History of George Harlan

George Harlan ye sone of James Harlan of Monkwearmouth was baptized at Monkwearmouth (Co. Durham) in old England ye 11th day of I Mo. 1650. "Michael Harlan came from the north of Ireland with his Brother George, about the year 1687 and ye beginning of the year 1690 he married Dinah ye Daughter of Henry Dixon and Settled first Near ye Center Meeting house in Christiana Hundred & County of New Castle on Delaware and afterwards removed into Kennett in Chester County, where they lived Many years."-Records of Kennett or Newark Mo. Mtg.        George Harland, of Donnahlong Parish, Co, Down, Ireland, son of James Harlan, was born "nigh Durham in Bishoprick," England, and was married 2 Mo. 7, 1680, at the house of Francis Robson, Parish of Sego, Co.  Armagh, Ireland, to Katharine, daughter of George Bullock, of Lurgan.  Among signers to marriage certificate were: Isabella Harland, Elizabeth Kirk, Deborah Kirk, Roger Kirk, George Harland, Timothy, Alphonsus and Robert Kirk.       

The wife Katherine Harland died 3 Mo., 1690 and Thomas was  married again, 11 Mo. 8, 1702-3. To Alice Foster, of Lisnegarvy.       

George Harlan settled at first about where the village of Centreville, New Castle Co., Delaware, now is, and the early meeting was held at his home. Later he removed farther up Brandywine Creek, and purchased 474 acres of land in Kennett, now Pennsbury, Township, and Chester County. While living here he had for his neighbors over the creek, in a great bend, a settlement of Indians. After they had gone away he obtained, in 1701, a warrant for 200 acres of land in the bend of the creek, granted " in regard of the great trouble and charge he has bore in fencing and maintaining the same for the said Indians while living thereon" He died in 1714, and was buried by the side of his wife at Centre Meeting House.       

In his will, dated 2 Mo. 21, 1714, probated 8 Mo. 2, 1714, George Harland mentions his brother Michael Harlan, his servant Mary Mathews, and directs that his body be interred in the new burying ground on Alphonsus Kirk's land--History of Chester Co., p 587: Chester County Wills.       

"George Harland (County Down, in 1680) had taken from him for Tithe, by Daniel Mac Connell ... twelve stokes and a half of Oats, three stooks and half of Barley, and five loads of Hey, all worth ten shillings ten pence." J-William Stockdale's A GREAT CRY OF OPPRESSION.       

Children of George and Elizabeth HARLAN:

1. Ezekiel, b. 7 Mo, 16, 1679, M. (1) Mary Bezer and (2) Ruth Ruffington;
2. Hannah, b. 2 Mo 4, 1681, M. Samuel Hollingsworth, in 1701;
3. Moses, b. 12 Mo. 20, 1683/4, M. 1712, Margaret Ray, a native of Lurgan, Ireland, and made a final settlement in Menallen Township, now Adams County;
4. Aaron, b. 10 Mo. 24, 1685, M.  Sarah Heald, in 1713/14;
5. Rebecca, b. 8 Mo. 17, 1688, d. 8 Mo. 17, 1775, m. William Webb, I Mo. 22, 1709/10;
6. Deborah, b. 8 Mo. 28, 1690, M. Joshua Calvert, in 1710;
7. James, b. 8 Mo. 19, 1692, M. Elizabeth in 1716;
8. Elizaeth, b. 8 Mo. 9, 1694, M. Joseph Robinson, in 1713;
9. Joshua, b. 11 Mo. 15, 1696/7, M. Mary Heald, in 1719.

Mrs. Ida Saxton McKinley, widow of the late William Mckinley, President of the United States, is a descendant of George Harlan.