1820 Maury Co. Tennessee Census
Harbison, Alexander Males 1(<10) 2(10-16) 1 (>45) )
Females 4(<10) 1(10-16) 1(26-40)

Transcribed from material supplied by Theron Smith:
Alexander (I) Harbison born about 1735, probably in Northern Ireland. This Alexander probably came first to Pennsylvania through the port of Philadelphia and from there migrated to Burke County, North Carolina where he appears in land and other records from 1778 on. The 1790 Census indicated Alexander (I) had at least 5 sons and 2 daughter, tentatively, 7 sons are shown. (Note, for clarity of reference purposes, he is most often referred to as Alexander (I); it should be noted that he was not called that in his lifetime nor did he think of himself in that light.)

Alexander (I) emigrated from County Antrim, most likely Ballymena.

The following information was provided by Michael HARBISON, great-grandson of George C. HARBISON (1837-1917); [email protected]:
ALEXANDER HARBISON (1748-1818)
Alexander Harbison is in North Carolina in 1770 for the birth of his Son Matthew. (1850 Census Mathew Harbison: Maury Co. TN) He does not appear to be in Burke County before 1772 or he would have signed the petition to form a county west of Rowan. In 1778 he submits a land grant request for 640 acres in Burke County, North Carolina. The surveyors report is witnessed by John Neil, his neighbor and Walter Sorrell, also a neighbor, there is mention of improvements, implying he settled there in the mid 1770’s. His submission #55 is early in the second group of applications.
Earlier there is evidence for Alexander Harbison being a founding family of the unorganized Presbyterian Church in Morganton. In 1774 Grace Greenlee McDowell started a Bible class in her log cabin in Quaker Meadows. In 1777 her husband Charles McDowell sent Robert Penland, who he said was an elder in the Quaker Meadows church, to warn the community of an imminent Cherokee raid. Later there is some evidence that Alexander had some involvement in the King’s Mountain battle October 1780
From the land grants listed, Alexander's sons can be inferred. It was the custom to have a man's teenage or young adult sons to assist the surveyor and then be listed in the surveyors report. Alexander sold his 1778 land grant to Joseph Scott, December 27, 1793.This land was south of the Cataba River bordering now Interstate 40 and Jamestown Road. Then he applied for 50 acres north of the Catawba River, September 13, 1794. The surveyors report is certified by James Herbison and Matthew Herbison, September 14, 1795. On June 20, 1795 Alexander Herbison applies for 100 acres. The Surveyors report is certified by Matthew Herbison and Alexander Herbison. In 21 February, 1801 James Harbeson applies for 40 acres next to Fathers land. The Surveyors report is certified by Wm. Harbison and John Harbison, brothers of James. The Comptroller office lists James Harberson as the entrant. Despite spelling differences Alexander's oldest son is James, followed by Matthew, then William and John and Alexander. The 1790 census Alexander is listed as the head of house with 333-00 with three men over 16 and three boys under 16 and three females in the household. In the 1800 census Alexander is listed as head 01011-10010-00 , one son under 16, one son 16-25, Alexander over 45, a daughter under 10 a wife 25-45. No slaves. Matthew 00010-10100-03 is 26-45 and has a wife Sarah, 16-25 and daughter under 10 and three slaves; William 00100-10020 William 16-26 and wife, Nancy, 26-45 and a daughter under ten and another woman 25-45 are near by.
Between 1779 and 1809 Alexander appears in various court records. In 1792, 1793 and 1799 he served on the grand jury (court records were lost for 1777-1791). The tax rolls lists his acreage as 300 in 1793, 470 acres in 1796
In 1783 Alexander Harbison and seven others petitioned for a school. This is the precursor to the Morganton Academy of 1790 with Waightstill Avery, Charles McDowell, Alexander Erwin, James Greenlee and David Vance as trustees and James Templeton as teacher.
In 1799 Alexander Harbison helped establish a Masonic Lodge under the name of Rising Sun Lodge #38. There were eight founding members: Colonial Waightstill Avery, master; major Joseph McDowell, Senior Warden; Major Brice Collins, Junior Warden; Alexander Harbison, Senior Deacon; Tilman Walton, Junior Deacon, William McDowel, Dr. Thomas Bouchelle, and David Tate. In 1802 the records showed 29 members. By 1804 it had to surrender its charter. (St. Johns lodge of Morganton was founded in 1797 by same people) Son James was an early member.
About 1800 the Harbison family headed by Alexander helped found the Silver Creek Camp grounds near Glen Alpine of Morganton where they built a cabin, one of ten in a semi circle. This was under the ministry of Dr. J. McKamie Wilson. The Presbyterian Church held a fall revival for a week or two in September every year until 1844 with the last in 1854. This was a time for family reunion with previous pastors and elders invited back. A Silver Creek Chapel Church grew out of the annual revivals in 1820.
The last we see of Alexander Harbison in court records is 5 February 1808 when he witnessed (proved) William McDowell's will. In a record book of Captain William Alexander passed down through Samuel Alexander there is a list of family names and death dates. Alexander Harbison d. 2 January 1818 is an entry with two other Harbisons. The earliest death date is 17 December 1762 for William Alexander with the latest about 1900 of the close to 200 Morganton residents.
In 1779, September 17, David Witherspoon, brother of Sarah Dorcus Witherspoon, Mathew Harbison's future wife, entered a land grant # 1671. Later he transferred two hundred acres of a Burke Co. land grant #1671 to a William Harbison, date uncertain.
There is a family tradition of Alexander being from Atrium county Ulster, North Ireland. He has a strong Scotch-Irish Presbyterian connection. The theory of him sailing to Philadelphia and coming down the great wagon trail with the Alexander and Erwin families in the late 1760s does not fit their migration patterns. His sons later migrated together with their sons to Maury County, Tennessee in the early 1800. There is a connection of families however in York, South Carolina in the early 1770s. John Neil (O'neil), Alexander's neighbor in 1778, seems to be a person of interest. I am still researching him. Interestingly, he is an overseer of plantations. He worked for both the McDowels and the Averys. The Harbisons had a vision and an expertise with plantations. I am still trying to get a lead on what they grew. Cotton and Flax were crops of later Harbisons. Wool and flax were specialties of earlier Harbisons. The Harbison land north of the Catawba was known for orchards. The Burke County North Carolina area was known for a milder climate with less Malaria than Charlotte. It was also on the hot sheet for land speculators (John Mcknit Alexander).

Alexander 174?-1818 Atrium County. Ireland to Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina
James C. Harbison 176?-184? Morganton NC to Maury Co. Tennessee.
James J. Harbison 1811-1857 Farmington Tennessee to Maury Co. Tennessee
George C. Harbison 1837-1917 Maury Co. Tennessee to Jenny Lind Arkansas
Thomas Winfield Harbison 1874-1948 Searcy Co. Arkansas to Cameron, Oklahoma.
Millard Henry Harbison 1911-2002
Michael Harbison