Sixteen
The Life and Times of my
16 Great-Great Grandparents
The story of James and Tabitha is dominated by the tragic death of James, a confederate soldier who died at the Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond VA and was buried on the battlefield in an unmarked grave. But Tabitha has a story to tell as well. She was an accomplished artist who struggled with Southern Reconstruction in addition to her own personal tragedy.
Tabitha Snead Harmanson - self portrait
James Robins Harmanson was born on the 2nd of October, 1830, to William and Margaret Mapp Harmanson. The Mapps and the Harmansons were prominent families on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, with ancestors arriving in the Virginia Colony in the 1600s. Thomas Harmanson arrived in 1684 and was among the first Germans in America. William’s occupation was farmer, and he was a Senior Warden of an Episcopal Church. Margaret’s grandfather was Colonel John Mapp who fought in the Revolutionary War.
James was well educated. He went to Delaware College in 1846, then in 1849, the University of Virginia Law School in Richmond Virginia. He went on to become an Attorney at Law in Northampton County, where he also entered politics. In 1857 he was the Know-Nothing Party Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates, but was defeated by a small majority. After he married Tabitha, they moved to Accomack County, where she was from, and opened a Law Office there.
From a the Richmond Enquirer, 4 March 1856.
Tabitha Sarah Snead was born on 15 December, 1838 to Lewis and Esther Dixon Snead. Lewis was a farmer and descendant of Samuel Sneade who came to Virginia from England in 1635. Her mother, Esther (or sometimes Hester), was married twice before Lewis, first to Martin Holt, who died and was buried at sea, and then to Thomas Sturgis. She had a daughter with Thomas, Elizabeth, Tabitha's half sister.
James and Tabitha were married on 10 June 1858, in Accomack Virginia and started a family right away. Margaret Esther Harmanson, my great-grandmother, was born on 27 April 1859. A few years later they had a son, Lewis James Harmanson, born 14 March 1861. Sadly, they had very little time with their father.
James’ life and tragic death in the Civil War was extensively documented in “The University Memorial Biographical Sketches of Alumni of the University of Virginia Who Fell in the Confederate War,” authored by Reverend John Lipscomb Johnson, B.A., 1871. I have added the complete story here. This book was published to promote southern pride and sympathy for their cause and can be a little overly dramatic. In short, James took a bullet to the head near the end of the battle. It was one of the bloodiest battles and casualties were so high it became impossible to identify all the bodies. Consequently, they were all buried on the battlefield in unmarked graves. The story ends by saying that Tabitha was so overcome with grief that she became a “wreck” and was unable to care for her children.
Book cover
I came across this picture while researching the Battle of Seven Pines (or the Battle of Fair Oaks as it was known by the North) and I was struck by it. No, this isn't James, but this picture was taken at the same battle on the exact day that James died, May 31st 1862. It appears to be a beautiful Spring day and a young soldier lies dying not far away, never to go home again.
Tabitha is understandably grief stricken. She takes her two children and moves in with her parents. She dies on 7 January 1872, less than 10 years after her husband. She was only 33 years old and tragically the children were orphaned at 10 and 12 years old. Presumably they stayed on with their grand-parents for some time.
Tabitha S. Harmanson
daughter of
Louis L & Esther W Snead
Born December 15, 1838
departed this life
January 7, 1872
aged 33 years & 22 days
Weep not for me I am but gone before
The Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society presented an exhibit about 10 women from the Eastern Shore who's husbands died in the Civil War, called Stronger Than Steel. Tabitha was one of the 10.
Their Children
Margaret Harmanson, their daughter is listed in an 1880 Census as Maggie Harmanson, living with a cousin in Eastville Virginia. Brother Lewis is not living with her. On 5 January 1885 she marries Edward Fitchett Nottingham in Northampton Virginia. They go on to have four children, Thomas Henry, Margaret (my grandmother), Quinton Gore, and Rose Nottingham. Rose only lived to be five years old. Margaret died on 2 August 1922 and was buried at the Christ Church Cemetery in Eastville Virginia.
Lewis James Harmanson, their son, is listed in an 1880 Census as living with an Uncle in Baltimore Maryland and going to school. He is using his middle name, James. He would eventual become a dentist. On 17 November 1898, he marries Elizabeth “Bessie” Pitts and together they had three children, Elizabeth, Esther, and Lewis James Harmanson Jr. Lewis died on Christmas day in 1943 and was buried at the Onancock Cemetery.
Extras
Margaret Harmanson Nottingham
Margaret and Edward's home in Eastville VA
Margaret with grandchildren Thomas Henry and Clara
Margaret In the center
Margaret In the front yard of their Eastville home
The home as it looked in 2016
In the backyard of the same house, Margaret's daughter, Margaret is to the left, and her son, Thomas Henry is to the far right
Quinton Gore Nottingham and friend Hettie
One of several grandchildren James and Tabitha never got to see. This is Margaret Nottingham (Cann)
This is also Margaret Cann with her husband William Ferris Cann, and their six grandchildren. Notice behind her is Tabatha's self portrait which is hanging in the home of her son and daughter-in-law, William Jr and Majorie Shank Cann.