Some of the families St Olave, Hart Street, Southwark, London, originated in a West Country triangle. If you imagine this triangle to be 70 mls along its base, with two sides of 40 mls, and slightly tilted to the right, you have an area which encompasses Wivelscombe to the west (in Somerset), Glastonbury (in Somerset), Wimborne, and Blandforforum (in Dorset) to the east, and Wedmore (in Somerset) to the north. They were all connected by roads which passed through Taunton. It is far more accurate to consider people as neighbours of a region, rather than giving them county affiliations. People in this triangle would have all talked with a very distinctive West Country accent, and may have chatted over several tankards of Somerset cider in Taunton on Friday night.

One notable family of this region and of Isle of Wight Co., Virginia, were the Oliffes, recorded in a Chancery Suit (Cooper v. White, &c.,) of April 20, 1631. Ann Oliffe was the niece of John White gent, d. 1635 (of Oakeford Fitzpaine, Dorset; 6 mls from Blandforforum), and of William Willis of Pamphill, in Wimborne Minster, yeoman, d. 1636. She was the sister of Robert Oliffe, and stepdau. of Christopher Lawne of Blandforforum, who had married her mother, Susan.

Christopher Lawne and his step family were religious (Puritan) refugees in Amsterdam, where they would have attended the Ancient Church of Amsterdam. Edward Bennett (merchant of London) was an elder of this Church; he being the son of Robert Bennett, a tanner, of Wivelscombe, and Elizabeth Edney, baptised February 2, 1577.

Ann Oliffe’s second marriage was to Justinian Cooper. She had first married James Harrison. Ann Oliffe payed for her own adventure, and invested £40 with the Virginia Company.

Edward Bennett established a colony near that of Christopher Lawne.

The registers of Wivelscombe show that Richard Harris married Edward Bennett’s sister, b. March 5, 1567, on October 6, 1594. Richard would appear to be the son of William Harris and Dorothy West, who married on August 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.

It is strongly suggested, however, that this Harris family resided at both Wivelscombe and Kingsbury Episcopi, near Glastonbury, some thirty miles distant, as the father of a John Harris, baptised at Wivelcombe, is recorded as being ‘of Glastonbury’. Such nearby, dual residency of families was common, and it may be noted that there was a Bennett family resident at Kingsbury Episcopi. The vastly intertwined nature of English kinship groups, which replicated themselves in colonial Virginia, were centuries in the making, and their threads of repeatedly intermarrying families can rarely be unpicked.

However, this may be a reasonable supposition:

1.
1.1. William Harris and Dorothy West, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.
1.1.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, sister of Edward Bennett, Oct. 6, 1594, at Wivelscombe. Their brother, Thomas Bennett, b. April 2, 1570, was the grandfather of Richard Bennett, Governor of the Virginia Assembly, 1652.
1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe.
1.2. … Harris, m. Agnes Ducke, March 16, 1561, at Kingsbury Episcopi.
1.2.1. …
1.2.1.1. Richard Harris, m. Thomasin Milton, May 13, 1622, at Kingsbury Episcopi
1.2.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. Feb. 2, 1624, Wivelscombe, his father, Richard, be ing recorded as ‘of Glastonbury’.
1.2.1.2. John Harris, m. Anstes Pittard, Oct. 6, 1622, who was very likely related to Edith Pittard, who m. William Hodges, Sept. 30, 1634, at Kingsbury Episcopi. It is more likely than not that it was this John Harris who was ‘John Harris, Husbandman of Glastonbury, Somerset‘, whose Will was probated June 20, 1654 (PROB 11/242/423). He mentions a brother and sister (not named), his wife, Mary, who is to have all his goods and chattels during her lifetime, which are to pass to his only son, Thomas Harris, on her death. He makes a charitable bequest of £5 to his parish. His will is proved on the oath of his son, Thomas.
1.2.1.2.1. Thomas Harris, born c. 1623-5. It may have been this Thomas Harris, or the Thomas who m. Judith Blake, who was associated with Wells, juxta Glastonbury, along with Peter West and William Bodye (Cecily Chicke widow v James Clutterbooke, William Parker, Peter West, Thomas Harris, William Body and Thomas Rood: money matters, Somerset. 1650.  (Nat. Arch., ref. C 10/9/21 ). The Bodyes were a Glastonbury family, see PROB 11/243/40; Will of William Bodye of Glastonbury, Somerset, November 28, 1654. In 1677, Thomas Harris, d. 1688, in Virginia, witnessed a deed signed by William Boddie.
1.2. Anstis Harris, m. Robert Wolcott on September 8, 1569, at Wivelscombe.

Given that a large family of Blake resided at Wedmore, it may point to the Harris of that place, Kingsbury Episcopi, and Wivelscombe being regional kin.

Some of the Blake marriages recorded in the Wedmore registers (St Mary) may have significance to colonists of early Virginia:

Isabell Blake & Thomas Rainold 7 Feb 1594
Edeth Pytt & Richard Blake 4 Nov 1598
Grace Blake & Richard Adames 12 Nov 1601
Joanam Blake & Robertus Pope 6 Feb 1622
Margeriam Blake & Johannes Smith 11 Apr 1627
Joanam Champeney & Richardus Blake 29 Oct 1629

Wedmore was written about by E. Jackson, in ‘Wedmore Parish Registers’, 1890: ‘There is a reaper whose name is Death. These are they whom he took from a single parish during a space of 300 years. One naturally asks, What was the population from which he took them ? The earliest account of the population of Wedmore that I know of at present is in a Presentment of Jurors, November 26th, 1650. (Lambeth MSS., Vol. XV. 471.) It is there said that “the Parish of Wedmore consisteth of about 300 families.” Whether that would bring the population up to 1000 1 know not. Judging from the high rate of mortality amongst infants, one would say that the average number to a family must have been smaller then than it is now’.

A small extract from the registers examplifies more than a thousand words of theory the ‘second-cousinship’ nature of English parishes:

Thomas Hobbes & Amisiam Cowncell 15 April 1564
Johannam Counsell & Gulielmus Frie 7 Jun 1602
Joannes Harris & Penelopie Millard 9 September 1611
Agnetam Millard & Thomas Webb 22 Feb 1611 Wedmore
Anne Hodges (da. of Captain Thomas Hodges), bapt. at Wedmore (Aug. 1612), m. George Lyte, of Leighterton, Glouc.
Mariam Kirby & William Counsell 27 Jan 1615
Georgius Harris & Joana Webb 28 April 1623
Graciam Stone & Richardus Haine 26 Nov 1627
Graciam Pitt & Johannes Haine 17 Jun 1633
Susannam Lancastle & Willielmus Hodges 5 Apr 1638 (surn. var. Lancaster, Lankester, Langcaster)
Joane Harris & Robert Lide 4 May 1652  (surn. var. Lyde, Lyd, Leyde, Lide, Layde, Lyte, Lite, Leyte).
Joane Thatcher & Richard Harris 14 Apr 1656 Barrow Gurney (7mls from Wedmore), residence of the Counsell family.
William Harris & Anstice Kerbey 20 June 1660
Robert Thatcher & Alice Webb 9 Aug 1660
Susannam Hayne & Guilielmus Counsell 30 Apr 1663
Joannam Tanner & Joannes Cousell 9 Jan 1666
Edvardus Harris 8 August 1624, father: Robti Harris
Johes Harris 5 December 1629, father: Roberti Harris
Benjaminus Harris 8 July 1638 father: Benjamini Harris, mother: Joannae

In 1612, Richard Counsell of Wedmore was granted a licence to buy butter and cheese within the county of Somerset and to sell the same in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

On the 7th May 1655, Jeremy Horler married Ann, widow of George Hodges, who had died only two months earlier. This marriage, which seems to indicate that the Hodges family were on the Parliamentary side in the Civil War, was of considerable social advantage to Mr. Horler as he thereby gained a residence at the manor-house where he continued to live until his wife’s death in 1684

In the north chapel of Wedmore Church is part of a monument tothe Hodges family which incorporates brasses to Captain Thomas Hodges, who was killed at the siege of Antwerp in 1583, and his son George, who died in 1634: they were the son and grandson of the Thomas Hodges who bought the manor of Wedmore in 1577. The body of Captain Hodges was buried in Flanders, but his heart was sent to England for burial: the inscription on his brass concludes with theverse:- “Here lyes his wounded heart for whome one kingdom was too small a room; Two kingdoms therefore have thought good to part so stout a body and so brave a heart”.

The Councell and Hobbs family, as given, were intermarried from an early period, and were often at odds:

(Hobbs v Councell. Plaintiffs: John Hobbs. Defendants: William Councell. Subject: property in Barrow Gurney, Somerset Nat. Arch., ref. C 3/275/51, 1596-1616) This litigious relationship continued: Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings, Series II, Elizabeth I to Interregnum. Councell v Counsell. Plaintiffs: Ruth Councell.Defendants: Thomas Hobbs and [unknown] Counsell. Place or subject: property in Tooley Street, Southwark, Surrey. C 7/83/109. 1688. The Church of St Olave was situated on Tooley Street.

The overwhelming likelihood is that Hodges Counsell, of Virginia, was a son of the Hodges and Counsell families associated with Wedmore.

As with the Bennetts, families of the ‘Harris Triangle’ were associated with St Olave, Southwark, and its thriving port, the gateway to European and ‘New World’ trade, to which the sons of provincial families flocked, establishing residence, and hoping for new found wealth. They would have become acquainted with the established merchants of this place, such as William Harris, evidenced here: ‘Peter Pope, notary public, in Rotterdam, Holland. That John Shepeard of Rotterdam appoints ‘his well beloved brother Wm Harris’ to receive ac/s from Wm. Underwood or James Williamson, merchants, living in Virginia, particularly for all goods delivered the said Williamson in the absence of (William) Underwood … late end of the year 1648′ (Beverly Fleet). William Harris married a sister of John Sheppard. (TNA,PROB 11/318/482, Will of John Shepheard, Grocer of Southwark, November 14, 1665).

This presents two parallel worlds of association; one is defined by the continuining intermarriages of families within their kinship group, as exampled in the Wedmore parish registers; the other by association purely through shared business interests. Thus, in colonial Virginia, it is difficult to seperate families of the same name which, though, not kin by descent or marriage, are joined by the DNA of trade, otherwise, in Virginia, known as tobacco.

A legion of early settler families resided in Southwark – Arnold, Bennett, England, Felton, Griffin, Holman, King, Newsam, Paine, Powell, Walton, Westraye, Woodward, Yeardley, to name but few – who were often intermarried. A conclusion is that there were different families of Harris in colonial Virginia which appear as one through sharing non-familial associations.

The Bennett family of Wivelscombe seem to be the familial link which may be used to identify the origins of a Harris family of Virginia.

The Bennetts:

1. Robert Bennett, m. Elizabeth Edney. His will, probated in Nov. 1603, lists a number of Children; others may beinferred from the christeningslisted in the parish registers. He had as many as 15 Children, some having the same name as earlier children who had died. Thomas Bennet, his eldest surviving son, was bapt. at Wiveliscombe on April 2, 1570. He was the sole executor of his father’s will in 1603. One of Thomas’s sons, Richard Bennet, bapt. Aug. 6, 1609, became Governor of Virginia.
1.1. Thomas Bennett. He was buried on September 26, 1616 at Wivelscombe Church. In the adjoining Parish of Milverton, three miles distant, a Thomas Bennett is recorded as marrying Anstie Tomson (Somerset marriages, vol. 13, p. 102).
1.1.1. Thomas Bennett, who was claimed in 1635 as a headright by his uncle, Governor Richard Bennett. This Thomas d. in 1642, in Lawnes Creek; marrying, secondly, bef. Oct. 10, 1624, Alice, ‘formerly the widow of one Pierce’, for at the General Court in October, 1624, ‘Elizabeth Pierce chose her father in law (stepfather), Thomas Bennett, as her guardian’ (V.M. 20, p. 155).
Alice (Pierce) Bennett lived in the vicinity of Lawne’s Creek, for on June 10, 1642 George Hardy received a grant of 300 acres upon the eastermost side of Lawne’s Creek adjacent to Alice Bennett. On June 19, 1642, John Stocker patented 200 acres adjoining Mr. Hardy’s land and the widow Bennett. She bought 150 acres from her neighbour, Justinian Cooper, on April 2, 1644, for a cow and a calf and a barrel of corn.

Justinian Cooper had previously patented 1050 acres in 1636 lying at the head of Lawne’s Creek. Alice Bennett, sometime after this purchase from Justinian Cooper, deeded the same to her granddaughters Sarah and Mary Jackson.

1.1.1.1. Alice Bennett (m. 2. Thomas Johnson), m. 1. John Hardy. Hardy, John: Leg. daughter Olive Driver, wife of Giles Driver; daughter Lucy Councill, wife of Hodges Councill; daughter Debora Hardy; daughter Olive Driver’s two children; daughter Lucy Councill’s three children; my wife’s grandchild John Johnson; son-in-law Robert Burnett; William Mayo. Wife Alice Extx. D. October 7, 1675. R. June 9, 1677. Wit: Richard Rennalds. Nugent, C&P vol. 1, p. 569: Mr. John Hardie (Sr.) 1150 acres IOW Co, 5 June 1666. Beginning at upper corner tree of Mathew Tomlins old land, running SSE by Wm. Westwrayers land &c.SW on Mathew Tomlins new land, then S &C.Trans. Of 23 persons.
1.1.1.1.1. Lucy Counsell. ‘I give to my dau Lucy Councill the wife of Hodges Councill one tract of land on the Southeast of the said Branch or swamp that the former land is joyned unto, extending in its full bounds to the line of Wm. West’s and so running up the Pocoson to the said parcel of land. I do freely give and bequeath to her and to any of her heirs lawfully begotten of her body and to their hiers forever. W.B 2, p. 146

1.2. Elianor Bennett, m. Richard Harris, almost certainly the son of William Harris and Dorothy West.

As is evident, Harris of this family were varying degrees of cousin of those associated with both Thomas Harris, d. 1672, Edward Harris, d. 1677, John Harris, d. 1687, and Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

1.1.2. … Bennett, m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in Isle of Wight adjacent to Justinian Cooper
1.1.2.1. Mary Jackson, m. Capt. George Hardy, who patented 500 acres on July 17, 1648 ‘lying on east side of Lawne’s Creek extending to main river and along the great river to the creek dividing the same from land of Alice Bennett’. On June 19, 1666, he made a deed to land which belonged to his wife Mary whom he refers to as the ‘daughter of Richard Jackson, dec.’

George Hardy presented the will of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

1.1.2.2. Sarah Jackson, m. Col. Arthur Smith II.
1.1.3. Richard Bennett. He lived at Blackwater, in the vicinity of the plantations of Justinian Cooper and Francis England, of St Olave. In 1669, Thomas Wood, son of Arthur Wood and Sarah Wooten his mother, ‘relict of Arthur deceased’, deeded him land as ‘Richard Bennett of Blackwater’. iN 1666, Colonel Arthur Smith made a deed to land at ‘Blackwater’ inherited by his wife, Sarah Jackson, from her grandmother Alice Bennett.

Richard Bennett’s first wife was named Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry). Mr. Charles Barham Ex., Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tuke overseers, were officers of the will of william Ridley, who was probably the brother of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.

The wife mentioned in his Will was named Sarah, who subsequently married Robert Lancaster, whose will was probated in 1720. Sarah (Bennett) Lancaster’s Will was probated January 29, 1723. Richard Bennett, Sr., died in 1709. 15 years before his death he made a deed of land in Surry to Ann Bell, a married granddaughter.

Robert Lancaster’s son, Samuel, m. Elizabeth Harris, dau. of John Harris (d. 1687) and Unity Harris.

1.1.3.1. Susan Bennett, m. Daniel Lewis.
1.1.3.2. James Bennett, who is mentioned as ‘godson’ in the will of Joyce Cripps, wife of George Cripps and former wife of Francis England, April 8, 1679. As given, Justinian Cooper deeded land to James’ grandmother, Alice Bennett in 1644 and that Cooper’s land was adjacent to that of Francis England. England made his will the 13th of March 1677 as ‘Francis England of Blackwater’. ‘I, James Bennett, of Southwark Parish in the County of Surry, give to my son William Bennett plantation on which he now lives in part of a tract formerly bought of Charles Binns; to my son James 20 sh.; to my son John all my carpenters and coopers tools now in his possession. To daus. Anne, Martha, Mary and Sarah, personalty. To my daughter Bridget the use of my best house as much land as she can work. To my son Samuel the use of my plantation where he now lives. After death of Samuel and his wife without male issue I give plantation to my grandson, Thomas Bennett, son of William Bennett… Samuel to be exr’. Teste; Charles Binns, William Goodwyn, Wm. Batt, Wm. Clark. Probated Oct. 17, 1752. (Wills 3, p. 804).

James Bennett witnessed the Will of Joseph Bridger. Prob. Apr. 9, 1685: ‘Son: William land granted to me by escheat of 850 acres formerly belonging to Nathan Floyd, except what is disposed of by me to Francis Hobbs, Mrs. Dorothy Bond, and William Blount … To my wife the land on which I now dwell of 850 acres formerly belonging to Capt. Upton … Daus: Martha Godwin, Mary, Elizabeth, and Hester. Wit: James Bennett, Robert Pitt, Samuel Luck, Richard Glover. B. 2, p. 242.

Francis Hobbs was brother of Margaret Hobbs, 1st wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris d. 1672 and 1st wife Eleanor George.

1.1.3.3. Richard Bennett. In 1699, he was given the plantation ‘bought of William Miles in 1656’ by his father, Richard, Sr. The name of Richard’s wife is unknown. He made his will in 1720, as follows, ‘I, Richard Bennett, of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight, give to son Richard 200 acres of land where he now lives; to my son James the other 200 acres where he now lives, it being a conveyance of 400 acres taken out Mr. John Cofer’s patent of 1450 acres; to Jane Cofer and her two sons Robert and John Cofer, my plantation whereon I now live, it being part of the land which was bought of William Miles. Also to Jane Cofer a small trunk and a gold ring; to Richard Cofer my long gun. To Magdalen Cofer a great pewter dish and basin; to Frances Mangum my granddaughter a feather bed and furniture; to dau. Silvester, dishes and plates. Jane Cofer and William Allen, exrs. My trusty friends, John and James Carter to the overseers’. Deborah Portis, Widow of John Portis, appoints Richard Bennett, son of Richard Bennett, Sr. and Thomas Harris, her attorneys. Wits: Francis Floyd, Thos. Wilson, Benj. Drewit. Rec. Nov 21, 1704. IOW B. 2, pp. 16-17.

Thomas Harris, son of Thomas Harris d. 1688?

1.1.3.3.1. Richard Bennett, according to the Quit rents for Surry in 1704, he was holding 200 acres in that county. This may be the 200 acres on which he was living at the time of his father’s death. On May 23, 1744, John Langston of Surry deeded Robert Gray 200 acres on north side of Black Swamp in Surrey which he had purchased of Richard Bennett. Richard Bennett died intestate in Surry in 1735. Inventory of his estate was recorded in January 21, 1735. His personal property was appraised at 51 pounds by James Washington, Wm. Evans and Thomas Bell.
1.1.3.3.2. Ann Bennett (Bell). Ann Bell, lately Ann Bennett, a dau.of Richard Bennett, Jr., of the Upper Par. of IOW Co., was married to John Bell with the consent of her gr/father Richard Bennett, Sr.. Richard Bennett Sr. gives Ann Bell, his gr/dau., ‘for love and affection … four score acres in the Lower Par., of Surry Co., pt. of 630 ac. escheated to sd. Bennett, Sr., and b/b the W/S of Pocatnick Swamp, and the land of my son James Bennett. Sig: Richard Bennett Wits: John Bell, James Bennett, Joseph Ford. Rec. Sept 4, 1694. Surry B. 5, p. 17. Thomas Harris, 40 acs. Isle of Wight Co. At the head of one of the branches of Pagan Cr., bounded with his own land on N. E., Fran. Smith on S. W., Thomas Prichard on S. E. & John Davis on N. W. Trans. of Peter Bell. Rec. 14 Aug. 1652. C&P 1, p. 205. The Will of Captaine Henry Browne, prob. Surry co., Feb. 20 1739: ‘I forgive the following people debts they owe me – John Bynam, Edward Harris, Richard Bennet, John Bell’.

1.3. Edward Bennett, a wealthy London merchant, who lived in the parish of St Olave.
He was Deputy-Governor of the British Merchants of Holland. On November 21, 1621, he obtained a patent for a plantation which was conditional on the settling of 200 immigrants. (See William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1933), pp. 117-130). In 1656, his nephew, Governor Bennett, was in England negotiating with Lord Baltimore, and made the following affidavit in the Admiralty Court in the case of Ewers against Watts, February 12, 1657; ‘I Richard Bennett, an inhabitant of Virginia but at present living in London, born at Wilscombe in the county of Somerset, aged 49 years or thereabouts’.
1.3.1. Sylvester Bennett bapt. Oct. 25, 1630 (St. Olave), m. there Major Nicholas Hill. They received 750 acs. in the Up. Par. of Is. of Wight Co., Sept. 30, 1664, ‘being the moiety of 1500 acs. appertayning unto the sd. Silvester & her sister, who were daughters and Coheires to Mr. Edward Bennett, decd. Beg. upon the top of a bank of James Riv. &c. & running to place called the Rocks. Part of devdt. of 1500 acs. granted to Richard Bennett, Esqr., assigned to Major Nicholas Hill as property belonging to Mary Bland & sd. Silvester, as by deed of partition dated 8 Apr. 1663 between Tho. Bland, Esqr. Atty of Thomas Bland & Mary (Bennett), his wife, & Major Nicholas Hill & Silvester, his wife’.

Sylvester Bennett’s stepfather was a ‘Mr. Spencer’, who, given the St Olave provenance of the Bennetts, may have been related to the William Spencer who m. Alice on June 23, 1622, at St Olave. In the muster of January 24 1624, William Spencer resided at James Island with his wife Alice and their daughter, Alice. Their two surviving daus. were Anne, wife of Captain William Cockerham, and Elizabeth, who m. 1. Major Robert Sheppard (bef. 1654) of James City; Thomas Warren, of Ripple Court, Kent. Major Robert Sheppard and Elizabeth Spencer had issue: Anne Shephard, who m. 1. Thomas Hart, 2. William Newsome. On June 22, 1635, Captain William Pierce patented 2000 acres upon Lawne’s Creek near the land of William Spencer. (C & P. p. 29).

A Newsom family of St Olave were members of the Scrvenors Company; they conveyed property, and negotiated loans on behalf of clients wishing to fund a business venture, or pay off debt.

Returning now to the Thomas Harris who m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe: It is suggested that the following Blake family were of this stock.

William Phillips dying intestate, also rep. by his relict, recorded 18 Jun 1681, Security George Bell, Thomas Blake. (Chapman, p. 152).

20 Oct 1691: Francis Nicholson granted to Maj. Arthur Allen 170 acres near Mr. Tooke, Capt. England, Thomas. Blake and Ed. Brantley (Boddie, p. 639).

9 Aug 1692: Arthur Allen of Lawnes Creek Par. sells to Robert Flake of Upper Par. 170 acres lying between Thomas Tooke, Capt. England,Thomas Blake and Edmund Brantley. (ibid. p. 607).

9 Jun 1702: Thomas Blake and Alice his wife sell to John Prime for 3000lb. tobo. 100 acres of land in I. of W. Co., part of a patent of 400 acres granted him 20 Oct 1670, adj. Thomas Tooke. Wit: Ar. Smith, John Brown. (ibid. p. 647).

10 Apr 1704: Deed of Thomas Blake of Upper Par., to son William Blake and Mary his wife, 100 acres in Upper Parish, Isle of Wight Co., VA, (Alice Blake signs dower) Wit: Thos. Tooke, John Smith. (ibid. p. 653). Nicholas Sessoms gave a similar tract to his daughter Mary Blake and son-in-law William Blake.These appear to have been marriage gifts.

April 27th 1701: Henry Baker deceased estate dated April 27th 1701. Witnesses: Robert Lancaster, Nicholas Sessoms, and Charles Savage. Sarah Baker Executrix of Estate. (Surry Co., VA, Wills and Administrations Book 5, p. 224)

To repeat: Richard Bennett’s first wife was named Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry). Mr. Charles Barham Ex., Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tuke overseers, were officers of the will of William Ridley, who was probably the brother of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.

As can be easily adduced, Richard Bennett (being the nephew of Elianor Bennett, who m. Richard Harris, and cousin of their son, Thomas Harris, who m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, they being grandson ans son of  William Harris and Dorothy West), is central to understanding thr roots of a particular Harris family of Virginia.

Richard Bennett was:

1. Brother of the wife of Richard Jackson, whose dau. m. George Hardy, presenter of the Will of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

2. Father of Richard Bennett, who, with Thomas Harris (son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688) was attorney of the Will of John Portis.

3. Uncle of Alice Bennett, wife of John Hardy; their dau., Lucy, being the wife of Hodges Counsell. John Hardy’s land adjoined that of Matthew Tomlin and william Westraye, also neighbours of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

4. The Husband of Ann Barham, sister of Charles Barham, connected with Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and Thomas Tuke, with William Ridley’s Will.

It would be idle to speculate the exact nature of the relationship between these Harris, but it can be said without equivocation that it was evidenly a close one; for, to suggest otherwise, is to defy the laws of ‘genealogical gravitation’ that so bound English families to their close kinsfolk.

If the Harris myths of the past are cast aside, and the aim of descending from Harris (‘Captain’ and ‘Sergeant’) icons of early Virginia with it (these demonstrably dying without living male issue), then respect can be given to a yeoman class of Somerset settlers, who, in their farmhouse kitchen, dined on coarse bread, beef, lamb, and pork, washed down with homemade beer or cider, as they watched their daughters practice ‘country’ dances on the kitchen’s large stone floor. These were fiercely independent people, not tenants, who had their sons educated (sometimes their daughters), and who may have suscribed to the local newspaper. They were not descendants of Lords, but, knowing the value of the plough and hard work, were none the worse for that, I suggest.

copyright m stanhope 2016