Lieutenant Alexander HarrowAge: 561755–1811
- Name
- Lieutenant Alexander Harrow
- Name prefix
- Lieutenant
- Given names
- Alexander
- Surname
- Harrow
Birth | 1755 26 Source: John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: Alexander Harrow was born at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1755. |
Baptism | November 8, 1755 Publication: 1908 Citation details: p. 190 Text: Harrow, John, lax fisher upon Dee watter in the Parish of Old Machar, and Elspit Harrow, his spouse: son Allexr.
Witnesses: Dr. Allexr. Brebner; Allexr. Burnet, malster |
Military | British Naval officer between 1775 and 1776 (Age 20) Source: John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: Alexander Harrow was born at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1755. The opening of the Revolution found him in Canada where, being familiar with shipping from youth, he entered the naval department and served as lieutenant of a company of seamen in the defense of Quebec during the winter of 1775-76. In the spring of 1777 he came to the upper lakes as lieutenant in the naval service, returning to Quebec in the autumn. |
Military | Lieutenant and commander, British Navy July 7, 1779 (Age 24) |
Military | July 27, 1781 (Age 26) Note: In command of the "Angelica" |
Military | Commander of the "Welcome" 1783 (Age 28) Source: John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: On July 7, 1779, he was made lieutenant and commander in the naval establishment of the upper lakes, in which he served for many years, being commander for a number of years of the sloop Welcome. ... The log book of the Welcome, kept by him for several of these years, is now preserved in the Burton Hist. Coll. |
Misc | ransomed Catherine or Kitty Edelmont from Indians 1786 (Age 31)Citation details: The Algonac Courier Date of entry in original source: August 1, 1924 Publication: Chicago: A. T. Andreas & Co., 1883. Citation details: p. 253 Text: Capt. Alexander Harrow, a young adventurer, located himself on the river a little below Capt. Cottrell's. He was unmarried, and, fortunately for him, there was among the Indians in the neighborhood a captive white girl, whom they had stolen from her parents in Kentucky. She was only fifteen, intelligent and handsome. Young Harrow offered the Indians a barrell of rum for their captive. The offer was accepted and she became Mrs. Harrow after the manner of wedlock in those regions at that time. After raising a family of children, they were married in the form that civilization requires. The family were quite respectable, and many of them are still living. |
Religion | Church of England 1786 (Age 31) |
Birth of a son #1 | John Harrow 1794 (Age 39) Source: 1870 census Citation details: Algonac, St. Clair County, Michigan Text: Harrow, John 76 Farmer Michigan
Eliza 51 Ireland
Elizabeth 11 Michigan Note: 1860 census list's John's age as 64. |
Event | Battle of Fallen Timbers August 20, 1794 (Age 39)Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: In 1794 Harrow was in charge of several cannons at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, where Grant's friend Tecumseh, the Great Indian Chief fell with his dreams of an Indian Federation. |
Property | American side of St. Clair River September 1794 (Age 39) Source: John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: In August, 1794, Harrow witnessed, as an observer, the Battle of Fallen Timbers, having charge with a group of his sailors, of two cannon in the British Fort Miamis, near which the battle was fought. Shortly after this Harrow acquired an extensive tract of land on the American shore of the St. Clair River, having a frontage of two and one-half miles and a depth almost three times as great. Here he settled and proceeded to develop an estate. Although the American government subsequently refused to validate the title to much of this land, he retained a portion of it and lived on it until his death in January, 1811. |
Residence | "Newburgh" 1795 (Age 40)Address: 9780 River Rd.
Algonac, Michigan Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: Harrow was awarded land on the Canadian side of the river by a grateful government but he settled around Algonac on land bought from one of the Macombs. There he enlarged and built a big house, called Newburgh, from his boyhood home, and ran a prosperous distillery.
...At his Algonac home he entertained both General Mad Anthony Wayne, the hero of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and Colonel Hamtramck. |
Military | resigned as Naval Officer 1796 (Age 41) |
Property | 640 acres before July 1796 (Age 41)Publication: Chicago: A. T. Andreas & Co., 1883. Citation details: p. 222 Text: Alexander Harrow claimed 640 acres, fronting on the St. Clair River, between the lands of Toussant Chovin and James Harrow, proved by Col George Cotterall to be in Harrow's possession prior to July, 1796. |
Occupation | operated distillery after 1796 (Age 41)Citation details: Grosse Pointe News, August 2, 1962 Note: Built brick building to house distillery. |
Property | 320 acres 1797 (Age 42)Publication: Chicago: A. T. Andreas & Co., 1883. Citation details: p. 222 Text: Alexander Harrow claimed 320 acres fronting on the St. Clair, extending back to unconceded lands, and bounded on the south by William Hill's tract. Ignace Champagne, as witness, stated that Louis Champagne was in possession previous to July 1, 1796; that in 1797 he sold to one Pratt, who sold the lands the same year to Alexander Harrow. |
Birth of a daughter #2 | Catherine Harrow 1798 (Age 43) Source: 1850 census Citation details: Ira, St. Clair, Michigan Text: Catherine Dunlap, 52 |
Misc | owned Pawnee and Negro slaves between 1795 and 1799 (Age 40) Source: Journal of Negro History Citation details: Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jan. 1924) pp. 28-33.letters from Harrow's diary seeking to buy Pawnee or Negro slavesalso letters about recovering black Sampson who had run away |
Birth of a daughter #3 | Mary Harrow April 26, 1800 (Age 45) |
mortgage | took out mortgage on land October 10, 1800 (Age 45)Source: FamilySearch.org Note: Mortgage of $1,086.08 was redeemed in 1851 by Arthur John Robertson of Inshes, Inverness, Scotland, who married Marianne Pattinson on 18 Mar 1824. She died 16 Sept 1836. |
Religious marriage | Catharine “Katy, Kitty” Edelman — View family February 12, 1805 (Age 50) Address: 3305 Sandwich St.
Windsor, Essex, Ontario Publication: 1909, Sandwich, Ontario Text: When Michigan was ceded to the United States in August 1796, many people preferring to remain loyal to the old flag, moved to the south side of the river, Sandwich became the rendezvous and known to these early settlers as South Detroit. Near the spot where the tower of St. John's Church now stands was erected a small log building... In this little building Richard Pollard as a Layman, held the services of the Church of England. in the year 1802 he was ordained.... As rector of Sandwich he was chaplain to the forces at Fort Malden, now Amherstburg. Publication: Kent County Branch and Essex County Branch
Ontario Genealogical Society, 1990 Citation details: p. 7 Text: 1805 Feb. 12 Married Harrow Edlemott
Alexander Harrow, Esquire, late of the Navy Department on lake [Lake] Erie & Catherine Edlemott, spinster were m. by Lic. Feb. 12, 1805.
Contr. Partn. Alex'r Harrow, her mark X Catherine Eldemott [Edlemott]. Wit. Atkin Pattinson, John McDonald, Archibald Wright. |
Birth of a son #4 | George Harrow March 20, 1805 (Age 50) Source: 1860 census Text: Age 55, place of birth Michigan. Source: findagrave.com Text: George Harrow (1805-1886) |
Event | Colonel of the Detroit militia 1807 (Age 52)Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: Askin insisted that Harrow be named colonel of the Detroit militia in 1807 over Major Parent, "a most illiterate, good man who could not speak a word of English." |
Death | January 1811 (Age 56) Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: He died in his Algonac home in 1811 leaving his heirs besides property and and the brick distillery, eleven guns, two swords, pieces of silver and pewter, forty-one books (including the works of Swift, Burns and Sterne) and a collection of surveying and nautical instruments. |
Family with parents - View family |
father |
John Harrow Birth: 1729 — |
mother | |
Marriage: October 16, 1746 — Nigg, Kincardine, Scotland |
|
14 months elder sister |
Elspet Harrow Birth: 1747 18 — Death: — |
4 years elder brother |
James Harrow Birth: 1750 21 — Aberdeen, Scotland Death: — |
20 months elder sister |
Agnes Harrow Birth: about September 2, 1751 22 — |
2 years elder sister |
Janet Harrow Birth: 1753 24 — Aberdeen, Scotland Death: — |
3 years |
Lieutenant Alexander Harrow Birth: 1755 26 — Newburgh, Aberdenshire, Scotland Death: January 1811 — Algonac, Michigan |
Family with Catharine “Katy, Kitty” Edelman - View family |
Lieutenant Alexander Harrow Birth: 1755 26 — Newburgh, Aberdenshire, Scotland Death: January 1811 — Algonac, Michigan |
|
wife |
Catharine “Katy, Kitty” Edelman Birth: November 17, 1771 33 — Lovettsville, Loudon County, Virginia Death: 1865 — Algonac, Michigan |
Marriage: February 12, 1805 — St. John's Anglican Church, Sandwich |
|
-10 years son |
John Harrow Birth: 1794 39 22 — Michigan |
5 years daughter |
Catherine Harrow Birth: 1798 43 26 — Michigan |
2 years daughter |
Mary Harrow Birth: April 26, 1800 45 28 — River Raisin, Monroe, Michigan Death: January 27, 1877 — St. Clair County, Michigan |
5 years son |
George Harrow Birth: March 20, 1805 50 33 — on the banks of the St. Clair river Death: November 27, 1886 — |
son |
James Harrow Death: before 1825 — |
Birth | John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: Alexander Harrow was born at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1755. |
Baptism | Miscellany of the New Spalding Club Publication: 1908 Citation details: p. 190 Text: Harrow, John, lax fisher upon Dee watter in the Parish of Old Machar, and Elspit Harrow, his spouse: son Allexr.
Witnesses: Dr. Allexr. Brebner; Allexr. Burnet, malster |
Military | John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: Alexander Harrow was born at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1755. The opening of the Revolution found him in Canada where, being familiar with shipping from youth, he entered the naval department and served as lieutenant of a company of seamen in the defense of Quebec during the winter of 1775-76. In the spring of 1777 he came to the upper lakes as lieutenant in the naval service, returning to Quebec in the autumn. |
Military | John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: On July 7, 1779, he was made lieutenant and commander in the naval establishment of the upper lakes, in which he served for many years, being commander for a number of years of the sloop Welcome. ... The log book of the Welcome, kept by him for several of these years, is now preserved in the Burton Hist. Coll. |
Misc | The Algonac Courier, Algonac, St. Clair County, Michigan Citation details: The Algonac Courier Date of entry in original source: August 1, 1924 |
Event | Grosse Pointe News, Grosse Pointe, Michigan Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: In 1794 Harrow was in charge of several cannons at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, where Grant's friend Tecumseh, the Great Indian Chief fell with his dreams of an Indian Federation. |
Property | John Askin papers Publication: Detroit: Detroit Library Commission, 1931. 1513 pp. Citation details: p. 305 Text: In August, 1794, Harrow witnessed, as an observer, the Battle of Fallen Timbers, having charge with a group of his sailors, of two cannon in the British Fort Miamis, near which the battle was fought. Shortly after this Harrow acquired an extensive tract of land on the American shore of the St. Clair River, having a frontage of two and one-half miles and a depth almost three times as great. Here he settled and proceeded to develop an estate. Although the American government subsequently refused to validate the title to much of this land, he retained a portion of it and lived on it until his death in January, 1811. |
Residence | Grosse Pointe News, Grosse Pointe, Michigan Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: Harrow was awarded land on the Canadian side of the river by a grateful government but he settled around Algonac on land bought from one of the Macombs. There he enlarged and built a big house, called Newburgh, from his boyhood home, and ran a prosperous distillery.
...At his Algonac home he entertained both General Mad Anthony Wayne, the hero of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and Colonel Hamtramck. |
Property | History of St. Clair County, Michigan Publication: Chicago: A. T. Andreas & Co., 1883. Citation details: p. 222 Text: Alexander Harrow claimed 640 acres, fronting on the St. Clair River, between the lands of Toussant Chovin and James Harrow, proved by Col George Cotterall to be in Harrow's possession prior to July, 1796. |
Occupation | Grosse Pointe News, Grosse Pointe, Michigan Citation details: Grosse Pointe News, August 2, 1962 |
Property | History of St. Clair County, Michigan Publication: Chicago: A. T. Andreas & Co., 1883. Citation details: p. 222 Text: Alexander Harrow claimed 320 acres fronting on the St. Clair, extending back to unconceded lands, and bounded on the south by William Hill's tract. Ignace Champagne, as witness, stated that Louis Champagne was in possession previous to July 1, 1796; that in 1797 he sold to one Pratt, who sold the lands the same year to Alexander Harrow. |
Misc | Journal of Negro History Citation details: Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jan. 1924) pp. 28-33.letters from Harrow's diary seeking to buy Pawnee or Negro slavesalso letters about recovering black Sampson who had run away |
mortgage | FamilySearch.org |
Marriage | The Township of Sandwich, Past and Present Publication: 1909, Sandwich, Ontario Text: When Michigan was ceded to the United States in August 1796, many people preferring to remain loyal to the old flag, moved to the south side of the river, Sandwich became the rendezvous and known to these early settlers as South Detroit. Near the spot where the tower of St. John's Church now stands was erected a small log building... In this little building Richard Pollard as a Layman, held the services of the Church of England. in the year 1802 he was ordained.... As rector of Sandwich he was chaplain to the forces at Fort Malden, now Amherstburg. |
Marriage | Register of St. John's Church of England at Sandwich, 1802-1827 Publication: Kent County Branch and Essex County Branch
Ontario Genealogical Society, 1990 Citation details: p. 7 Text: 1805 Feb. 12 Married Harrow Edlemott
Alexander Harrow, Esquire, late of the Navy Department on lake [Lake] Erie & Catherine Edlemott, spinster were m. by Lic. Feb. 12, 1805.
Contr. Partn. Alex'r Harrow, her mark X Catherine Eldemott [Edlemott]. Wit. Atkin Pattinson, John McDonald, Archibald Wright. |
Event | Grosse Pointe News, Grosse Pointe, Michigan Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: Askin insisted that Harrow be named colonel of the Detroit militia in 1807 over Major Parent, "a most illiterate, good man who could not speak a word of English." |
Death | Grosse Pointe News, Grosse Pointe, Michigan Citation details: August 2, 1962, p. 20 Text: He died in his Algonac home in 1811 leaving his heirs besides property and and the brick distillery, eleven guns, two swords, pieces of silver and pewter, forty-one books (including the works of Swift, Burns and Sterne) and a collection of surveying and nautical instruments. |
Military | In command of the "Angelica" |
Occupation | Built brick building to house distillery. |
mortgage | Mortgage of $1,086.08 was redeemed in 1851 by Arthur John Robertson of Inshes, Inverness, Scotland, who married Marianne Pattinson on 18 Mar 1824. She died 16 Sept 1836. |