Transcript of a copy of a letter from Mrs. Helen Black to Mr. Jesse Cunningham found in R.B. Woodworth Notebooks on file in Moorefield Public Library. Honey Grove, Fannin County Texas May 30 1878 [should read 1873] Mr. Jesse Cunningham- Dear Sir: I have drawn a short sketch of those from whom you sprang and herewith enclose it to you. My unfortunate situation has put it out of my power to do for you what I intended doing. I wrote my agent in Moorefield (WVa.) to satisfy all claims you hold against me, provided he was ever so fortunate as to collect anything for me. I could write you a quire of paper if I would consult my own inclination, but don't know that you would appreciate it now, but you would this short sketch. Michael Harness was married to Elizabeth Jephebe in Pennsylvania (both born there) what her mother's maiden name was I have forgotten, but had descended from the Royal blood of Europe, they were of Dutch descent. Lord Fairfax had a grant from the King of England (his son Lord Fairfax was a woman hater) he made it known among the people of Pa., that all who would go to the South Branch of the Potomac River and there settle and make a tomahawk mark around what land they wanted and the terms were almost nothing and as well as my memory serves me it was at the end of 99 years they were to pay ½ ct per acre (38). The Dutch selected from among them four reliable men to go and look at the country and Lord Fairfax gave the latitude and longitude boundaries and they traveled by a pocket compass. On the return of these men they reported so favorable about the country that Michael Harness started in the next spring time enough to plant a crop, (to this Fairfax Winchester was the nearest town) and Philip Powell Yookum was called to Winchester to report his knowledge of the river and he stated the S.B.[South Branch of the] Potomac was the name given by the Indians on reaching this country and the name was established (39) Elizabeth Harness a daughter of Michael Harness at the age of eleven years left the wagons and with spunk steel and tomahawk in hand led the way from Capon Mt. and clearing the road so the wagon could pass went to the S.B. River built a fire had it in readiness where the men got there, consequently, you will see that the said Elizabeth was the first white woman that trod this glorious soil of the South Branch Potomac, a country of which all have been so proud. Michael Harness raised 13 children to be men and women grown, 9 sons and 4 daughters. Elizabeth was the oldest daughter, married P.P. Yookum. Rebecca (40) married Michael See, Crate Harness married Andy Trumbo and went to Kentucky. Dolly H. married Samuel Hornback, also went to KY. John Harness the first child married Elizabeth Yookum, Adam do not remember, Leonard a Hatch and went to Ill. Peter married Susan ______ and went to Ohio, Conrad married Molly M. Jacob married Miss Pettie the niece of your great grandmother Harness. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Roarabor(41), Michael Adam and Conrad were killed and scalped by the Indians and carried to the Fort (42). They died in the presence of their mother but not in the same year. Conrad's wife and child were killed at the same time and their remains were found 3 years to a day by a mulatto woman and her gold purse, clasp and scissors chain, the silk rotted from the purse and the money gone. Your great grandfather Harness raised 10 children, 5 sons and 5 daughters. Jemima married Wm Cunningham (your grand parents) Elizabeth married Michael Welton, and went to Mo. Rebecca married John Cunningham, Hannah married Henry Hull, Sallie married Isaac Cunningham and went to Ky. The two last women were twins. George Harness married Rebecca Casey and lived in Moorefield. Joseph married Rebecca Williams and went to Ohio. Adam married Elizabeth Baker and lived where Jesse Fisher now lived. Solomon married Catherine Saps(43). John married Hannah Inskeep, and lived at the mouth of the S.B. on the Maryland side of the Potomac. My father and mother were second cousins(44). Barbara (or Rebecca) See was my mother's grand mother, consequently I have two great grand mothers who were Harnesses. Elizabeth Yookum was eleven years old when she came to this country and died at 77 I was 7 years of age at the time of her death and I was born in [17]97. Elizabeth Jephebe was related to Wm Penn. I have now given you the particulars as nearly as I can recollect hoping it will be satisfactory to you. Remain yours etc. Helen Black. The following comment followed the above letter in Mr. Woodworth's notes. A true and exact copy from an old copy sent to Miss Mary M. Williams by Mrs. Ernest Crummell. Another abstract (made Jan 27 1902 by Mrs. I.H.H.R. from a copy by John Cunningham) sent "Mrs. A.M. Stubblefield Augusta 7 1905 by Mrs. Irene H. Harness Roger concludes: -- ‘My father and mother old Capt. Mike Yocum and wife who was a Miss Betsy Stump were second cousins. Barbara See was my mother's grandmother, consequently I have two great grandmothers who were Harnesses. Elizabeth Yocum was 11 years old when she came to this country and died at 77 in 1804, I was 7 years of age at the time. I was born in 1797 so Elizabeth Harness must have been born in 1727 and came here in 1738. Elizabeth Jesschape [sic] wife of Michael Harness Sr. was related to Wm Penn.' Which conclusion beyond question is editorial conflation as regards additional words. R.B. Woodworth 7/9/1933." Another handwritten copy of this same 1873/1878 letter, with some variations, appears on p. 273 in the "Family Ledger of Eliza (Lillie) McNeill Williams Cunningham", dated April 1926. Following the letter, Mrs. Cunningham added this note: "The writer of the above letter was born and raised on what was recently the Shearer farm which is about 3/4 of a mile below Jesse Fisher's on the same side of the river, and about 8? miles from Moorefield. The said Jesse Fisher remembers Mrs. Helen Yoakum Black very well. Also her husband and her father as well as some other members of the family. Mrs. Helen Black was 81 years of age when she wrote this letter. Mrs. B. P. Fisher, Edgewater, W.Va., Jan 8, 1902." END NOTES 38. An excellent article by Charles Morrison on the Fairfax land grants appears in WVA History, 37 (Oct 1976) entitled "Early Fairfax Land Grants and Leases Along the South Branch of the Potomac." 39. Some Yoakum histories claim that Philip Powell Yoakum was part of the Fairfax survey team though I have not found his name on any of the survey lists. 40. In her earlier letter, Mrs. Black identifies the Harness daughter who married Michael See as Barbara. Hardy Co. land records also show her as "Barbara" or "Barbary". 41. Rohrbaugh 42.Fort Harness, located on the north bank of the South Branch River, just west of Fisher, WV. 43.This may be a transcription error for Stump. Stump family histories list Catherine Stump, daughter of Leonard Stump, Sr. and Catherine See (daughter of Michael and Barbara Harness See) as married to Solomon Harness. 44.Michael Yoakum's mother and Elizabeth Stump's grandmother were sisters.