Michael Ernst (Hörner) Harness, Sr. and his wife, Maria Elisabetha Dieffenbach had 13 children. Here is what we know about them:

(1) Michael Harness, Jr. (Born about 1725 in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, and killed in Indian raid August 20, 1763 in Hampshire County, VA) He was married to Catherine Westfall.

Michael Harness, Jr. was killed by Indians in 1763 in Welton’s Meadow on Loony’s Creek in colonial Hampshire County, VA. Family tradition says that Michael was interred in the family cemetery on a hill just above Fort Harness, but no trace of that cemetery has ever been found. Michael’s widow, Catherine Westfall, later married Abraham Kuykendall.

According to Terry Gruber, a Hampshire County historian, the Indian raid that resulted in the death of Michael Harness, Jr. was one of a series of Indian raids that took place in colonial Hampshire County, VA during Pontiac's War of 1763-64. After the French surrendered to the British in 1763, a series of strong, semi-coordinated attacks broke out on the Ohio frontier at the instigation of the Ottawa chief, Pontiac.

In spite of the fact that there were no reporters present, Indian raids occurring in Virginia were frequently reported in Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. The following report concerning the death of Michael Harness, Jr. and others during the Indian raid is from from the October 16, 1763 edition of that newspaper.

WILLIAMSBURGH, September 16, 1763

An express arrived in town yesterday, with letters to his Honour the Governor from Col. Stephen, by which we have the following advices, viz. That a Party of Indians attacked 6 men in Weltonmeadow, on Loonycreek, the 20th of August, about XI at night; when they killed Michael Harness and Jonathan Welton, wounded Joab Welton, and took one Delea Prisoner. The Indian that wounded Joab Welton was upon the point of repeating the stroke with the tomahawk, and killing him, when the savage was shot by one Delea, brother to the prisoner of that name; on his discharging his piece, he was attacked by several Indians at once; the first that made up to him he knocked down with his gun, but the savages wresting it out of his hand, he knocked down another with a tomahawk, which he carried under his belt. By this time the Indians had jostled him to the place where his brother lay tied; upon seeing him taken prisoner, he immediately dropt all thoughts of further resistance, and gave himself up, expecting likewise to be taken prisoner; but they hurried him away to the Indian that was shot, tomahawked him, scalped him, and wounded him with a knife, leaving him for dead, but the poor man crawled to some hay, and covered himself up, where he was found next morning perfectly in his senses, told the whole affair circumstantially, and lived two days afterwards. On receiving this intelligence, Col. Stephen ordered Major Wilson and Captain Collins of the Hampshire militia to raise two companies of voluntiers, and pursue the enemy, as soon as they could possibly provide themselves with Provisions. Major Wilson took the rout of Loonycreek; and Capt. Collins being ordered to reconnoiter the head branches of Pattersoncreek, he fell in with the Majorparty at the foot of the Allegheny mountains. After communicating intelligence, they thought it advisable to pursue the Indians over the mountains; accordingly, on the 30th of August, after a pursuit of 120 miles, over as rugged mountains as can be found, they came up with them on a branch of the Monongahela. Being on fresh tracks in the evening, Major Wilson was certain that their encampment was at no great distance; he therefore detached parties different ways in the night, to listen for horse bells, or see if they could discover fire: the noise of the bells directed them to the encampment, and before day they had crept within 30 paces of the enemy, and surrounded them. The orders were not to fire until it was light enough to see all the births where the Indians lay; but a big fellow rising to make up the fire, one of the party fired at him a little too soon, which brought on the engagement. This is to be attributed to the young mans eagerness to revenge the death of his father, who had been killed and scalped by the savages. Major Wilson, however, routed the party, took 3 Indian scalps, wounded many more, and took 11 rifles and 2 smooth barrel guns from them, with all their war equipage, and retook a number of horses. They likewise released Delea the prisoner, and got back the three scalps taken in Welton Meadow.

(2) Elizabeth Harness (born about 1727 in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, died about 1804 in Hardy County, WVA). She married Phillip Powell Yocum. She came with her family from Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA by wagon train to the South Branch of the Potomoc river. Improbable though it may be, family legend says that Elizabeth, then about 13 years old, marched in front of the first wagon most of the way with tomahawk in hand, thus, according to some sources, becoming the first white woman to set foot in that part of Virginia (which later became West Virginia).

(3) Conrad Harness (born about 1728 in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, and died in about 1757 in Hampshire County, VA) Some early family researchers believe that Conrad was married to Mary Molly Yocum, but no firm verification of that has been found.

Family legend also has it that Conrad Harness , his wife and infant daughter were killed by Indians in Welton’s Meadow on Loony’s Creek in Hardy County WVA, in 1757 while returning from a wedding they had attended. The infant daughter of Conrad’s brother, Leonard Harness, who was reportedly visiting the Conrad Harness family at the time, was also said to have been killed in that Indian attack, according to family legend.

(4) Barbara Harness (born about 1732 in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, died about 1820 , perhaps in Randolph County, WVA). She married Michael See.

(5) John Harness (born about 1735 or perhaps somewhat later in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, and died about1810 in Hardy County, WVA) He married Eunice Petty.

John Harness served in the Revolutionary War. He commanded a company of Hampshire County, VA., militia. He was also a Revolutionary War non-military patriot, providing beef from his farm for the military.

Captain John Harness is listed in lineage books of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Volume 117, page 177, and Volume 125, page 49.

Unverified reports from various sources say that John Harness was involved in some of the eary skirmishes with Indians in the Ohio River valley that led up to Dunmore’s War in 1773 and 1774. According to these accounts Harness at the time was a member of Captain Michael Cresap’s company of frontiersman who staged several raids against Indians who were hostile to the white settlement of the Ohio River Valley. The goal was to clear out the problem Indians and mark and improve the trail west, so westward development could proceed more safely.

An anecdote found in “A History of the Valley of Virginia” by Samuel Kercheval, published first in 1830 tells about John Harness’ reported involvement in one of these early skirmishes with a party of Indians.

According to the anecdote in the Kercheval book when Captain Cresap’s company of frontiersman arrived on the near bank of the Muskingum river and lay in wait....”an Indian on the opposite shore got behind a log or old tree, and lifted up his head occasionally to look at the white man’s encampment on the other side. One of Captain Cresap’s men, of the name of John Harness, seeing this, loaded his rifle with two balls and placing himself on the bank of the river, watched the opportunity when the Indian raised his head and, firing at the same instant, put both balls through the Indian’s neck, and laid him dead.”

John Harness later led his own militia company.

Family legend has it that John Harness was among those present at the peace ceremony with Shawnee Chief Cornstalk near Chillicothe, Ohio on October 26, 1774 that brought an end to Dunmore’s War.

John Harness was also a Revolutionary War non-military patriot. A manuscript in the Virginia State Library at Richmond, copied by Anne Waller Reddy, names persons who furnished supplies under the Commissioner of Provision Law, the supplies to be applied to Continental purposes. The list indicates that John Harness furnished beef to the military.

NOTE: An index of abstracts of Patents and Grants in Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell and Randolph Counties, Virginia indicates that John Harness on September 3, 1789 acquired 166 acres in Russell County, and several parcels of land in Randolph County dated August, 1796 amounting to a total of 1,087 acres, and an additional 107 acres dated December 26, 1800.

(6) Adam Harness (born about 1737 in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, and died in 1758 or 1759 in Hampshire County, VA) Wife is unknown. It is recorded in several historical records that Adam was killed by Indians.

(7) Jacob Harness (born sometime between 1734-1739, most likely in Tulpehocken Creek Settlement, PA, and died in late 1758 or 1759). Wife’s name is unknown. He was the first of Michael and Elizabeth’s children to bear the name, Jacob.

Helen Yocum Black, an early recorder of Harness family history, says that Jacob “died from bleeding at the town where he married.” It is not known what town that was or what the name of the woman he married may have been.

Helen Black’s reference to “bleeding” is believed to refer to a rather common medical practice in the 18th century, in Europe as well as the Colonies. Sick people were often bled with leeches or other means in hopes of helping cure them of whatever malady they had, especially high fevers. Sometimes the practice backfired, and the patient died.

(8) Leonard Harness ( believed to have been born about 1738 in Frederick County, VA, and died about 1808 in St. Clair, Illinois) was a farmer. He was married to Rachel Catherine Heath.

Leonard was a Ranger in the Virginia Militia in 1775. He served as a member of Stephen Ashby’s Company of Rangers, according to Militia Service payroll records housed at the Virginia State Library in Richmond, VA.

Family tradition has it that Leonard and Rachael's infant daughter was killed by Indians in 1763 while she was visiting Leonard's brother Conrad's family at their nearby home. The entire Conrad Harness family was also said to have been killed.

Leonard and his family eventually left Virginia for the Illinois Country of Virginia which later became the state of Illlinois. Leonard and his family were among the early settlers in that area. He claimed land in the Mississippi river bottom in St. Clair County (now Monroe County, Illinois). Leonard also served in the Illinois Militia Service.

(9) Dorothy Harness (born about 1741 in Frederick County, VA, and died about 1796 in Bourbon County, Kentucky). She married Samuel Hornbeck.

(10) Peter Harness (born abt 1742 in Frederick County, VA, died in 1824 or 1825 in Fayette County, Ohio). His wife was Susan Vause. His will was probated Feb. 21, 1825 in Fayette County, Ohio. However, a fire in 1828 destroyed many of the county’s records, including Peter’s will, according to the Fayette County Records and Archives Center.

(11) George Harness (born about 1743 in Hampshire County, VA, and died about 1823 in Hardy County, WVA). He was married to Elizabeth Yoakum. George Harness was a Revolutionary War non-military patriot. In a manuscript found in the Virginia State Library at Richmond, and copied by Anne Waller Reddy, are the names of persons who furnished supplies under the Commissioners of Provisioners Law, the supplies to be applied to Continental purposes. George Harness is on the list for furnishing beef.

(12) Margaretha Harness (born about 1749 in Frederick County, VA, and died about 1827 in Bath County, Kentucky). She married Andrew Trumbo.

(13) Jacob Harness ( probably born about 1758 in Hampshire County, VA, death date unknown) was the second son of Michael and Elizabeth to bear the name Jacob. He was married to Eunice Petty, a niece of brother John’s wife by the same name. Jacob Harness was a Revolutionary War non-military patriot. In a manuscript in the Virginia State Library at Richmond, copied by Anne Waller Reddy, are the names of persons who furnished supplies under the Commissioners of Provision Law, the supplies to be applied to Continental purposes. Jacob Harness is listed as providing for wagon hire for the United States.