This refinement of the associations of the Harris cousins of Southwark, London, in all likelihood gives the lineage of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and Thomas Harris, d. 1688. This branch of the family had intermarried with the Dryver family of Radnor, Wales, which explains subsequent land transactions in Virginia.

Whether this Harris family were also from Radnor is problematic, as Robert Harris, as follows, may have intermarried into one of the many Welsh families that inhabited Southwark. However, if the Harris family were also of Radnor, then some connection to the following Harris may be likely: ‘Feoffment by Margaret verch Rees ap Rees of the borough of Rayader, co Radnor, spinster, for a certain sum of money, of Robert lloid of the borough of Raiader gentleman, in half a burgage called Tir Margaret verch Richard ap Richard, lying between the road in Raiader called hewl yr hryd hyr (N) and a road called ylon hibw y glees yr Herbert in length, in breadth from the burgage of ap Stephen, abutting on land of Robert lloid; to hold of the chief lords. Witnesses:- William ap Edward, Morall Harrye, ap Griffithe, Thomas ap Gregor, Thomas ap Harry, John ap Howell ap John, Ryddarch ap Lawrence, Morall ap Jevan ap Stephen, Owen ap David, Lewis ap David, Jenkyn David Lloid’ (Shropshire Archives, 894/143. May 3, 1582).

They seem to have followed the sposorship of King/Yearwood kinship group of Southwark, as I have detailed elsewhere:

(Nicolas Kinge was the ‘cousin’ of Richard Yearwood; he married Margaret West in 1630, probably of the family who were neighbours of Ralph Yardley and Richard Yearwood. Nicholas King’s daughter, by his first wife, married John Harvard’s brother … Richard Yearwood, Edward Alleyn (the actor and founder of Dulwich College), Phillip Henslowe (theatre owner), George Payne, and John Treherne purchased “The Blewe House” together to leave in trust for a school in Southwark. As shown, John Treherne Sr. was the fatherin-law of both William Harris (d. 1600) and Edward Griffin; George Payne was the father of John ‘who is nowe beyonde the sea’ … The connection of London merchants to the upper Chippoakes region of Virginia, associated with Sergeant John Harris, derived from the the connections between Governor George Yardley and John Harvard, both of whom being of Southwark: The baptismal records for St Saviour’s Church, Southwark, record that John Harvard, founder of Harvard University, was baptised on November 29, 1607, his parents being Robert Harvard, a butcher in Pepper Alley, and also warden of St Saviour’s, and Katherine Rogers, who remarried twice – to John Elletson and Richard Yearwood, father of Governor George Yearwood of Virginia. John Harvard married a daughter of John Sadler, ‘of St. Stephens, Wallbrook, London, Grocer’, associate of William Baker/Barker, mariner, who married, as his third wife, the dau. of Sergeant John Harris).

This group seems to have included members of the Moore, Reynolds, and Smythe/Smith families of Southwark.

1. John Harris of Southwark, ‘cousin’ of William Harris, fishmonger’, d. 1600: ‘John Harris, of St Saviour’, Southwark, whose Will, proved May 2, 1616, states that he is ‘very sick of body’, and requests ‘burial in St Saviour parish near where his wife is lately buried’; and names Robert Harris,* his eldest son, Thomas Harris, his second son; Mary Harris, his underage daughter, and Margery Catster, his cousin. Others named: Nicholas Wilkinson. John Gattes. Executor: Christopher Olliver, ‘his trusty and wellbeloved friend’. Overseers: William Catster; Robert Maymond. Witnesses: John Grenocke; Robert Maymonde (TNA, Prob.11/127, ff.345v-346r).

*Robert Harris, m. ‘Ellen Harris, of London, widow’ of the said Robert Harris, stated in her Will, proved March 25, 1631, that she was born in Presteigne, Radnor (Wales) on New Years Day (no year given), and she is ‘in good and perfect health of minde and memory’. She asks to be buried in the church of St Olave’s, Southwark, near her late husband, Robert Harris. She made a bequest to the poor children of Christ’s Hospital, and to the Company of Woolwinders of London. Family members named in her Will were: Sarah Harris, her goddaughter, ‘not yet 16 years old, daughter of Robert Harris’; Frances Harris, wife of Richard Harris; Dorcas Bridges, late wife of Robert Marcklame, now wife of Roger Bridges (Bridgers); Sarah Bridges, underage daughter of Dorcas Bridges; Elizabeth Perkins, widow; Margaret, eldest daughter of her cousin, Isaac Driver, deceased, and his widow Barbara Driver; and their three other unnamed children; Sarah Parker, her cousin, and her daughter, Sarah Parker. Executors: Jeffrey Kerby, citizen and grocer; Reginald Parker, citizen and haberdasher. Overseer: William Wilkenson. Witnesses: Richard Greene, scrivener; Thomas Watts; Richard Badowe, servant to Richard Greene (TNA, Prob. 11/159, ff. 286v-288v). ‘Release, by Jane Bridges, of the Ley, in the parish of Webley, Co. Heref., and Thomas Bridges, to George Dryver, of Brnngwyn, Co. Radnor, and Maria his wife, of all their right in tenements and lands in Brungwyn, 10 July,1622′ (Sotherby Auction Catalogue. 1820-60). It is very likely that Ellen Harris was formerly Ellen Dryver, and the following Harris and Dryvers were cousins.

Charles Smythe of Parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, Surry (Eng), grocer appts friend Gyles Driver of Pagan Creek atty, to collect from George Moore and Henry King (D.B. 1. 540).

King, Thomas, of St Saviour. Nuncupative will. proved October 15 1603. Family members named: Elizabeth his wife. His unnamed brother the waterman, to have his boat. Executors: Elizabeth his wife, Richard More and Henry Reynoldes. Witnesses: Roger Swetman; John Sprincklett; Martin Johnson. LMA, Admon fo. 413.

1.1. Thomas Harris, ‘Thomas Harris, his second son’, born c. 1595, came to Virginia on the Temperance in 1621, as a headright of Sir Geo. Yeardley, of Southwark, London . January 13, 1663: ‘I John Bond of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia hath bargained sould & delivered unto Thomas Harris of the aforesaid County, one Cornemill standing att the head of the Pagan Creek in the same County of the Isle of Wight as shee now goeth with all such materialls as thereunto belongeth, with free priveledge to take what Timber the said Harris shall have occasion for to use for the necessary repair of the said Mill work or ffloodgates with free passage to & from the said Mill soe as not any damage or hindreance’ (Wills, Deeds, vol. 2 (1661-1719), pp. 285-86). November 1, 1667: Thomas sold the mill he bought in 1633 to Charles Driver (ibid.). He received a grant of 40 acres in Isle of Wight Aug. 14, 1652, at the head of one of the branches of Pagan Creek, bounded with his own land on the northeast, Francis Smith on the southwest,Thomas Pritchard on the southeast, and John Davis on the northeast. This patent was renewed in 1664:

‘Know all men by these prsents, That I Thomas Harris of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia planter, and Alice my Wife doe for us or Heires Executors administrators make over bargain sell & alienate, unto Major John Bond of the same County gent his Heires Executors or Assignes, One hundred & ninety acres of Land Comprized in two severall pattents, scituated lyeing & being att ye head of the Pagan Creek in the aforesaid County (Vizt) one pattent being in ye name of John Vasser Conteyning one hundred & ffifty acres of Land & bearing date the Eighteenth day of November 1635 and in the Eleaventh year of the reigne of or Soveraigne Lord King Charles the First, and the other pattent conteyning Forty acres of Land and taken in the name of the said Thomas Harris, bearing date ye ffourteenth day of August 1652 the said hundred & ninety acres of Land, to have and to [sic], according to ye bounds expressed in each pattent, with all the cleared grounds, houseinges ffences & Orchards all priveledges & Royaltyes whatsoever thereunto belongeth unto him the said John Bond his Heires Executors or Assignes For ever, with Generall Warranty against the Claymes Tytles or Molestacons of any Pson or persons whatsoever to any ptes or pcell thereof, For all which wee the abovesd Thomas and Alice doe acknowledge or selves Fully paid and sattisfied before the sealing & delivery hereof And For a Full and absolute Confirmacon To all and singular intents and purposes, doe oblidge orselves to acknowledge this our volluntary act & Deed, att the next Court to hould in the Isle of Wight County, witness our hands Seales, This Twentieth day of October 1664. Signed: Thomas Harris, Alce (O) Harris. Witnesses: Henry King, Alce (WW) Phillips. B. 1. p, 39.

‘Thomas Harris, 650 acs. on the N. side of the head of Puscaticon Cr., Lancaster Co., adj. land of Oliver Seger, & opposite an Indian Field, Trans. of 13 pers: Richard Dorman, Alexandr. Lawrence, Peter Tibball, Henry Jones, John Yate, Elenor Ogestor, Elinr. Harris, Law. Davis, Patrick Wishart, Peter Croleham, Dan. Coningham, Giles Dryver. August 23, 1656. (ibid., p. 392).

John Bond sells to Thomas Harris a corn mill at head of Pagan Creek. Test. Henry King, Alex Phillips (ibid., p. 549)

John Reynolds, planter, sells to William Boddie, planter, land in the Lower Parish where John Reynolds liveth – to pine on Pagan Creek side – to swamp were Roger Waters did live – and other side of Henry King … 30 November 1668. Test. Wm. Mayo. (ibid. p. 554).

Anthony Fulgham sells to Wm. Goddin 400 acres on Western Branch of Nasnsemond River, part of a pat. to said Fulgham and William Bressie. 12 July 1665. Test. Robert Williamson, Henry King. (ibid. p. 552).

Robert King receives a conveyance of land from William Bressie of Oxford and signs it back to him. 9 February 1670, Test. Sara King, wife (ibid. p. 561).

Thomas Norsworthy and wife Sussannah sell to Robert King land given to said Thomas by his father, 150 acres on West Side of Great Marsh behind a Island called Long Ponds. 20 July 1670. Test. John Pitt. Thomas Bevan. (ibid. p. 561).

(The Mosely family of St Saviour, Southwark, London – ‘George & Temperance’s son, Francis Yardley, married Sarah Offley, her third husband, she having married (1) Adam Thorowgood. (2) John Gookin. By John Gookin, she had Mary Gookin, who m. (1) William Moseley, and (2) Anthony Lawson. Mary was the niece of Major General Daniel Gookin of MA. (see Jester’s Adventurers of Purse & Person, p. 185, 1964). Elizabeth Yardley, b. 1615, d. 1666 in Bruton Parish, York Co., sister of Francis, m., as first wife, Joseph Croshaw; their daughter, Unity Croshaw, married Colonel John West. Mary Bromfield, d. bef. May 28, 1673, widow of Thomas Bromfield, was Joseph Crowshaw’s fifth wife. Ralph Yardley, father of George, mentions, in his Will, his ‘sister’, Ann Palmer, widow of John Palmer, whose Will names Richard Yearwood and Nicholas Kinge as her cousins. Ann’s daughter, Anne, m. (2) Robert Bromfield, the brother of Edward Bromfield, merchant, and lord Mayor of London, who married Margaret Payne, daughter of John Payne of Southwark, ‘now beyond the seas’.

The son of Mary Gookin and William Mosely, William Moseley Jr., his wife, Susannah, and their sons, William and Arthur Mosely,* were in Lower Norfolk County probably as early as 1649.

The children of *Arthur Moseley are named in Sarah Piggott’s will dated 1 April. 1689, proved 15 May, 1689, to wit: – ‘Grandchildren, Mary Moseley, Susan Moseley, William Moseley and his heirs, Edward Moseley – overseer for grandson Simon, son of William Hancocke’. (Abstracts of Norfolk County Wills,  McIntosh, p. 126). Sarah Piggott was married three times; first to Gilbert Gaye, second to Symon Hancock, third to … Piggott. The children named in her will are those of the union with Symon Hancock. Her daughter, Ann, was the wife of Arthur Moseley.

The Bromfields are shown in this Will as cousins of the Gaye family: Grace Bromfield of St Saviour. Testator is the widow of Thomas Bromfeild of Sevenoaks, Kent, gentleman, deceased. Testator is weak in body. Asks to be buried in St Saviour church. A bequest to the poor of St Saviour. Proved March 14, 1631. Family members named: Robert Bromfeild her son, his wife Ann, and their children Thomas Bromfeild, Elizabeth Bromfeild, John Bromfeild, Esther Bromfeild, and Edward Bromfeild; also Robert’s daughter Sarah Gaye and her husband Richard Gaye. Witness to the codicil: Thomas Eaton. LMA, DW/PA/7/12, ff.63v-66r and DW/PA/5/1631/21.

The Dryver/Harris family of Southwark, London, intermarried with the Bromfields: Olive Hardy, dau. of John Hardy named in her father’s 1676 Will as married to Giles Driver of Southwark, London, was thrice married; she m. 1. Giles Driver, issue: Robert, Charles, Giles Jr., John, and dau. Hardy Driver. Giles Driver’s will was probated on June 9, 1677, wife Olive was sole executrix. His nephew, John Council, and nephew-in-law, Richard Wooten (husband of Lucy Council) appraised Giles’ estate. (B 2, p.146). 2. John Bromfield, in 1677 (B. 1, p. 431 & B. 2, p. 454). They had a dau. Anne Bromfield,  identified in her step-father’s, John Pitt’s, Will (ibid.). 3. Lt. Col. John Pitt, having issue: Anne,* Robert, Sarah, John Jr., Prudence, Henry, Mary,* and James Pitt (Pitt’s will proved January 9, 1703).* married Thomas Calcott. ** m. Arthur Smith 111.

It was not that the Harris family of Southwark were directly related to such as the Pitts, the Moseleys, the Hardys, the Kings, the Smiths, etc, but, as maternally Dryver, they were related to someone related to someone who was; and this is how colonisation proceeded – through chains of familial associations, which undoubtedly continued in Granville Co.

A List of Granville Co. Tithables taken by John Martin for the year 1757:
William Moseley 1
William Mosely Sen’r 2
William Kimbrough 1
John Mosely 1
Giles Driver 1
James Arnold 1

Will of Robert Harris, Granville Co., N.C. Will Book 1, 1772-1787, pp. 519-521. Associated with William Kimbrough.
Will of Hardy Harris, Granville Co., N.C. Will Book 12, 1830-1833, pp. 350-352).

John Smith and Ann Smith bequeath to John Mackmihill 20 acres of land bought from Capt. Wm. Oldis, late of Nansemond and Robert Ruffin of Surry adj. upon Capt. George Norsworthy late of the County of Nansemond and the other side of Mather Tomlin’s land. 9 December 1689. Test. John Browne, Robert Lawrence. (ibid. pp. 602-3)

1.2.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, 1636-1688. Thomas Harris m. Dorothy Bessana, of S’ Lawrence Jury, Spr, ab’ 19′. ‘George Bryar & Rich. Lawrence, 3000 acs. Rappa. Co. on Ewd. side of Rappa. Cr., 16 Mar. 1663. Beg. on sd. Cr. side adj. land of Col. More Fantleroy & opposite to the now plantation of Col. Walker, extending along the Cr. side to land of Charles Grimes, dec’d., bounded by same, land of Mr. Jno. Hull & his own to white oak in his Cr. &c. Trans. of 60 pers: … Thomas Harris, Ann Harris, Susan Harris … Mathew Tomlin … Andrew Joyner …’. He was a neighbour of the Ruffins and Tomlins. Mathew Tomlin Jr. m. Mary Watson, dau. of John Watson and Frances Bond, dau. of John Bond and Dorothy Harris, dau. of Sergeant John Harris? If so, John Harris of Southwark, ‘cousin’ of William Harris, fishmonger’, d. 1600, must have had some strong connection to Sergeant Harris.

copyright m stanhope 2015