Harrod Deeds in the Clark Grant By SUSANW. ATKINS The records of the first transfers of the allotments of lands in the Clark Grant, which were given to the officers and soldiers who accompanied Col. in his famous adventure in 1779, are important to genealogists, whether amateur or professional. As the lots were divided into sections far removed from each other, consisting of 500 acres of uncleared land, in each section, some devoid of access to water, it can be readily under- stood that a recipient of several of these lots could not possibly have any use for more than one. He would therefore dispose of the others, as 500 acres were all that five men could put under cultivation in a lifetime under pioneer methods without slave labor. Speculators in land were active at this time and much can be seen, by the deeds of record, to have been purchased by such persons. William Hayden English, who lived within the confines of the original grant, had opportunity to study these records and asserts that few of the original grantees occupied their allotments of land. In this matter, a record of lands which went to Captain William Harrod may be of interest as he was senior captain with Col. George Rogers Clark, and his company, stationed at Wheeling Fort in 1779, formed a nucleus of the force which accompanied Clark. The regiments were organized and equipped from Wheeling Fort. They left the Fort and proceeded by water to the falls of the Ohio. In Louisville, in April of 1789, William Harrod received for his service as captain in this movement, from the allotment which was made at this time to the officers and soldiers who served under Clark, six sections of land in the Clark Grant. These were listed as numbers 91, 99, 164, 243, 261 and 264. On August 31,1789,the records show that a deed was executed to Captain William Harrod for the remainder of his allotment, or a balance of 243 acres of land. Each captain received 3234 acres of land, each section containing 500 acres, unless other- wise indicated. These sections were scattered over the grant, and no one joined another in the allotment made to the same person. Captain Harrod had the first survey of this land made in the fall of 1788 and other surveys were made in the spring of 304 Indiana Genealogy

1789. The first deed executed, transferring land from his por- tion, was made in 1792 to his brother, Captain James Harrod of Harrodsburg. Captain William, in 1792, deeded to Captain James 1000 acres of the grant, in exchange for a tract, to him conveyed by Captain James, of 1000 acres of land on the Green River in . It is possible that this was the next to the last transaction made by Captain James Harrod, who made his will in Wash- ington, Mason County, Kentucky, in 1792. It is reasonable to suppose, as both transactions occurred in Mason County, that Captain James Harrod was either coming from or going to the home of his brother, Captain William Harrod, on Locust Creek, in Mason County, in the area now known as Bracken County, when he made his will. He is said to have proceeded to the Big Sandy River, which is east of Bracken, after making the will, and to have been completely lost. Nothing was ever heard of him from this time. The 1000 acres of land were probably never in the possession of his heirs, however, as no deeds are recorded by them. In 1797 Captain William Harrod sued the heirs of Captain James Harrod to recover this portion of the grant. In the early spring of 1793, Amelia Stevens, the wife of Captain William Harrod, died in their home at Ten Mile on Muddy Creek, Washington County, . Two months later, Captain William Harrod made a second transfer from his allotment, preparatory to closing his affairs in Pennsylvania, and removing to Bracken County, Kentucky, which was then a part of Mason County. His sister, Rachel Newland, and his son, William, Jr., were living in Mason County at this time. His daughter Rachel was married to Isaac Meranda and was also living in Mason County. His son Samuel was married and living at Ten Mile, Pennsylvania. He sold his land and followed his father to Kentucky. On May 18, 1793, is recorded in Cumberland Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, a deed by which William Harrod, farmer, of Cumberland Township, transferred to James Hughes of the same, for 100 pounds of lawful money of Pennsylvania, 500 acres, part of the said William Harrod’s claim of land in the Clark Grant. It would be tedious to give the bounds defined by trees and bushes, no longer to be found. The land is in part, however, bounded by James Shelby’s line, and Leonard Helm’s survey, no. 679, crossing two branches Harrod Deeds in the Clark Grant 305 “supposed to be waters of White River,” and to Martin Caney’s survey No. 263. This deed is witnessed by Caleb Cowpland, John Kennedy, and Joseph Van Meter. It was recorded on September 17, at the request of James Hughes. The records of Washington County, Pennsylvania, further give the informa- tion that this tract of land contained 500 acres. It is not de- fined by number. The third transfer of Clark Grant Lands by Captain Harrod was recorded (Deed Book 1, page 17, October 1,1794) in Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania, as follows : Captain William Harrod to Richard Swan. This Indenture made the 1 day of October, 1794 Between William Harrod, yeoman, of Washington Co. State of Pennsyl- vania of the one part and Richard Swan of the other part Witnesseth-that the said William Harrod, for the sum of five shillings to him in hand paid, “as well as for natural love and affections I have for Richard Swan”-The receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged- Have granted . . . to Richard Swan, a certain tract of land lying on the northside of the . . . . Bounded by the north side of Leonard Helm’s survey, No. 147, Abram Killers Survey, Crossing Muddy Fork of Silver Creek, and containing 234 Acres . . . . The said tract with its appertenances thereunto belonging. Witnessed by-Caleb Cowpland James Hughes By this deed Captain Harrod gave to Richard Swan a half of one lot for the “love and affection” which he had for him. It is possible that this tract is where Swansville, Indiana, is now located. If so, Swansville was born of “love and affect- ion,” for the son of a friend and companion of Captain Wil- liam Harrod, who was killed on a journey with him. This deed was recorded in Washington County, Pennsylvania, at the re- quest of Richard Swan on Sept. 17, 1796. By the records of Bracken County, Kentucky, it is shown (Book C, page 103, Bracken County Court) that on the thir- teenth day of June, 1799, William Harrod of Bracken County, Kentucky, deeded to John Mannon of Mason County, Kentucky, for 50 pounds, 250 acres of the grant, known as “GO”. This was bounded by the east corner of Richard McCarthy’s sur- vey-No. “GO”, thence crossing Silver Creek and thence to Wither’s line. This deed was witnessed by Joshua Sanders, John Shockley, Sam Martin and William Critchfield. Also in Bracken County, on April 1, 1801, which would be about the time of the death of Captain Harrod, he trans- 306 Indiana Genealogy

ferred to John Mannon in concert with Ann Harrod, the widow and executor of the estate of James Harrod, for the sum of 500 dollars, a tract in Hardin County, Kentucky, which was the 1000 acres that he had previously in 1792, transferred to Captain James Harrod in exchange for 1000 acres in the grant. Captain William Harrod died in Mason, now Bracken County, Kentucky, at the home of his son William Harrod, Jr., on October 9,1801. The records of the settlement of his estate, as well as all other records, personal or otherwise of Captain William Harrod, which should be in Bracken County, Ken- tucky, have disappeared. This even includes the records of the Sharon Baptist Church where he is buried. However, it is possible, through indirect records (those of his sister Rachel Newland), and through the deeds in Clark County, Indiana, to find some small information relating to his affairs. There is no record of a will, although there probably was one. The executor of his estate was his son-in-law, Isaac Meranda, who was the husband of his daughter Rachel. It has been learned from the signatures on deeds in Clark County, that Captain William Harrod left three sons, Samuel, William Jr., and James. He also left the daughter, Rachel Meranda, wife of Isaac Meranda. James Harrod died about 1814, evidently leaving no heir, as no person signed as such any legal paper after he, himself, ceased to sign such papers in that year. Samuel Harrod also died about this time, but his sons, William and Henry, and his daughters, Catherine Taffe, Sarah Bottorf, and Mary Reed, with their husbands, signed as his heirs. William Harrod con- tinued to sign deeds as the heir of Samuel Harrod, his father, until 1848.