John Harrod Jr. and Rachel Shepherd

  

MAJOR JOHN HARROD JR. (5944). (John Harrod had two sons by his first wife, John and Thomas. Source Draper Manuscripts 37J169-174. She was killed by Indians per Rachel Henton's book which reads, "John Harrod, great grandfather to Rachel Henton on her mother's side, came from England to America some years before the American Revolution . . . his wife was killed by Indians . . . he married again and had children by his second wife but where he lived afterwards or what became of him is not known now.")103 104    

John Harrod Jr. was born between 1727 and 1736 (John Herrod, son of John Harwood, is mentioned  by his death record in the Henton note book to have been born in 1736. This would suggest he was the first born son of the second marriage of John Harrod and Sarah Moore which is contradicted by other records. Swainson’s article in the Filson Club Quarterly says John was a son of John Harrod's first wife and cites Draper Mss as the source. I think the later is more likely correct. The Tenmile Country says he was born in Chester Co., Pennsylvania about 1734 as does the Bedford Co., Pennsylvania Archives Vol. 3. The Appalachian Frontier says “He settled in New Jersey across the Delaware River and a little later south of Philadelphia. There, his (John Harrod Sr) first two sons were born Thomas in 1724 and John, Jr., in 1727. Audrey Merriman says he was born 1727 on the Shenandoah in the valley of Virginia. American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania says John Harrod was born 1736. 105    

His first known record of military service was in 1753 Frederick Co., Maryland (He was in the French & Indian Wars, was captured and taken to Ft. Pitt. Member, Pennsylvania Light Horse Regt. per Bouquet Papers, 21644, vol. 2, p. 182; same, 21655, p. 103 as reported in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania Archives Vol. 3 106    

Audrey Merriman says he served as a volunteer in an expedition under Lt. Col. George Washington in 1754 but he had been a private in the Militia in Maryland before this. He served at Wills Creek, Forks of the Ohio, & was severely wounded & received a pension granted him by the Virginia House of Burgesses.  107    

He and JOHN COOMBS (3323) executed a deed on 3 Jul 1758 Shenandoah River, Frederick Co., Virginia (Frederick Co., Virgina deeds V. 1 p. 166 (Bk. 4, page 369 of the original deed book) Lease between John Harrold Jun. of Frederick County to John Combs of said county, 5 shillings, land on the south side of Shenandoah River, the same land purchased by said John Harrold Jun. from Aaron Harrold by deed of L & R in County Court of Frederick, corner to James Harrold's land, 78 acres. Signed John Harrell [sic] Witnessed by Hugh West, Jno. Lindsey Jun., James Wood Jun..108  Note: His name was misspelled several times in that deed.

He married RACHEL SHEPHERD (5945) on 5 Aug 1758 Germantown, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania.(Harrod Family Genealogy,  page 117 "John Harrod & Rachel Sheperd was married August 5th 1758" Added in different handwriting is "in Pennsylvania near Germantown, Philadelphia Co., and raised all their family at that place." Philadelphia is scratched out and "Fayette" written in. Fayette wasn't formed until 1783. Source: Rachel Henton's book. This conflicts with the statement made by William Harrod, son of John Jr., and Rachel Harrod, in his application for a pension. He said he "believed he was born in Berkeley County, Virginia on 26 Sept. 1764. . . that he was a resident of Bedford County, Pa." when he entered service in 1780. Note that he gave his birth date as 26 Sept. 1764, but it appears in Rachel Henton's book as Dec. 21. 1765. Audrey Merriman says “He married and brought his wife home to live with his stepmother, Sarah. He always remained on his father's plantation but his stepmother moved on with James to Ten Mile Creek. He had one known son, Thomas Harrod.”109    

In about 1768 he moved to Little Cove, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania.(Hereward Records and Papers, page 322.” Moved to Bedford County after the French and Indian War per Scioto Gazette West Reserve Hist. So. Cleveland, Ohio V. IV p. 156.”)110    

He paid taxes between 1768 and 1771 in Ayr Twp., Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania. (Hereward Records and Papers, “page 211. John Herrod paid taxes on 50 acres. He probably lived on his deceased father's land in Ayr Twp., Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania by 1767-8.111   

He and Capt. Evan Shelby Jr. witnessed a will in 1770 Ayr Twp., Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania.(Helynn Carrier “John Harrod and Evan Shelby witnessed the will of James Ballo, per Carlisle, Book A P Wills, p. 131” and American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania “p. 96 “In 1770, the will of James Balls was dated and probated, naming a grandson Jonathan Shelby, a daughter Elizabeth and the witnesses Wm. John, Evan Shelby, John Harrod, Ayr Township.”).112    

He paid taxes again in 1774 in Little Cove, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.(Hereward Records, p. 266)113    

He entered military service again on 9 Nov 1776 Pennsylvania.(Hereward Records and Papers, p. 253 pages 253. He was commissioned Quatermaster sergeant under the command of Lt. Evenezer Stevens. Source: Penna. Mag. Hist. & Bio. Vol. 24; Tenmile Country, p. 247 As a major in the Revolution he was captured when serving in Col. Parker's Regiment under Baron DeKalb. He was taken to Canada but after returning, his injuries made him unable to do further service and he retired to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. 114    

He paid taxes again in  1779 Ayr Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania. (Bedford Co., Pennsylvania 1779-1784 (p. 18 He was listed as John Herod. He had no land, 3 horses and 5 head of cattle)115    

He died on 28 Dec 1781 Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.116