Samuel Harmon
Samuel Harmon
1847-1902
Samuel Harman was born about 1847 to William and Miranda Harman in Newark, Delaware. He had moved to Lower Makefield by age 3 as documented in the 1850 census.
In 1860 he was 17 and no longer living with his family but instead with the Large family in Upper Makefield.
He enlisted March 2, 1865 in the 24th UD colored infantry. He mustered out 10/02/1865. Per the 1890 census he had reached the rank of Corporal. This unit was organized at Camp William Penn, Philadelphia, Pa., January 30 to March 30, 1865. Moved to Washington, D. C., May 5, and duty at Camp Casey till June 1. They then were at Point Lookout, Md., guarding prisoners till July 16. They moved to Richmond, Va., and duty in the Sub-District of Roanoke, Headquarters at Burkesville, till September. Moved to Richmond, Va., and there mustered out October 1, 1865. His unit never saw combat. (1,2)
He returned to Lower Makefield and in 1900 was shown as working as a laborer and living with his wife and his 21 year old son Samuel and 13 year old son Clarence.
Sadly on 07/25/1902 Samuel was killed by a trolley accident on a hill by Slate Hill Cemetery. He fell off the trolley and then another trolley ran him over. There was an article in the local paper which proclaimed “Aged Yardley Negro Ground to death Saturday night.” (3)
You will notice Samuel, along with 5 other Civil War Veterans within Slate Hill has a new graver marker. In 2020 the LMT Historical Commission petitioned the Dept. of State for new markers based on the deterioration of their original markers. Here is an image of the original marker prior to 2020.
Anna Chambers Harman
1852-1936
Anna Chambers Harman was born around 1852 per the 1860 Census. At the time of that census she lived in Lower Makefield with her parents Charles Chambers and Sarah Ann Anderson Chambers and 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
In the 1850 census her mother and siblings were all labeled as mulatto but her father was labeled as black. Both of her parents are buried in Slate Hill Cemetery. On her mothers death certificate it states her father was Samuel Anderson and he was from Africa. (4)
By 1880 Anna was married to Samuel and living with him in Lower Makefield along with two children John and Samuel. John disappears from the records but we also know she had a son Clarence around 1887.
In 1910, 8 years after Samuel’s death, we find her living with her brother Clarence, sister Eva, and her son Clarence. In 1920 and 1930 she lived with her son Clarence.
Sadly Anna also had a tragic death. Anna was preparing for the Christmas holiday when on Christmas Eve in 1935, her dress caught on fire. It could have been the lights on the Christmas tree or oil on the stove. When she saw herself in flames, she rushed outside to her yard where neighbors rushed to her aid. She suffered 2nd degree burns on her face, chest, arms and back. She suffered for 24 days until she died. She was cared for in the home of her son Samuel and by her church community. She was laid to rest in Langhorne. (5, 6,7)
It is unclear why Anna was not buried at Slate Hill considering both her parents and her husband are. For that reason, we feel compelled to share her story here.