Jacob Harder is the first person of the Harder surname believed to be born in America. He became a successful farmer and substantial land holdings near Claverack, Columbia County, NY. He is accepted by the DAR as a Revolutionary Veteran, although it is doubtful he actually served due to his age. It is very likely that five of his sons did serve.

There is some incorrect info about his children out there – I hope this will correct some of it. Note: Jacob is NOT the father of Jacob P. Harder who married Catharina Thomas, or the father of John Nicholas Harder of North Carolina as some would think.


Jacob Harder (or HERDER), youngest child of Palatine immigrant Johann Michael HÄRDER (1672-1716) & Maria Lucia TULLIUS of Klosterkumbd, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Born on 7 Mar 1714 at Queensbury (Germantown), Columbia Co., NY. Died on 24 Feb 1792 prob. at Hudson, Columbia Co., NY; he was 77. Buried at Burial Ground, Route 23, Town of Greenport, Columbia Co., NY.
A tombstone of Jacob Harder is next to State Road 23 near Hudson, NY, with the tombstone of his wife Mary Harder. This is the only record we have of their birth and death dates. The will of Jacob HERDER, yeoman of Hudson, was dated December 1790 and probated 8 Aug 1799. The will names his wife Catalina, deceased son John and surviving sons Michael, Peter, Jacob and Nicholas, and daughters Maritje, Jannetje, and Elizabeth. Jacob left farms at Squampamock (Ghent) and Hudson to each of his sons.
Jacob first married Maria VAN HOESEN, daughter of Jan Jurrian VAN HOESEN (~1678-Dec 1731) & Jannetje VAN SCHAAIK, on 3 Aug 1738 at Zion Evang. Luth. Ch., Loonenburg (Athens), Greene Co., NY. Born on 5 Mar 1717. Baptized at Klinckenberg; rec Luth. Ch., New York, NY, on 31 Mar 1717. Died on 21 Apr 1775 at Columbia Co., NY; she was 58. Buried at Burial Ground, Route 23, Town of Greenport, Columbia Co., NY. They had 10 children.
Jacob second married Catalina DELAMATER, daughter of Claude DELAMATER (28 Jan 1692-) & Christina LEGGET (1690-), on 27 Jun 1777 at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY. Born in 1724. Baptized at RDC Linlithgo, Columbia Co., NY, on 18 Oct 1724. Died in 1801 at Claverack, Columbia Co., NY; she was 77.

Jacob Harder & Maria VAN HOESEN had the following children:
(1). Maria Harder. Born on 18 Dec 1738. Baptized at Zion Evang. Luth. Ch., Loonenburg (Athens), Greene Co., NY, on 7 Jan 1739.
Maria married Joris DECKER, son of Joris DECKER (1695-) & Lyntje Witbeck (1703-). Baptized at RDC Germantown, Columbia Co., NY, on 12 Apr 1735. They had 5 children.

(2). Jan (or John) Harder. Born on 20 Oct 1740. Baptized at Zion Evang. Luth. Ch., Loonenburg (Athens), Greene Co., NY, on 27 Nov 1740. Died bef 1790 at Columbia Co., NY.
Jan married Magdalena MAUL, daughter of Johannes MAUL (3 Feb 1716-) & Elisabetha TROMPOUR, on 11 Sep 1768 at RDC Linlithgo, Columbia Co., NY. Born on 4 Aug 1752 at Livingston Manor, Columbia Co., NY. Baptized at RDC Rhinebeck Flats, Dutchess Co., NY, on 24 Sep 1752. Died on 26 Dec 1835; she was 83. Buried at RDC Linlithgo Cem., Columbia Co., NY. They had 9 children. Lena married 2nd Wilhelmus GROAT

(3). Michael Harder. Born in 1743. Baptized at RDC Linlithgo, Columbia Co., NY, on 25 May 1743. Died on 20 Jun 1824; he was 81. Buried at Union Cemetery, Mellenville, Columbia Co., NY.
Michael married Lyntje DECKER, daughter of Broer DECKER & Tanneke DELAMATER, on 13 Apr 1780 at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY. Born in 1759. Baptized at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY, on 21 Feb 1759. Died on 30 Jan 1834; she was 75. Buried at Union Cemetery, Mellenville, Columbia Co., NY. They had no children.

(4). Peter Harder. Born in 1745. Baptized at St. Paul's (Zion) Luth. Ch., Red Hook, Dutchess Co., NY, on 7 Jul 1745. Died before 1800.
Peter married Margreta EVERTS, daughter of Jan EVERTS & Annatje CARTER. Born on 24 Feb 1751 at Claverack, Columbia Co., NY. Baptized at Zion Evang. Luth. Ch., Loonenburg (Athens), Greene Co., NY, on 17 Mar 1751. They had 9 children.

(5). Jannetje Harder. Born on 5 Aug 1747. Baptized at Zion Evang. Luth. Ch., Loonenburg (Athens), Greene Co., NY, on 23 Aug 1747. Died on 1 Mar 1826; she was 78.
Jannetje married Cornelius I. MULLER, son of Joannes MÜLLER (1715-) & Fytje HALENBEK (1723-), on 22 Nov 1768 at RDC Linlithgo, Columbia Co., NY. Born in 1746 at Columbia Co., NY. Baptized at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY, on 11 Jan 1746. Died on 20 Oct 1819; he was 73. Buried at Ostrander Farm, Ghent, Columbia Co., NY. They had 8 children.

(6). Jacob Harder. Born in 1750. Baptized at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY, on 25 Mar 1750. Died before 1754.

(7). Nicolaus Harder. Born in 1752. Baptized at RDC Germantown, Columbia Co., NY, on 18 Jun 1752. Died before 1760.

(8). Jacob Harder. Born in 1754. Baptized at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY, on 23 Nov 1754. Died on 7 Sep 1798 at Hudson, Columbia Co., NY; he was 44.
Jacob first married Rebecca BOGARDUS, on 30 Nov 1780 at rec. Zion Evang. Luth. Ch., Loonenburg (Athens), Greene Co., NY. They had 1 child.

(9). Elizabeth Harder. Born in 1757. Baptized at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY, on 11 Apr 1757. Died on 11 Mar 1836; she was 79. Buried at Burial Ground, Route 23, Town of Greenport, Columbia Co., NY.
Elizabeth married Glaude DELAMATER, son of Jan DELAMATER (13 Jul 1718-) & Hilletje MULLER (1726-), bef 1780. Born in 1752. Baptized at Harlem, Kings County, NY - rec at RDC Claverack, on 11 Aug 1752. Died on 30 Dec 1842; he was 90. Buried at Burial Ground, Route 23, Town of Greenport, Columbia Co., NY. They had 8 children.

(10). Nicholas Harder. Born in 1760. Baptized at RDC Claverack, Columbia Co., NY, on 26 Apr 1760.
Died after 1820 at Ghent, Columbia Co., NY.
Nicholas married Margaret SCHMIDT, dau. of Nicholas SCHMIDT (25 Dec 1737-) & Christina HAMM(1733-). Born in 1764. Baptized at RDC Linlithgo, Columbia Co., NY, on 6 Oct 1764. Died on 5 Dec 1834; she was 70. Buried at Union Cemetery, Mellenville, Columbia Co., NY. They had 8 children.