Harader and Hereter

The Harader familiy traces its roots to a Johannes Harader (1728-1806) and his wife Mary (1754-1829), who settled in Preston Co., (West) Virginia. Little else is known about him, but he is identified with the Johannes Heerreder who arrived in Philadelphia on the on the Ranier, 26 Sep. 1749. Also on the ship was 'brother' Andreas, who would settle in Somerset County, Pa. It is thus, perhaps, relevant that in the 1790 census, a John Hereter appeared in what was then Bedford Co., a part of which would become Somerset Co. In 1795 (46 years after immigration), Johannes bought 642-1/2 acres of land near what is now the town of Clifton Mills, Preston Co., WV in 1795, and has been identified with the John who appears in Bedford County in 1790, but he has not been located in America prior to this date.

Comparing the timeline of this Johannes Harader of Preston Co., WV with Johannes Hereter of York Co., Pa. suggests that the two might have been the same individual. The 1749 immigration is just three years before the marriage of Johannes of York Co., and the latter couple's oldest child was named Andrew, perhaps after immigrant Andreas. Likewise, the 1754 birthdate of Mary, wife of Johannes Harader, being 25 years after that of her husband suggests that she was a second spouse. Johannes of York Co. is last found in 1783 tax lists, but is not in the 1790 census of York Co., perhaps suggesting a move (his son Jacob is found in the 1790 and 1800 censuses as 'Krider' and 'Hereden' and he continues to appear in York Co. baptismal records through 1800). Instead, in 1790 a John Hereter appears in Bedford Co. Unfortunately, the record of this census was not divided into townships, so it cannot be determined whether this John was living in what would become part of Somerset, where the Preston Co. John Harader is said to have originated. In the census, he had to young boys, and two females, presumably a wife and daughter, in his household. This pattern matches that of the Preston Co. family, which had two sons and one daughter. Also perhaps coming into play is the difference in religions, Hereter having his children baptized in Lutheran churches, while the Haraders of Preston Co. would be Dunkards. In this regard, the possibility of a later conversion should not be discounted.

One tool that can be brought to bear on the question is a comparison of the surviving signatures of Johannes Hereter of York Co. and of Johannes Heerreder, the Philadelphia immigrant. Alignment of these signatures, from 24 years apart, shows definite similarities, but also differences. Any support that this may offer the identification of the York settler with the Philadelphia immigrant must stand on its own, since it is unlikely that the identification of the immigrant with Preston Co. WV resident is based on anything more than speculation, so this does not necessarily bring us closer to confirming the identity of the York Co. Johannes Hereter with the Preston Co. Johannes Harader.

	26 Sep. 1749, Ship Ranier, Philadelphia
	24 Feb. 1774, Petition for Administration, York

An alignment of the chronologies can also prove suggestive, but not definitive.

Date	York Co. Family	Preston Co. Family	Other
1728		John born Germany
1749			Andreas and Johannes Heerreder immigrate on Ranier to Philadelphia, 26 Sep.
1753	John Heeritter marries Catharine Ulrich 20 Aug., Hanover
1754	baptism of son Andrew Hoerritter 30 Jun., York	Mary, wife of John born (place unknown)
1762	John Heritter taxed at Codorus Twp.
1763	birth of son Jacob Herrder 24 Mar., bap. Hanover
1774	John Hereter (Hannes Heerreder) of Manheim Twp. petitions for administration of Ullrich estate, 24 Feb.
1779	John Herretter taxed at Manheim Twp.	John marries Mary (date and place unknown)
1780	John Heretter taxed at Manheim Twp.
1781	John Heretter taxed at Manheim Twp.
1782	John Hereter taxed at Manheim Twp.
1783	John Hereder taxed at Manheim Twp. with 7 inhabitants
	son Jacob marries Elisabeth (? Neuman) (date unknown)
1787	baptism of granddau. Catharina Elisabeth Hereter, 20 May, Hanover	son John born 19 Oct. (said to be in Somerset Co.)
1787	baptism of grandson Jacob Hereter 20 May, Hanover
		son Daniel born (date and place unknown)
1790	baptism of granddau. Elisabeth Hereter 6 May, Hanover	dau. Elizabeth born (place unknown)
1790	son Jacob 'Krider' appears in census near Heidelberg		John Hereter appears in census of Bedford Co. with wife, 2 sons, 1 dau.
1792	baptism of granddau. Anna Maria Herether 16 Dec., Hanover
1795		John Harader buys land at Clifton Mills
1797	baptism of granddau. Margaretha Herrether 19 May, Hanover
1799	baptism of grandson Johann Jacob Herether 27 No., Hanover
1800	son Jacob Hereden appears in census at Heidelberg
1806		John Harader dies 28 Dec.
1812		Elizabeth (Harader), wife John Mosser dies 21 Oct.
1829		Mary, wife of John Harader dies 17 Sep.

Again, there seems to be a match among the different groups of records, but a more definitive answer must await the collection of more precise information from York, Bedford, Somerset, and Preston Counties.