African-American British Loyalist Outlaw, American Frontier Serial Killer, and Folk Figure. Little is known of his earlier life. Micajah also, known as Joshua Harper, John Harper, Micajah Harper, and "Big" Harpe and his brother or cousin, Wiley "Little" Harpe. Conflicting sources indicate they were born in Orange County, North Carolina or that they were born in Cape Fear, Craven County, North Carolina. The Harpes were Loyalist outlaws in the Revolutionary War who became the first known serial killers in America. With their entourage of three women who accompanied them, they went on a killing spree through Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois of over forty people from 1797 to 1799. Micajah was killed and beheaded in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky by regulators in 1799. If Micajah was buried in a grave is not known but according to tradition, he was left where he died for animals to dispose of. The Harpe Brothers exploits are told in the books, "The Outlaws of Cave-In-Rock", The Outlaw Years: The History of the Land Pirates of the Natchez Trace", and "Legends of the War of Independence".
African-American British Loyalist Outlaw, American Frontier Serial Killer, and Folk Figure. Little is known of his earlier life. Micajah also, known as Joshua Harper, John Harper, Micajah Harper, and "Big" Harpe and his brother or cousin, Wiley "Little" Harpe. Conflicting sources indicate they were born in Orange County, North Carolina or that they were born in Cape Fear, Craven County, North Carolina. The Harpes were Loyalist outlaws in the Revolutionary War who became the first known serial killers in America. With their entourage of three women who accompanied them, they went on a killing spree through Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois of over forty people from 1797 to 1799. Micajah was killed and beheaded in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky by regulators in 1799. If Micajah was buried in a grave is not known but according to tradition, he was left where he died for animals to dispose of. The Harpe Brothers exploits are told in the books, "The Outlaws of Cave-In-Rock", The Outlaw Years: The History of the Land Pirates of the Natchez Trace", and "Legends of the War of Independence".
Gravesite Details
Body decapitated possibly lost, destroyed, or buried in unknown location.
Family Members
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