NUNNEY CHURCH

In response to my opinion being asked for:

1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494. Description: Depositions as to the late abbot of Glastonbury (Somerset) taken at Wells (Somerset) before Nicholas Fitzjames esq and John Mawdleyn’ gent, king’s surveyors. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, 50, deposes that the tenement and mills were in great decay, and that for his labour he received £7 from Burges. He also received £10 for repairing the grist mill. (E 135/2/32. 24 Apil, 1544).

1.1. John Harrys, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.

1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1616.

1.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. 17 Feb 1587, in Mells (St Andrew).

1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1677, m. Alice West, October 1635, in Nunney (juxta Mells).

1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 14 August 1636, in Nunney, d. 1688.

1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham, dau. of Michael Fulgham, whose Will of February 17, 1690, named dau. Ann Harris, and was witnessed by James Benn.

Susannah Fulgham, Anne’s sister, married Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705.

The Fulghams came from Pitminster, Somerset, as did the Symes family. Sir John Symes lived at Mells. He m. Amy, the dau. of Thomas Horner esq., of Mells. A son was John Symes, the father of Thomas Symes Jr., evidenced here: Symes v Horner. Plaintiffs: Thomas Symes and Merrill Symes his wife. Defendants: Samuel Horner and Philip Horner. Subject: property in Mells, Somerset. Nat. Arch., ref. C 5/64/111 1672. His son was ‘John Symes late of Montserrat, West Indies‘, whose dau, m. Samuel Perry. Nat. Arch., ref. C 11/750/12. 1714.

These Perrys were of Wellington, Somerset, and cousins of the Symes, both families having intermarried with that of Pyne (see Will of William Symes; dated 4 June and proved 27 July 1597 by Elizabeth Symes the relict; 66 Cobham).

Richard Symes was the probable brother of the said Thomas Symes Jr. (See N&Q, 1890). His son was probably Adam Symes, father of George Sims, of Brunswick Co.; d. Sept. 1763. He bought land from his brother John Sims, on 5 November 1747, witnessed by Micajah Perry, a distant cousin. John Sims Jr., of Montserrat, was killed at the Battle of Port Mahon, and left a will stating he had no wife or male children, and gave his estate to a nephew and Godson, Symes Perry, son of Samuel Perry, and his wife, Elizabeth, who was a dau. to John Symes Jr. (See Symes v. Symes, Nat. Arch., ref. C 11/750/12. 1714.).

George Sims was the father of Adam Sims, who m. Elizabeth Walton, dau. of George Walton of Brunswick Co., and who was, thus, the brother-in-law of Nathan Harris. It is commonly supposed that Nathan was the grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Nathan Harris was the br. of West Harris.

1.1.2. Thomas Harris, bur. 3 February 1595, in Mells.

1.1.2.1. John Harris, m. Mary Tomlin, 9 November 1620, in Mells. Matthew Tomlin of the Lower Parish of Isle of Wight County to John Johnson of the same parish, ‘for a valuable consideration’, a 225-acre tract ‘commonly called Pigneck’, bounded by Thomas Harris’s corner tree, pp. 570-571.

1.1.2.2. Elizabeth Harris, m. George Hill, 27 January 1619, in Mells.

1.1.2.2.1. Nicholas Hill, who, on 30 Sept. 1664, patented 750 acres in the Upper Parish, part of the estate of Edward Bennett.

1.2. William Harris, m. Dorothy West, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.

1.2.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, sister of the said Edward Bennett.

1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, cousin of Governor Bennett of Virginia, who m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe, and second-cousin of 1. Anne Bennett, b. 1641, who married, 1st, Theodorick Bland of Westover; their son, Theodorick Bland (born 1663) m. Margaret Mann; their son, John Bland (born December 8, 1698), m. Ann West.; 2. Elizabeth Bennett, sister-in-law of Matilda Scarborough, who m. Lt. Col. John West.
Margaret Mann was probably a dau. of Thomas Mann, who, with his wife, Elizabeth, sold 150 acres on Blackwater River to Theophilus Joyner, adjoining property owned by William Mayo and (his brother-in-law) and Bridgeman Joyner. B. 1., p. 603: Thomas Man of Isle of Wight sells to Henry Hearne of Nansemond 100 acres on Corowaugh Swamp adj. James Johnson. Teste: James Bryan, Bridgeman Joyner, and James Benn.

Thomas Harris, Will  recorded 9 October 1688: ‘Son William to live with Bridgman Joyner’. (B.2, p.286)

1.2.1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1687, m. Unity … 10 April 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 dau., Mary Blake, and son-in-law William Blake. These appear to have been marriage gifts.

Surry Co., B. 5, p. 224: Henry Baker deceased, estate dated April 27th 1701. Witnesses: Robert Lancaster, Nicholas Sessoms, and Charles Savage. Sarah Baker Executrix of Estate. Robert Lancaster Sr. married Sarah, widow of 2nd husband Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710.

A br. of the afors. Elianor and Edward Bennett, Thomas Bennett, was buried on September 26, 1616 at Wivelscombe Church. He had issue:

(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).

Thomas Bennett and Alice Pierce had issue, Alice Bennett m. (1) John Hardy. Hardy, John: Leg. dau. Olive Driver, wife of Giles Driver; dau. Lucy Councill, wife of Hodges Councill; dau. Debora Hardy; dau. Olive Driver’s two children; dau. 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. (2) Thomas Johnson.

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

As I have shown elsewhere, the Hodges and Counsell families were highly likely to have been of Wedmore , Somerset (as the Lancasters), and, as the Bennetts of Wivelscombe, had strong ties to the parish of St Olave, London.

This presents parallel worlds of association; one is defined by the continuining intermarriages of families within their kinship group; another by association purely through shared business interests (Westraye and Benn families were established in St Olave); and another by association to the most powerful family within a kinship group. In this regard, this Harris family orbited the Bennetts as the Earth does the Sun.

(2) … Bennett, m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in Isle of Wight adjacent to Justinian Cooper. Their dau., 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.’ Her sister, Sarah Jackson, m. Col. Arthur Smith II.

George Hardy was an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

(3) Richard Bennett. He lived at Blackwater, in the vicinity of the plantations of Justinian Cooper and Francis England. 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, heretofore given, Robert Lancaster, whose will was probated in 1720.

Richard Bennett’s son, James, 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 his first wife, Eleanor George.

1.2.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

1.2.1.1.3. Edward Harris, d. 1677.

1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494: Depositions as to the late abbot of Glastonbury (Somerset) taken at Wells (Somerset) before Nicholas Fitzjames esq and John Mawdleyn’ gent, king’s surveyors. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, 50, deposes that the tenement and mills were in great decay, and that for his labour he received £7 from Burges.
1.1. John Harrys, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1616.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. 17 Feb 1587, in Mells (St Andrew).
1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1677, m. Alice West, October 1635, in Nunney (juxta Wells).
1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 14 August 1636, in Nunney, d. 1688. Probably he who m. Dorothie Bassano, in London, in 1662, aged 26, given her links to the Lanier family. Her sister married a Tucker.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham, dau. of Michael Fulgham, whose Will of February 17, 1690, named dau. Ann Harris, and was witnessed by James Benn. Susannah Fulgham, Anne’s sister, married Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705. The Fulghams came from Pitminster, Somerset, as did the Symes family.
(1. Sir John Symes, lived at Mells, m. Amy, the dau. of Thomas Horner esq., of Mells.
1.1. John Symes
1.1.1. Thomas Symes Jr. Symes v Horner. Plaintiffs: Thomas Symes and Merrill Symes his wife. Defendants: Samuel Horner and Philip Horner. Subject: property in Mells, Somerset. Nat. Arch., ref. C 5/64/111 1672.
1.1.1.1. ‘John Symes late of Montserrat, West Indies’.
1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Symes (dau.,not sister), m. a kinsman, Samuel Perry. (See Nat. Arch., ref. C 11/750/12). 1714.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Symes Perry.
1.1.2. Richard Symes (See N&Q, 1890).
1.1.2.1. Adam Symes
1.1.2.1.1. George Sims, of Brunswick Co.; d. Sept. 1763. He bought land from his brother John Sims, on 5 November 1747, witnessed by Micajah Perry, a cousin.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Adam Sims, who m. Elizabeth Walton, dau. of George Walton of Brunswick Co., and who was, thus, the brother-in-law of Nathan Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, and br. of West Harris).
1.1.2. Thomas Harris, bur. 3 February 1595, in Mells.
1.1.2.1. John Harris, m. Mary Tomlin, 9 November 1620, in Mells. Matthew Tomlin of the Lower Parish of Isle of Wight County to John Johnson of the same parish, ‘for a valuable consideration’, a 225-acre tract ‘commonly called Pigneck’, bounded by Thomas Harris’s corner tree, pp. 570-571.
1.1.2.2. Elizabeth Harris, m. George Hill, 27 January 1619, in Mells.
1.1.2.2.1. Nicholas Hill, who, on 30 Sept 1664, patented 750 acres in the Upper Parish, part of the estate of Edward Bennett.
1.2. William Harris, m. Dorothy West, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, sister of the said Edward Bennett
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, cousin of Governor Bennett  of Virginia, who m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe, and second-cousin of 1. Anne Bennett, b. 1641, who married, 1st, Theodorick Bland of Westover; their son, Theodorick Bland (born 1663) m. Margaret Mann; their son, John Bland (born December 8, 1698), m. Ann West.; 2. Elizabeth Bennett, sister-in-law of Matilda Scarborough, who m. Lt. Col. John West.
Margaret Mann was probably a dau. of Thomas Mann, who, with his wife, Elizabeth, sold 150 acres on Blackwater River to Theophilus Joyner, adjoining property owned by William Mayo and (his brother-in-law) and Bridgeman Joyner. (Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688: ‘my sonne William Harris to live with Bridgeman Joyner seven years).
1.2.1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1687, m. Unity …
1.2.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Harris, m. a son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of 2nd husband Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710. B. 5, p. 224: Henry Baker deceased, estate dated April 27th 1701. Witnesses: Robert Lancaster, Nicholas Sessoms, whose dau. was Mary Blake, wife of William Blake.
A br. of the afors. Elianor and Edward Bennett, Thomas Bennett, was buried on September 26, 1616 at Wivelscombe Church. He had issue:
(1. Thomas Bennett, who was claimed in 1635 as a headright by his uncle, Governor Richard Bennett
1.1. Alice Bennett, m. (1) John Hardy. 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. John Hardy m. 2. Alice Tucker, widow of Arthur Allen. Her daus. were Katherine Allen, who m. Robert Johnson, and Joan Allen, who m. Dr Robert Williamson, John Burnett, and Reuben Proctor.
1.1.1. Lucy Councill, m. Hodges Council.
2. … Bennett, m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in Isle of Wight adjacent to Justinian Cooper
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.’. Her sister, Sarah Jackson, m. Col. Arthur Smith II.
George Hardy was an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677.
3. Richard Bennett. He lived at Blackwater, in the vicinity of the plantations of Justinian Cooper and Francis England. 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. His first wife was 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. Richard Bennett’s son, 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).
1.2.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.1.1.3. Edward Harris, d. 1677.

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