SOMGEN-L Archives

From: Linda Marker <>
Subject: [SOMGEN] HUSBAND surname
Date: Sun, 06 Jan 2002 10:04:01 -0500
References: <200201061212.g06CCt930662@lists5.rootsweb.com>

"We learn from Harmon Husband's records of his first journey into what is now Somerset
County, in June 1771, that there were just a few widely scattered hunter's cabins in
the locality where Somerset is now situated. Harmon Husband was a native of Cecil
County, Maryland. He was a Quaker and did not believe in carrying a rifle for
protection. Early in life he went to live in the province of North Carolina. There he
was a man of influence and a leader of the people who opposed the tyranny of King
George III of England. He did not advise armed resistance, but he was so conspicuous
that he was forced to flee to save his life, after the liberty-loving people lost the
Battle of Alamance. He evaded his pursuers by mounting his faithful old "Tom" horse
and crossing Virginia to his old home in Cecil County, Maryland. He was glad to see
his old friends again, but he still did not feel safe from pursuit. His friends
advised him to find his young friend, Isaac Cox, who was now a noted hunter and trapper
west of the Allegheny Mountain in the province of Pennsylvania. He changed his name to
Toscape Death, mounted "Old Tom," and set out to find Isaac Cox. After reaching
Cumberland, Maryland he followed the Braddock Road for several miles towards the
northwest. Then he left the road and struck into the wilderness. He made his way to
Philip Wagerline's cabin in the Stony Creek Glades, now Brothersvalley Township. After
resting a day here he resumed his journey towards the northwest. The second day after
leaving Wagerline's cabin he saw some dead trees at a distance toward the north. He
made his way to this spot and found that the trees had been killed by girdling them.
The ground under these trees was dug up and planted with potatoes. Near the potato
patch was a small cabin roofed with bark and grass. Harmon Husband was very tired and
hungry. He soon released "OLd Tom" and sat down to await the arrival of the owner of
the cabin. Darkness was rapidly approaching with a thunder-storm; so Husband decided
to enter the cabin. He succeeded in opening the door and getting his baggage into the
cabin just as the rain began to fall. He spent the night alone. In the morning he
discovered that this could not be Isaac Cox's cabin. But it was a pleasure for him to
see a number of venison hams hanging from the ridge pole of the cabin. William Sparks,
the owner of the cabin, returned from Isaac Cox's cabin about noon and was surprised
to find a guest in his home. He welcomed Husband and told him where to find Isaac
Cox. Husband soon found his old friend and informed him of the trouble in North
Carolina and of his unexpected appearance. A few months later Husband bought William
Spark's improvement including the potato patch. In September and October he sowed the
first wheat and rye that was grown in that locality. This farm was west of the present
borough of Somerset..... In the spring of 1772, Harmon Husband brought his wife and
children into the wilderness. This was the first family in the settlement."
pp 68-9 of The Somerset County Outline with Supplement, by John C. Cassidy. 1932

More notes on the family:
http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1703689&id=I78385086

This thread:

• [SOMGEN] HUSBAND surname by Linda Marker <>