Family Group Sheet


Name John F. Harrar, Sr.
Birth bet 1725-1730, Germany
Death 20 Jul 1799, Philadelphia, PA
Occupation Farmer
Father Joseph Harror
Other spouses Mary
Spouse UNNAMED
Children
1 M Daniel Harrar
Birth 5 Feb or Mar 1756, Frankford, Philadelphia County, PA
Death 27 Sep 1845-6, Montgomery County, PA
Spouse Lydia
2 M John, Jr. Harrar
Birth 1754-5, Germany
Death 7 Mar 1822
Spouse Patience
Spouse
3 M Joseph Harrar, Sr.
Death 1823, Germantown, PA
4 M Michael Harrar, Sr.
5 F Catrine Harrar, Sr.
Spouse Phillips
6 F Susannah Harrar, Sr.
Spouse Henry Maag
Notes for John F. Harrar, Sr.
'My great-grandfather, JOHN HARRAR, came from Germany to America in the year 1760, to Philadelphia; bringing his wife and two sons, DANIEL and JOHN, and John was my grandfather. His father first lived on the west side of Penrose Ferry Road near Point Breeze, the house having an old style Mansard roof, which my faher called to my attention when passing by on the road in my boy-hood.' - John Harrar (1816 - 1911)
'John Harrar is now considered to be the original Harrar immigrant.' - James A. Harrar

'probably born in Germany, though originally of English descent. His date of birth is unknown, possibly 1725-30. He emigrated to Philadelphia several years prior to 1760, and lived first on the west side of Penrose Ferry Road near Point breeze. He died in July 1799. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Helmuth of 'Old Zion' German Lutheran church of Philadelphia. His will dated 24 July, 1794, as of Falls Township, Bucks County, was filed in Philadelphia in July 1799, and is on file at the Phila. City Hall. The name of his first wife, by whom he had all his children, is not known. His second wife, Mary, died in 1801, and is mentioned in his will.'
Henry Maag, his son-in-law, was executor of his will.

'During the War of the Revolution he was farming not far from Valley Forge, near the lines of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. His two sons, John and Michael, wanted to go in to the American army...At this time 1777 the British army being possession of Philadelphia, were foraging around the countryside and seizing the horses worked on the farms. So that if the British troopers hove in sight, the only way to save the horses was to mount them and ride to or in the direction of Valley Forge. As one of the horses was finally lost, the two sons were allowed to enlist. They had active service in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth, in which John had his right and left hand comrades shot down beside him.'
Henry Maag, son-in-law, was executor of his estate
Notes for Daniel (Child 1)
baptized with his wife, Lydia and taken into Montgomery Baptist Church at Colmar, Pennsylvania on December 8, 1799.
had 9 nine sons.
When his father died he and Henry Maag (son-in-law) were executors of his estate. His father left him 60 pounds in his will.
'He appears in the census of 1790 as residing in Lower Dublin Township, Philadelphia Co., as Daniel Harrow with six males under 16, and two white free females. One of these was his wife Lydia. The other female may have been a servant, or a daughter representing the fabled ninth child.'
'He enlisted in August 1776 and served two months as a Private in Captain Jacob Leech's Pennsylvania Company. He enlisted in April 1777, served two months as a Private in Jacob Leech's Company, Colonel's Magaw's and Daniel Riester's Pennsylvania Regiments and was in the Battle of Bound Brook; he enlisted in April 1778 and served 2 months as a Private in Captain Joseph Rhoads' Pennsylvania Company; he enlisted and served on 4 tours of 2 months each, in 1778 to 1880 as a Private in Captain Benjamin Dungan's Pennsylvania Company.'
'In 1776 he lived in Cheltenham Township, Philadelphia County, Penn. In 1777 he resided in Oxford Township, Philadelphia County, Penn. After the Revolutionary War he lived in Philadelphia County. In 1834 he was living in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in which County he has resided about 30 years.'
'Aunt Mattie Anderson, his great grand-daughter, who was eight years old when he died, told me she could remember him as an old man who sat on the porch and would stick out his cane to trip her up, and then "laugh and laugh".'
buried Montgomery Co. Baptist churchyard at Colmar, PA. His son William was appointed executor of his estate.
Notes for Daniel & Lydia (Family)
Both baptized and taken into Montgomery Baptist Church, Dec. 1779
Notes for John, Jr. (Child 2)
"He was a man of lerge wiry frame, and had a great head of black hair."
'married Patience a few years after the War and settled in New Jersey.'
later lived on five acres in Byberry Township, Philadelphia county.
'John died in 1823at his son George's house on Coates Street west of Old York Road. He was a country carpenter and fence maker, and worked much for Stephen Girard. He had a house on Christian Street, south side between 2nd and 3rd Streets.' In his father's will he was left 30 pounds.
Notes for Michael (Child 4)
In hus father's will he was left 30 pounds and his father's large Bible.
Notes for Catrine (Child 5)
In her father's will she was left 30 pounds.
Notes for Susannah (Child 6)
In her father's will she was left 30 pounds.
Last Modified 2 Nov 2011 Created 9 Nov 2011 Evan Harrar
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