David Harry lived during the time period when Pennsylvania Germans near the Conestoga River first made Conestoga wagons around 1750 to haul freight. By the 1810s, improved roads to Pittsburgh and Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) stimulated trade between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and settlers near the Ohio River. Wagoners with horse-drawn Conestoga wagons carried supplies and finished goods westward on three- to four-week journeys and returned with flour, whiskey, tobacco, and other products. The Conestoga wagon’s curved shape shifted cargo toward the center and prevented items from sliding on mountain slopes. Railroads replaced Conestoga wagons by the 1850s, but the prairie schooner, a lightweight, flat variant, carried pioneer settlers from Missouri to the West Coast.
The variety of wagons in use during this time period was considerable. Small carts, buggies, and large wagons for families traveling great distances required great attention to detail. The following document shows that David was a wagon maker.
On the Request of David Harry was the following deed recorded April 6th, 1785 towit..
This Indenture was made this 24th day of March in this year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and eighty five. Between Jonathan Hagar Junior of Washington County in the State of Maryland heir at Law of Jonathan Hagar late of the aforesaid county deceased of the ........part and David Harry of the county and state aforesaid Wagonmaker of this other part{ ....whereas the aforesaid Jonathan Hagar
Another find in my mother's papers. The notes are all hers.
