The twins were a girl and a boy (indicated by the "F" for female, and the "M" for male). The little boy was born (indicated by the "B"), on March 10, 1737, in Bottenberg, Germany. But the little girl, Anna Ella, was also christened on that day (indicated by the "C"), because she was named that day. (Back then, being christened was for when a child was named; being baptized was for when a child became associated with a church.) But the little boy, who would later be named Hermann Jr., was not named on the day he was born, so he was not christened that day. A few years ago, someone found a baptismal record for Anna Ella; she was baptized on March 17, 1737. (However, for some unknown reason, nobody has bothered to look for the baptismal record for Hermann Jr.) Anna Ella was baptized so soon, probably because she was sickly and not expected to live very much longer. Sadly, Anna Ella did die, shortly after birth. This birth information above is from the old Prussian Birth Records. It was later recorded in The International Genealogical Index (IGI), and this picture above is an actual copy of that page from The International Genealogical Index. Strangely, some people claim that this documented and proven record doesn't even exist, and that Anna Ella sailed to America with her parents, in 1738! It's absurd.
Hermann Bach immigrated to Savannah, Georgia
The Freudenberg Church
Hermann Bach and his wife Anna lived in Freudenberg, and they belonged to The Freudenberg Church (see the picture). By the spring of 1738, they, along with other members of their church, some people from four nearby villages, and a group of Moravian missionaries (a religious sect), had decided to immigrate to America, and settle in Savannah, Georgia.
A man named Tillmann Hirnschal, who was from the nearby town of Bockseifen, had already sailed to America, back in 1736. But he had returned to Germany, in 1737, for a short visit, to pick up some of his relatives and take them back to America with him.
Tillmann had also been hired by the government to recruit people to immigrate to America, and to settle in Georgia, where General James Oglethorpe had established the city of Savannah, back in 1733.
By the early spring of 1738, Tillmann had signed up 53 people (including Hermann Bach, his wife Anna, and their infant son), to sail to Georgia. There was also a group of Moravian missionaries, who lived in, and near, Freudenberg, who wanted to go with them. The Moravians wanted to join the other Moravians who were already living in Savannah, so that they could also minister religion to the Cherokee and Creek Indians who lived near Savannah, as well as to the black slaves who lived in Savannah.
General James Oglethorpe (1696-1785) had already taken two groups of Moravian missionaries over to Savannah, Georgia (in 1735 and 1736), so they could minister to the Indians, because he was good friends with Count Zinzendorf, who had allowed a large number of Moravians to live on his estate, and who had become a Moravian himself. Click here.
The fact that a group of Moravians went to America with those 53 people was documented in a 1956 book, edited by the highly respected Dr. Wilhelm Guethling, titled, Freudenberg Past and Present. A small section, from page 73 of that book, is presented below, along with its English translation.
Dr. Guethling lived in Freudenberg and he was a well-known expert on Freudenberg and its history. He had been the Director of the nearby Siegen Museum for 16 years; the Director of the Siegen City Library and Archives for 23 years; the founder of the Siegen Research Center; and a member of numerous historical commissions.
Before the members of The Freudenberg Church left for America, their pastor wrote down all of their names in the church records, including, "Hermann Bach, wife Anna Margaretha, with a child." A copy of that old record has been found (see farther down this page).
**Please note that all of the old records prove that Hermann Bach and his wife sailed to America with just one child (in German, "one child" is spelled as, "a kind," and "with one child" is spelled as "mit a kind"). That one child had to have been their son, Hermann Jr., because he was later seen in the Tax Lists of Culpeper County, Virginia, and in other records. However, Anna Ella was never seen in any record, in America. Obviously, Anna Ella had died, sometime between the day she was baptized (March 17, 1737), and the day her parents (and her twin brother) left Freudenberg, for America (March 13, 1738). Why some people claim that Anna Ella was the one child who came to America is a mystery. The 1789 Tax List in Little Fork proves that Hermann Jr. (Harman Jr.) was born in 1737. He had turned 51, the year before, in 1788, and so he was not counted as a tithable, in 1789 (1737+51=1788).**
"Freudenberg Past and Present" book
In German
From page 73.
In English
From page 73. English translation by Dr. Elke Hedstrom
The Freudenberg Church records
On March 10, 1738, a very sad church service was held at The Freudenberg Church, so that people could say goodbye to all of their friends, three days before they began their journey to the harbor in Rotterdam, where they would board a ship, to take them across the ocean, to Georgia.
On March 13, 1738, the pastor of The Freudenberg Church, Pastor Gobel, wrote down, in the church records, the names of the 30 people who lived in Freudenberg, who were leaving (see the picture). He wrote their names in the "Burial Register" of the church, because he knew that they would never be seen in Freudenberg again. So, it was as if they would be "dead." The list clearly included the name of Hermann Bach, his wife Anna Margarethe, "with one child" (written in German as, "mit a kind").
Pastor Gobel also clearly wrote, at the top of the record, that they were sailing to Georgia, which he called, "a new island."
There were also 23 people from three small villages nearby, who were leaving for America that day as well, including 4 people from Plittershagen; 8 people from Boeschen; and 11 people from Anstoss. However, they may not have actually been members of The Freudenberg Church, because the pastor did not write down their names in the "Burial Register."
But because the majority of the people who were leaving that day were from Freudenberg, nowadays, most people simply refer to all 53 of them as being from Freudenberg.
The list of all 53 people who sailed to Georgia was later printed in a newspaper, in nearby Siegen, Germany, called, The Siegener, on March 16, 1961. A copy of that article, as well as the English translation of that article, has been obtained (see below). It also clearly lists Hermann Bach, his wife Anna Margarethe, "with 1 child" (written in German as, "mit 1 Kind").
That same list of all 53 people who sailed to Georgia was also published, in 1927, as an "Emigration List," in a German periodical, by Otto Baeumer, who was a historical researcher, in Freudenberg. It was later translated, in 1969, by Don Yoder, and published in the Pennsylvania Folklife magazine. A copy of that article has also been obtained (see farther down this page).
"Siegener" newspaper article, March 16, 1961
An Emigration List
From the Castle to Rotterdam
After a day or so, the 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), and that group of Moravian missionaries, left the castle, and they headed west, towards the Rhine River, which was a 45-mile walk. They needed to get to that river, so they could board some small boats that would take them down the river, to Rotterdam.
Average walking speed is about three miles per hour, which is about 25 miles per day. But considering that they were carrying items, and they probably stopped quite often, to rest, they more than likely only averaged less than one mile per hour, or just 5 miles per day. Therefore, it probably took them about ten days to get to the Rhine River. That means they probably got to the river, shortly before the end of March.
After they boarded some boats, on the river, it would have taken them about ten days to float down the river, to Rotterdam, because they would have been frequently stopped, along the way, by the authorities, as all travelers were. They would have had their belongings inspected, and they would have had to pay fees, each time they were stopped. But even if extra time was needed, for weather delays or other problems, it can be assumed that they would have arrived in Rotterdam, around the middle of April, at the latest.
Once they got to Rotterdam, they would have booked their passage on a ship bound for Georgia, just as quickly as possible. Not only were they very anxious to get to Georgia, they did not have the money, the desire, or any reason, to remain in Rotterdam for any length of time.
Furthermore, Rotterdam was swarming with Germans, at that time, all of whom wanted to sail to America. The residents of the city were extremely angry about that. As a result, the city's authorities had started to enforce a law that prohibited Germans from lingering inside the city limits. They made the Germans go into a "holding area," which was located near the ruins of the St. Elbrecht's Chapel, near Kralingen, about two miles east of Rotterdam. The living conditions in that "holding area" were dreadful. Those 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), and that group of Moravian missionaries, certainly did not want to stay in that "holding area" any longer than they had to. They would have booked their passage on a ship bound for Georgia, just as soon as they could. And so they did.
The Union Galley
Meanwhile, before those 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), and that group of Moravian missionaries, had left Freudenberg, a Moravian missionary named Peter Bohler (see the picture) had been ordained to be a bishop, by Count Zinzendorf.
Peter Bohler and his assistant, George Schulius, were then appointed by Count Zinzendorf, to go to South Carolina, to minister religion to the Indians and the black slaves. By February of 1738, Bohler, Schulius, and their companions, were in London, making preparations for their voyage. They asked General James Oglethorpe if he could arrange for their passage to America, because he had already commissioned two ships of Moravian missionaries, to sail to Georgia, back in 1735 and 1736, to minister religion to the Indians. General Oglethorpe said that Bohler and his companions could sail on his next voyage, with his soldiers, but that particular ship was not leaving Rotterdam until late April. He also said that the ship was bound for Georgia, like his other ships had been, but Bohler knew that he and his companions could easily walk to South Carolina, from there. So, Bohler and his companions stayed in London for about three more months, waiting until their journey could begin.
In early April of 1738, Peter Bohler and his companions went to Portsmouth, England, to wait for the ship that General Oglethorpe had commissioned. That was because they knew that most of the passengers, and most of the cargo, would be loaded on the ship first, over in Rotterdam, and then the ship would sail over to Southampton, England, for its required inspections. After that, the ship would sail to Portsmouth, to pick up some additional passengers and cargo, including Bohler and his companions, and then finally, it would pick up Oglethorpe's soldiers, last.
The ship was The Union Galley. It has been proven that the 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), and that group of Moravian missionaries, boarded The Union Galley, in Rotterdam, on April 28, 1738. (See below, for the impressive research done by Dr. Adelaide Lisetta Fries.)
The Union Galley then sailed to Southampton, England. After the inspections were completed, the ship left Southampton, on May 8th. Dr. Guethling initially thought that the ship then headed out across the ocean, towards America, because he wrote in his book, Freudenberg Past and Present, "...On May 8, the emigrants put to sea from Southampton and after a voyage of 134 days reached Savannah in Georgia..."
However, on May 8th, the ship was actually on its way to Portsmouth, where Peter Bohler and his companions boarded, on May 22nd. After that, the ship sailed back to Southampton, in order to pick up General Oglethorpe's soldiers; they boarded on June 3rd. Finally, the ship was ready to sail across the ocean to Georgia. There was also at least one other ship that joined The Union Galley, for its voyage across the ocean.
However, bad weather and high winds suddenly came up, and the ships had to pull into the port at Spithead, which was near Portsmouth. Spithead was a small port that was protected from the winds, and so the ships waited there, for the winds to become more favorable. But the ships were not able to depart for America, until July 16th.
This means that, the 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), and that group of Moravian missionaries, had been onboard The Union Galley, for two and a half months, before it even headed out into the open sea! And by the time they spotted land, in Georgia, on September 18th, they had been onboard for nearly five months! That was about twice as long as a typical voyage to America.
After the crew of The Union Galley spotted land (in Georgia), on September 18th, they dropped anchor, on September 29th, in the harbor at St. Simons Island, which was about 80 miles south of Savannah, their destination. On October 6th, the 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), that group of Moravian missionaries, and Peter Bohler and his companions, boarded a sloop (a small sailboat with one mast), and they sailed, from The Union Galley, over to the harbor at Savannah. But due to high winds, the sloop did not arrive until October 16th. The small group of Moravian missionaries who were already living in Savannah heartily welcomed all of them. The 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family), and that new group of Moravian missionaries, then settled there. But Peter Bohler and his companions left Savannah, on October 21st, to walk north, to South Carolina.
Absolute proof of Hermann Bach's immigration
Dr. Adelaide Lisetta Fries
The foremost authority on the Moravians was, and still is, Dr. Adelaide Lisetta Fries (see the picture). She was born in 1871, in North Carolina, the daughter of John William Fries and Agnes Sophia de Schweinitz. She was actually a descendant of Count Zinzendorf, on her mother's side. (He was her great, great, great, great grandfather.)
When Adelaide was a young girl, she become fascinated with the Moravians. She never married, and she lived with her parents until their death. (She died in 1949.) She spent her life collecting, organizing, translating, and publishing, the records of the Moravian Church. She researched the Moravians extensively; she wrote numerous books about the Moravians, and she was highly respected for her work. Click this link. Click this link.
One of her earlier books, The Moravians in Georgia 1735-1740, was published in 1905. That book provides the proof that the 53 people (including Hermann Bach and his family) sailed to America, on The Union Galley, in the spring of 1738. Her book is now in the public domain, and so it can be found on the Internet, for free.
The best copy of her book is a PDF from the Digital Library of Georgia: Click here. (When the page opens, just scroll down and select the PDF download that is called, "Digital Object URL." The PDF will open in a new window.) There are numerous other places on the Internet to find her book, but most of them either do not include the page numbers, or they are difficult to read, such as the one on The Internet Archive. Click here.
Copies of the pertinent pages from her book are shown below.
Bohler met with General Oglethorpe
Page 204: On February 22, 1738, General Oglethorpe told Peter Bohler that he would take him and his companions to Georgia, on a ship, with his soldiers. Bohler and his companions knew that, from there, they could easily walk north, to South Carolina.
The Union Galley loaded passengers
Page 206: On April 28, 1738, in Rotterdam, the Moravian missionaries boarded The Union Galley. Captain Moberley had been given instructions that Peter Bohler and his companions would be boarding, after the ship had arrived in Portsmouth, England. On May 15th, Bohler and his companions went to Southampton (see the next page).
Bohler boarded The Union Galley
Page 207: On May 22, 1738, Peter Bohler and his companions boarded The Union Galley, in Portsmouth. On May 30th, the ship sailed to Southampton, to pick up the soldiers, who were very troublesome, during the voyage.
The ship finally headed out, July 16, 1738
Page 207: On July 16, 1738, The Union Galley, and some other ships, headed out to sea, bound for America. They stopped at the Madeira Islands for a few days.
Land was spotted in Georgia, Sept. 18, 1738
Page 208: On September 18, 1738, the people onboard The Union Galley spotted land (in Georgia). The ship dropped anchor on September 29th, at St. Simons Island.
Moravians arrived in Savannah, Oct. 16, 1738
Page 202: On October 16, 1738, Peter Bohler and his companions, and the group of Moravian missionaries, finally arrived in Savannah, Georgia.
Hermann Bach sailed on The Union Galley
Dr. Fries stated, in her book, The Moravians in Georgia 1735-1740, that a group of Moravian missionaries sailed to Georgia, with Peter Bohler, on The Union Galley, in the spring of 1738 (from Rotterdam).
And, Dr. Guethling stated, in his book, Freudenberg Past and Present, that the 53 people from Freudenberg (including Hermann Bach and his family) sailed to America with Peter Bohler, in the spring of 1738 (from Rotterdam).
Therefore, because it has been well-documented that Peter Bohler, and a group of Moravian missionaries, sailed on The Union Galley, in the spring of 1738, and it is known that the 53 people from Freudenberg (including Hermann Bach and his family) sailed with Peter Bohler, in the spring of 1738, it can be positively confirmed that the 53 people from Freudenberg (including Hermann Bach and his family) sailed to Georgia on The Union Galley.
In addition, Dr. Fries wrote that the crew of The Union Galley had spotted land, on September 18, 1738, and Dr. Guethling also wrote that the 53 people from Freudenberg (including Hermann Bach and his family) had spotted land, on September 18, 1738. This is further proof that Hermann Bach and his family sailed to Georgia on The Union Galley.
Please note that Dr. Guethling also wrote that the 53 people from Freudenberg (including Hermann Bach and his family) were going to meet Peter Bohler, in Dover, but that was not completely accurate. They actually met Peter Bohler, in Portsmouth, when he boarded the ship there, on May 22, 1738. There is no record of The Union Galley making a stop in Dover, although it certainly may have.
Dr. Fries further wrote that most of the Moravian missionaries left Savannah, in the fall of 1739, mainly because they refused to take up arms to fight the Spanish army, which was threatening to invade and attack them, from their command post, down in Florida. But they had also become weary of the hot and humid weather in Georgia, and the increasing number of people dying from yellow fever, transmitted by all of the mosquitoes. Moreover, the Cherokee and Creek Indians had moved further inland, and so the Moravian missionaries were no longer able to even reach them, to minister to them.
So, in the fall of 1739, as Dr. Fries wrote, most of the Moravian missionaries walked north, to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where there was another community of Moravians living. Dr. Fries wrote that there were only six Moravian missionaries left, in Savannah, by the spring of 1740, and that they finally left for Bethlehem as well, on April 13, 1740, on a sloop called, The Savannah.
Interestingly, Dr. Guethling also wrote that the 53 people from Freudenberg (including Hermann Bach and his family) had left Savannah, "...because of the unhealthy climate, they had later moved north, where they settled in the place Bethlehem."
**Please read the 26-page PDF report, "The ship Oliver," which is near the bottom of this website. It presents the documented and proven story of the ship Oliver. Many people mistakenly believe that Hermann Bach and his family sailed to America on the Oliver, but they most certainly did not. This PDF report presents the complete and true story of the ship Oliver, which provides even more proof that Hermann Bach and his family were not onboard that ship. Please feel free to post this PDF, on the Internet, to spread the truth about Hermann Bach's voyage.**
From Savannah to Little Fork
Harman Back and Harman Back Jr.
Shortly after Hermann Bach arrived in America, in 1738, he simplified the spelling of his name, so that other colonists could more easily spell it and pronounce it. That was something which many immigrants did, particularly German immigrants. His new name was Harman Back, and so his 1-year-old son became Harman Back Jr.
Left Savannah: It is quite obvious that, when the Moravian missionaries left Savannah, in the fall of 1739, the people from Freudenberg, who were still alive (including Harman Back and his family), left as well. They all began walking north, towards Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They were headed there because there was a large community of Moravians living there.
As all of these people walked north, they probably followed the coastline. Most of the Freudenberg people probably walked all the way up to Bethlehem, with the Moravian missionaries. However, nine of them decided that they wanted to stop and settle in Virginia. Those nine people were Harman Back, his wife Anna, and their infant son; Johann Friedrich Mueller, his wife Anna, and their infant son; Hermann Mueller (the brother of Johann Friedrich Mueller); Georg Weidman (who may have been Harman's cousin); and Johannes Hoffman.
The reason that those nine people did that was because Johannes Hoffman had a cousin named Hans Heinrich Hoffman, who was already living in a small, German settlement, in Virginia, called, "Little Fork." It was located way up the Rappahannock River, in the far northern part Virginia, in Orange County. That land later became Culpeper County, in 1749. Nowadays, the small town of Jeffersonton is located not far from where Little Fork used to be.
Little Fork: So, Harman Back and his family, and the other six immigrants, then followed the Rappahannock River, from its mouth, at the Chesapeake Bay, up to Little Fork, which was a distance of about 150 miles. They settled there, sometime in 1740.
Inventory Report: The year after they arrived in Little Fork, Harman's friend Johannes Hoffman died, in 1741 (Orange County Will Book #1, p. 161). Harman was one of the three appraisers of his estate, and he verified the Inventory Report with his signature (see below). This proves that Harman Back knew how to write.
Harman bought 100 acres: On August 25, 1748, Harman bought 100 acres of land in Little Fork, for 20 pounds, from Jacob Holtsclaw and his wife Katherine (Orange County Deed Book #11, pp. 85-86). The deed shows that Harman bought the land by himself, without his wife Anna, because her name was not on the deed. Therefore, it can be confirmed that Anna had died, sometime before then, and probably many years before then.
No proof: There is no proof anywhere that Harman ever got remarried, or ever had any additional sons, besides Harman Jr. There weren't even any single or widowed women, anywhere near his age, living in Little Fork, during the time that Harman lived there. Furthermore, the only men with the last name of Back (or Bach), who were documented as living in Little Fork, were (1) Harman, when he signed the Inventory Report in 1741, and when he bought land in 1748; (2) his only son Harman Jr. (born 1737), when he was listed in all of the Tax Lists, from 1782 through 1789, and when he sold his father's land in 1789; and (3) two of Harman's three grandsons: Joseph (born 1756) and Harman Jr. (born 1764), who were listed in several Tax Lists.
Most importantly, there was never any man named John Back or Henry Back, listed in any Tax List in Little Fork, because Harman Back (born 1708) never had any sons by those names. He only had one son, which was Harman Back Jr. (born 1737).
However, there was a John Back and a Henry Back, listed in the Tax Lists that were prepared, down by the Robinson River, which was 25 miles south of Little Fork. They were the sons of John Henry Back, who was from Thuringia, Germany. (His name back in Germany was Johann Heinrich Bach, and his family was not related to Harman Back or his family, in any way whatsoever.) It can be confirmed that John Back and Henry Back did not live in Little Fork, because the tax men who prepared the Tax Lists down by the Robinson River were completely different men, than the tax men who prepared the Tax Lists up in Little Fork. The tax men down by the Robinson River, from 1782-1789, were Henry Field Jr., Henry Hill, Goodrich Lightfoot, John Hume, and John Gibbs. The tax men up in Little Fork, from 1782-1789, were John Wigginton and Aaron Lane. (All of this can be easily confirmed, because the names of the tax men were indicated at the top of each Tax List.)
Harman's farm: In 1748, Harman's 100 acres was in Orange County, but in 1749, that land became part of Culpeper County. (Little Fork was located in the far northern part of Culpeper County, near the Fauquier County line.) In the early 1900s, a map was made of the land parcels that had been owned by the first twelve families in Little Fork, including the Harman Back family (see below). Harman raised his only son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), on that 100-acre farm.
Harman Jr. got married: Around 1755, Harman's only son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), got married to a woman whose first name was Katherine. She may have been Katherine Fishback, whose family lived next door. Harman Jr. and his wife Katherine lived on his father's farm, and they had three sons: Joseph (born April 9, 1756); Harman Jr. (born 1764); and Jacob (born 1770).
The Tax Lists: According to the Tax Lists, in Little Fork, the only men with the last name of Back (or Bach), who lived in Little Fork, from 1782 (when the Tax Lists began), through 1789 (shortly after which, Harman Jr. and his family left Little Fork, to migrate to central Kentucky), and who were born after 1732 (because men aged 50 or older were not listed), were Harman's only son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), and two of his three grandsons: Joseph (born 1756) and Harman Jr. (born 1764).
When the Tax Lists began, in 1782, Harman Back (born 1708) was 74 years old. And since men over the age of 50 were not counted in the Tax Lists, even if he was still alive, in 1782, he wouldn't have been listed on any Tax List anyway, and he wasn't.
However, it can be easily confirmed that Harman Back (born 1708) had, in fact, died, sometime before the Tax Lists began, in 1782. That's because his only son, Harman Back Jr. (born 1737), was listed as "Harman Back," and not as "Harman Back Jr.," in all of the Personal Property Tax Lists, starting in 1782. That was because Harman Jr. (born 1737) was no longer considered to be a "Jr.," because his father must have already died, sometime before 1782. It's important to understand this.
Harman Back Jr. (born 1737) also leased some land in nearby Fauquier County, Virginia, from 1782 through 1789. It was only about a mile or so from Little Fork. He probably used that land to grow some additional crops. He was also listed on all of the Personal Property Tax Lists in Fauquier County as "Harman Back," and not as "Harman Back Jr.," for the same reason. He was taxed on having livestock on that leased land.
Curiously, Harman Back Jr. (born 1737) was listed in all of the Land Tax Lists, in Little Fork, starting in 1782, as "Harman Back Jr." That was simply because he had inherited his father's 100 acres, sometime before 1782. The tax commissioner was merely showing respect to Harman Jr.'s father, Harman Back (born 1708), because his father was the one who had originally bought that 100 acres, back in 1748, and he was one of the original settlers of Little Fork. It's important to understand this as well.
A third Harman: In fact, Harman Jr. (born 1737) also had a son named Harman Jr. (born 1764). And so, when Harman (born 1708) died, sometime before 1782, not only did that mean that his son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), was no longer considered to be a "Jr.," but Harman Jr. (born 1737) also had a son who was named, Harman Jr. (born 1764), and so he was known as "Harman Jr." This can be quite confusing, when researching the old records.
In fact, most professional researchers believe that Harman Back (born 1708) had probably died, sometime after the birth of his first grandson Joseph (in 1756), and before the birth of his second grandson Harman Jr. (in 1764), which was why his second grandson, Harman Jr., was apparently named after him, out of respect.
Harman Jr. (born 1764) was seen for the first time, in a Personal Property Tax List, in Little Fork, in 1785, listed as "Harman Back Jr.," along with his father, Harman Jr. (born 1737), who was listed as "Harman Back." That was the first year that Harman Jr. (born 1764) was listed in the Tax Lists, because he had just turned 21 years old, and the Tax Lists didn't list men until they turned 21. Please note that this 1785 Tax List does NOT show Harman Back (born 1708) and his only son Harman Jr. (born 1737), because Harman Back (born 1708) was too old, in 1785, to be listed in the Tax List. The Tax Lists did not list men over the age of 50, and he was then 77 years old, in 1785.
In 1785, Harman Jr. (born 1764) bought 100 acres of land from James Hackley. It was located south of Little Fork, but it was still in Culpeper County. Harman Jr. (born 1764) was also seen in the 1785 Land Tax List, in Culpeper County, as owning that 100 acres. He was listed as "Harman Back Jr.," because he was then known as a "Jr.," because his father, Harman Jr. (born 1737), was no longer considered to be a "Jr."
Harman Jr. (born 1764) was seen, still owning that 100 acres, in the Land Tax Lists, up through the 1788 Land Tax List. But he sold that land, shortly after that, because he and his family were planning on migrating to central Kentucky.
DAR: The DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) claims that Harman Back (born 1708) "rendered material aid" to the American soldiers, during the Revolutionary War, and so they call him a "Patriot." That means that anyone who can prove that they are a descendant of Harman Back (born 1708) is "qualified" to join DAR. Then, you get to pay DAR $150, just to apply for a membership, and if accepted, you get to pay DAR at least $100 per year, for the annual membership dues! Plus, DAR then "owns" all the research that you did, to apply for membership, and so they can sell it to anyone who wants it. There is also constant pressure put on DAR's members to buy expensive DAR "pins" (costing up to $6,300), to put on their childish DAR "ribbon," which they attach to the shoulder of their shirt, to "prove how worthy" they think they are. The more ribbons you have, and the more pins you buy, "proves what a good little DAR member you are!" Members of DAR are also pressured to buy lots of unnecessary, overpriced merchandise (junk) from DAR, like a $4 emery board, or a $20 baseball cap. DAR also continually begs its members, and everyone else, to just give them money for their various ridiculous projects (including, building a monument to themselves!), or in case they just want to buy something, at some point in the future! DAR even wants your estate, after you die! It's nothing but a pathetic, money-grubbing club, hiding behind "patriotism, friendship, and family," and the American flag.
But, back in 1890, when DAR started, it was completely different. It was respected, and its purpose was to honor the men who had picked up a rifle and actually fought in the Revolutionary War. They called those men, "Patriots." And so, back then, DAR only sold memberships to the descendants of men who had actually fought in the war, and who actually were, "Patriots." But as time went by, and they "ran out of" actual soldiers, while DAR's bureaucracy grew, they needed more money, and so they came up with ways to sell more memberships. They first started saying that, if your ancestor had donated any supplies to the war effort, such as ammunition or food, that also qualified your ancestor to be a "Patriot." They called those donations, "rendering material aid." But, when that didn't bring in enough membership dues to support their ever-growing bureaucracy, then they really began expanding who could be called a "Patriot," just so they could bring in more money for themselves. In recent years, it has gotten to the point where, just about anyone who was alive, during the time that the Revolutionary War took place, is a "Patriot!" Curiously, a few years ago, after someone accused DAR of being racist, they started calling "free blacks" (black men who were not slaves), who simply were alive during the war, "Patriots!"
Keep in mind that, Harman Back never fought in the Revolutionary War. He was 67 years old, when the war started, in 1775, if he was even still alive then.
There is an old record in the Virginia Library, which shows that, two men, with the name of Harman Back, donated some brandy, during the war, on September 19, 1780 (see the picture below). One man donated one-quarter gallon of brandy, and the other man donated (6) one-quarter gallons of brandy. However, since there were three men named Harman Back, living in Little Fork, at various times, between 1739 and 1789, how can anyone be sure which two had donated the brandy? Also...since when is booze considered to be "material aid?" Is booze really necessary to fight a war?
It's actually quite hilarious that so many strange people lie, and they go to such extraordinary lengths, just to pretend that they descend from Harman Back (born 1708), as if he is a war hero...but he never fought in the war! He may have donated a very small amount of booze, but it was probably his son and his grandson who had donated that booze. In fact, Harman Back (born 1708) had probably died, long before the war had even started!
But there's more...DAR's online database also claims that a man named Henry Back (1740-1809) is also a "Patriot," simply because his name was on a list of potential soldiers! On October 16, 1780, the Virginia Legislature had passed an act that required each county to supply a specific number of men to serve in the war. Culpeper County's quota was 106 men. So, 106 Lists (called, "Classes") were created, and then one man from each List was chosen to be drafted, by lot, to serve for 18 months. If he was later unable to serve, a "Substitute" was also chosen. In the far southern part of Culpeper County, along the Robinson River (25 miles south of Little Fork where Harman Back lived), Class No. 95 was created. One of the men on that List was Henry Back (1740-1809). His brother John Back (1738-1794) was also on that List, but DAR ignored him, for some reason. In Class No. 95, Tillman Huffman was drafted to serve in the war (who was Henry and John's brother-in-law), and William Adkins was chosen to be the "Substitute." Henry Back was not drafted to serve, he was not the "Substitute," and he never served in the war. But yet, DAR claims that Henry Back (1740-1809) is a "Patriot," simply because his name was on that list! It's absolutely absurd!
Many years ago, shortly before a fraudulent genealogy book about the Bach (Back) family in southeastern Kentucky was published, by "The Back-Bach Genealogical Society," the man who published it (Reedus Back) told DAR that Henry Back (1740-1809) was a son of Harman Back (born 1708), without any proof whatsoever. Reedus also told DAR that Henry Back (1740-1809) had sons named John Back (1774-1854) and Henry Back (1785-1871), who lived in southeastern Kentucky, also without any proof whatsoever. But DAR accepted all of those lies, simply because it meant that DAR would then have access to the thousands of descendants of John Back (1774-1854) and Henry Back (1785-1871), to sell memberships to them! That's how DAR operates.
Treasury Warrant: By 1783, Harman Jr. (born 1737) had decided to migrate to Kentucky. Like all young men, back then, he would never had made arrangements to migrate that far away from home, unless both of his parents were deceased. So that is additional proof that both of his parents were dead by 1783.
On September 16, 1783, Harman Jr. (born 1737) bought a Treasury Warrant, for 1,000 acres, in Kentucky. He paid 1,600 pounds for it, which was a great deal of money (see below). Buying a Treasury Warrant was the first step, to owning land in Kentucky.
Harman Jr. (born 1737) was listed on that Treasury Warrant List as "Harman Back," and not as "Harman Back Jr.," because he was obviously no longer considered to be a "Jr.," because his father, Harman Back (born 1708), had clearly already died by then. Furthermore, the only way that Harman Jr. (born 1737) would suddenly have had that much money was if his father had died and had left it to him.
Harman Jr. sold his father's 100 acres: Although it's believed that Harman Back (born 1708) had died, sometime before 1782, when his son Harman Jr. (born 1737) was listed as "Harman Back" (and not as "Harman Back Jr."), on the 1782 Personal Property Tax List (and on all the subsequent Personal Property Tax Lists), it can definitely be confirmed that Harman Back (born 1708) had died, sometime before September 15, 1789. That's because September 15, 1789 was the day that Harman Jr. (born 1737) sold his father's 100-acre farm in Little Fork, which he had inherited from him (Culpeper County Deed Book #P, pp. 186-189).
The deed clearly stated that Harman Jr. (born 1737) had inherited that land, through an "Estate of inheritance" (see below). The only way that someone can inherit something is if someone else dies.
The deed referred to Harman Back Jr. (born 1737), as "Harman Back," because he was no longer considered to be a "Jr.," because his father was obviously dead by then. The deed also clearly stated that the land had first been purchased by Harman Back (born 1708), back in 1748, from Jacob Holtsclaw and his wife Katherine, when the land was still in Orange County, and that the deed for that 1748 purchase was still at the Orange County Courthouse.
Harman Jr. (born 1737) sold that 100-acre family farm to Thomas Clark Fletcher, for 50 pounds. When Harman Jr. (born 1737) "signed" the deed, he "signed" it with an "x" (his "mark"), because he could not write. (His wife Katherine also "signed" the deed with an "x," because she could not write either.) This is further proof that it was Harman Jr. (born 1737) who sold that land, and not his father Harman (born 1708), because his father could write, as proven by that 1741 Inventory Report that he had signed.
Migrated to Kentucky: Harman Jr. (born 1737), his wife Katherine, and their three sons (Joseph, Harman Jr., and Jacob), then left Little Fork and migrated to central Kentucky, in the fall of 1789. They settled on the 1,000 acres that he had bought, which was located in the central part of the state, in what is now Garrard County.
Harman Jr.'s will: Harman Jr. (born 1737) had his will written for him, on December 31, 1794, in Garrard County, because he could not write, and then he "signed" it with an "x" (his "mark"), because he could not write (see below). He left his 1,000 acres (which he had bought with that Treasury Warrant, and which he referred to as, "his plantation") to his oldest son Joseph, and he left everything else to his wife Katherine (Garrard County Will Book #A, p. 50).
The two witnesses to his will were Charles Spilman (1746-1826) and William Hogan (1750-1827). Charles had grown up with Harman Jr. (born 1737), in Little Fork; and William's brother, John Hogan, had named Jacob Back (born 1770), who was the son of Harman Jr. (born 1737), to be the executor of his will. Charles and William were around the same age as Harman Jr. (born 1737), and so they were about forty years younger than Harman Jr.'s father.
Some people claim that this 1794 will belonged to Harman Jr.'s father, Harman Back (born 1708). However, an elderly, 81-year-old man would never have left his home, to migrate 500 miles, through the dense wilderness, to Kentucky. And an elderly, 81-year-old man would never have selected witnesses to his will who were forty years younger than he was, and even younger than his own son. Furthermore, Harman Back (born 1708) could write and sign his name, and if that really was his will, he certainly would have signed it. In fact, it has been definitively proven that Harman Back (born 1708) had died, long before September 15, 1789, back in Little Fork, which was when his only son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), sold the land that he had inherited from him.
Harman Back Jr. (born 1737) died, either in late October, or early November, of 1797, in Garrard County, Kentucky. His will was recorded in Garrard County, on November 6, 1797 (Order Book #1, p. 37). And his will was later probated in Garrard County, in January of 1798 (Order Book, Vol. #1, p. 49).
Donating some booze makes you a "Patriot" in DAR!
Two men named Harman Back
Back in the 1700s, "Do" stood for ditto. You can see "Do" in all sorts of documents, back then, including in Tax Lists. This record clearly shows that TWO men named Harman Back donated brandy. Was it Harman Back (born 1708) and his son Harman Jr. (born 1737)? Or was it Harman Jr. (born 1737) and his son Harman Jr. (born 1764)? Since it is believed that Harman (born 1708) had died, shortly before Harman Jr. (born 1764) was born, it is strongly suspected that this record shows that it was Harman Jr. (born 1737) and his son Harman Jr. (born 1764), who donated the brandy.
Harman signed Inventory Report, 1741
When Johannes Hoffman died, Harman Back signed his Inventory Report, in 1741. His signature proves that Harman could write. (But his son Harman Jr. could not.)
Harman bought 100 acres, 1748
On August 25, 1748, Harman bought 100 acres in Little Fork. That parcel can be seen on this map, which was created in the early 1900s. It shows the twelve original families, who owned land in Little Fork, including Harman. Jacob Fishback lived next door; his daughter Katherine may have married Harman's son, Harman Jr. (born 1737).
Harman is a "Patriot" in DAR
Harman Back is in in the database for The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), simply because he may have donated some booze to the soldiers. He never fought in the war. An incorrect genealogy about Harman and his alleged descendants was submitted to DAR's ancestor database, many years ago.
Harman Jr. bought Treasury Warrant, 1783
On September 16, 1783, Harman Jr. (born 1737) bought 1,000 acres, in Kentucky, with Treasury Warrant #19334. He paid 1,600 pounds for it. Many of his friends from Little Fork went to Kentucky and bought Treasury Warrants as well. Even though Harman Jr. (born 1737) never filed a "return" or a survey on that land, with the state of Kentucky, he definitely owned it, because he bought it.
Harman Jr. sold his inherited land, 1789
On September 15, 1789, Harman Jr. (born 1737) sold the 100-acre family farm that he had inherited from his father, Harman Back (born 1708). The deed clearly stated that Harman Jr. had inherited that land as an "indefeasible Estate of inheritance." Harman Jr. (born 1737), his wife, and their three sons, then migrated to central Kentucky. Where they lived became Garrard County, in 1797. Many of Harman Jr.'s descendants lived in central Kentucky, for generations to come.
Harman Jr. had his will written, 1794
Harman Jr. (born 1737) had someone write his will, on December 31, 1794. He "signed" it with an "x," because he could not write.
New book for sale!
Harman Back: His Ancestors and His Descendants
If you have an ancestor with the last name of Back, who lived in central Kentucky, in the 1700s or 1800s, then you probably descend from Harman Back (born 1708), who was from Freudenberg, Germany. He had just one son, Harman Back Jr. (born 1737), and so you also descend from him, through one of his three sons (Joseph, Harman Jr., or Jacob). Please note that there were, in fact, three men named Harman Back, in this family: the grandfather, his son, and his grandson.
This book provides the actual, documented, and proven genealogy of Harman Back (born 1708). It includes 600 of his descendants, many of whom lived into the late 1990s and early 2000s. It also includes numerous historical documents, including many Tax Lists that prove the genealogy. Are you one of Harman Back's 600 descendants? Find out with this book!
This book is a "must-have" for anyone who thinks they might descend from Harman Back.
The book is on a DVD.
It sells for $40, which includes free shipping.
It's only available on Ebay. Just click below and you will be taken to Ebay's website. (You don't need an account on Ebay, in order to buy this book. Just checkout as a "Guest.")