court records Livingston County 26 Mar 1800
On motion of Richard Williamson, assignee of Israel Harman, ordered that he be permitted to remove a certificate for 200 acres of land, Satisfactory proof being made to the court that the land was taken by a prior claim.

Court Records Livingston County 7 Jun 1802
Certificate #432 was issued to Israel Harman for 200 acres in Livingston County.

Was Israel married to Jenny Gibson first?
1 Nov 1802. Israel Harmon appeared in court in Livingston Co and made oath that Stephen Harmon, Samuel Harmon, and Sally Harmon are children and the legal offspring of Jenny Harmon, late Jenny Gibson, daughter of Isaac Gibson, deceased.
Others have claimed his brother William was the one who married Jenny.
Another marriage Bond in Pulaski Co, dated 18 Feb 1801 from Sally Harmon to John Taylor is interesting in that she married with "consent of Grandfather, Jacob Harmon". There are some relationships between Harmons and Taylors back in western Virginia. Jacob was living on land that had been surveyed for William Harmon - does that suggest William was the father of Sally and her brothers Stephen and Samuel? Baptisms done by proxy years later indicate that Israel was the father, not William.

Court Records Livingston County 1 Nov 1802 [this is the same day that Israel Harmon was in court]
Certificate #510 issued to Bolin Thompson 200 acres in Livingston County.

Deed Livingston County
3 Oct 1805 A-155
William Filewellen, Ann Filewellen and Harbet Filewellen sold to Jonathan Ramsey, a Negro woman Pheby and Negro boy for “Ten Hundred” with witnesses Israel Harmon and Shadrack Rawls.

Livingston County Tax
1800 Israel Harmon 1 male over 21, no land, 3 horses
1801 Israel Harmon 1 male over 21, 1 male 16-21 no land
1802 Israel Harmon 1 male over 21 no land, 2 horses
Bolin Thompson no land 1 over 21 no horses
1803 7 July Samuel Harmon 1 male over 21 400 acres east side of Skin Frame
1803 21 Jun Israel Harmon 1 male over 21, 200 acres Dear Creek (entered in his own name) 2 horses
1803 20 July William Harmon 1 male over 21, no land 1 horse
1803 27 Jun Boling Tompson 200 acres Livingston County on Hurricane (entered in his own name), age 21 or over, 1 horse next to William Tompson no land over age 21 and no horses
1804 Israel Harmon 200 acres in Livingston County (entered in the name of Boling Thompson) no taxables (not even himself), no horses
1805 some tax lists missing
1806 Samuel Harmon 400 acres in Livingston County on Skin Frame and 200 acres in Christian County (in Woolf’s name) 1 taxable and 3 horses
1807 Samuel Harmon 400 acres on Skin Frame and 200 acres 1 male over 21, 1 Black, 6 horses and 1 stud horse.
1808 Samuel Harmon 100 acres in Livingston County 400 acres in Livingston County on Skin Frame and 200 acres in Christian County (C. Woolf) 1 male over 21, 5 horses and 1 stud horse
1809 Samuel Harmon 600 acres on Skin Frame 1 taxable, 9 horses and 1 stud horse
1810 No Harmons. Bolin Thompson no land 1 taxable 5 horses next to William Thompson 1 taxable and 2 horses
1811 No Harmons.
1812 Israel Harmon 200 acres on Hurricane Creek no taxables and no horse
Note: Israel may have been deceased and his widow on his land with perhaps some of the younger children.
1813 Israel Harmon 200 acres on Cany (entered in the name of Bolin Tompson), 1 taxable, 1 horse. Also taxed William Thompson, no land 1 taxable 5 horses and Bolin Thompson no land 1 taxable and 6 horses.
1814 Israel Harmon no land 1 taxable with 3 horses. Also taxed Bolin Thompson no land 1 taxable and 7 horses
1815 Valentine Harmon under 21 with 2 horses next to John Harmon 1 over age 21 with 2 horses both had 50 acres each. Joshua Lacey had 100 acres on Parquite Creek with 1 taxable over 21, 2 white taxables under 21 but over 16, 2 slaves and 4 horses.
1816 John Harmon 1 over 21 100 acres
1817
William Thompson 1001 no land next
Bolin Thompson 1001 no land
John Harmon 1001 no land


Richard Davis also believes there were other sons of Israel born after Sarah and before he married Keziah Thompson. Either they were children of Jennie's, and whatever inheritance was coming to Stephen, Samuel & Sarah had been decreed prior to the birth of younger children, or Israel had another wife between Jennie Gibson and Keziah Thompson.

1800 Second Census of Kentucky Online at Ancestry.com, which is actually a tax list since there is no existing census for Kentucky in 1800.
Israel Harmon was listed as paying tax in Livingston Co in 1800.

Was Israel also in Tennessee? Montgomery Co TN was form in 1796 from the original "Tennessee County" and the older records can be found there.
Deed from Howel Tatum to Jenkin Whitesides
“Indenture made the 10th day of June 1802, between Howel Tatum of Davidson county and Jenkin Whitesides of Knox county, for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars to him in hand paid, for a tract of land containing two hundred and seventy-four acres, lying on the waters of Yellow Creek, joining Israel Harman’s Guard right on the East.
Attest: Howel Tatum
J. Childress”
“Montgomery County Deed Book B, p.708” – Willis, Laura, Montgomery County, TN Deeds Vol. 3 (1802-1807), p. 30.

Deed from William W. Johnston and Mary Johnston to George West
Indenture made this 2nd day of March 1803, between William Johnston and Mary Johnston, of Bertie county, North Carolina, and George West of Montgomery county, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars to them in hand paid, for a tract of land beginning at Israel Harmon’s northwest corner, and containing seven hundred and ninety-two acres.
Test:
Dennis Linton William W. Johnston
Reuben (X) Thompson Mary Johnston”
“Montgomery County Deed Book H, p. 677” – Willis, Laura, Montgomery County, TN Deeds Vol. 5 (1808-1812), pp. 6-7.

In 1803, Dickson Co had been formed from parts of Montgomery & Robertson Counties and it seems that Yellow Creek was now in Dickson Co.
Deed from Howel Tatum and Morgan Brown and Major James Baker to William Outlaw
“Indenture made this 19th day of January 1805, between Howel Tatum, Morgan Brown, Doctor, and John Baker, Major, all of the District of Mero, and William Outlaw of the same district, for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred and forty-nine dollars, to them in hand paid, for several tracts of land lying in Dickson county, on the waters of Yellow Creek, being two undivided parts of a tract of land granted to John Ramsay, heir of Miles Ramsay, adjoining the tract on the south that is known as the land of Israel Harmon’s Guard Right, and now owned by Jesse Craft, and containing two hundred and twenty-four acres.
Test: Howell Tatum Robert Searcy Morgan Brown Willie Blount John Baker Nimrod Crosswell
“Montgomery County Deed Book C, p. 19” – Willis, Laura, Montgomery County, TN Deeds Vol. 3 (1802-1807), p. 48

Deed from Robert T. McFarland to George West
“Indenture made this 25th day of April 1806, between Robert P. McFarland of the Town of Nashville, county of Davidson, and George West of Montgomery county, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and seventy-five dollars to him in hand paid, for a tract of land lying on the waters of Yellow Creek, beginning on the northwest corner of Israel Harmon’s guard right, and containing one hundred and ninety-two acres, being part of a tract granted to John Granberry.
Test:
William B. Ross Robert McFarland
P. W. Humphries”
“Montgomery County Deed Book D, p. 35” – Willis, Laura, Montgomery County, TN Deeds Vol. 3 (1802-1807), p. 68

Deed from Miles Rayner to William Parrott Hardy
“I, Miles Rayner, of Bertie county, North Carolina, for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand fifty dollars to me in hand paid by William Parrott Hardy of the same county and state, have sold to him a tract of land lying on Yellow Creek, beginning at Israel Harmond’s southwest corner, and containing six hundred and forty acres, it being a tract that was granted by patent to John Ramsey, heir of Mills Ramsey. Witness my hand this 16th day of May 1807.
Test:
George West M. Rayner
Peter Rason
John Watson
“Deed was exhibited in open court, together with certificates from Bertie county, North Carolina, at the April term of 1815, and ordered to be registered. Field Farrar, Clerk
“Deed was registered on the 5th day of June 1815. James Walker, Register.”
“Dickson County Deed Book B, p. 408” – Willis, Laura, Dickson County, TN Deeds Vol. 3 (Sept. 1812 – Aug. 1815), p. 88.

Deed from Edward Pearsall, Sheriff, to Elizabeth Hayes
“Indenture made this 11th day of October 1810, between Edward Pearsall, sheriff of Dickson county, and Elizabeth Hayes of the same county, in which a judgment was obtained in the Stewart County Court, against the heirs of Thomas Hayes, deceased. In order to satisfy the judgment, a tract of land lying on the west side of Yellow Creek, and on the south side of the Cumberland River, beginning at Israel Harmon’s southwest corner, and containing six hundred and forty acres, was sold at public auction. The tract of land was purchased by Elizabeth Hayes, the highest bidder, for the sum of one hundred and forty-six dollars and sixty-two cents.
Test:
David Dickson Edward Pearsall, Sheriff
Abner Dickson”
“Dickson County Deed Book B, p. 33” – Willis, Laura, Dickson County, TN Deeds Vol. 2 (Dec. 1808 – Sept. 1812), p. 88

Deed from George West to Robert West
“Indenture made this 30th day of July 1819, between George West of Montgomery county, and Robert West of Dickson county, for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars to him in hand paid by Robert West, for a tract of land adjoining the east boundary of Harmon’s guard right, now the property of Robert West, it being part of a tract granted to Howel Tatom by patent, lying on Yellow Creek, and containing two hundred and seventy-four acres; also another tract lying on Yellow Creek, beginning at the southwest corner of the above tract, and containing eighty acres.
Test:
James Cummins George West
Judge Owsly
“Deed was proven in open court at the October term of 1819, and ordered to be registered.
Field Farrar, Clerk
“Deed was registered on the 23rd day of November 1819. Molton Dickson, Register”
“Dickson County Deed Book C, p. 270” – Willis, Laura, Dickson County, TN Deeds Vol. 5 (Feb. 1818 – Oct. 1820), pp. 62-63

The Guard Rights as mentioned in the above deed descriptions were warrants given to men employed as guards - both for settlements and for guarding surveyors. Israel seems to have been basically a hired gun up into the early 1800s.

From Richard Davis:
Israel Harmon lived on Hurricane Creek in Livingston County which is near Paraquite Creek. Robert Kirk who lived in that area in about 1809, decided to start his own town. He owned a large track on Hurricane Creek and subdivided it into smaller town lots. I know that there were at least 30 lots and he called it Kirksville. In the 1810 census, there were only five households in "Kirksville Town". Kezia Harmon lived there (020010-00201) next to James Trimble.

Keziah Harmon is listed in the 1810 Census, Kirksville, Livingston Co, KY.
2 males 10-16, 1m 26-45. 2 females 16-26, 1 female over age 45.
The sons 10-16 were likely John and Valentine ...who was the elder son? The two females likely Rebecca and Lydia.

There was an Israel Harmon living on Indian lands in Alabama Territory in 1811 - is this a son of the same name? Or was Israel roaming through Indian country again. An Israel was back on tax records in Livingston Co 1812 through 1814.

Found in a book at Google Books, Lore of the River ...The Shoals of Long Ago, by Dr. William Lindsey McDonald, Heart of Dixie Publishers, 2007. Only a few pages are available.
p.156 mentions a natural spring called Herman or Harmon Spring located in a hollow, near the mouth of Blue Water Creek, East Lauderdale Co AL. The Indians said to have found healing spirits among the cold water.
p. 164, 169-170. There was a parcel of land called Doublehead's Reserve. The deed was made 3 Aug 1807 by John D. Chisholm for himself and for attorney in fact for Doublehead, an Indian Chief of the Cherokee Nation and the State of Georgia, the other part. No familiar names other than perhaps a Capt John Hays, were listed as original lease holders in 1807. A list of Tenants in 1809 lists Thomas Hays, John Hay, Harmon Hays and James Taylor. Then there is a list of those who signed a petition to the President of the United States objecting to their removal from the Doublehead Reserve, circa 1810 - this list includes Israel Harmon and Rebekah Hays [perhaps his sister that had married John Hays]


In 1880 and 1881, Taylor Crosby, and his mother Sarah Harmon Crosby, had several baptisms by proxy in the LDS church for their ancestors and relatives, at St. George Temple, Utah. Steven Harmon, Sarah's father, was included as Taylor's grandfather. Also Israel and Jacob Harmon - probably his great-grandfather's brother. He had had his "great grandfather Harmon" baptized but apparently neither he nor his mother knew the given name. Sarah Harmon Crosby on 20 Dec 1881, had baptism for "Jemima" Gibson, her grandmother - presumably Jenny Gibson who was the mother of Steven Harmon. She also had an aunt Rebecca Harmon, who would have been her father's sister if indeed that was her maiden name and the correct relationship. Since Sarah Harmon Crosby's father was Steven, then it would appear that Steven, Samuel & Sarah Harmon who were children of Jenny Gibson, had other siblings, or half-siblings.

On 22 Dec 1881, Sarah Crosby corrected her grandmother's name, saying she was Jenny Gibson. She also listed Rebecca Harman and Lydia Harmon, stating she was their niece. Israel and Keziah had daughters named Rebecca and Lydia, making it reasonably certain that indeed Stephen, Samuel & Sally were Israel's children.

Taylor Crosby had also baptized an uncle Henry Harmon. The only Henry Harmon known is the one who married Agnes Green and died circa 1826 in Indiana. Henry was more likely to have been a grant-uncle and, if so, another sibling of Steven, Samuel & Sarah.

Birth	Ca 1754
Marriage	Ca 1778	Jane "Jenny" Gibson
Marriage	19 Mar 1788	Lincoln County, Kentucky - Keziah Thompson
Death	Bet 1805 and 1810	Livingston County, Kentucky

Spouse	Keziah Thompson (1765 - )
Child	Henry Harmon (1788 - )
Child	Rebecca Harmon (1790 - 1882)
Child	Lydia Harmon (1792 - )
Child	John Harmon (1794 - 1838)
Child	Valentine Harmon (1796 - )

Spouse	Jane "Jenny" Gibson ( - 1787)
Child	Stephen Harmon (1778 - 1850)
Child	Samuel Harmon (1780 - 1846)
Child	Sarah "Sally" Harmon (1782 - )
Child	Israel Harmon (1783 - )
Child	Jacob Harmon (1785 - )

Father	Jacob Harmon II (New River) (1730 - 1803)
Mother	Sarah Lorton ( - )
Sibling	Jacob Harmon III (New River) (1755 - 1839)
Sibling	John Harmon (1757 - )
Sibling	William Harmon (1758 - )
Sibling	Lovis Harmon (1760 - )
Sibling	Rebecca Harmon (1762 - 1819)
Sibling	Valentine Harmon (1769 - 1799)
Sibling	Mary Harmon (1771 - )
Sibling	Rachel Harmon (1774 - )