James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison DriveMSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Cara Lundgren
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Other Formats Available
The farm journal of William Mathias Harner has been transcribed and is in the first folder.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Marianne L. Garber Collection of Shenandoah Valley Documents, 1780-1899, SC 0138, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated to Special Collections in January 1995 by Marianne L. Garber of Timberville, Virginia. According to the donor, the journal was written by William Mathias Harner of McGaheysville, Virginia, born November 24, 1823 and married January 1852.
Processing Information
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3066.
Bio/Historical Note
William Harner was born to George and Margaret Harner on November 25, 1823. He was baptized at Peak Mountain Church on January 10, 1824. It is believed that the name Harner might have originally been Hares. He attended Peak Mountain Church, a Lutheran and Reform church all of his life. Harner was the youngest of eight children. He lived on his family's farm according to the 1850 United States census. This census places them in the 56 1/2 District in October 16, 1850.
Scope and Content
The Marianne L. Garber Collection of Shenandoah Valley Documents, 1780-1899, contains one journal written by William Mathias Harner from 1847-1861, eight legal and business documents dating from 1815- 1899, and ten land deeds and indentures dating from 1780-1887. The bulk of the documents are land deeds and miscellaneous legal and business documents for Rockingham and Shenandoah counties. Also included in the collection is a farm journal with one-line entries describing agricultural activities almost daily for most of the time period from August 1847 to May 1861.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged topically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Agriculture -- Virginia -- 19th century
- Debt -- Virginia
- Deeds
- Deeds -- Virginia -- Rockingham County
- Deeds -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County
- Farm life -- Virginia -- 19th century
- Farmers -- Virginia -- 19th century
- Fry family
- Harner, William Mathias, 1823-1904
- Homan family
- Indentured servants -- Virginia
- Indentures
- L. P. Henkel & Co.
- Land titles -- Registration and transfer -- Virginia -- Sources
- Land titles -- Virginia -- Sources
- Lee, Henry, 1756-1818 -- Autograph
- Legal documents
- Linhoss family
- Pence family
- Randolph, Beverley, 1754-1797 -- Autograph
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shirley, C., Major (Christian), 1835-1915
- Virginia -- Genealogy -- Sources
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Garber, Marianne L., 1927-2015
- Harner, William Mathias, 1823-1904
- Lee, Henry, 1756-1818 -- Autograph
- Randolph, Beverley, 1754-1797 -- Autograph
- Shirley, C., Major (Christian), 1835-1915
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Virginia -- Genealogy -- Sources
Container List
Includes transcript with biographical note and footnotes.
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Debt obligation of Philip and George Pence1815
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Deposition on behalf of Samuel and Rebecca Fry1854
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Letter from Major C. Shirley to "Dear Friend"1865 July 1Scope and Contents
probably a contemporary copy
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Purchase list, Fred Offman to Coffman Zirkle, New Market1877
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Purchase list, Daniel Shirley in acc't with L.P. Henkel Co.1877
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Debt obligation of John Linhoss to Charles K. Urner[?] for land1877
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Debt release of John Linhoss by W.P. Crickenberger1899
- Mixed Materials [1000886590] box: 1 folder: 2
Land resurvey for David Homanundated
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Richard Campfield, "A Copy from Record"1780
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
John Petner [Pitner], signed Beverley Randolph1787
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Henry Mave [Nave], signed by Henry Lee1793
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
John Barbara Pitner to John Nave1794
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Adam Liza Pitner to John Levich1796
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Michael Rachel Humble others to John Livy1801
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
John Homan others to David Homan1824
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Gideon Regina Pentz to Jonas Pentz1847
- Mixed Materials [1000898376] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Daniel Shirley to Joseph Roller1854