An individual, so identified, was appointed - in Killingly - as executor of the Last Will of my 6th great grandfather, John Baker, on April 6, 1763. In that will, he was identified by John Baker as "...my true and well beloved friend." Some 20 years earlier on November 21, 1748, he witnessed a land purchase in Killingly by another of my ancestors. (His name was spelled Barachiah Harndale in that transaction.) He also may have had a son, Benjamin, who was living in Killingly in the early 19th century.
Has anyone traced this line? If so, can you tell me anything of Harnden's origins, antecedents, etc.? I'm beginning to suspect that because of his various connections with my people during the mid-18th century in Killingly, he may have been related to them in some manner. (Incidentally, he seems not to be the Barachias Harnden b. in Wilmington, Mass in 1712, and d. in Conn in 1788.) Thanks, in advance, for any advice or assistance you may care to render.

There are a lot of different ways the Harnden Surname has been spelled in the past. And this particular Harnden's first name has been spelled a number of ways as well, but I asure you that this is the same person as Barachias Harnden. I don't know what the Baker connection is, if there is any other then friendship. As far as Benjamin his father was a Benjamin, but more importantly to our family tree he had a brother Benjamin b. 12 Mar 1697 in Reading, Mass. this Benjamin fell of the Radar and may be the on up in Conn. any information on him would be helpful.

Here's the information on the person your talking about:

Barachias Harnden (Benjamin , Richard , Richard ) was born 10 Jan 1713 in Wilmington, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died 8 Feb 1788 in Salem, New London, Connecticut.
Because that part of Eastern Mass., where the early Harnden families lived had become thickly populated. Barrachius Harnden and his family (sometime after 1735) migrated to the frontier to the vicinity of Hebron and Salem, Connecticut.
The family was at this location during the French and Indian war, when all male members of the family of military age went with the Colonial Troops for the invasion of Canada about 1755.
The women and children were left alone to provide for themselves and had to drive back the hostile Mohegan Indians for more then a year. The family evidently remained together in this location until the close of the Revolution.
When his son Jonathan and his immediate family moved to Granville, New York.
Barrachius was a soldier in the Revolationary War, from the vicinity of Salem, Conn., he enlisted on 12 Sep 1778, in Capt. David Cady's Company of Colonel Chapman's Regiment of the Connecticut Militia.

Hope this helps.

If you have any Harnden questions Email me, Dan