John Larimer1

b. circa 1775
FatherJohn Larimer1 b. abt 1755, d. 13 Nov 1829
BirthCircacirca 1775 John Larimer was born in Pennsylvania circa 1775.2 
  As a young man John learned the carpentry trade and also worked for Richard Montgomery, who owned a neighboring farm.3 
  Some researchers report that John was first married to a Jane Vance about 1803. 
Marriage20 Jan 1820 He married Mary McKee, daughter of Andrew McKee and Elizabeth (?), on 20 Jan 1820 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
Cens-18201820  John's entry on the 1820 Washington County census appears to confirm that Mary was most likely not his first wife. Although only the head of the household was named, one can infer some information from the tally marks in the various age columns. John would have been the male in the 45 and over category. Only one female was indicated; this must have been Mary who would have been represented by the mark in the 16-25 year old column [she was 46 in 1850]. However 8 other males were also indicated: 4 under 10, 3 age 10-15 and 1 age 16-18 [also indicated in the 16-25 year column as 16-18 year old males were counted under both headings in 1820].5 
Cens-18301830  Ten years later John's entry indicated the following members of his household: 3 males under 5; 1 or 2 males 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 15-20; 1 male 20-30; 1 male 50-60; 1 female under 5; 1 female 20-30.

Since John and Mary had only been married 10 years it is again apparent that at least 3 of the males in the household were not Mary's children.6 
Cens-18401840  The 1840 enumeration suggests John and Mary may have had as many as 9 or 10 children of their own: 1 male under 5; 1 male 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 3 males 15-20; 1 male 60-70; 2 females under 5; 1 female 5-10; 1 female 10-15; 1 female 40-50.7 
Court Record7 Dec 1839  John was probably the John Larmer, who along with other trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, purchased 2 acres of land from Bartholomew and Lydia Neel for $10 in late 1839 for the purpose of building a church.8 
Cens-18503 Sep 1850 In 1850 the census included the names of all members of the household. John was 75 years old. Also recorded in his household were the following individuals: Mary (46), Jessee (29), Andrew (27), William (25), Alexander (23), Eliza (21), Ann Larimer (19), Nancy M. (17), Edward F. (15), Catharine (13). John's real estate was valued at $3,600.9 
  John and Mary's 1850 census entry presents a few problems. The eldest child in the household was 29 year old Jessee. No marriage record for him has been located by this researcher and I did not find him in the county in 1860. He may have died or left the area. Some researchers state that he was the son of John and his first wife (rather than Mary); if so Jessee's age on this census must be slightly in error since John and Mary married in January 1820.

Also listed was William, age 25. This most likely was the same person as the William Larimer enumerated two households away from John and Mary. He appears to have been listed twice: once as a single man in John's household and then again as the head of his own household with a wife Judy and children Jessee and Nancy. 
Cens-186023 Aug 1860  In 1860 John was living in William and Judy's home. He was 90 years old.10 

Related Links and Images:

The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed John as the head of household number 887. Follow the link to see who lived nearby. Notice that one of John's neighbors was Robert Caldwell who had also signed the 1839 Zion Church deed. The church property was located on present day Zion Church Rd. near Rt. 58. Both men probably lived in the general neighborhood.

Family 1

Mary McKee b. say 1800, d. 17 Dec 1855
Children
  • Jessee Larimer9 (circa 1821 - )
  • Andrew M. Larimer9 (13 Feb 1822 - 7 May 1895)
  • William G. Larimer+10 (circa 1825 - 25 Jul 1896)
  • Alexander W. Larimer9 (circa 1827 - )
  • Eliza Larimer9 (circa 1829 - )
  • Ann Larimer9 (circa 1831 - )
  • Nancy M. Larimer9 (circa 1833 - )
  • Edward F. Larimer9 (circa 1835 - )
  • Catherine Larimer9 (circa 1837 - )

Family 2
The following list of children is incomplete. 
Last Edited28 May 2013

Citations

  1. [S694] John Larrimer Sr. will (1829), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 6: 106. The will was dated 26 May 1829 and recorded 17 Nov. 1829. Peter Mays, Jacob Lynch and Andrew Russell were witnesses.
  2. [S367] John Larimer Sr. household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. after 126 (stamped), dwelling 887, family 887, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2007, image 118 of 289. Household includes John Larimer Sr., 75, farmer, real estate valued at $3,600, b. PA; Mary 46; Jesee 29; Andrew 27; William 25; Alexander 23; Eliza 21; cont. next page: Ann Larimer 19; Nancy M. 17; Edward F. 15; Catharine 13; Mary & all children b. VA.
  3. [S2133] John Larimer affidavit dated 2 Aug 1854 at Washington Co., Virginia; Richard Montgomery soldier, Elizabeth Montgomery widow, Revolutionary War Pension Application File W7485; RG 15; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M804 - Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files.
  4. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 37.
  5. [S621] John Larimore household, 1820 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 218 (stamped on lower right corner), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2007, image 26 of 48. Household includes: 4 males under 10; 3 males 10-15; 1 male 16-25; 1 male 16-18; 1 male over 45; 1 female 16-25.
  6. [S578] John Larmore household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. (p. 264 script), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2007, image 77 of 150. Household includes: 3 males under 5; 1 or 2 males 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 15-20; 1 male 20-30; 1 male 50-60; 1 female under 5; 1 female 20-30.
  7. [S679] John Larimore household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 228 (stamped on second half of page), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2007, image 59 of 115. Household includes: 1 male under 5; 1 male 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 3 males 15-20; 1 male 60-70; 2 females under 5; 1 female 5-10; 1 female 10-15; 1 female 40-50.
  8. [S3184] Connie Miller research, e-mail address, provided by Miller to D. Powell May 2013. Mrs Miller shared a transcription of the Washington Co., VA deed dated 7 Dec. 1839 and recorded 14 Oct. 1841 whereby Bartholomew Neel and Lydia, his wife, sold Robert Caldwell, Francis Ketron, Christopher Ketron, John Larimore, Richard E. Sharp, Jacob Miller, Robert H. Rhea, James Keys and James L. Sharp, as trustees for Zion Church, 2 acres of land on the waters of the South Fork of the Holston River for the purpose of building a place of worship for members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
  9. [S367] John Larimer Sr. household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. after 126 (stamped), dwelling 887, family 887, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2007, image 118 of 289. Household includes John Larimer Sr., 75, farmer, real estate valued at $3,600, b. PA; Mary 46; Jessee 29; Andrew 27; William 25; Alexander 23; Eliza 21; cont. next page: Ann Larimer 19; Nancy M. 17; Edward F. 15; Catharine 13; Mary & all children b. VA.
  10. [S234] William Larimer household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 211 (original script), dwelling 1569, family 1515, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec 2007, image 213 of 361. Household includes William G. Larimer, 37, farmer, owns land valued at $1,700 and pers. prop of $300; Judy, 28; cont. next page: Jesse, 13; Nancy, 11; Eliza, 9; John, 7; James, 5; William, 3; George, 1; John, 90; all b. VA.