Combing through Pennsylvania records is proving to be a bit difficult. First, I have no idea who thought up the indexing system for county land deeds, but it is extremely cumbersome given that indexes are not in straight alpha order and digital images take way longer to scroll through than a microfilm.
I can’t believe that I actually just said – indirectly – that I prefer microfilm, but I did!
Added to the indexing issues is the fact that I couldn’t find a single land deed for Larrisons in Pennsylvania, my main focus is the clue that it is thought that George Larrison, son of William who died in 1749, settled there.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey 1797
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
The Larrisons were mostly settled in New Jersey in the area in or near what became Hunterdon County. Because Hunterdon County borders Pennsylvania, migrating family members could actually have walked to Pennsylvania as it’s that close.
I am not one who like to admit defeat, but a distinct lack of Larrison records in Pennsylvania covering the middle portion of the 18th century might be a permanent brick wall linking the New Jerseyans with the Kentuckians, or even the Ohioans, where many later Larrisons settled.
New Jersey has the same dearth of easily accessible mid-18th century records as Pennsylvania. With the early federal censuses missing for New Jersey, there is a gaping hole.
As we leave New Jersey, we have John Larrison and his brother, George, each probably born in the 1710-1720 time period and named in the 1749 will of their father, William Larrison.
It is possible that this George is the same George Larrison who married Abigail Moone, probably c1737, had one child, Keziah, and all were named in the will of Abigail’s father, Dr. Jacob Moone.
For a while, I wondered if Keziah’s name tied her father to James and Keziah Parke’s family, but Keziah was an in-vogue name at the time and George himself had a sister Keziah who married (Henry?) Van Tilberg.
Here are the few crumbs I’ve found:
1. Jacob Larrison, born c1750 reportedly in Pennsylvania, served in the American Revolution. His widow, Joanna, was allowed a small “gratuity” for his service by the state.
The family lived in what became Lycoming County in 1795 after it was set off from Northumberland County and then Tioga County was set off from Lycoming in 1804.
In 1830, Theodore Larrison, aged 50-60 (born 1770-1780) was living next door to John Larrison, aged 20-30, in Tioga County. There is also a Jacob Larrison, aged 20-30, living in Jackson Township, like the other Larrisons. This Jacob married Elizabeth Grey according to the 1912 death certificate of their daughter, Anna Everett.
It seems likely that these Larrisons are all descendants of the Revolutionary War soldier, Jacob Larrison. Jacob is not a name found anywhere in the earlier Larrison lines and I have to wonder if Jacob is a son of George and Abigail (Moone) Larrison who was named for Abigail’s father.
In support of this theory, two men appear on the 1787 tax list for Muncy Creek, Northumberland County – Jacob Larrison and Peter Moon.
Next, it is important to understand county formation dates when looking at Washington County, Pennsylvania. Each of these counties was formed from the parent county. It means a lot of digging is required to locate potential records for families that might have lived in Washington County years before it was formed:
Lancaster, formed 14 October 1728
Cumberland, formed 27 January 1750
Bedford, formed 9 March 1771
Westmoreland, formed 26 February 1773
Washington, formed 28 March 1781
Greene, formed 9 February 1796
2. John Larrison, born no later than 1760 and possibly quite a bit earlier, appears on the 1781 tax list for Cumberland Valley Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. This man is not in Bedford County at the time of the 1790 census.
2A. Somewhat intriguing is a record for one Larrison Campbell who appears on the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion in Captain Robert Cluggage’s Company organized in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. This man served from 18 May 1776 to 18 July 1776.
3. John Larrison, born no later than 1760 and possibly quite a bit earlier, appears on the 1781 tax list for Washington County, Pennsylvania, which makes him eligible for patriotic service during the American Revolution. However, Washington County formed in 1781 from part of Westmoreland. Therefore, it appears that this John is not the same man as John above. He also appears on the Washington County tax lists in 1782 and 1785 and in the 1790 census. At that time, there was one man over 16, three males under 16 and two females. One of the females is said to be Nancy Larrison who married William Gibson and removed to Guernsey County, Ohio. John Larrison died after 14 July 1804, according to the DAR Patriot Index.
John Larrison (born no later than 1755) also appears in Washington County in 1800 with one male 45+, one female 26-44, three males 16-25, one male under 10 and three females under 10.
4. Phillip Catchem (Ketcham) was also living in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1790. There was one male over 16, one male under 16 and two females at home. Phillip is a name found in the Ketcham family as early as the 1660s.
5. William Maple is a third FAN club member living in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1790. There was one male over 16, one male under 16 and two females in the household. This man married (1) Keziah Larrison, daughter of George and Abigail (Moone) Larrison. He is said to have died in Jefferson County, Ohio before August 1813. His second wife was Annie Moore.
Hello Linda,
I just found your site and it will take much more time to take in all the info you have posted on the Larison family. I descend from Samuel Larrison who married Julianna Souder(s) from Philadelphia, PA. This couple is my brick wall. The very interesting thing is that after Samuel died in 1845 at the age of 46, his wife is still in Philadelphia in 1850 with her children, but by 1860 she has moved the family to Lycoming County, PA. There are other Larison’s in that county but I have not been able to make any connections to them or to the New Jersey Larison tree. One of Samuel’s sons lists his father’s birthplace as New Jersey, others as Pennsylvania. If you run across any information on the above I would greatly appreciate learning any new info you may find. I think I have found Samuel’s possible siblings in Philadelphia, but again, no concrete proof.
I have “translated” Cornelius Larison’s book about John the Dane Descendants into modern English and am doing the final editing for the print copy, the e-book is already done, but I am struggling to get the format correct in the printed version. I was hopeful to discover a connection here, but so far no luck. After I get the book edited and published, I intend to take all of his information and put it onto a tree and may discover more after doing that.
If you do run across information on the Philadelphia Larison’s or more on the Lycoming area, I would love to have it. Thank you.
Hi Linda! I recently discovered your site and I’m fascinated, especially regarding the Larison family. I have been working on their history since the 1980’s. Although the internet has of course helped a great deal I am still hitting a brick wall beyond my GGG Grandfather James Larison born 1795 died 1850. In 1821 he married Elizabeth Merredith in Indiana. Most sources say he was born in Pennsylvania. He moved to Cincinnati and after marriage he lived a time in Indiana and Riley, Butler Ohio. Later he moved to Iowa and finally California where he died while gold mining. Your post above is very helpful. If you know of any other information, I would very much appreciate the help.
I made a mistake (that’s what I get for going on memory). John Larison is not the John son of Roger, he was born 1795. There were two John Larison’s in Washington co. Pa. in the period and both had daughters named Nancy. John and Elizabeth Kice were married 1780 (Wikitree), the Nancy who married William Gibson was born circa 1773 so so John and Elizabeth’s daughter was the Nancy b.1789 and married John Ramsey also of Washington co.. It’s impossible to tell who their father’s were or even if they were related. The John son of George Larison married Racheal Stewart and died in Missouri. (although that may be in error as his wife d.1837 Ky.). She was born circa 1778 and could have married 1800, the known birthdates for their children were between 1805 and 1831, all born in Ky. That’s a problem because John died in Morgan Ohio. The John who married Mary Pelton didn’t have children. Jonathon son of David, son of James Larison and Keziak Parke was in Ohio like his brothers but was b.1781. The John who married Elizabeth Kice d.1833,,Ohio. There appears to be a 1800 marriage record for him in Morgan, Ohio so he may have married twice. It’s a long shot but Elizabeth Kice could be a 1st wife
I’ve looked at this more closely and there is a good deal of confusion, maybe I can finally clear it up. I cannot find where in Washington co. Nancy Larrison Gibson was born or married but the John Larsion you have as her father who was b.1755 and d.1804 was in Amwell Township where Nancy Larrison Ramsey was born per Wikitree although they have removed her last name because of the confusion. (I saw a period newspaper article which said John Ramsey’s wife was a descendant of Johh Larrison the Dane but I can’t find it). Since John Ramsey was from Cross Creek just north of Amwell I presume this is correct. John b.1755 is almost certainly George Larison’s son but which Nancy was he the father of? The John who married Elizebeth Kice was married in Westmoreland Pa. in 1774 and was in Morgan co. Ohio by 1800. If Nancy Gibson was b.1772/3 then he could not be her father. Find a Grave has her obituary which says she was born Feb. 23,1772. You’re right! No, wait!. Her headstone says Feb,23,1776 which they accept. She moved to Guernsey co., Ohio which is the county above Morgan, both are small counties so John and Elizabeth lived close to Nancy no matter whose daughter she was. If her headstone is correct her father was the John who married Elizabeth Kice and Nancy Ramsey’s father was the John b.1755, died 1804, Washington. Pa. and my gg grandmother’s son William Ramsey and her daughter in-law who was William Maple’s g granddaughter, were closely related and my grandmother looked it!
I wish you had a delete function, I’ve been thinking out loud in your response section which I shouldn’t have but one more time. The John in the 1790 census WAS Nancy Gibson’s father. He couldn’t have been the brother of George as his children were born in the 1770’s and 80’s. Besides Nancy Gibson who was in Guernsey co. Ohio her brother’s in the 1790 census were likely John b. 1774, died 1831 Morgan co. Ohio and James Monroe Larrison born 1783, Washington co. PA. d.1833 Muskingum, co. Ohio. The Ohio counties are next to each other. In his 1828 will John b.1774 mentions the settlement of a law suit against James Garrison (common variation) of Muskingum. He sued his brother and called him Garrison, typical of the Larrison’s. The John Larrison in the 1800 Washington co. census was Nancy Ramsey’s father, she is one of the tree girls under 10 (although she was 11). He died in Washington co. in 1804. William Maple who married Georges’s daughter Keziah was in Washington with his brother in-law John b.1755 and then in Jefferson co. Ohio with his wife’s 1st cousin Henry Tilburg. who was the son of George’s sister Keziah. I have seen unconfirmed references to a John Larrison who died in Morgan in 1800, possibly the John of the 1790 census. A John Larrison was married in Westmoreland co. Pa. in 1774, he could have been either John but I suspect the one b.1755 as the other already had a daughter b. 1772 (or 76) and a son b. 1774. John b.1755 was almost certainly the brother of Jacob and Keziah, children of George and Abigail Moon. The John who was Nancy Gibson’s father could have been a nephew of George who had several brothers whose families are unknown. He seems to have been an affluent man as he owed 200 acres. There was also Theodore Larrison b. 1770-80 in the same county as Jacob. He was the son of Roger whose sister in-law was an in-law of the Maple’s but his brother John b. 1737 married Mary Pelton and d. 1805 N.J. Two Nancy Larrison’s in Washington, PA. both with father’s named John. Am I right this time?