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Historical records matching Thomas Harrison
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About Thomas Harrison
With brothers Daniel, John, Samuel, Jeremiah was the first to patent land in Rockingham Co, VA. Orange Co record Dec 8, 1739. Named the present Harrisonburg town. Settled at the Head spring of the East Fork of Cook's Creek. All his grants made a total of 2,742 acres.
Harrisonburg, previously known as "Rocktown", was named for Thomas Harrison, a son of English settlers.[15] In 1737, Harrison settled in the Shenandoah Valley, eventually laying claim to over 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) situated at the intersection of the Spotswood Trail and the main Native American road through the valley.[16]
In 1779, Harrison deeded 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) of his land to the "public good" for the construction of a courthouse. In 1780, Harrison deeded an additional 50 acres (20 ha).[17] This is the area now known as "Historic Downtown Harrisonburg."
In 1849, trustees chartered a mayor-council form of government, although Harrisonburg was not officially incorporated as an independent city until 1916. Today, a council-manager government administers Harrisonburg
No record of his marr. to Sarah (Cravens?) is found at Staunton, indications are that they were married prior to the estab. of the Augusta Parish, organized in 1738. (Meade's Vol II p. 317). Marriage records of St. Mark's Parish, from which Augusta was formed, have become lost or destroyed. Sarah's name appears, on a deed in 1764, indicating they were marr. prior to this time. She is thought to be the mother of most, if not all of his children.
An act of the General Assembly at Williamsburg, passed in May 1780, and signed by Thomas Jefferson, governor, estab town of Harrisonburg, County Seat, Rockingham Co, Va. Thomas H. having laid off fifty acres of land into lots and streets. Ref: Henings-Statutes at Large of Va Vol 10, p. 295.
He built the first house of limestone and it still stands directly across the street opposite the northside entrance to the new Methodist Church, corner of Main & Bruce.
Qualified Lt. French & Indian War May 15, 1754. Will dated 21 Feb 1776, wife Sarah and all children, even though his will was destroyed in the burning of the original records of Rockingham in the War-Between-The-States, deeds at Harrisonburg have established his children.
PA Gen Mag, Vol I, p. 664: Submitted to Harrison Heritage, Sep 1982, p. 295. Abstracts of Patents, VA Land Office, Richmond, General Index 1623-1774. George III to James GREEN, 200 A. of land lying and being in the county of Augusta on the branch of Muddy Creek near land of John O'Neal and Thomas HARRISON.
Source of following is from my family and "Henry Mauzy, the French Heuganot" book: There was a race between Thomas Harrison, founder of Harrisonburg and George Keezel, founder of Keezeltown - they agreed that the first to Williamsburg would get the honor of their town becoming the county seat. Thomas got there first. (Submitted by Susan B. K. Way)
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Thomas Harrison's Timeline
| 1704 |
1704
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Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, British Colonial America
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| 1740 |
1740
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Augusta County, Virginia, United States
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1740
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Virginia
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| 1743 |
1743
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Rockingham, Virginia, Rockingham County, VA, United States
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| 1744 |
1744
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Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States
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| 1746 |
1746
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Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America
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| 1751 |
October 3, 1751
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Augusta County, VA, British Colonial America
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| 1754 |
1754
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| 1756 |
1756
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AUGUSTA CTY., VA
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