In a message dated 06/05/2000 9:09:50 AM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << Dear Barbara, I am interested in the info on Elizabeth Harness and Van Meter. Thanks Betty Kimble >> Betty (and Roland), This is a 2-column article on the Jan J. Vanmeter Family. I could type it all if you need but I will put all the pertinent info in this e-mail. Let me know if you want it all. There isn't much on HARNESS but maybe this will help trace another way. Good Luck. Barbara JAN J. VANMETER FAMILY-pg 238-238-Hardy County Family History to 1990 1. Jan Joosten VANMETERN, his wife & children, arrived in America (NY) fall 1662. 2. Joost Jansen VANMETER, born ca 1660 in Holland, son of Jan, was also known as "John the Indian Trader". Married: Sarah du Bois in 1682, New Paltz, Ulster Co, NY Four children born in Kingston (frm baptism records): John, Rebecca, Lysbeth, Henry There are 4 other children but no record of their baptisms: Isaac, Rachel, Abraham, Jacob John, his family, and his parents moved to New Jersey ca 1695 but John spent time traveling with friendly Indians. Around 1725 he travelled with them into Virginia and the South Branch Valley. He returned home and encouraged his sons to go there. Four of his sons moved to Virginia in 1744: Abraham and John to Berkeley County - Jacob to the Oldtown-Cresaptown, MD area - Isaac to Old Fields. On June 17, 1730, brothers Isaac & John got land grants of 10,000 acres each from VA Gov. 3. Isaac VanMeter, son of Joost/John, born ca 1692 in Ulster Co NY Married Annetjie Wynkoop in Mooreland Manor PA in 1717. They moved to Old Fields with their children: Henry, Garret, Mary, Rebecca. (Isaac built log fort-Fort Pleasant- but was killed and scalped near his fort in 1757. 4.Garret VanMeter (1732-1788), born in Salem Co, NJ, son of Isaac, Rev War Colonel Married Ann Markee Sibley in Hardy Co in 1757-inherited Fort Pleasant. Children were: Isaac, Jacob, Ann 5. Jacob VanMeter (1764-1829), son of Garret, inherited Fort Pleasant homestead, War of 1812, Colonel commanding 14th Regiment Virginia State Militia. Married Tabitha Inskeep (1765-1851) in 1791 Children: Isaac, Abraham, Garret, Hannah, Ann, Rebecca, Susan, Sallie 6. Garret VanMeter (1806-1865), born near Fort Pleasant (Old Fields) & inherited it. After his death, the homestead was sold, his wife & most of his family moved to Piatt County, near Mansfield, IL. Nearly all these sons served in Southern Army. Married Elizabeth Inskeep VanMeter Cunningham in 1832 Children: Solomon (m. Ann J. Parsons-more info-pg.43), Jacob, William C., Rebecca, Isaac, Tabitha, Charles W. , Sallie, Garret 7. William C. VanMeter (1838-1916) born & raised Old Fields, moved with family to IL after fathers death. When the war began, he returned to enlistand was in Co E, 25th Regiment of Virginia Infantry. He was in 27 battles, wounded several times and taken prisoner at Sharpsburg. Married Margaret Chambers (1842-1909) in 1868. They spent 12 yrs in IL, then returned to WV ca 1801, living 1 mile east of Petersburg toward Moorefield, raising & selling purebred cattle. Children: 1. Nora VanMeter, married Howard Cunningham (moved to IL) 2. Kenny Chambers VanMeter, married Elizabeth HARNESS. The y stayed and continued his fathers farming tradition. 3. Virginia VanMeter, married Seymour Fisher (more info) 4. Vernon VanMeter, married Harry HARNESS and lived in Hardy County. 5. William C. VanMeter, Jr., married Carrie Grove and lived in Petersburg, where he was a dentist. By the way, It states that Solomons(s/o Garrett & Elizabeth) three younger brothers, William, Charles & Isaac, were first cousins of Capt. Jesse McNeill and were all Confederate soldiers. The info on Solomon came from a story by Mr. VanMeter, found in old family bible which is the property today of Evelyn Parsons, Hardy Co, WV.

[email protected] wrote: > In a message dated 06/05/2000 9:09:50 AM Central Daylight Time, > [email protected] writes: > > JAN J. VANMETER FAMILY-pg 238-238-Hardy County Family History to 1990 > > Four of his sons moved to Virginia in 1744: > > > 3. Isaac VanMeter, son of Joost/John, born ca 1692 in Ulster Co NY > Married Annetjie Wynkoop in Mooreland Manor PA in 1717. They moved to > Old Fields with their children: Henry, Garret, Mary, Rebecca. (Isaac built > log fort-Fort Pleasant- but was killed and scalped near his fort in 1757. Information I have said it was Henry who was killed near his fort in 1759 (if memory serves me correctly, it was Henry's estate appraisal that has been discovered among the loose papers in the Hampshire County courthouse basement, dated around 1760). The fort, Pleasant, was built between February and April 1756 by Captain Thomas Waggener of the Virginia Regiment. For more info, see the article in the Colonal Notes section of the Hardy County GenWeb page <www.rootsweb.com/~wvhardy/> titled "Fort Pleasant: Soldiers and Civilians in the South Branch Valley, 1756-1762". > > 4.Garret VanMeter (1732-1788), born in Salem Co, NJ, son of Isaac, > Rev War Colonel It should be noted that Garret was not a colonel in the Continental Army, but a colonel in the Hampshire County militia. He served as County Lieutenant (head of the militia) and as sheriff. It was he who had to deal with John Claypoole and John Brake, et al. in their loyalist rebellion in the waning years of the Revolution. Just want to keep the record straight--- Terry Gruber