The twins were a girl and a boy (indicated by the "F" and "M"). They were born (indicated by the "B"), on March 10, 1737, in Bottenberg, Germany. Anna Ella was also christened on that day (indicated by the "C"), perhaps because she was sickly and not expected to live very much longer. However, Hermann Jr. was actually not named until later. Sadly, Anna Ella did die, shortly after birth. This record is from the old Prussian Birth Records. It was recorded in The International Genealogical Index, and this picture 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!
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, and their infant son), to sail to Georgia. There also was 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"). 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 born (March 10, 1737), and the day they left Freudenberg, for America (March 13, 1738).**
"FREUDENBERG PAST AND PRESENT" BOOK
The last paragraph, at the bottom of page 73, of this book
English translation of that paragraph (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 Göbel, 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 Göbel 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
THE 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.
More 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
Bohler met with General Oglethorpe
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
Bohler met with General Oglethorpe
Bohler met with General Oglethorpe
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
Bohler met with General Oglethorpe
The ship finally headed out, July 16, 1738
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
Moravians arrived in Savannah, Oct. 16, 1738
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
Moravians arrived in Savannah, Oct. 16, 1738
Moravians arrived in Savannah, Oct. 16, 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
Moravians arrived in Savannah, Oct. 16, 1738
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 (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 (including Hermann Bach and his family) sailed with Peter Bohler, in the spring of 1738, it can be positively confirmed that the 53 people (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 (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 (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. 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 (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 had arrived in America, 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 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.
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 (brother to 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. (Nowadays, it's near the small town of Jeffersonton.)
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 assumed that Anna had died, sometime before then, and probably many years before.
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, who were documented as living in Little Fork, were Harman, his son Harman Jr. (born 1737), and two of his three grandsons (Joseph and Harman Jr).
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 son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), got married to a woman whose first name was Catherine. She may have been Catherine Fishback, whose family lived next door. Harman Jr. and his wife lived on his father's farm, and they had three sons: Joseph (born April 9, 1756); Harman Jr. (born about 1764); and Jacob (born about 1770).
The Tax Lists: According to the Tax Lists, in Little Fork, the only men with the last name of Back, who ever 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), were Harman's son, Harman Jr. (born 1737), and two of his three grandsons (Joseph and Harman Jr.).
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 son, Harman Back Jr. (born 1737), was listed as "Harman Back," and not as "Harman Back Jr.," on 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.
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. 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.
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 Fauquier County Personal Property Tax Lists as "Harman Back," for the same reason.
A third Harman: In fact, Harman Jr. (born 1737) also had a son named Harman Jr. (born about 1764). And so, when Harman (born 1708) died, sometime before 1782, that meant that Harman Jr. (born 1737) was no longer considered to be a "Jr." Instead, his son, who was Harman Jr. (born about 1764), then became known as, "Harman Jr." This can be quite confusing, when researching the old records.
Harman Jr. (born about 1764) was seen in the 1785 Personal Property Tax List, in Little Fork, listed as "Harman Back Jr.," along with his father, Harman (born 1737), who was listed as "Harman Back."
In 1785, when Harman Jr. (born about 1764) turned 21 years old, he 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 about 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 was no longer a "Jr."
Harman Jr. (born about 1764) was seen, still owning that 100 acres, 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: A few years after the Revolutionary War began, Harman Back (born 1708) was said to have "rendered material aid" to the American soldiers. That means he provided some of the soldiers with either food or ammunition. Records show that he donated one-quarter gallon of brandy, to some soldiers, on September 19, 1780. As a result, about 200 years later, Harman actually became recognized as a "Patriot," in DAR (The Daughters of the American Revolution), simply for donating some brandy to the soldiers (see below). But he never actually fought in the war.
Sometime before 1994, some incorrect genealogical information about Harman Back (born 1708), and his alleged descendants, was submitted to DAR's ancestor database, by some people who were getting ready to publish a fraudulent genealogy book, in order to help them sell their book.
DAR's database claims that Harman Back (born 1708) had a son named Henry Back (1740-1809). DAR also recognizes Henry Back as being a "Patriot," simply because his name was on a list of potential soldiers, but he also never actually fought in the war either. Furthermore, DAR's database claims that Henry Back (1740-1809) had sons named John Back (1774-1854) and Henry Back (1785-1871). However, no evidence has yet been found that proves any of these claims.
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.
The only way that he would suddenly have had that much money was if his father had given it to him, or if his father had died and left it to him. In addition, 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 already died by then.
Harman Jr. sold his father's 100 acres: Although it seems certain that Harman Back (born 1708) had died, sometime between September 19, 1780, when he donated that booze to the soldiers, and 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 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 it 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 Catherine 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 Catherine, and their three sons, then left Little Fork and migrated to 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 a Treasury Warrant, and which he referred to as, "his plantation") to his oldest son Joseph, and he left everything else to his wife Catherine (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 about 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, no elderly man would have selected witnesses to his will who were forty years younger than he was, and even younger than his own son. Furthermore, it has been definitively proven that Harman Back (born 1708) had died, sometime before September 15, 1789, back in Little Fork, which was when 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). His will was later probated in Garrard County, in January of 1798 (Order Book, Vol. #1, p. 49).
More descendants of Harman Back (born 1708): A substantial amount of additional information about Harman, with an emphasis on his descendants, can be found in a new book titled, Harman Back: His Ancestors and His Descendants. The book contains additional historical documents, which also prove his genealogy and lineage. (Please scroll to the bottom of this website for details about this fascinating book.)
The book includes additional information about his son Harman Jr. (born 1737), and his three grandsons: Joseph (born April 9, 1756); Harman Jr. (born about 1764); and Jacob (born about 1770). It also includes information about his great grandchildren, and, in many of the lines, it includes information, all the way down to his great, great, great, great, great, great grandchildren, in the late 1990s and early 2000s!
Nearly 600 descendants of Harman Back (born 1708) are documented in this book!
This book truly is a "must-have" for anyone who thinks that they might descend from Harman Back, from Freudenberg, Germany.
Harman signed Inventory Report, 1741
Harman signed Inventory Report, 1741
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
Harman signed Inventory Report, 1741
Harman signed Inventory Report, 1741
On August 25, 1748, Harman Back bought 100 acres in Little Fork. That parcel can be seen on this map, which was created in the early 1900s. This map shows the twelve original families, who owned land in Little Fork, including Harman. Jacob Fishback lived next door; his daughter Catherine may have married Harman's son, Harman Jr.
Harman is a "Patriot" in DAR
Harman signed Inventory Report, 1741
Harman Jr. bought Treasury Warrant, 1783
Harman Back is in in the database for The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), simply because he 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
Harman Jr. bought Treasury Warrant, 1783
Harman Jr. bought Treasury Warrant, 1783
On September 16, 1783, Harman Jr. 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. never filed a "return" (and a survey) on that land, with the state of Kentucky, he definitely owned it, because he had bought it.
Harman Jr. sold his inherited land, 1789
Harman Jr. bought Treasury Warrant, 1783
Harman Jr. sold his inherited land, 1789
On September 15, 1789, Harman Jr. 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., 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. bought Treasury Warrant, 1783
Harman Jr. sold his inherited land, 1789
Harman Jr. had someone write his will for him, on December 31, 1794. He "signed" it with his "mark," 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, who was from Freudenberg, Germany. He had just one son, Harman Back Jr., 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, in this family: the grandfather, his son, and his grandson.
This book provides the actual, documented, and proven genealogy of Harman Back. It includes 600 of his descendants, many of whom lived into the late 1990s and early 2000s. It includes numerous historical documents, including many Tax Lists, which prove the genealogy.
Are you one of his 600 descendants? Find out!
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.