Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/108

 liAKNDKN

HARNETT

Sottra ,1vtvat .idttriuer

the Iroquois in the p;iss;ige of Forts Jackson ami St. Philip, in the capture of New Orleans ami in the engagements with the batteries at Vicksburg anil Granil Gulf. He was executive officer of the monitor \nliaiU in the attack on Fort Sumter, April 7, isti:{; in the light between the \ahniit and the Confeilerate ram Aflantn. June 17, 18G3, and in all the attacks on the defences of Charles- ton, July to September, 1863. He commanded the gunboat Sn/ioma. 1803-64, the Scbai/o, of the West Gulf .squadron, 1864-6."), and took part in the attack on and capture of Mobile and its defences. He commanded tiie river fleet sent to Montgomerj-, Ala., in April, 1865. commanded the Frolic in Admiral Farragut's European squadron in 1867; was a member of the examining and retiring boards, 1883-8.'); cliief of the bureau of yards and docks, ISS.'S-SO; chairman of the lighthouse board, 1889-91; and connnanded the Asiatic squadron, 1891-93. After retiring he made his home at Siinta Barl)ara, Cal.

HARNDEN, William Frederick, expressman, was Ixirn in Reading. Mass.. in 1812. His father was a liouse painter and was al)Ie to give- his children only a limited scliool training, William was eni{)loyed as a conductor on the Boston & Worcester railroad and in 1838 became ticket master of the same road. He was married to a daughter of John Fuller of Newton. In 1839 he became an express package car- rier with an office at 8 Court street, and in March, 1839, he established the first messenger express between New York and Boston, by way of the Providence railroad and the New York steamlx)at com- panies. He was his own messenger and purchased goods, col- lected drafts, notes and bills, and guaranteed the safe delivery of parcels entrusted to his care. His brother. Adolphus (lost on the Lfxim/ton, Jan. 13, 1840;, E. L. Stone, Dexter Brigham" Jr., J. W. Lawrence and Luke Damon were his first assistants as clerks and mes.sengers. In 1840 he extended his business to Pliiladelphiawith L. W. Winchester as agent, and in November of that year Mr. Brigham became Mr. Harnden's partner under the firm name Harnden & Co., and went to Englanil to estJibli.sh a trans-Atlantic express line, opening offices in the j.rincipal cities of England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Germany.

■^iio<ix,a Ai73) srjT7 laaa PACKAGE CAR,

WIUJAM F. HAK.VDDI.

This led to arrangements with ship owners to carry at cheap rates emigrants from these points to America, and with the New York and Erie canal for the transportation of emigrants from New York to Buffalo and Chicago. By the close of 1844 the firm of Harnden & Co. had brought from the old world to America over 100,000 laborers who found work on farms and in con- structing railroads and canals. Mr. Harnden was a victim of pulmonary consumption from which he l)ably in Chowan county, N.C., April 20, 1723; son of Cornelius Harnett. He was taken by his father to the Cape Fear section of North Carolina in 1726. He was a representative from the borough of Wilmington in the provincial assembly of

COA/0RE.SS

North Carolina, 17 70-71, and,' was chairman of important com- mittees. With Gen. R. Howe and Judge

Maurice Moore a ■^-- ■:...-,'

he resisted the "^ *^'

survey of the southern boundary of the colony,^ ordered by Governor Martin in 1772. He opposed the stamp act and was the leader of the Revolu- tionary party ui southeast North Carolina, being- placed on the Continental correspondence com- mittee for the Wilmington district and on the committee of safety in 1774. He was a delegate to the Provincial congress of 1775 and was made president of the provincial council appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the abdication of Gov- ernor Martin, and he became the governor of the colony i^j-o tempore. When Sir Henry Clinton took possession of the territory in 1776 he excluded Harnett and Howe fi-om the privileges of pardon offered to those who would return to their alle- giance to the King. Wlien the Declaration of Independence was received by the Provincial congress at Halifax, July 22, 1776, Governor Harnett read it to the concour-se of citizens and soMiers assembled, and when he had finished the crowd bore him triumpliantly througli the town on their shoulders. He helped to draft the state constitution and bill of rights and inserted the clause securing religious liberty. He was a mem- ber of the council of Governor Caswell and suc- ceeded that statesman as a representative in the Continental congress, serving 1777-80, and he became a signer of the " article of confederation and perpetual union." When the Cape Fear re- gion came again into the possession of the Britisli. Harnett was made prisoner, and died while in. prison, at Wilmington, N.C., April 20, 1781.