C. J. King to Discuss Her Book

The Friends of the Harlan-Lincoln House in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, are sponsoring two presentations on October 26 by C. J. King, Harlan Record editor and author of Four Marys and a Jessie: The Story of the Lincoln Women. She will tell about her research and the lives of these five women with an extraordinary heritage.

The Harlan Family in America is a member of Friends of the Harlan-Lincoln House, an organization that works to preserve the historic house and teach about the families of Senator James Harlan and Robert Todd Lincoln.

The book may be ordered through Friends of Hildene: 802-362-1788 or Iowa Wesleyan book store: 319-385-6478.

News from Harlan Family in Texas

The 57th Annual Harlan Family in Texas Reunion was held at The Blue Ridge Baptist Church on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. Harlan family members were invited to stroll the church grounds and cemetery on Saturday before dinner.

Sunday services were held in the newly renovated church, showcasing three stained-glass windows created and donated by Barbara Powers in May, 2006. A catered lunch was served under the pavilion on the church grounds, and the Harlan Family Meeting and The Blue Ridge Cemetery Association meeting followed.

For more information, please contact:
• Claudia Martin (214-692-0878 - [email protected]); or
• Carol Addy (817-251-4310 - [email protected]); or
• Robert Powers ([email protected])

• Charles H. Harlan, 76, died May 9, 2005, in Wilmington, Del. He retired after 40 years as a baker at Schmidt’s Bakery in Wilmington. Charles enjoyed motorcycling and was an avid bowler. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth (Betty); daughter, Debra Harlan Emery; son, Charles H. Harlan II; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
  
  
• Virginia Harlan-Lane passed away March 12, 2006. She was born in Villanova, Pa., and resided in Las Vegas for 40 years. She is remembered for her roll-call of states at the banquets of the 1987 and 2002 Harlan reunions.
  
  Virginia was employed at the Dunes for 24 years and at the Santa Fe for 10 years. She won awards
  for her speaking abilities through Toastmasters International. Survivors include her husband, David Lane, and daughter, Linda Wiengard.
  

• Gertrude Ryan Downie, 91, died March 10, 2006, at Nevada Mo. Her father worked for the railroad, and the family moved to Memphis before coming to southeast Missouri where her father became a sharecropper. Her mother and siblings often picked cotton.
  
  She married Laird Downie in 1936, and they were involved in dairy operations much of their married life. Gertrude enjoyed gardening, quilting, cooking and bridge. Survivors include four children and their families: Donald Downie, Rosemary Noel, Rod Downie and Patricia Downie.

New 90-Plus Member

The newest member of the Harlan 90-Plus Club is Wilbur V. Harlan of Corvallis, Oregon. He spent his adult life traveling the world, living and working in Afghanistan, Turkey, Ecuador and Honduras.

Harlan-Shakespeare Connection?

Andrea Campana, whose grandmother, Ella Harlan, was descended from George Harlan, noticed on page 955 of the Harlan genealogy book, under entry #8013, that one of Elizabeth C. Woodward's children, Joseph M. Gregg, married an Ella M. Shakespeare in 1893.

Andrea wrote to the Harlan Record inquiring if anyone knows whether there is a connection between the Harlans and William Shakespeare. “Wouldn’t it be fun to learn that a Harlan ancestor had been married to a descendant of Shakespeare?!!!” she wrote.

She did some preliminary research but didn’t get very far. She went to the web site < www.people-data.com > and found that Ella M. Shakespeare’s closest “living” relative, Ralph S. Gregg, was listed as living in Wilmington, Del.

So Andrea called the phone number and talked to his widow, who said Mr. Gregg had passed away two years ago at the age of 87. Mrs. Gregg said that no one in the family had ever researched whether the grandmother was related to Shakespeare. She had never heard of the Harlan family, and she didn’t think her husband or son had either, so Andrea sent her the Harlan family web address and a brief genealogy. Mr. Gregg was descended from Michael.

If anyone has information about this or would like to pursue it, please let us know!

A Look into the Family of Sen. James Harlan

Thanks go to Barbara Brookhart of New York for sending an interesting insight into the life of the James Harlan family in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Washington D.C.

Barbara’s aunt, Florence Snow, wrote “Picture on My Wall – A Lifetime in Kansas,” and one chapter beautifully describes Florence’s extended visit to her cousin Mary, wife of Robert Todd Lincoln and daughter of Senator James & Eliza Harlan in the summer of 1884.

If you’d like to read this wonderful glimpse of life in the Harlan-Lincoln era, go to the Harlan web site and click on “Stories.”

They Rode With J.E.B. Stuart’s 1st Virginia Cavalry
by Edward Harlan Wynn,
Harlan Record Contributing Editor
When the Confederate bugler sounded “Boots and Saddles,” four Harlan brothers answered his call. They were all members ofJ.E.B. Stuart’s 1st Virginia Cavalry.

The 1st Virginia Cavalry was organized from prewar militia companies; the 1st Virginia consisted initially of 12 companies (sometimes called “troops”), and completed organization July 16, 1861. One of the most famous Confederate cavalry regiments, the 1st Virginia was led by such intrepid leaders as J.E.B. Stuart, “Fitz” Lee, and “Grumble” Jones.

The 1st distinguished itself in several actions, including but not limited to, the Shenandoah Valley in 1861, at Bull Run, in Stuart’s ride around McClellan, at Catlett’s Station, Brandy Station, Kelly’s Ford, Gettysburg, the Buckland “Races,” Todd’s Tavern, Spotsylvania Court House, Yellow Tavern, Haw’s Shop, Nance’s Shop, Cold Harbor, Reams’ Station, Front Royal, Winchester, Waynesboro, Five Forks, and Appomattox Court House.

The regiment fought in over 200 battles and skirmishes. From its ranks sprang such renowned cavalry leaders as John Singleton Mosby (nicknamed “The Gray Ghost”), Ridgely Brown and Gustavus W. Dorsey.

Despite heavy casualties, the 1st maintained its high morale and élan to the bitter end. Escaping at Appomattox Court House, the regiment marched on to Lynchburg, Va., before disbanding April 11, 1865.

The first Harlan brother to answer the Confederate call to arms was William Hunter Harlan (#2883). He was ninth of the 12 children of Jehu Harlan and Nancy Evans, of Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia). At the time of his enlistment,
William was 22 years of age and described as 5' 10" tall, with a fair complexion, light hair and gray eyes.

William enlisted as a Private in Company D, 2nd Virginia Infantry on May 22, 1861. Later, (September 29, 1862) he joined his brothers in Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry, known as “The Rockbridge Dragoons.” He was wounded in the side on November 22, 1864.

Following the end of the war, the Union Army paroled him at Staunton, Va., on May 29, 1865. He died November 18, 1923, at the age of 84 in Berkeley County, Va. He is buried in the Falling Waters Cemetery in Spring Mills, W.Va.

Next to join the Confederate cause were Silas Granville Harlan and George Boyd Harlan, both of whom enlisted on June 17, 1861, as privates in Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry.

Silas Harlan (#2875) was the oldest of the 12 children. He was a physician and had moved to Missouri in 1847, but he returned to his native state to serve in the 1st Virginia. He was married to Maria Rector from 1820 until 1861. [Ed. Note: Maria died Jan. 11, 1861, five months before Silas’ enlistment.] He married Hannah Parsons in 1863, the year after his discharge from the Confederate Army.

The service record of Silas reveals that on December 18, 1861, his horse died and was valued at $140. The Company Muster Roll from January-February 1862 shows that he had had a horse in service since February 1, 1862. Silas was discharged from the Confederate Army on July 16, 1862, because he was overage (35 years old). He died in March 1877 at the age of 56, in Breckinridge, Stephens County, Texas, where he is buried.

George Boyd Harlan (#2878), fourth of the 12 siblings, also served as a Private in Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry. He enlisted with his older brother Silas. On October 26, 1861, he was given a six-day sick furlough to his home. On August 23, 1862, he was detailed as Quartermaster (Commissary) Sergeant.

He last appeared on his unit’s Muster Roll in July-August 1864. The next record of his name is an entry on a list of prisoners of war paroled by the Union Army at Winchester, Va., on April 28, 1865. At the time of his parole, George was described as 35 years of age, 5' 10" tall, with a dark complexion, dark hair and eyes.

In 1867, he married Margaretta Keerl, with whom he had nine children. George died on September 6, 1899, at the age 70. The last of the Harlan brothers to join the 1st Virginia was Jehu Scott Harlan (#2886), the youngest of the 12 children, who enlisted as a Private on May 23, 1862, in Company F. At the time of his enlistment he was 16 years old.

Jehu was wounded in action on August 2, 1862, at Orange Court House. He transferred to Company E of the 1st Virginia Cavalry on February 8, 1863, at Culpepper Court House. On April 19, 1863, he joined his brothers in Company C of the 1st Virginia.

He was wounded in action a second time on May 9, 1864, at Spotsylvania Court House. He returned to duty and was wounded a third time on August 25, 1864.

Following the end of the war, the Union Army paroled him at Staunton, Va., on May 29, 1865. At the time of his parole he was described as being 19 years of age, 5' 10" tall, with a dark complexion, dark hair and dark eyes.

On May 26, 1868, Jehu married Nannie Eskridge in Macon County, Mo., and died in Fairfax County, Va., on October 12, 1902, at age 56.

In light of the combat history of their famous regiment, it is amazing that only two of the Harlan brothers were wounded and that all four survived the war and returned to civilian life.

Genealogy Updates
Director of Genealogy:
Cynthia Rhoades < [email protected] >

Send genealogy updates to:
Esther Harlan Wells < [email protected] >

Descendant of #6168, p. 552 Benjamin Harlan’s daughter
#6168-3 BEATRICE “DOVIE” HARLAN m. LIONEL AUSTIN WILLIAMS

Correction:
#55, p. 967-WILLIAM FARR HARLAN (in the line of Thomas Harland). His son, also named WILLIAM FARR HARLAN, m. LELIA E. CLARK (The book says Celia Clark.)

John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel Reservations

If you wish to reserve your room before you receive the spring reunion information, call the hotel at 1-800-648-1177.

In some instances, the Harlan code (gharlan) has not worked for Internet reservations, so place a call to the reservation desk and mention that you will be attending the Harlan Reunion.

The hospitality room and various meetings will be held at the Nugget Hotel, but other hotels, camp grounds and RV parks are available for lodging.

Attention: Reunion E-mail Responders

Some e-mail responses to the Reunion reply form have not been delivered as anticipated, and we have no idea who might be affected. If we received your e-mail response, you’ll get a registration form and additional information about the 2007 Harlan Reunion in the spring, the same as those who mailed their reply forms.

An e-mail verification will be sent to e-mail responders we have on file, so if you do not receive confirmation by November 1, please send a message to Ruth Harlan Lamb at < [email protected] > to make sure you’re on the Reunion mailing list.

2007 Reunion Patrons as of September 1, 2006

Thanks for your generous support for Celebration 320.

(Editor’s Note: The last three issues of the Harlan Record have featured an edited version of a long article on the years that the “original” Harland brothers spent in Ireland. Based on extensive research done by one of our cousins, John H. Harland, of Kelowna British Columbia, this has included information about Quakerism and Irish history. Here is the final installment, which focuses on Thomas Harland, the eldest brother of George and Michael, and on later Irish history. The full, unedited version of John’s interesting account can be accessed through the link, “Irish Interlude” on the Harlan web site.)

Thomas Harland: Thomas Harland was the elder brother of George and Michael, and had come with them to Ireland from Durham. By 1687 Thomas was a married man of about 40 years of age, with a large and growing family. He had married Katherine Bullock on 7 Feb., 1680, in the Quaker manner at the “house of Francis Robinson in the Parish of Segoe, County Armagh.” His wife died in March 1690.

He must have approved of the decision of his brothers to go to America in 1687, and may have helped finance the venture, but he himself elected to stay in Ireland rather than go to the Delaware, and perhaps his reluctance to move was dictated by his family situation.

There is uncertainty concerning his date of death. Quaker records at the Public Records Office in Northern Ireland [PRONI] list the burial of a Thomas Harland at Moyraverty Quaker Burial Ground (near Lurgan) in 1683, but this may have been a different Thomas Harland than our common ancestor, because other records, including Alpheus Harlan’s book, show that Thomas Harland remarried after his first wife died, to Alice Foster, of Lisnegarvy, at Richard Boyes house, Ballinderry Meeting, County of Armagh, in 1702. They were the parents of two sons, James and Thomas, and a daughter, Abigail.

Quaker records are sometimes misleading when dealing with a marriage, etc. It is not always clear who were the prime-moves and who were just witnesses. There is also a 1723 reference to a Thomas Harland being given assistance by the Friends following a fire, “he being too old to recoup alone,” but there the trail goes cold.

My own family believe we are descendants of Thomas, but there were other Harlands in the Lurgan area, and this claim, and hence our claim of connection to The Harlan Family in America, is beyond proof or disproof.

Later Irish History: The Brothers left for America in 1687, and while Irish history subsequent to that date is of less significance to The Harlan Family in America, it is worth tying up some loose ends and summarizing what happened over the next years. Some of these events may have affected Thomas Harland, who stayed behind in Ireland.

In 1688, the English Parliament lost patience with the Catholic sympathies of King James II, and in what is known as the Glorious Revolution, they invited his son-in-law William, Prince of Orange, to assume the crown as William III.

In 1689, following the flight of James II to Ireland and his raising an army there, William III arrived with his own forces and went on to defeat the Jacobites in a series of engagements, of which the most celebrated was the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. At different times during the campaign, both opposing armies passed through Lurgan, seriously disrupting the affairs of the inhabitants, so from that point of view, the timing of the Brothers’ departure was impeccable.

It should be underlined that although Ireland was the focus of Europe in those immediate years, the military battles there were mere skirmishes when viewed as part of a much wider conflict. The War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) pitted France against England and several other countries, and included many theaters of war. The fighting took place in many places around the world, including what is now Nova Scotia and New York State. It ended with the Peace of Rijswick in 1697, and a century of relative tranquility (by Irish standards) followed.

Discontent continued to simmer, eventually resulting in the Rebellion of the United Irishmen in 1798. This was an important event in Irish history, but one beyond the scope of our study.

Irish Interlude Summary: To summarize our story: George and Michael, who founded the Harlan dynasty in the United States, spent a few years in Ireland, and I have tried to cast some light on their reasons for leaving England, explaining their choice of location in Ireland, and then considering what drew them to America. In the process I have attempted to show how these peregrinations fitted in to the big picture and what was going on in the wider world in which they lived.

Harlands are to be found in the Lurgan area to this day, and I know that some members of the Harlan Family Association have had the opportunity to meet Jim Harland and his charming wife Lillian, who live in Lurgan. He is of particular interest, in that he must be a descendant of Thomas Harland, brother of George and Michael, since following a tradition going back over three hundred years, the family are still members of the Lurgan Quaker Meeting.

Harlan vs. Harland: In the matter of the presence or absence of the terminal ‘d’: I always imagined that the Brothers intentionally dropped this after going to America, perhaps after meeting Huguenots who used that spelling. However, in the 17th century, the orthography was not fixed, and reflecting the level of literacy at the time, in Irish records we find the name spelled both ways–not to mention Harlen and Harlin.

Acknowledgments: This report could not have been put together without the kind assistance of several people. Dr. Robin Harland, my brother who lives in Belfast, drove us round the Lurgan area to get an idea of the location in which the Brothers lived. Among others who helped were Dr. John McCavitt, Dr. Eoin Magennis, Arthur G. Chapman, Prof. Gerry Stockman, and Sean McCartan.

Besides his book on the Flight of the Earls, Dr. McCavitt wrote the article on Sir Arthur Chichester in the recently published Oxford University Press Dictionary of National Biography. He was very generous with his time and expertise, and kept me straight on several important points.

Dr. Magennis, historian and topographer at the Centre for Cross-Border Studies, Armagh, is another contributor to the DNB, being responsible for eight articles dealing with figures important in Irish ecclesiastical history and topography.

Arthur Chapman was a former Principal of The Friends School, Lisburn, and an expert on the history of Quakerism in Ireland. Dr. Gerard Stockman is Professor Emeritus of Celtic Languages at Queen’s University Belfast, and General Editor of the Northern Ireland Place-Name Project. Sean McCartan is a professional genealogist with a special interest in the history of Kinelarty in North Down and the story of the McCartan clan.

(For a complete bibliography of references used for this series of articles, see the Irish Interlude on the Harlan web site.)

Jeanne Harlan-Marriot, Award Winning Artist

Jeanne finds oil painting to be an extension of her mind and has devoted much time to learning the science behind the medium. She uses nature in many of her paintings, creating large “portraits” of small landscapes, as well as painting people portraits and abstract subjects.

As a child, growing up near Detroit, Mich., Jeanne was encouraged in her artistic endeavors by her parents and their artist friends, and she benefited from many visits to Cranbrook Art Academy. She is mostly self-taught though she took some formal art classes at a Boston school and Wayne State University. She had several one-woman art shows in the early 1980s. After an interval that included marriage and the birth of a son, she returned to her love of painting and has produced stunning closeup images found in gardens and forests. Her work combines both realism and impressionism which Jeanne calls “Sharp Focus Impressionism.”

Recently she won honorable mention in oil painting for the Best of Michigan Artists and Artisans contest and has received a number of awards for her floral paintings. Professionally she uses the name “Harlan.”

Visit Jeanne’s attractive web site at: < www.intimateforest.com > for information and to view samples of her work.

Genealogy Corner
You might be addicted to genealogy if...

... you can’t drive past a graveyard without wondering if you have any ancestors buried there.

... you introduce your granddaughter as your descendant.

... you can recite your lineage back 10 generations but can’t remember your nephew’s name.

... you have more photographs of dead people than living ones.

... you watch movie/TV credits roll by to see if any of the surnames are ones you are researching.

Cynthia Rhoades
Director of Genealogy

Seeking a Volunteer

During an Indiana Harlan Family Reunion, Esther Harlan Wells volunteered to gather updated genealogy for the Harlan family. She asked the Harlan association to help get the word out, and we have had great success with this project. The gathering of new data and documentation by Esther is a continuing tribute to Alpheus Harlan who began his genealogy task in 1881. The efforts of both will greatly benefit future generations.

Esther has been updating the new information on a database using Family Tree Maker, and she has also provided a hard copy of the updated genealogy lines to Chester County Historical Society for safekeeping. We have also posted the updated lines and contributors’ names in the Harlan Record and on the Harlan web site.

Due to health reasons, Esther is asking if anyone will volunteer to update the database as new genealogy information comes in.

If you are interested in continuing this project, please contact Junior F. Harlan at: < [email protected] > or
6218 E. Betty Elyse Ln., Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

Return To  Harlan Family Home Page

This site hosted courtesy of

comments or suggestions to Ruth Harlan Lamb [email protected]
P.O. Box 1654, Independence, MO  64055