Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1927-XX-XX - 'David Work'Entry/Object ID
1990.1.177Context
DAVID WORK
(Son of David and Mary Ann Porterfield)
David Work (father of Nancy Work Harris) was born at or near St. Clairsville, Belmount County, Ohio (do not have date). He married Theodate Todd, who at the age of eighteen years drove with her parents, brothers and sisters from the State of Georgia to Captina, Belmont County, Ohio (do not have date of marriage). The children were Theresa, John, Sarah Ann, Robert, Elizabeth and Nancy. As noted elsewhere David Work's parents were David Work and Mary Ann Porterfield Work and came from Ireland, landing near Philadelphia and thence came to St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio.
David, the subject of this sketch, was a lieutenant in the War of 1812. He had four horses which were pressed into service in the army. When David came home the teams had not come and he went to see about them and when on the way he came into the edge of a forest and heard Indians blowing on their gun chargers. The Indians came up and David said his hair felt like it was standing on end, but the Indians turned the muzzles of their guns down, which meant peace. They took him to their camp and fed him on jerked (dried) venison, etc. and let him go on his way. He still lived near St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio. His sword is still in possession of the family. He died of consumption and was buried at Cadiz, Ohio. Theodate (David's wife) lived with her daughter Nancy the last sixteen years of her life, died there and was buried in Mt. Hermon cemetery in Berne Tp., Athens County, Ohio.
The following is all the information at hand relative to the brothers and sisters of the above named David Work.
John married Ann Kirkpatrick and their children were Lydia, Alexander, David, Mary Ann, John, Eliza, Thomas and Marinda.
Mary Ann married Thomas Williamson. They had children but Seth is the only one Nancy Harris knew about.
Alexander married Mary A. Greenlee. They had at least one daughter who married a Walters.
Ruth married Thomas Montgomery, but do not know of the family.
Samuel married Ellen McClain, but do not know of the family. He lived with his sister-in-law Theodate Work for some time. Seems to have gone away and whereabouts unknown.
We now leave this entire generation except David and Theodate Work, whose family trees we shall trace elsewhere.
J. H. Harris.
