Oh, that explains it - I'm sure it was one of my posts, as I have yet to encounter anyone else that ever traced their Harts back as far as Samuel, and it was only after I teamed up with my aunt and my cousin that we were able to piece that much together. I believe I've looked around on the PRONI site before, but was never able to find anything until you came along. I'm surprised to not find any mention of the surname Harrow or Marrow...I figured that even with a transcription error, one or the other would be correct.
Now, I tried posting the image of this, but the 500KB attachment limit prevented that, so here it is. A distant cousin of mine was kind enough to share this poem that was passed down through the descendants of Samuel's son, Moses - who is the only one of Samuel's children not mentioned here, which we suspect was Moses' choice when he made copies of it from the original in 1856. It was written by a school teacher named McKinney that was a friend of the family.
LINES COMPOSED OF THE ANCIENT PROPRIETORS OF SHANVALLEY NOW PREPARING FOR AMERICA.
By MCKINNEY
Shanvalley once the pride of all these parts,
And flourish’d long beneath the Race of Harts
As if in sorrow at their going away,
Now clouded seems, and falling to decay.
The fertile fields and meads so gay so green,
Where winter’s withered face could scarce be seen,
A different aspect here of late assumes
All of their verdant beauties clad in gloom.
Here oft the needy and the neighboring poor
Found sure relief and still an open door;
The stranger too benighted sought the road,
To Mr. Hart’s of Shanvalley’s abode.
But now no more the sprightly dance or songs,
In blameless mirth, goes round the cheerful throng;
No more at setting sun or rising moon,
We hear the viol’s brisk enlivening tune.
You charming fair still with abundance blest,
Of beauty, grace, and modesty possess;
Entitled to unclaimed respect beside,
And always free from vanity and pride.
Farewell, be happy in a foreign land;
Eliza fair and noble Mary Ann.
Seven blooming youths of fair unblemished fame,
Recorded here, each by his proper name.
The first is Thomas, sober, wise and grave,
In person, graceful, and in conduct, brave.
Well skilled in that most useful of all arts,
To mortals, most essential in all parts.
The second, James, the noblest of our youth,
Fames for true valour, dignity and truth;
A faultless form above the middle size,
A face like Phebus beaming in our eyes,
Where Mars and Venus both united shine,
To render him complete in every line.
Two absentees already have crost o’er,
And point the way to freedom’s native shore;
Samuel and Joseph, sacred names we find
That bode success to those here left behind.
Solly and William, comely, fair and young,
The last that from a worthy mother sprung;
In them already independence glows
And their success through life hereafter shows.
Shalt thou Miss Charlotte here forgotten be
Seeing removed from those but one degree;
Delightful pratter innocence so sweet,
Might render short the passage o’er the deep.
Now to you all a long last adieu;
And if the good be happy so will you.
I did find one reference to a David McKinney that was mentioned in the 1826 school census, but I haven't found any other records that might pinpoint who wrote the poem.
