There were two branches of the Harris family of Southwark.

The great problem of untangling the offspring of any man is one of differentating between the offspring of a brother, or cousin. This is because the family of a cousin gained through marriage became the shared ‘resource’ of the wider family, into which all cousins could intermarry. Thus, if a. married b, three generation later, the convergence of a. and b.’s surnames may have derived from a br. of a. and a br. of b.

The suggested relationships outlined as follows are the suggestion of two esteemed Harris researchers of long standing. They do not represent my viewpoint. I have given a notation A-N for the generations of this Harris family. My caveat is that E, G, and N are somewhat interchangably problematic.

The fuller relationshipd between these Southwark families is given in other posts.

Southwark was a hub of the trade route to Virginia, to where many families engaged in trade gravitated.

A. 1. John Harris, b. c. 1495. James v Harrys. Plaintiffs: Thomas James. Defendants: John Harrys of Southwark. Subject: Deeds and household goods of Richard Pecocke (Pococke) of Southampton, merchant, deceased, whereof complainant is administrator. Hampshire. 1544-1551. C 1/1237/37-38.

B. 1.1. John Harris, b. c. 1520. Gyles v Bellson. Plaintiffs: Thomas Gyles, citizen and haberdasher of London.Defendant: Jerome Bellson, Richard Shipham, John Slaughter, Thomas Sandforde, William Freeman, John Harrys the elder, John Harrys the younger, Richard Lyllie, John Trupshawe, Edward Maryman, Richard Frethern, Ralph Pyke, William Tawney and John Tawney. Subject of decree: Moiety of 31 houses and tenements in Southwark, Surrey, commonly known as the Gleane [Glean Alley ?], late of William Chester, citizen and skinner of London. Issues from the same employed for maintenance of the poor and a school-master. Date of decree: 8 February 24 Eliz. C 78/80/9.

C. 1.1.1. John Harris the younger, b. c. 1545, d. 1616.

1.1.1.1. Robert Harris, b. c. 1570, wife Ellen Driver. She was recorded in the will of Richard Philpot, of St Saviour,‘nowe about to take a voyage to Cannyda vnder Captaine Kirke’, and makes his will as a precaution. Date proved: 1632. She was probably related to Charles Driver: ‘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‘ (B. 1. p. 540). Sept. 1665 – Agreed between Henry King and Phil. Hanniford that after Thomas Woodward has measured his 500 acres from creek to Mr. Ayres that then Phil. Hanniford can run bet. him and Henry King, above said branch contained in Sweet’s Pat. Teste, Robert [x] Flake, John Harris. 13 Jan 1663: Henry King and Alice [x] Phillips are witnesses to John Bond selling to Thomas Harris a corn mill at head of Pagen Creek. (Phillippes, William, of St Saviour, tailor. Date proved: 1601 May 18. His unnamed ‘sister and her husband John Yardley‘. TNA, Prob.11/97, f.271r-v).

The said Charles Smith is named in the will of Anne Austen, of St Saviour, widow. Date proved December 5, 1649, son of John Smith of Northinkley (sic), Gloucestershire, her kinsman. (James had br’s Edward, John, Thomas, and Richard). Others named: John Bromfield Esquire, her nephew, only son of Sir Edward Bromfield, her brother in law … Edward, John (possibly the second husb. of Olive Hardy ), William, and Anne, children of John Bromfield Esquire by his former wife Joyce … Thomas Woodward and Grace Woodward and their children Edward, Christopher Woodward, Katherine. Executor: John Bromfield Esquire. Overseers: Sir Edward Bromfield, knight, and her cousin John Smith Esquire … Witnesses: John Smith; Robert Mundey. TNA, Prob.11/210, ff.254r-255r.

Anne Austen was the widow of William Austen, of St Saviour, esquire. Date proved: 1633/4 … ‘William his underage son, to have lands and tenements occupied by William George, William Payne, Thomas Bowman, Rice Lewis, and George Hough … Mary his underage daughter. Joyce his daughter, and Joyce’s daughter Margaret Bromfeild’ … Mr Alderman Bromfeild and my sister’ … my brother Robert Bromfeild and my sister’. William Austen’s mother was a dau. of Sir Robert Clarke  … Date proved: June 16, 1607: ‘Eleanor his unmarried daughter who, with her legacies, is to be ‘in the custodie ordering and keepinge of my daughter Kinge’. Sarah his unmarried daughter who, with her legacies, is to be ‘in the custodie orderinge and keepinge of my daughter Still’ (Style). His daughter Nightingale, to care for Eleanor and Sarah should his daughters Kinge and Still be unable to … his daughter Joyner’. TNA, Prob.11/102/62, ff.15r-16r.

The Walton family of London (later Rappahannock) intermarried with the Woodwards of St. Olave’s, Southwark: 1. Christopher Woodward, bur. St. Olave, Southwark. On September 16, 1563, a Christopher Woodward, ‘Citizen and Vintner of London’ was one of the executors listed in the will (pr. December 13, 1563) of Henry Leke, ‘citizen and clothworker of London, of St. Olyve’s Southwerke’. He m. (2) Elizabeth Olbury, dau. of John Oldbury, of Shropshire. 1.1. Christopher Woodward, of Lambeth, m. (1) Catherine, dau of Thomas Audley of London; she m. (2) Robert Feltham, vintner, of St. Olave’s, Southwark.

Elizabeth Feltham of St. Thomas the Apostle, Southwark, co. Surrey, widow, made a Will dated August 14, 1620, stipulating that she is to be ‘buried in churchyard of St. Olave, Southwark, in tomb where late husbands Christopher Woodward and Robt. Feltham lie’ … and naming ‘Nichs. King; son-in-law Henry Walton; Thos. and Wm. (und. 24), sons of son Christr. Woodward, his daus. Eliz., Cath., Susan, Mary and Anne Woodward (und. 21); Henry and John Kyng, Saml. Walton and Eliz., wife of Robt. Long (all und. 24), chn. of dau., Susan Walton’ (Proved November 27, 1620).

The following may be of some significance: ‘William Lea and Alice, his wife, to William Heath, 150 acres … formerly Thomas Ffelton’s, deceased, and lyeing and being in Southwarke Parish in the County of Surry in Virginia commonly called Upper Chippoakes in the woodes joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes and neere unto the plantation which was formerly Robert Morseleys (Moseley?) adjoining to a great swamp which divides Surry County from Charles Cittie County … one hundred and fifteen acres of said land lyeth in Charles Cittie County adjoining unto the rest of the divident which lyeth in said surry County … Witnesses: Robert Spencer, John Gittings’. Dated, October 4, 1660. Surry County Court Records, Recorded, 10 November 10, 1660

Christopher Woodward and Catherine Audley had issue: Thomas Woodward, whose Will was proved October 9, 1677, in IOW, naming wife Katherine; daughters Katherine, Elizabeth, Mary, Rachel, and Philarite; and sons Thomas and John; and stipulating: ‘if my Sonn John hath left any Children in England I do give them Two full pounds apiece’ (‘Wills and Admins’, p. 17). His daughter, Anne Woodward, married Sir Henry Bromfield, sheriff of London, of the Southwark family connected to William Shakespeare. 1.1.1. Susan Woodward, m. (2) Henry Walton, of London. 1.1.1.1. ‘Samuel Walton, of St Mary’s Cray, in Kent, gentleman’, Will proved April 9, 1631: ‘to his cousin, Margaret Burrows, of Ashbourn, in the county of Derby, widow, and to his cousin, Matthew Andrews, of Mathfield, a gift of thirty shillings each; to Elizabeth Chatfield, of Bermondsey Street, in Southwark, wife of William Chatfield, twenty shillings; and he appointed his cousin, Henry Walton, of Whitechapel, citizen and haberdasher, his residuary legatee and sole executor.

‘Henry Walton, of Whitechapel, citizen and haberdasher’, was the father of Robert Walton of Rappahannock, as noted here: ‘By vertue of Letter of Attorney from Nicholas Andrews of London Gent bearing date 15 Oct 1663 … in consideration of 400 lbs. Of Tobacco … to John Payne, of County of Rappa. 560 A of land by the within mentioned formerly sold and conveied to the said Nicholas Andrews by the said John Payne … he the said John Payne paying and performing the Rents and services thereof due … this 8th day of October 1666. s/ Robert Walton. In presence of John Payne, Jr., Charles Mumford, Richard Payne, Abraham Comb, Thomas Parker’ (Deed Abstracts of Old Rappahannock Co., Virginia, part I, 1672-1676).

D. 1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, b. circ. 1595, transp. Virginia in 1621 by Gov. Yardley, of Southwark.

E. 1.1.1.1.1.1. ? Perhaps the Thomas Harris b. 1636. Peter Newsam, s.l. 1638, witnessed the Will of Richard Hinde, which was proved on December 12, 1625: ‘Hynde, Richard, of St Saviour, citizen and salter of London’. His Will names Ann, his wife, ‘John Hynde,* Richard Hynde, and William Hynde, his underage sons. Executor: Ann his wife. Witnesses: Nicholas Kinge; Peter Newsam, scrivener. Overseers: Stephen Streete of London, grocer; ‘Ralph Yardly of London’, the father of Governor Yardley of Virginia (TNA, Prob.11/147, f). The Hinde family provided a link to the Bassanos of St. Olave’s and St. Leonard’s, and to the Salter Company, thus: ‘Dorothie, dau. of Jo. Hinde of London’, married Anthony Bassano II, as follows, whose second-cousin was Dorothy Bassano, who married, in 1662, as his second wife, Thomas Harris – ‘Thomas Harris, of S’ Leonard, East Cheap, Salter, Widr, ab’ 26, & Dorothy Bessana, of S’ Lawrence Jury, Spr, ab’ 19, her parents dead; consent of eldest brother John Bezana her guardian; at S’ Mary le Bow, London. 28 Feb 1662‘.

F. 1.1.1.2. Sergeant John Harris. Nicolas Kinge was the ‘cousin’ of Richard Yearwood (father of Governor George Yearwood); he married Margaret West* in 1630, probably of the family who were neighbours of Ralph Yardley and Richard Yearwood in Southwark. Nicholas King’s daughter, by his first wife, married John Harvard’s brother; John Harvard being the brother-in-law of John Sadler, the brother-in-law of Richard Quiney.

On November 16, 1635, William Barker als Baker (son-in-law of Sergeant John Harris), John Sadler, Richard Quiney, merchants, and their associates, patented 1250 acres in Charles City County, Virginia. William Barker, bapt. on 7 May 1592 in St. Werburgh’s, Bristol; merchant and mariner (his family interchangeably called Baker), who deposed his age to be 37 in 1629, and mate of the Hopewell, which sailed fom Virginia on New years Eve of that year for England, under Captain Richard Russell, in company with ‘the Gift’ OF London, under Captain Samuel Crampton and Master Edward Beale. (See Coldham, P.W., English Adventurers and Emigrants, 1609-1660, p. 23, 1984). He bought land in Flowerdew Hundred from Abraham Piersey’s dau., Elizabeth. This property passed to his son, John, in 1655, who left the plantation to two of his sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth Limbrey.

William Barker traded out of London with his partners, which included John Sadler and Richard Quiney, Merchants, with who he patented land in Charles City County, as aforementioned. He was also a partner of Francis Derrick: April 13, 1639: ‘Bond of Francis Derrick (the younger), of Bristol, and William Barker, of Ratcliffe, Middlesex, to the King, in 1,000l. conditioned for the appearance of Derrick before the Council, to answer an accusation of piracy pretended to have been committed by him upon a Spanish ship in a voyage to Virginia, about 11th October 1636′.

Francis Derrick was the son of his namesake – see Prob. 11/176/291, the Will of Francis Derrick, Merchant of Bristol, Gloucestershire. The link to John Barker/Baker (a pobable br. of William Barker/Baker, bapt. February 14, 1600, St. Werburgh’s, Bristol) is established thus: ‘Francis Derrick to Richard Johnson, bill of sale for 30 acres, October 14, 1638: ‘Whereas John Baker and Dorothy his wife, daughter of the late deceased Sergeant John Harris, have by order of court at Henrico on the 27th day of August last surrendered to mee Captain Francis Derrick all the right and title which they and claime unto the devident of land belonging to the late deceased Georg Cawcott which was given to the said Dorothy by the last will and testament of the said Cawcott as by the surrender in the said court and by the pattent and will recorded at James Cittie, etc. For good and valuable causes and considerations. Wtnesses: Lawrence Hulett and John Owell’ (Nugent, B. 1., part 2, p. 113).
G. 1.1.1.2.1. ?
H. 1.1.1.2.1.1.?
==========================================================
1. 1.1.2. Thomas Harris, m. Sarah Treherne; her sister Anne m. Edward Griffin. Sara Treherne m. 2. William Iremonger, son of his (John Treherne’s) daughter Sara by her now husband William Iremonger gentleman’.

J. 1.1.2.1. William Harris, ‘Fishmonger’, d. 1600, ‘son of his (John Treherne’s) daughter Sara by her former husband Thomas Harris’. deceased’. The Will of ‘Jeffrey Williamson, of St Saviour, (Southwark) fishmonger’, was proved April 8, 1589 … Overseers: ‘William Harris, fishmonger‘. Others named Elizabeth his wife. Thomas Williamson, his brother. William Harris and Edward Griffin both married daus. of John Treherne Sr. … Edward Griffin was the father of Thomas Griffin, father of (1) George Griffin, whose wife was Joan Griffin, as described in her will, proved April 19, 1661: ‘Joan Griffin of the County of High Nockect in the River Ausemund in the Country of Virginia and now being in St. Ollave’s parish near London … (2) Thomas Griffin, father of his namesake, appraiser of the estate of ‘Richard Williamson, Appraisal taken November 16, 1665. Mr. Peter Garland Adm., Appraisers: Francis Ayers, Richard Williamson, Thomas Griffin …’. Reg: August 9, 1666 (B. 2, p. 6).

Given the continuous association in Virginia between this family of Griffin and one of Williamson, it seems highly probable that Thomas Williamson, brother of Jeffrey, was the ancestor of the said Richard Williamson, and he the father of Dr. James Williamson and Dr. Robert Williamson, as follows. The connection of the Harris family to that of Williamson was probably based on ‘William Harris Fishmonger’ being the brother-in-law of ‘Jeffrey Williamson, fishmonger’, and his brother, Thomas.

K. 1.2.1. William Harris, the ‘underage son’ named in his father’s Will of 1600, married Elizabeth Stanlie, on February 20, 1602, in St. Olave, Southwark.

L. 1.2.1.1. William Harris Jr. married a sister of John Shepeard (TNA, Prob. 11/318/482, Will of John Shepheard, Grocer of Southwark, November 14, 1665), they being partners of George Baldero, ‘merchant of London’ (c. 1603-1666), who deposed (HCA 13/71) on May 29th, 1656 in the case “On the behalfe of Henry Baldero, William Harris and John Shephard English Merchants touching the shipp the Catherine, John Thompson Master’.

M. 1.2.1.1.1. William Harris, who, at St. Olave, Southwark, married (May 25, 1643) Elizabeth Arnell. Anthony Arnell was a transportee of Thomas Harris: March 2, 1658: ‘Thomas Harris, 1000 acres, Isle of Wight Co. Upon a swamp running into the W. branch of Nansamond Riv., including 2 Indian fields. Trans. of 20 persons: John Hardy, Alexander Vaughn, Ann Lees, William Todd, Eliz. Jones, Mary Wood, John Davis, John Griffin, Fran. Anderson, Jno. Pew, Ann Greene, Eliza. Nusome, Weltin (Walton) Harris, Anth. Arnold, Sam. Trobury, Alexander Cahill (Nugent, ‘Cavaliers and Pioneers’, vol. 1, p. 386).

N. 1.2.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1672. If, indeed this was the Thomas who d. in 1672. Governor George Yearwood, son of Richard Yearwood, was the brother-in-law of Edward Payne, brother of John Payne of Virginia. John Payne of Southwark, ‘who is nowe beyonde the sea’ is seen in this deed as a co-sponsor, with Thomas Griffin (a cousin of the Harris family) and William Newsum, all of St. Olave’s Southwark: ‘William Nesum, Tho. Sax, Miles Battersby & John Payne, 800 acs. called the Island Neck, lieing on N. side of Rappa. Riv. neare Curritomon Riv. mouth, Northumberland Co., 29 Jan. 1649. Same: 550 acs. in same county & same date. On N. side the Rappa. Riv., adj. to the Island Neck, running N. N. W. to Marsh Poynt Cr. Trans. of 11 pers: Richd. Pagget, Richd. Jones, Ja. Richardson, Wm. Horlson, Hugh Griffin, Tho. Griffin, Tho. Grimsditch (C&P, 2, p. 188). This obviously connects to Thomas Harris, d. 1672, as his father-in-law, Nicholas George, with John Grymsditch, received a 300 acre patent of land in Isle of Wight C., on Pagan Creek (B. 1, p. 633). John Grymsditch was a transportee of William Newsum, January 29, 1649 (Virginia Patents B. 2, p. 188).

If this Thomas, he may connect to:

Daniel Newman, of St Saviour, citizen and fishmonger of London. Testator is weak in body. Asks to be buried in St Saviour church. Date proved: 1619 July 15. Family members named: Mary his wife. Daniel Newman and Anne Newman, his underage children; Anne is not yet ten years old. James, Barnaby, Thomas, and William Newman his brothers. Mary Dennis his sister, and her husband. Edward Bromfield his brother. Others named: William Iremonger his friend. Executor: Mary his wife. Overseers: Mr Dennis, his sister’s husband; Edward Bromfield; and William Iremonger. Witnesses: Anthony Preston; George Austen; John Revill. TNA, Prob.11/134, ff.15r-16r.

A brain teaser, in reality.

copyright m stanhope 2015