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Response to GenHelper Querry
Your entry in the Sept-Oct Genealogical Helper regarding Malinda Harrison, b. 1839, Obion Co., Tn was of great interest to me. The person of interest to you appears to be Anna Malinda Harrison (b. 18 Dec. 1839-d after 1900 Green County, Ar; m. Nov 1855 Obion Co, Tn. Andrew Alexander Dollins)
I feel pretty certain that this Malinda was daughter of John Harbison and second wife, Mary A. .....,but that she was born in Lincoln County, Tn 1840 and 1850 (Malinda appears as Anna, 11 years old in 1850); Obion Co., in 1860; and Lake County, TN in 1870. There is some basis for thinking that Mary A. was Cherokee and that she and John were married in Lincoln County about 1838. The family name is found spelled Harberson, Harvison, and Harveston, and of course, Harbison.
I am not as certain about John's first family as I am about Malinda. John had three or four sons and at least one daughter (maybe 3 daughters) by an unknown first wife. I have concluded through a lengthy and involved investigation that this John and his first wife were the parents of my wife's great grandfather, Matthew Harbison (later and consistently Harvison), who lived in Ripley and Shannon Cos., Mo from about 1839. So your Malinda and our Matthew may have been half siblings.
I am relatively certain that the John in question was b. ca 1840 in SC or GA, probably while his family was migrating to Maury Co., TN from Burke Co., N.C; his father was remembered as a rolling stone.) Amost certainly John was son of Alexander Harbison ii son of Alexander Harbison of Burke Co, NC Alexander ii had a more affluent and bettter known (to genealogists) brother in Maury Co., TN - Matthew Harbison. These Harbisons were definitely from Northern Ireland and they came there from Scotland. They were definitely "Scotch-Irish" as we use the term in this country - a more proper term is Ulster Scots - they were not really Irish although they lived in Ireland. Chris Harbison of Australia is working real hard at tying down actual connections between the Harbisons of the USA, Australia and other countries. Best guess so far is that ours might have come from around Rathfryland, county down in Ulster, but this is just a guess. If I am on the right track for your family I can supply more details in almost any direction you want to go. I'd love to know exactly how you relate to Malinda and any traditions or facts you know about the makeup of her father's family (was there any hint of Cherokee ancestory or any tradition of a relationship to the younger brothers of Missouri?) Assuming that John is your common ancestor, I'm guessing you and my wife are as close as third cousins.
Yours sincerely,
Theron Smith.
P.S. After writing the above I check my files and found your name mentioned ina 1982 letter from Gail (Mrs. Robert) Bradshears of Perry Mo, regarding the Dollins family. She recommended that I contact you since you were interested Harbison. Apparently, I didn't follow through on her suggestion at that time. I will enclose a copy of the chart I made from her notes at that time.
