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This shield was painted by Elizabeth Harlan Strickler
Early Harlan Ancestors
Almost all Harlans in America descend from one of three brothers, son of James who was born about 1625 in Bishoprick, Durham, England. The original Harlan name had a “d” on the end. George and Michael dropped the “d” after the moved to American. Thomas and many of his descendants did not.
James Harland, yeoman and member of the Episcopal Church, was born about 1625 in Durham, Bishoprick, England, and is the earliest paternal Harlan ancestor known to the family in America. He lived and died an Englishman, and was buried on English soil, no one today knows where. Tradition says that the name of his father was William. James was the father of three sons: Thomas who married Katherine Bullock and Alice Foster; George who married Elizabeth Duck and Michael who married Dinah Dixon.
Thomas Harland. Thomas Harland was born about 1648 in Durham, Bishoprick, England. He, like his brothers were part of the force immigration of English into Ireland. Thomas never left Ireland, dying there in Armagh, Ulster, Ireland in 1715, He is buried at Lurgan Meeting House, Armagh, Ireland. He married Katherine Bullock in 07 Apr 1680, in Parish Sego, Armagh, Ireland. Thomas and Katherine had five children, three of whom migrated to America after their uncles, George and Michael. Thomas married Alice Foster the second time on 08 Nov 1702 in Ireland. Thomas and Alice had James, Thomas and Abilgail.
George Harlan. George Harlan, yoeman and son of James Harland, was baptized at the Monastery of Monkwearmouth on January 11, 1650. He was born in Durham, Bishoprick, England and remained there until he reached manhood, when, when he and his brother, Michael, and others crossed into Ireland and located in the County of Down. While he resided there, he married Elizabeth Duck by ceremony of Friends on September 17, 1678. George brought his family to America in 1687. His first four children, Ezekiel, Hannah, Moses and Aaron, were born in Ireland. George had six other children after arriving in America, including his youngest son, Joshua, who is in our direct line of ancestors. George died July 1714 and was buried on “grounds of Alphonsus Kirk’s land” which became the Center Meeting Grounds in Pennsylvania. George soon became one of the foremost citizens of the colony. He had been one of the provincial governors of the “three lower counties,” now the state of Delaware, and was a member of the Colonial Assembly.
Michael Harlan. Michael Harlan, yoeman and Friend, was born in Durham, Bishoprick, England about 1660. He settled in County Downs, Ireland with his brother George and Thomas, and remained there until 1687 when he accompanied his brother, George, to America. In the early months of 1687, Michael along with his brother, George and George’s family, took a ship at Belfast for America. They bought land before coming which were within that part of the Province of Pennsylvania now embraced in the County of New Castle. Ascending the river Delaware, they landed in the town of New Castle (now in the State of Delaware) and settled in the present town of Centreville. Both Michael and his brother, George, changed their surname by dropping the “d” upon arriving in America. In 1690 he married Dinah Dixon, a daughter of Henry Dixon, and settled near the Senter Meeting House. Later he moved to London Grove Township where he died in June 1729 and was buried in Friend’s Burying Grounds. Michael and Dinah had eight children, including his oldest son, George, who is in our direct line of ancestors.
Children of Thomas Harland
With Katherine Bullock
- Ananias Harland born 1682 County Armagh, Ireland
- Rebecca Harland born 1683 Donnahling Parish, Down, Ulster, Ireland d. 1687 Pennsylvania
- Patience Harland born 1685 married James Alderice
- Christian Harland born 1687 Down, Ireland 1764 Pennsylvania married John Gibson
- Katherine Harland born 1689
With Alice Foster
- James Harland born 1703
- Thomas Harland born 1705 County Armagh, Ireland
- Abigail Harland born 1708
Children of George Harlan
- Ezekiel Harlan born 1679 died 1731 Weston Hanger, Kent, England, married first to Mary Bezer, married second to Ruth Buffington
- Hannah Harlan born 1681 Donnahlong, Co. Down, Ireland died aft. 1748 Chester Co., Pennsylvania, married Samuel Hollingsworth
- Moses Harlan born 1683 Ulster, Ireland died 10 Oct 1747, married Margaret Ray
- Aaron Harlan born 1685 Ulster, Ireland died 1732, married Sarah Heald
- Rebecca Harlan born 1688 New Castle Co., Delaware died 1775 Chester Co., Pennsylvania, married William Webb
- Deborah Harlan born 1690 William, Pennsylvania died 17 Aug 1775 Chester Co., Pennsylvania, married Joshue Calvert
- James Harlan born 1692 New Castle Co., Delaware died 1762 Frederick Co., Virginia, married Elizabeth Heald
- Elizabeth Harlan born 1694 New Castle Co., Delaware died 1712 Kennet, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, married Joseph Robinson
- Joshua Harlan born 1696 Pennsylvania died 1744 Kennett Square, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, married Mary Heald
Children of Michael Harlan
- George Harlan born 1690 New Castle Co., Pennsylvania died 1732 West Bradford, Chester Co., Pennsylvania married Mary Baily
- Abigail Harlan born 1692 Pennsylvania died 1784 New Garden, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania married Richard Flower
- Thomas Harlan born 1694 Delaware died 1745 Pennsylvania married Mary Carter
- Stephen Harlan born 1697 Delaware died 1732 married Hannah Carter
- Michael Harlan born 1699 Delaware died 1757 Pennsylvania married Hannah Maris
- Solomon Harlan born 1701 Pennsylvania died 1732 Chester Co., Pennsylvania
- James Harlan born 1703 Chester Co., Pennsylvania died 1774 Chester Co., Pennsylvania married Susanna Oborn
- Dinnah Harlan born 1707 Pennsylvania died 1763 married Thomas Gregg