Jimmy Larimore, Sr.

James, William, and Hugh Larimore, brothers, of Ulster, Ireland, emigrated to the United States in 1760, and landed in New Jersey. James settled in Hampshire county, Virginia. (now W. Virginia) Hugh located in North Carolina, and William in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. James was a weaver by trade, embarking on a new way of life in a new land, far from family and friends, a brave beginning.

James is attracted to the rich lands of Lord Fairfax, who at one time owned all the land in Hampshire county, now confiscated by the State of Virginia and open for settlement. He discovers a clear flowing spring and stream and on its bank, he pitches his tent. With his tomahawk he blazes his mark upon trees in the valley and carves his initials in them to place his claim by "Tomahawk Right".(see:Wikipedia; tomahawk right) By this means he lays claim to four hundred acres of Virginia land. To certify this claim he must build a cabin upon it and raise a crop in a reasonable time. This qualifies him for a pre-emption right to an additional one thousand acres of adjoining land. In New Jersey or Virginia, he meets Susannah Bonheim, and together they start a life in the cabin on the Little Capon Stream. They called it "Jersey Mountain, Three Churches", near Romney, in the Shenandoah Valley, between the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Allegheny Mountains on the west. There they commenced to raise the family of children who would form the roots of this family tree. James Larimore is buried at Three Churches, near Romney, on top of Jersey Mountain, victim of a rattlesnake bite.

The James Larimore family built Scanlon Farm (Scanlon Log House) around 1840 in Three Churches, VA (Now WV). It is listed on the Nat'l Register of Historic Places.

James and brothers immigrated from Ulster, Ireland around 1760, landing in New Jersey. James settled in Hampshire County, (West) Virginia. He married Sussanah Bonheim. He died of a rattlesnake bite sometime between 1814 and 1822.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 20 2019, 11:05:17 UTC

GEDCOM Note

In 1760 three brothers, named James, William and Hugh Larimore, started from the north of Ireland to seek their fortunes in America. William located in Pennsylvania, Hugh sought a home in North Carolina, and James found an abiding place in that part of Virginia watered by the south branch of the Potomac. (http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Ross/RossBio518.htm)

I am descended from James Larimore, of Ulster, who traveled to America in 1760, settled Jersey Mountain in Virginia (Now West Virginia), at Three Churches. Have been there, and found his son and daughter-in-law's tombstones at corner of the Primitive Baptist Church (He was Presbyterian, but the Presbyterian and Baptists shared the Baptist building until the Presbyterians built. (http://www.ulsterancestry.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=3574&sid=bf3ef...)

Also said to be born in 1745 in Ulster County, Ireland; Married 2 AUG 1766 (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dalebrown/Carpenter/surnam...)

The information that my uncle Thomas Dale Larimore has been researching for over 40 years says that the name is originally from Ireland meaning "he who shoes horses". We also have information that says that the Larimore family trade was black-smithing. It is my assumption that because of the timing the family immigrated to escape religious persecution during the Protestant and Catholic wars in Ireland when Ulster was surrounded by a wall because of alliegence to the English Protestant crown and owned mostly by English nobels. The town was ultimately starved out by Catholic Irish rebells. Remember my theory about the immigration is only that, a theory. (http://genforum.genealogy.com/larimore/messages/404.html)

Marriage also listed at 1778.

More About James LARIMORE: Burial: 31 Jul 1817, Jersey Mountain, Romney, West Virginia. Emigration: 1860, Ireland. Occupation: Weaver. Record Change: 1861, West Virginia. Religion: Presbyterian. (http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/m/i/Don-an-deborah-Smi...)

From Larimore History by Joseph Herbert Larimore

Genealogy of James Larimore, Senior, and Susannah Bonheim Larimore. The following is drawn largely from a history of the Larimore family written by (Susan) Caroline Larimore Williams (daughter of Robert) of Wheeling, West Virginia, granddaughter of James Larimore, Senior and Susannah Bonheim Larimore.

James, William and Hugh Larimore, brothers, of Ulster Ireland emigrated to the United States in 1760, landed in New Jersey. James settled in Hampshire County, Virginia now West Virginia. Hugh located in North Carolina and William in Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. Our forebear, James Larimore, Senior was born in Ireland (1740) came to this country when twenty years of age, mingled with foreigners from other lands, in New Jersey (the melting pot) clad in the home spun linen of his native heath, and not more than 50 cents in his pocket. A Protestant of the Presbyterian faith, his veins charged with Scotch-Irish blood, inherited by seven ex-presidents, he came seeking a better country.

What were his emotions, when he drifted southward in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, through historic Baltimore, Frederic and the great natural opening through the Blue Ridge for the Potomac River. He had reached Harper's Ferry and can go up the Shenandoah River Valley to Winchester, Virginia, or ascend the Potomac River to Cumberland, Maryland, either route will take him to his destination, Hampshire County, Virginia. He is attracted hither by the rich land of Lord Fairfax, who at one time owned all the land in Hampshire County, now confiscated by the State of Virginia and open for settlement. The wilderness is before him, he discovers a spring, the strong perpetual flow of sparking water, on its bank pitches his tent. Tomahawk in hand he deadens a few trees, cuts his name with his Jack-knife in the bark of trees, and thus lays claim to four hundred acres of Virginia land. "Tomahawk Rights" this carries with it a pre-emption right to one thousand acres of adjoining land, provided he built a log cabin on the claim, and raise a crop of corn in a reasonable time. The greatest asset of our prospective grandfather is his pocket Bible. In it he learns that "It is not good that man should be alone." In New Jersey or Virginia he met Susannah Bonheim and some day she will be our grandmother. His newly acquired earthly possessions are situated on the Little Capon Stream, on a plateau of rich limestone land, densely covered with one hundred and three varieties of forest trees, an aviary of songsters, a woods full of wild animals for meat and fur. Climate--winter 35.8, spring 55.3 summer 75.4. Grandfather called it Jersey Mountain. Three Churches, Post office, West Virginia. Nor is this all. He lived in the richest and largest valley of all the Virginias, the Shenandoah Valley, situated between the Blue Ridge on the east and The Alleghenies on the west, ten miles from Romney, the county seat, and thirty miles from Winchester, Virginia. Just over the hills and the Opequan River and to Harpers Ferry. He could hear the guns of the Revolution (1763-1789). Conclusion of the French and Indian War 1754-1763, nine years. Had two sons in the war of 1812, my father(Robert) and Uncle Sam. Grandfather saw a light in the East August 24 1814, the burning of Washington City by General Ross of the British Army. The ancestral home was just two miles north of the "Old Northwest Pike" running from Winchester, Virginia, to Parkersburg, West Virginia, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, a land artery leading to the great North-West Territory and traveled by all of my people to Ohio and Illinois. It was surveyed by an engineer of Napoleon, who came to this country after the disastrous Napoleonic wars in Europe (1815).

James Larimore is buried at Three Churches, near Romney, on top of Jersey Mountain. He was a weaver by trade.

Susannah Bonheim was born in the Rhenish Palatinate of Germany. At 18 years of age she emigrated with her parents to this country on account of religious persecution, landed in New Jersey and settled in Hampshire county, VA, a protestant of the Lutheran faith. Grandfather Larimore left Ireland for the same reason. The lad and lassie met each other in New Jersey or Virginia. Both were deeply religious, carried their Bibles, and from it had learned lessons on their Mother's knee. Mutual sympathy led them to the hymenal altar. Construction of a log hut and all the perils of a pioneer and wilderness life confronted them. A hoe and other home-made instruments were all they could command in tilling the land. The farmer would never leave his hut with a farm implement in hand without taking his gun to meet a concealed treacherous Indian, or bring home some wild game for meals. One cow, one horse, one ox or one mule could be indulged at a time in primitive farming, patch farming. Jimmy and Susan would go to Sunday school and church laden on the back of one animal. Tradition records that Grandfather was a great tease, coming in and hopping around Harry Lauder fashion, claiming that he had been bitten by a rattlesnake, keeping grandmother in a constant state of fear. Finally she met these Irish bluffs with contempt. Sad to relate that at sixty years of age this denizen of the forest while climbing over a log was bitten by a rattler, hastened home. His wife regarded his story with credulity, but he swelled up and died.

The Larimores are above the average in height, and weight, dark complected and bear a strong family resemblance to each other. This family resemblance was noted by Abraham Lincoln in the early part of the 19th century. John, William, Nancy and Susan Larimore, children of James and Susan Larimore, made a new home in Tazewell County, Illinois, Pekin, the county seat. Lincoln practiced law in this county and met the Larimores. Uncles Tom and Sam from Knox County, Ohio, attended the first inaugural of Abraham Lincoln in March, 1861. They were in the procession and shook hands with the President. Lincoln held them up and said, "See here, did you have brothers in Tazewell County, Illinois?" "We did," and a colloquy followed. Uncle Tom and Uncle Sam never ceased to tell how President Lincoln knew them and held them up. James Larimore and Susannah Bonheim Larimore had eleven children

Occupation: Weaver Religion: Presbyterian Emigration: 1860 Ireland Reference Number: 2652 http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&d...

ID: I00088 Name: James LARIMORE , Sr. Sex: M Birth: 1740 in Ulster County, Ireland Death: 18 AUG 1817 in Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia Burial: Mount Bethel Church Cemetery at Three Churches on Jersey Mountain Road, Hampshire County, West Virginia Note: James was born in Irleand in 1740. James and his two brother immigrated from Ulster, Ireland in 1760 to the United States of America. James settled in Hamphire County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He mingled with foreigners from other lands in New Jersey (the melting pot) clad in the home spun linen of his native heath, and not more than 50 cents in his pocket. a Protestant of the Presbyterian faith, his veins charged with Scotch-Irish blood, inherited by seven ex-presidents, he came seeking a better country.

James died . He is buried at Three Churches, near Romney, on top of Jersey Mountain.

Three Churches is about eleven miles from Romney

Father: LARIMORE b: ABT 1718

Marriage 1 Susannah Elizabeth BONHEIM b: 1766 in Westfalen, Dorsten-Sankt Agatha Katholisch, Prussia Married: ABT 1783 in Virginia Children

1. John LARIMORE b: 6 JUN 1779 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia
2. William LARIMORE , Sr. b: 29 JUL 1784 in Romney, Virginia
3. Joseph LARIMORE b: 1785 in Hampshire County, Virginia
4. James LARIMORE , Jr. b: 17 JAN 1786 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia
5. Samuel LARIMORE b: DEC 1788 in Hampshire County, Virginia
6. Margaret LARIMORE b: 22 MAY 1791 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia
7. Sarah LARIMORE b: 29 AUG 1792 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia
8. Robert LARIMORE , Sr. b: 20 OCT 1792 in Romney, Hampshire County, Virginia
9. Nancy LARIMORE b: 1797 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia
10. Susannah LARIMORE b: 1800 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia
11. Thomas LARIMORE b: 6 AUG 1801 in Three Churches, Hampshire County, Virginia

• Reference: World Connect

Burial: Branch Mountain Cemetery, Three Churches, Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=101363456