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Archiver > PALANCAS > 1998-07 > 0900513254


From: "FRED J LAUVER" <>
Subject: Re: [PALANCAS-L] (no subject)
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 10:34:14 -0400


Elizabeth,

You will need to confirm your own family records, but my guess is that your
relatives were swayed by the donation land grants of the federal government
that applied to East Florida as of 1842 (this also was passed by Congress
in 1854 for the rest of Florida, as well as New Mexico, Oregon and
Washington). Any man over 18, or the head of a family, was entitled to 160
free acres in Florida if they took up permanent residence there. This was
done mainly to attract men who would protect the territory.

Of course, in a climate like Florida, yellow fever took many lives and that
would be my guess as to what could have quickly wiped that family you
mention. This, of course, does not rule out other possibilities, such as
smallpox. Maybe if you can find copies of old newspapers or historical
records from those years, you may find evidence of an epidemic.

Of course, I'm sure many people had regrets after getting their 160 acres
of who knows what (swamp land?). Now if someone today offered me 160 acres
of free land in Florida.........!

Hope this helps in pointing you in the right hypothetical direction.

Fred

----------
> From:
> To:
> Subject: [PALANCAS-L] (no subject)
> Date: Wednesday, July 15, 1998 12:05 AM
>
> Dear Fellow Searchers,
> I came across these relatives in a list. Does anyone know why the family
> would have left the PA & MD area where the majority of the family had
lived
> for almost 100 years and go to Florida. Also, was there any sort of
epidemic
> during that time period that you know of to have wiped out the whole
family
> within 3 months? Thanks in advance. Elizabeth
>
> Washington Harbaugh, born: January 6, 1821, died: July 31, 1852, in China
> Hill, FL.
> His wife: Mary Jane Bolter, born: March 10, 1825, married: December 13,
1847,
> died: June 6, 1852, in China Hill, FL. The entire family died within 3
months
> of each other, and all have markers at the Harbaugh Church Cemetery in
> Rouzerville, PA.
> Daughter Harbaugh, died as a small child in 1852, in China Hill, FL.
> Son Harbaugh, died as a small child in 1852, in China Hill, FL.
>
> Washington's parents were: George Harbaugh, born: March 17, 1774 in
Harbaugh
> Valley, Frederick County, MD, died: February 3, 1853, near Rouzerville,
> Washington Township, Franklin County, PA. He is buried in Waynesboro, PA,
and
> he was a founder of the German Reformed Church at Waynesboro.
> His wife: Anna M. Snyder, born: May 21, 1779, married January 2, 1801,
died,
> October 31, 1837. Father: Jacob Snyder Mother: unknown.
>
>
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