John Hartley and Rebecca Arvacost

 

John Hartley Before 1774

 

John Hartley was born 25 February 1755. We do not know the names of his parents. There is strong evidence that they came from Hampshire County, Virginian (now Berkeley County, West Virginia) around 1768 to the Ten Mile Creek area of Washington County, western Pennsylvania.

 

Ten Mile Creek is a small tributary of the Monongahela River south of Pittsburg (then Fort Pitt). Around 1750 a large number of Scotch-Irish, German, and British immigrants came to the area from the east. The families of early settlers built forts for their protection against the occasional raids by Native Americans still living in the area. [1]

 

Many of the people found in the Tenmile Country came from near Gerrardstown, Hampshire County, Virginia:

The Mill Creek Particular Baptist Church in Mill Creek (near Gerrardstown, Hampshire Co. VA, now Berkeley Co. West Virginia) lists members including: Elias Garard, Rachel Garard, Mary Hartley, John Keith, William Linn, Jacob VanMeter, Jonathan VanMeter, & William VanMeter. [2]

 

The Garards, Hartleys, Keiths, Linns, and VanMeters are all later found in the TenMile Country. Keiths and Hartleys are later found together in Kentucky.

Gerrardstown is about 15 miles north of Winchester, Virginia.

Around 1772:

 

Jacob Van Meter with John Swan, Thomas Hughes, and Henry Van Meter (brother) tour lands of SW PA and reached Carmichaelstown, Greene Co., PA (present) and claimed land along Muddy Creek and Ten Mile Creek. They returned home to VA, and returned along with about fifty people to settle along Muddy Creek. Jacob was granted land in 1769. [3]

 

A Henry Hartley is listed as a settler in Tyrone Township, (Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties). John Garrard, Herrods, Thomas Hughes, and Swans, are in Springfield Township. Vanmeters, and William Linn are in Rostraver Township. [4]

Figure 2. Braddock’s Road from Winchester to Fort Pitt (dashed line), with Hartley sites of Gerrardstown, Virginia and Ten Mile Creek, Pennsylvania.

 

Thus it seems likely, but not proven, that the family of John Hartley came from Hampshire County to Tenmile Country in western Pennsylvania with others around or after 1768.

 

The most direct route from Gerrardstown to the Tenmile Country would have been to follow the route taken by British Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock in 1755 in his campaign against the French during the French and Indian War; the path later was known as Braddock’s Road. See figure 2. Braddock’s Road passes from Winchester, past Fort Cumberland, and on to near Fort Pitt (then Fort Duquesne), a short distance north of Ten Mile Creek.

A Mary Hartley is listed as a church member in the Ten Mile Creek area “before 1790”. [5] (Notice: there was a Mary Hartley in the list of church members in Gerrardstown, Hampshire County.)

 

Howard L. Leckey’s book on the Tenmile Country gives an extended account of life in the region at the time John Hartley lived there:

 

With this background to show why and how the settlement of Tenmile Country came about, let us examine the conditions prevalent at the time of settlement, which came about the year of 1765. It is ever pointed out that the hardships endured by these pioneers were almost beyond comparison. It is pointed out that these people faced dangers from ferocious beasts and more terrible Redmen. But there were no beasts in those days that do not exist some place in the United States today, and authorities agree that none of these except perhaps the grizzly, will attack a man. And the Indians were at peace with the White Men from the close of Pontiac’s War, in 1763, until the War of Revolution. Even during the Revolution, there were probably no more persons killed by the Redman in one year than are killed today by automobiles. Even these killings were often the result of individual grievances, and a few of them probably justified.  The Quakers, who lived here—and there were quite a number—who practiced a life of non-violence, seem never to have been disturbed even in the worst years.

 

We must remember there was a large number of Tories here during the Revolution, and that they were known to have plotted violence against the leaders of the Patriots. Even the tragic Corbly massacre may have been instigated by enemies of Rev. John Corbly, since he was one of the most active in the suppression of the Tories. [6]

 

Leckley goes further to describe living conditions in Tenmile Country:

 

What other hardships was the lot of these pioneers? They had to work long hours in the fields, after spending many longer ones clearing fields to plant. But they had left no worse a condition in the East. They had to live in log cabins with limited space and no conveniences, but they did not leave much better homes where they came from. They lacked for roads to travel, for a short time, but a land grant to John Willison, in 1792, shows a road running from Fort Jackson to Washington, Pennsylvania, at that date. Certainly not many of those who cam here had carriages to ride in over the mountains, and, if they did, it is not likely the roads and streets were much better than the open country though which these people traveled on horse-back. . . . A picture of the loneliness of these pioneers has been the theme of the historian, but within five years after the first settlers came to the Tenmile, there were as many farms occupied in this section as there are today. One observer reports that in 1774 he watched a thousand families a day crossing the Monongahela River at Parkinson’s Ferry in a single day, to escape the threats cause by Lord Dunsmore’s War. And could a person be very lonely with a family of ten to fourteen children about him? On the other hand there were luxuries available even in these backwoods. I have an old ledger showing silk handkerchiefs, sugar plums, bombazine dresses, tea, coffee, sugar, silver buckles, and other items of the like, were for sale at the Mouth of Muddy Creek. One account even shows that a mattress was carried over the mountains from Philadelphia to John Minor. Having that kind of bed, it is no wonder he got the name of Father of the County. [7]

 

And how they arrived at Tenmile Country:

 

. . . The journey of these pioneers was made by horseback or by oxen, or by both, and cattle were driven ahead by youths and slaves. Others walked, packing as much on their backs as they could carry. Usually they came in groups bound together by some mutual connection. Family groups, related or inter-married, groups held together by religious affiliation, or nationality, or neighborhood ties, would come together and usually settle close to each other. If the genealogist remembers this, his work is much easier, since there are excellent Quaker records throughout the East, and the Welsh Baptists also left fine records of their Chester County Churches. [8]

 

And when they left:

 

How long did it take to settle the Tenmile Country? Historians allow thirty years to a generation, and it took just about that length of to settle the good lands in the section. . . . About twenty years later (~1785) the full force of the Kentucky migration was swinging down the Monongahela and Ohio on flat boats and all other means of travel. [9]

 

Participation in lord Dunmore’s War, 1774-5

Dunmore's War was a conflict between the Colony of Virginia and the Native Americans of the Ohio Valley. Following increased raids and attacks on frontiersmen in this region, the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, organized a large force of militia and marched to Fort Pitt arriving at the end of August 1774. Dunmore also ordered Colonel Andrew Lewis, commander of the southwestern Virginia militia, to raise an army in the south and meet Dunmore's force along the Ohio River. Lewis formed militia companies from Augusta, Botetourt, Fincastle, Bedford, Culpeper, Dunmore, and Kentucky counties. After Colonel Lewis' victory at the Battle of Point Pleasant, Dunmore successfully negotiated a peace treaty with the Delaware, Mingo, and Shawnee chiefs which prevented them from settling or hunting south of the Ohio River. [10]

 

There was a John Hartley and a William Hartley in the British militia under Capt. William Harrod at Ten Mile Creek, Washington Co. PA in 1774, as a part of Lord Dunmore’s War against the Indians. It is possible that John and William Hartley were brothers.

 

In the summer of 1774 Captain Harrod commanded at Ross’s fort on Rough Fork of Tenmile (Ruff’s Creek). Captain Harrod aided in getting supplies for Dunmore’s Army and went out with a company in the Fall of 1774. [11]

 

Capt. Harrod was given orders to collect provisions and we find William Hartley apparently contributed on August 22, 1774.

 

“A lift of Cattle  (?) was brought and ??? for the youse of the army  by William Herrod” Names include Abraham & Jacob Vanmeter, Nathanel Bell, Levi Herrod, William Hartley, Abel Bell, Henry Keeth, Henry Ross, John Ross,  and Henry Vanmeter. [12]

 

Capt. Connolly wrote to Capt. William Harrod, Ten Mile, in a letter dated July 16^th, 1774, telling him to let him have the “Cattle you have bought for Whalin”, and the “Men who you have had in pay you are to discharge immediately, and give them a certificate for their services done. They had better enter into some Companies that are on actual service of Government to the end that they may be completed.” [13]

 

The purchases (in pounds, shillings, and pence) were recorded for William Hartley et al.:

 

July 26^th 1774 Cattle prd. At Ross’s Fort

for y arme ???

of Capt. Herod

Abel Bell one cow and two beaves of -10-0

William Hartley One Bull ? ?

Levi Herrod one Cow And two Beaves 10-7-6

Banajah Dunn, a large Fat Cos 15-5-0

Henry Ross one ?? [14]

 

And the discharges were recorded, including John Hartly:

 

August 7 1774 ????

Discharge mens names

Zeavis Linley

Zephaniah Johnson

John Ross

Abell Bel

Jas. Bell

John Hartly [15]

 

Apparently John and William Hartley were discharged from Capt. Harrod's group and joined the regular militia of Capt. William Linn.

 

Captain William Linn’s company was at Camp Charlotte. The roll (Berkeley County, West Virginia) includes:

 

William Hartly,

John Hartley,

James Harrod,

Zephaniah Johnson,

John Ross,

Abel Beal,

James Beal,

And Lieutenant William Harrod [16]

 

The Third Revolutionary Convention passed an ordinance in July of 1775 appointing commissioners to settle the accounts of the militia lately drawn out in an expedition against the Indians and for making provision to pay the same and for discharging public claims.

 

. . . The index contains the names of Virginia citizens or soldiers from the counties of Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, and Fincastle who were compensated in 1775 for supplies or service during Dunmore's Expedition in 1774. Entries in the volume include names, length of service or item being compensated for, and the amount of compensation in pounds, shillings, and pence. [17]

 

We find that Wm. Hartly and Jno. Hartley were both paid for their service. [18]

 

 

Under Capt. Wm. Linn’s Roll we find (in pounds, shillings, and  pence):

 

            William Harrod Lieut. 177days, pay 66 ,0 ,0,

William Hartley, 170 days,  12, 15, 0

James Harrod, 170 days, 12, 15, 0

Jno. Hartley, 52 days, 3, 17 ,0

 

After the war other monetary claims were made and paid for participation in Lord Dunmore’s war, including those of John & William Hartley.

On 18^th September 1775 they received claims for:

James Bell for 49 days rations,

Abel Bell for ditto,

William Hartley for ditto,

John Hartley for ditto and horse hire,

Abraham Van Meter for 75 days rations,

John Ross for 49 ditto,

Benajah Dun for 209 ditto and horse hire,

Captain William Harrod for provisions,

Henry Ross for 2 steers and 2 heifers,

Jacob Vanmeter for 186# bacon,

Henry Vanmeter for 7 bullocks,

Levy Harrod for horse hire & bull & 3 beeves, and others for other goods. [19]

On 5 November 1774

After the Shawnees had been forced to make peace in the valley of the Scioto river, the officers of Lord Dunmore's army, on the homeward march, held a meeting at the mouth of the Hocking River, on November 5, 1774, and unanimously declared their intention, as soldiers, to exert “every power within us for the defense of American liberty and for the support of our just rights and privileges”. [20]

Part of the resolution reads as follows:

Resolved, that we will bear the most faithful allegiance to His Majesty, King George the Third, whilst His Majesty delights to reign over a brave and free people; that we will, at the expense of life, and everything dear and valuable, exert ourselves in support of his crown, and the dignity of the British Empire. But as the love of liberty, and attachment to the real interests and just rights of America outweigh every consideration, we resolve that we will exert every power within us for the defense of American liberty, and for the support of her just rights and privileges; not on any precipitate, riotous or tumultuous manner, but when regularly: ailed forth by the unanimous voice of our countrymen. Signed, by order and in behalf of the whole corps by Benjamin Ashby, Clerk. [21]

This marked the end of Lord Dunmore’s War.

Nearly all the men who were in that battle and afterward returned to their homes, were subsequently soldiers of the American Army in the War for Independence. [22]

John Hartley’s Service in the Revolutionary War

The Daughters of the American Revolution have accepted evidence that John Hartley served in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War, citing:

HARTLEY, John
Birth: PA 25 Feb 1755
Service: PA
Rank: Pvt
Death: KY 1834-36
Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned:
No Children Pensioned:
No Heirs Pensioned:
No Spouse: (1) Rebecca Arvecost [23]

John Hartley served in 1st Battalion, 5th company of the Washington County, Pennsylvania Militia, 1781-1783. In 1781 1st Battalion was lead by Lt. Col. Henry Enoch. The 5^th company was lead by Capt. Robert Sweney, from Bethlehem Township, Washintgon, Co., PA (part of TenMile Country). John Hartley is listed as a private, 1^st class. [24] It is interesting to note that there is a Jno. Ervicost listed as a 7^h class private in the same company. John Hartley would later marry Rebecca Arvecost.

 

Apparently Capt. Robert Sweney’s “company was recruited in the territory adjacent to Captain Fairley’s.” And Capt. Andrew Fairley’s troops were “recruited from the Castile Run section near Clarksville.” [25] Clarksville is close to the mouth of Ten Mile Creek. Other evidence is that Capt. Robert Sweney recruited his men “in the vicinity of Sandy Plains, on the Washington County side of the Tenmile.”[26a] Sandy Plains is about 2 miles north-west of the mouth of Ten Mile Creek. Thus, most likely, John Hartley was living on or near Ten Mile Creek when he was recruited into the Militia around 1781.

 

One can get a sense of the duties of the militia of the region from this account:

 

The Militia was, in theory, made up of all the men between the ages of sixteen and sixty, but it is not hard to see that many times, boys not yet in their teens, were sent out on duty, and less frequently, old men, in their dotage, performed tours of duty. On the whole, however, the services were performed by the younger males of the section, mostly boys from fourteen to twenty, with the more mature men serving as officers. Most of them served only in the district in which they were drafted, although at times, calls for expeditions into the Indian Country were filled by volunteers. At such times it was a custom, of men in transit through the section, to go along, since it furnished a safe escort for their journey.

 

Periods of service were short and the discipline was very loose. If men got tired, or were needed at home, they just left and went home. Sometimes they sent others in their place, and thus the term “deserter”, found in military records, does not have the meaning that it has in present military establishments.  [26b]

Marriage of John Hartley and Rebecca Arvecost

John Arvecost, born ~1730, Holland [?], died 22 Jul 1802, Washington County, Pennsylvania, is named in the 1785, 1793, and 1796 state tax list for Bethlehem and/or East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. East Bethlehem is in the center of Tenmile Country. He was the father of Rebecca Arvecost, born 15 January 1763, probably Washington Co., PA. Some researchers believe John Arvecost was married to Rebecca Wells (b. ~1740, d. 1808).

 

Apparently John Arvecost was from Holland and received one of the first grants to land lying on the Monongahela River. [27]

There was a newspaper article in the Pittsburgh Press, July 21, 1991 describing a house an property in East Bethlehem Township, Washington Co., PA, the heart of Ten Mille Country::

Bill and Dawn bell have lived in their stone cottage in East Bethlehem Township for a decade, but they didn’t know much about it until they agreed to show it as part of the Rices Landing Town and Country Garden Club House Tour. . . .

Believed to have been built between 1793 and 1815, the house is the oldest among three other houses and a parsonage that will be on the tour . . .

Mrs. Bell traced deeds to her house in the recorder of deeds office at the Washington County Courthouse. There, she discovered that the original 336-acre land grand was made to John Harvecost, believed to be a farmer and Quaker.

In 1815, Harvecost’s son, Joseph, sold 200 acres, and over the years more parcels were sold so the property is now down to 50 acres, Mrs. Bell said.

This reference to John Harvecost is clearly a reference to John Arvecost. Both lived in East Bethlehem Twp., both had son's named Joseph, and both were granted land on the Monongahela River. The house in question is located at 599 Crawford Rd. Fredericktown, PA, and is the house that John Arvecost lived in and possibly had built.

The John Arvecost house as it appeared circa 2014.

A land office map (From the Pennsylvania State Archives, Records of Land Office Warrantee Township Maps {series #17.522), East Bethlehem Twp., Washington Co., PA.) showing early land grants in Washington Co., PA indicates that John Harvecost received a patent on 336 acres in East Bethlehem twp. on 26 March 1793. The 336 acres was warranted to John Jones on 18 Feb 1785, surveyed on 2 Jun 1786 and patented to John Harvecost on 26 March 1793. The map for the grant shows the “waters of Ten Mile Run” running south through the property.

Map showing location of 336 acre 1793 John Harvecost land grant in East Bethlehem Twp.

Researchers have established that Joseph Arvecost (son of John Arvecost) married Rachael Enoch b. 1760, daughter of David Enoch, prominent in the Ten Mile Baptist Church, Washington Co. PA. Catherine Arvecost (daughter of John Arvecost) married Jonathan Harned from Bethlehem Township, Washintgon Co., PA.

There is an 1802 will for John Arbengast of East Bethlehem Township, Washington Co., PA showing his wife Rebecca, and children, Joseph, Elizabeth and Catherine. [28] It is clear that Arbengast and Arvecost are the same family; the name change from Arbengast to Arvecost is understandable if John Arbengast could not write and was dependent upon others to spell his name in a consistent fashion. John Arvecost died July 22, 1802 in Washington Co., PA.

 

I have previously noted that John Hartley served in the Pennsylvania Militia with a Jno. Ervicost. Since John Arvacost, father of Rebecca Arvacost, would have been about 50 years old at the time of this service, it does not make sense that Jno. Ervicost is John Arvacost. However, it is likely that Jno. Ervicost is a son of John Arvacost, and thus brother of Rebecca Arvacost.

 

John Hartley met and married Rebecca Arvecost around 1780, and that most likely occurred in the Ten Mile Creek area of Washington Co., PA. 

John Hartley, Rebecca Arvecost & Family

In 1865 Joseph Hartley, the son of John Hartley and Rebecca Arvecost, wrote a short pamphlet describing his life and religious beliefs, viz. A Short Sketch of the Life of Elder Joseph Hartley.  In that sketch he describes his parents:

My father's name was John Hartley; my mother's maiden name was Rebecca Arvecost. They had born to them twelve children, six sons and six daughters; of which they raised ten--five of each. They were originally from Virginia, and, like most new comers in those days, very poor. The country being new, and having but few advantages, they had to make their living in the hardest toil; and, even in my raising, constant labor was the order of the day. My father had no education, not so much as to enable him to read; and, having been always a frontier man, was extremely illiterate and awkward in language. My mother had but just learning enough to read imperfectly. Thus it was, that in my childhood, I acquired a habit of speaking imperfectly; and, as I advanced in years, I became sensible to this awkwardness, while mixing with others who had been better instructed. Being sensitive of my situation, I was all the time, when in company, laboring under serious embarrassments.

I will here remark, by way of advice to parents; when your children are learning to talk, teach them to speak properly, if you know how; if you do not, try to learn how; because it is almost impossible for them to throw off habits contracted in early life. My opportunities for acquiring an education were very limited. A winter school, of about three or six months, at most, was about all that was taught in a year; and, from the time I was old enough to be useful at work, I was kept close at that, except a short time in the worst of winter weather. Judging from others, and my opportunities, I learnt very fast--perhaps from my anxiety to learn. Reading, writing and the first rules of arithmetic, was all the education I ever got; and, to the best of my recollection, I was in my sixteenth year before I was ever twenty miles from home. I do not wish to be considered as casting any reflections upon my parents; for, with few exceptions, this mode of life was the rule of the times. . .

My mother was a member of the Baptist church, and, I believe, a God-fearing woman. She would often talk to us of the consequences of sin, and the danger of going to the bad place when we died, which would produce in my mind, for a short time, some gloomy fears. . . Most of the families in the vicinity of the church were more or less members of it, excepting my father's--not one of them, whom, besides my mother, made any pretensions of religion. I sometimes thought we were worse than others, and that the Lord had reprobated us to destruction. [29]

In 1780 Jacob Van Meter (in Capt. Harrod’s militia in 1774) of Ten Mile Creek organized a group of about 100 people from the Ten Mile Creek area and floated down the Ohio River and settled in what is now Nelson Co., KY. Harrods, Van Meters, Keiths, Hartleys, and others are in Nelson Co. Kentucky, by 1800, all families from Ten Mile Creek. (In 1792 Hardin County, Kentucky was split from Nelson County.)

 

 

 

Figure 3. Ohio River from Pittsburg to Louisville; route of migration from Tenmile Country to Nelson County, Kentucky. (The Monongalia River flows northward from Ten Mile Creek into the Ohio River near Pittsburg. )

 

The next record for Hartleys is in Hardin Co., Kentucky which branched from Nelson County in 1792, the year of statehood. Mary Hartley, daughter of John Hartley, married Nathaniel Harned on March 24, 1804, in Hardin County, Kentucky. Her father's name appears on the license, and so by that date he was probably living in Hardin Co. Descendants say that the Hartley and Harned families came into Kentucky on the same date. [30]

The Harned families came to Nelson County, KY about 1785 lead by Jonathan Harned Jr. (who was born at Ten Mile Creek in 1755) and his wife Catherine Arvacost (sister of John Hartley’s wife Rebecca Arvacost.) One of Jonathan Harned’s sons, Nathaniel Harned, married Mary Hartley, daughter of John Hartley in Hardin Co., KY, 1804. [31]

It appears that John Hartley served in the Pennsylvania Militia 1781-1783 and so it is most likely that he and his wife moved to Kentucky after the first wave of settlers from TenMile coutry in 1780. If it is true the Hartley and Harned families came to Kentucky at the same time and that would be around 1785.

There is considerable evidence that John Hartley owned land on the “waters of Rough Creek, near Denton Geoghegan’s Mill”, Rough Creek being in Hardin Co. KY near Vertrees, Kentucky. [32]

 “Denton Geoghegan, was the high sheriff who kept Thomas Lincoln in litigation over the hewing of timber for a mill.” Thomas Lincoln being father of Abraham Lincoln.   [33]

“ . . . Capt. Denton Geoghegan sold Thomas Lincoln a team as part payment for work on said Geoghegan mill [near the head of Rough Creek], and said Thomas Lincoln used this team in moving his family to Indiana.” [34]

Abraham Lincoln was born 12 February 1809 to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks about 38 miles south east of Vertrees, Kentucky, home of John Hartley and family.

Figure 4. Satellite view of Vertrees, Hardin County, Kentucky, showing Vertrees Creek, Rough Creek and the Vertrees Baptist Church.

Since Joseph Hartley (son of John Hartley) tells us in his biography [35] that John Hartley and Benjamin Singleton (father-in-law of Joseph Hartley) were neighbors, we have further evidence of John Hartley lived on Rough Creek through a land transaction:

1 March 1870. Robert M. Tabor and Sarah, his wife, to John Sawtell. $6 per acre for 35 acres adjoining Denton Geoghegan and Ben Singleton on Rough Creek.  [36]

Note: Sarah, the wife of Robert M. Tabor is the daughter of Rebecca (Hartley) Ament, and thus the grand-daughter of John Hartley.

Further there is a deed of land in Hardin Co., KY from Eliza Walters, daughter of Benj. Singleton to Robt. M. Tabor, indicating that the properties in question were near the mouth of Vertrees Creek on Rough Creek:

Deed Book 3 pg 349, 5 Aug. 1857: Robt. M. Taber, from Eliza Walters, whose father, Benj. Singleton, died on this land, on Rough Creek, mouth of Vertrees Cr; Mary Singleton lives on the land.

John Hartley and Rebecca Arvecost had twelve children, ten living to adulthood:  Jacob (1781-1860), Mary (1783- ~1858), Rebecca (1785-1857), John Jr. (1788-1829), David (1790-1827), Elizabeth (1792- ), Rachel (1795-1840), Catherine (1796-), Hannah (1797-), and Joseph (1800-1867).

The Hardin County, Kentucky records for 1792-1822 show the marriages of the children of John and Rebecca Hartley: Mary Hartley to Nathaniel Harned in 1804, Rebeckah Hartley to John Ament in 1809, John Hartley Jr. to Nancy Dougherty in 1815, Elizabeth Hartley to Francis H. Pile in 1817, and Joseph Hartley to Polly Singleton in 1821.

John Hartley died 25 March 1839 probably in Hardin County. Rebecca Arvecost died in November 1841 in Vertrees, Hardin County.  

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