The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Modern upright V/A stone. Unclear if this is his burial site or a cenotaph.
SAR and DAR lugs mounted on the stone.
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
The cemetery is located on the south side of Bell factory Road, just west of Falcon Ridge Dr (Mikalea’s Way).
Author: John Fred Olive III
In 1738 Henry’s parents, Johan Philip Harless/Horlis/Herlass and Anna Margaretha Preiss/Preisch/Preyschin, had left Offenbach Pfalz Bavaria to sailed from Rotterdam at the mouth of the Rhine River in Holland to Philadelphia on a galley called Winter. On 5th September 1738 in Philadelphia, Philip made his oath of allegiance.
Johan Philip and Anna Margaretha Harless lived for several years in Lancaster, Pennsylvania before migrating to Virginia. They settled in the area now known as the German River Settlement of Virginia. Also settling in the same area were Augustine, Daniel, and Henry Price, brothers of Anna Margaretha (Preiss) Harless. Johan Philip Harless was one of the founders of St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1750. Many of the Harless and Preiss family members remained in this area.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War Henry was about 24 years old. He and his wife,Charity’s first child Mary was 5 years old.
In 1776 when Montgomery County, Virginia was created, one of the first Captains of the Militia was John Taylor. Henry served in Captain John Taylor's company of militia with his brothers and cousins: David Harless, Phillip Harless, Edmund Harless, Michael Price, and Michael Price, Jr. In 1779 Captain James Byrn replaced Captain Taylor. In 1782 Henry served in Captain James Byrn's Company, Montgomery County, Virginia Militia as a private. He joined his cousins: Mickel [sic] Price, Phillip Harless, and David Harless as well as members of the Wall family who married into the Harless families.
After the Revolution he served as a surveyor on the road from Michael Price's to Pepper's Ferry in 1790 and was appointed as an overseer of Wagon Road from Brown Ferry into Perry Ferry Road leading to Botetourt in 1793.
He was a member of Lutheran Church as was his parents and grandparents who were from Lutheran Church of Billigheim [Pfalz Bavaria] In 1801 Henry and his family was in Knox County, Tennessee with a large group of settlers which included the Ridenours, Silers, Wilsons, Frosts, and Walls. He owned land in the county and also recorded his marks for his hogs, cattle and horses in 1806. Most of the family stayed together and migrated into Mississippi Territory. Some of the family went to Ohio.
Henry and his family arrived in the Mississippi Territory by 1809 when records were filed at the Madison County Courthouse. Henry’s will was recorded on 16 May 1815 which means that he died sometime prior to that date. David Harless, his son, also died about the same time and both were buried on land owned by David.
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