| The Joseph Harlan whose will and obituary are below was the father of James White Harlan. |
Obituary
Joseph Harlan - Albemarle County
[Joseph Harlan was the father of James White
Harlan]
Departed this life, on the fifteenth of June, at his residence in Albemarle. Mr. Joseph Harlan, in the ninety-sixth year of his age, having been born in Chester County, Pennsylvania in the month of April 1760.
Mr. Harlan came to Virginia when young. He resided sometime in Fredericksburg at which place as we have heard him say, he saw Gen. George Washington; being sixteen years of age, at the time that independence was declared. He recollected the scenes of the revolution, and took much pleasure in speaking of them when very old. Of the deceased, we are sure, it has been truly said, he had not an enemy in the world, and though we were born and raised very near him, we never had a difficulty with him. Possessed of an amiable deposition, he lived in peace with all men; envying no one’s property, rejoicing at no one’s adversity. When about four score years of age, and healthy and strong, Mr. Harlan became concerned upon the subject of religion; and though much has been said about our heterodoxy, he was not detained from coming to us, and conversing with us upon the subject of religion, and asking us to baptise him. His mind, long before his death, was greatly weaken, and for years he did not attend public worship, but we are happy to be informed, that even when far gone in dotage, he lost not his reverence for the Almighty; and we rejoice to be informed, that when the time of his departure drew nigh, he seemed to be more rational than he had been for some time, and that he appeared to be, not only aware of the approach of death, but pleased at the thought of dying. We are thankful that it was in our power to attend his burial and with his numerous and attached neighbors pay our last tribute of respect to his earthly remains, and also express our sympathy with his son, Mr. James White Harlan, and his family, who have o long watched over him and so affectionately ministered to his wants.
His consort, whose father William Goolsby, lived to be more than one hundred years of age, is still enjoying bodily health at the age of nine-two years.
R.L.C.
The above is from the family records of Elizabeth Harlan Strickler, Louisville, Kentucky.Click here for a scan of the actual obituary. A clipping of this obituary was in the Joseph Harlan/James White Harlan Bible which is now owned by Nancy Strickler, daughter of Elizabeth.
Click here for the page from the family Bible that Joseph Harlan and his siblings. Joseph was the son of Jesse and Sarah Harlan (Sarah's maiden name was Harlan also. She was a third cousin of Jesse.)
Will of
Joseph Harlan, Albemarle County
Will Book: Page 370, 1839
I Joseph Harlan of the County of Albemarle do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following:
That is to say:
First - I devise that all my just debuts shall be paid.
Secondly - I give unto John E. Gilmore who married my daughter and unto each of his children by her the sum of One Dollar being all I intend for them to be paid them within Twelve months after my deseased.
Thirdly - The balance of Estate both real and personal of every kind and discription whatsoever I give to my beloved wife Tabitha Harlan for and during the time of her natural life and at her death to my son James White Harlan, his Heirs and assigns forever in absolute fee simple.
Lastly - I do hereby constitue and appoint my son James W. Harlan and my friend John H. Coleman, Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all former wills and testaments made by me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed by seal this 25 day of April 1839.
Joseph Harlan
Signed, Sealed published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Joseph Harlan in the presence of us.
Peter White
Thos. Staples
John Tyler
At a court hold for Albemarle County 6th August 1855 - This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Joseph Harlan deceased this day.
Articles of AgreeementHarlan Spence purchased an original copy of an Articles of Agreement dated 1802 between Joseph Harlan and his son Joshua. Harlan was kind enough to send me a copy of the original Agreement. This Joseph was the father of Sarah Harlan who married Jesse Harlan. Click on the image below to see a larger version of the image. |
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Here is a transcription of the above articles: |
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| Articles of an
agreement Indentured and made concluded and agreed upon the
twentieth day of the eighth month Anno Domini one thousand eight
hundred & Two 1802 - By and between Joseph Harlan of the Township of Kennett County of Chester & State of Pennsylvania yeoman of the one part and Joshua Harlan eldest son of the said Joseph of the same township yeoman of the other part are as follows viz. Whereas the said Joseph Harlan is become [Unreadable] and infirm, altho favoured with sound and disposing mind and memory, and being desirous as much as may be to remove the anxiety of mind for providing or procuring the necessaries of this life for himself and Sarah his wife and for other good causes and valuable considerations being hereunto moved Have thought it fit and convenient to arrange his affairs in manner herein after mentioned, that is to say, by assignment of certain bonds on the day and date of these presents. The said Joseph Harlan deposites into the hands of the said Joshua Harlan, the sum of seven hundred & fifty-eight pounds - good & lawful money of the state aforesaid, which is covenanted & agreed by the said Joseph & Joshua to be appropriated in manner herein mentioned subject nevertheless to deduction agreeable and in proportion to the contingencies that may happen and herein after mentioned; and the said Joshua Harlan for himself & his heirs Executors & Administrators, do covenant grant and agree to pay the said Joseph Harlan the lawful annual interest of the said sum deposited as aforesaid being the sum of [Unreadable] five pounds & nine shillings & seven pence annually and every year during his natural life, the first payment to be made the twentieth day of the eight month Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred & three - And so on in succession during the natural life of the said Joseph Harlan and his said wife Sarah maintenance, but in case it shall so happen that the said Joseph Harlan may or shall be so circumstanced that it becomes necessary for him to have more than the interest aforesaid, then and in that case, the said Joshua Harlan shall refund to him the said Joseph Harlan out of the principle sum deposited accordingly such other sum or sums of money as the case may require from time to time, and the annual interest deminished accordingly and in proportion to the sum or sums refunded - And after the death of the said Joseph Harlan & his burial, it is agreed that the said Joshua Harlan shall make the following payments & disbursements out of the remaining sum deposited, first and always retaining to himself for his part the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds and not to be subject to any deductions on any account whatsoever. -
And to pay to my daughter Sarah wife of Jesse Harlan, the sum of forty seven pounds & ten shillings or her heirs and to pay to Mary Gray the sum of seventy seven pounds [Unreadable] shillings or to her heirs - and to Ann Travilla the sum of twenty seven pounds & ten shillings or to her heirs - and to Dinah King or her heirs the sum of sixty pounds & ten shillings and to my brother Caleb Harlan the sum of forty pounds and my wearing apparel, but the sum to Caleb is only to be paid to him as real necessity may require and at the discretion of the said Joshua Harlan and not otherwise - And to pay to my son Samuel Harlan the sum of one hundred & fifty founds or to his heirs but this sum is not to be paid to the said Samuel or his heirs without he or his heirs doth secure to the said Joshua or his heirs Exc. or Admin. the annual sum of [Unreadable] six pounds during the live and widowhood of the before named Sarah in order to make up her dower or the eighteen pounds to be paid to her as aforesaid - Notwithstand the above it is agreed by and between the parties and it is the true intent and meaning of them and these presents, that if it shall so happen that the said Joseph Harlan and Sarah his wife shall live and continue to have occasion of money for their support as to [Unreadable] & reduce the money deposited as aforesaid, then the several sums mentioned to be paid to the several daughters of the said Joseph & his said son Samuel & brother Caleb shall be subject to a deduction in their proportions accordingly or to [Unreadable] the whole sums deposited if need requires as aforesaid, always allowing Joshua Harlans part aforesaid whole & entire, and in case there shall be surplus left after the above mentioned appropriations, such residue & remainder after adding fifty pounds to Joshua Harlan [Unreadable] & fifty pounds, the remainder if any, shall be equally divided among all my sons and daughters or their heirs And the said Joseph Harlan doth hereby covenant grant & agree to and with the said Joshua Harlan that he will not make any will or otherwise dispose of his personal estate in any other manner than is here before mentioned & agreed upon and that he said Joshua Harlan his heirs Exc. & Admin. shall be saved & kept harmless & indemnified forever from any damages whatsoever which may arise or happen to him or them on account of this [Unreadable] Articles of Agreement by law or in equity or otherwise howsoever - And lastly for the due performance of all & singular the covenants & agreements herein before mentioned, the said parties to bind themselves and their heirs Exc. & Admin. each into the other of them respectively in the penal sum of fifteen hundred sixteen pounds good & lawful money of the state aforesaid firmly by these presents in witness whereof the said parties have hereunto put their hands & seals interchangeably the day & year first above written - Sealed & Delivered Joseph Harlan [Seal] In the presence of [Unreadable] Joshua Harlan [Seal] [Unreadable] Samuel Caselton Jehu Hollingsworth |
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