If the most tentative of cases were to be made for Sergeant John Harris of Virginia having a male heir, then some understanding of the English kinship system is necessary:

English kinship groups in Virginia were as a spider’s web. Their infinite connections stand in stark contrast to the isolated family units of today. A unique insight into how consanguineous lines of cousins intermarried, with each generation also marrying into the same families (consanguinous bonds being strengthened by non-consanguineous ones), is given in all English parish registers, small extract from which examplify more than a thousand words of theory the ‘second-cousinship’ nature of English kinship groups.

Overarching the basic model of kinship as ‘socio-economic enterprise’ was the relationship of families to the dominant family or families within their group. Powerful families provided the economic ‘umbrella’ under which others operated.

In this regard, the main family around which others hovered was that of Bennett, of Wivelscombe, Somerset; later of Bristol, Gloucestershire. They were the cog of a group of families which lived within a circle centred around Taunton.

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

Edward Bennett established a colony in Virginia near that of Christopher Lawne. (See William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1933), pp. 117-130).

Edward Bennett resided in the parish of St Olave, Southwark. His children were baptised there. Sylvester Bennett bapt. Oct. 25, 1630 (St. Olave), m. there Major Nicholas Hill, …. 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.

Southwark was a ‘melting pot’ of English society. It is a common fallacy to suppose that English people settling in Virginia came only from specific regions – many were drawn to the commercial opportunities brought about by the various London trade associations, and maintained a residence in London; moreso with the opening of the Virginia trade. It can be put no better than this: ‘Southwark, grew steadily more and more important. It was the chief thoroughfare to and from London for the southern counties, and by the coast for the busiest parts of the Continent; a place for ‘birds of passage’ (William Rendle, Philip Norman, The Inns of Old Southwark, 1888).

Southwark merchants had strong ties to Virginia. The Will of Richard Yearwood, of St Saviour (father of Governor George Yearwood of Virginia), who was John Harvard’s step-father, shows that his da., Hannah, m. Edward Payne of Southwark, br. of John Payne,* ‘now beyond the seas’. John Sadler, brother-in-law of John Harvard, was the br.-in-law of Richard Quiney, whose brother m. William Shakespeare’s da., Judith. On 16 November 1635, William Barker, John Sadler, Richard Quiney, merchants, and their associates, patented 1250 acres in Charles City County, Virginia. *John Payne bought land from Francis Hobbs: ‘John Payne, 653 acs. on N. side of Rappa. Riv., beg. at miles end of his land purchased of Fra. Hobbs. 2 June I657, p. 165, (245). Francis Hobbs was the br. of Margaret Hobbs, first wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and first wife, Eleanor George.

John Payne of Southwark, ‘who is nowe beyonde the sea’ is also seen in this deed as a co-sponsor, with Thomas Griffin (a cousin of the Harris family of Southwark), and William Newsum: ‘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 (B. 2, p. 188).

The said William Barker, bapt. on May 7, 1592 in St. Werburgh’s, Bristol; merchant and mariner (his family interchangeably called Baker), who deposed his age to be 37 in 1629, was 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 P.W. Coldham, 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 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 Pr. 11/176/291, the Will of Francis Derrick, Merchant of Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Francis Derrick was associated with Sergeant John Harris: ‘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 George Cawcott which was given to the said Dorothy by the last will and testament’ (Nugent, B. 1., part 2, p. 113).

Another family of Southwark, that of the Walton family of Rappahannock, intermarried with the Woodwards of St. Olave: 1. Christopher Woodward, bur. St. Olave, on September 16, 1563, m. (2) Elizabeth Olbury, da. of John Oldbury, of Shropshire. 1.1. Christopher Woodward, of Lambeth, m. (1) Catherine, da. of Thomas Audley of London; she m. (2) Robert Feltham, vintner, of St. Olave’s. 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’. 1.2. Susan Woodward, m. (1) John King of Bromley, Kent, and London, b. 1552, d. Sept. 15, 1603, a ‘draper and free of the companye of Cloth Workers’. 1.2.1. John King, m. Sarah Walton. 1.2.1.1. John King. He was associated with William Simmons,* and, consequently, with land associated with Sergeant John Harris. 1.2.1.2. Henry King. He witnessed John Bond selling to Thomas Harris a corn mill at the head of Pagen Creek. ‘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., inc. Giles Dryver. August 23, 1656. (B.1., p. 392). This Thomas Harris was likely to be Thomas Harris who d. in 1672.

Maj. William Rookings, son of William and Jane Rookings who had patented Flying Point, on the Upper Chippokes, in 1638, was sentenced to death in 1677. His Will mentions children, William, Elizabeth, and Jane, and (his cousin) Mary Short’s children. Overseers and guardians were his brother-in-law, Capt. Nicholas Wyatt, of Charles City, and neighbours *William Simmons and John King, afors., of Upper Chippokes, all Bacon’s supporters. Mary Short was the wife of William Short, of Charles city Co., and grandmother of Mary Short, wife of William Harris, as follows.

William Simmons was very likely of the family of ‘Samuel Simons, of St Saviour, whitebaker’; his Will pr. Nov. 10, 1635, naming Margaret Beale his mother, John Hurt (Hart) his br.-in-law; William Powell of St Saviour, whitebaker, his cousin. (TNA, Prob.11/169, ff.152r-153r). That is, William Powell, whose plantation was Chippoakes, to which many associated families of Southwark migrated.

1. William Short Sr., d. 1676, Charles City Co., m. Elizabeth Simmons, d. 1676. 1.1. William Short. Originally lived in Charles City Co., on the south side of the James River (later Prince George County); he repatented 1100 acres of land ‘above the head of Chippokes Creek about one and one-half miles up the western most branche’, identifying himself as ‘the son and heir of William Shorts’. The land had been granted to Robert Moseley on Jan. 7, 1649, and then assigned to William Short Sr., on Oct. 28, 1657. (See Tidewater Families of Virginia, p. 544). This was the land identified as adjoining that of Sergeant John Harris: ‘William Lea and Alice (Feltham), his wife, to William Heath, 150 acres … formerly Thomas Ffelton’s (son of Robert Feltham, vintner, para. 13), 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 Moseleys, adjoining to a great swamp which divides Surry Co. 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, Oct. 4, 1660. Surry Co. Court Records, R. 10 November 1660. 1.1.1. William Short. The Will of William Short was pr. Sept., 1741, in Surry Co., naming his wife, Susannah (Heath), his sons William and Thomas Short, dau. Mary Harris, grandchildren William, Sarah, Martha (ch. of William Short); granddau. Susanne (dau. of Thomas Short); da. Mary Harris; son-in-law William Harris; William and Thomas Harris (grandsons). He also mentions kinsman Benjamin Heath, to whom he left two cows and calves. Peter and Sarah Vincent were the administrators. The witnesses to his Will were William Heath, Richard Jones, and Richard Bullock (associated with Tyree Harris). The appraisers included John Mason, Christopher Tatum, and William Heath. 1.1.1.1. Mary Short, m. William Harris. 1.2. Thomas Short, moved to Cabin Point, Surry Co., having received a tract of land on Burlin Swamp from his father, on a tributary of upper Chippokes Creek. 1.2.1. William Short, lived in Wyanoak Parish; m. Elizabeth Griffith, dau. of Richard and Griffith of Prince George Co. 1.2.1.1. Cornelius Short, m. a dau. of of Isaac Tynes. 1.2.1.1.1. John Short, m. Elizabeth Echols; he lived in St Clair Co., IL. 1.2.1.1.2. Mary Short, m. (1) Isaac Echols, (2) Joseph Hancock.

Thomas Felton’s son, John Felton, is evidenced here: May 2, 1654: Bond of Robt. Mosley to Jno. Felton. Wit.: John Harris (d. 1687), Sack. Brewster (Crozier Misc. rec. vol. 6, p. 31, 2009). ‘Brewster, Sackford (in Virginia 1655, &c. ), Surry county. In his marriage license, issued in Virginia, April 22, 1655, he is styled ‘Thomas alias Sackford Brewster, of Sackford Hall, in the county of Suffolk, England, gent’, who m. Elizabeth Watkins, widow of John Watkins, of Surry county, Virginia, in 1655′ (EVB). John Watkins received apatent for 850 acres in Surry Co., at the head of Gray’s Creek, for the transportation of 10 persons, including his wife Alice. His son was George Watkins, who m. Elizabeth Prime, the dau. of Edmund Prime and … Ridley. Charles Barham m. Elizabeth Ridley, sister of the wife of Edmund Prime. William Ridley was Elizabeth’s brother. William Ridley’s Will was pr. Oct. 19, 1671 (B. 1, p. 98). His legatees included his da-in-law [stepdaughter] Jane Tuke, wife of William Tuke of Surry Co.; Edmond Prime’s five children, including daus. Elizabeth Prime and Mary Prime, and son John Prime; Mr. Barham’s two daughters, Elizabeth and Perlie; and William Tuke of Surry, ‘my wife’s son-in-law’. He names Mr. Charles Barham as executor. Wit. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

William Moseley was associated with George Yeardley, baptised July 28, 1588, at St. Saviour, Southwark, who d. in 1627, in Virginia. His wife was Temperance Flowerdew; their son, Francis, m. 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.

The intermarried Spencer and Sheppard families of Virginia were of St. Olave, Southwark, and are recorded thus: 1. ‘William & Alice Spencer’ (m. June 23, 1622), at St. Olave, Southwark. William Spencer’s nephew, Nicholas, is recorded in the St. Olave’s registers as being the father of John Spencer: ‘John Spencer 26 September 1641 f. Nicholas Spencer’. William and Alice Spencer had issue: Alice, afors., Elizabeth Spencer, who m. (1) Major Robert Sheppard (bef. 1654) of James City. He was very likely a son of ‘Francis Shepheard and Elizabeth Ellis’ (m. September 28, 1617, St. Olave). (2) Thomas Warren, of Ripple Court, Kent. 1.1. Anne Shephard, who m. (1) Thomas Hart & (2) William Newsome, both of St. Olave’s, Southwark. 1.2. Elizabeth Shepherd, m. (1) … Jones. 1.2.1. Elizabeth Jones, m. Thomas Lane, d. Jan. 3, 1709, Surry. In a Land Deed signed by his son Joseph Lane Sr, it states that: ‘Deed from Joseph Lane and Julian his wife of Isle of Wight County, Sept. 4, 1710, to Thomas Lane, of Surrey County 200 acres given me by my father (Thomas Lane, patent 1682) in his last will and testament (father Thomas Lane, patent 1682). Signed, Joseph Lane, Julian Lane. Wit: Thomas Hart, Mary Hart, Thomas Lane Jr. The witnesses Thomas and Mary Hart were the son-in-law and da. of Richard & Eliz. Washington; his will Nov. 9, 1724 (Surry Co. D.B. 5, p. 37). The Lane family were probably from StOlave: Pr. 4/16559: Lane, Thomas, of St. Olave, Southwarke ob. at Virginiah, beyond the sea, belonging to the ship ‘Owners Adventure’, batchelor. June 12, 1685.

William Newsom was probably of the family of Peter Newsam, s.l. 1638, who witnessed the Will of Richard Hynde, 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 (who prepared legal documents, often regarding loans). Overseers: Stephen Streete of London, grocer; ‘Ralph Yardly of London‘, who was the father of Governor Yardley of Virginia (TNA, Prob.11/147, f). The Hynde family provide a link to the Bassanos of St. Olave’s and St. Leonard’s, and to the Salter Company, thus: ‘Dorothie, da. of *’Jo. Hinde of London’, m. Anthony Bassano:

1. … 1.1. Antonio Bassano, 1511-1574, had a residence in Harte Street, St. Olave, Southwark, m. Ellena Da Nazzi, 1515-1571. There is a present-day Bassano Street in Southwark. 1.1.1. Arturo Bassano, m. Margaret Lothbury, 10 May 1573, dau. of Godfry Lothbury. 1.1.1.1. Anthony Bassano, born 1579, m. Dorothy Hynde, dau.of *John Hynde. 1.2. Edward Bassano. 1.2.1. John Bassano, bapt. Nov. 6, 1608., obit. 1653, m. (1) (April 1, 1635) Anne Lloyd. PCC; Will proved Sept. 27, 1655. 1.2.1.1. Dorothy (Bassano) Harris, b. 1643, (named in Will of br. John), m. 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. 1.3. Lucretia Bassano, m. Nicolas Lanier, they lived in St Olave, Hart Street. 1.3.1. Clement Lanier, obit. 1661, m. 1627 (Kent) Hannah Collett. He was bur. in St. Alphage’s, Greenwich, Kent. 1.3.1.1. John Lanier, b. Oct. 1631, in Lewisham, d. in Prince George Co, VA. 1.3.1.1.1. John Lanier Jr., obit 1719, Prince George Co., m. (1) (1677) Katherine Sampson; (2) Sarah Edmunds. Nicholas Spenser to Peter Wycke & John Leneare 1482 acres 3 rood & 24 poles of land lying being in the Co. of Charles Citty, & in the pish of Westover & on thee S side of James Riv. (adjoining) ‘John Harris land‘* (VPB 7, p. 339, 20 November 1683). (*d. 1687). 1.3.1.1.1.1. Sampson Lanier Sr., b. 1682, Charles City, obit. May 5, 1743, Brunswick County, VA., m. Elizabeth Washington, da. of Richard Washington and Elizabeth Jordan, dau. of Arthur Jordan, who died in 1698. 1.3.1.1.1.1.1. Sampson Lanier, d. Sept. 2, 1757, Brunswick County, m. Elizabeth Chamberlain. 1.3.1.1.1.1.1.1. Rebecca Lanier, b. Dec. 16, 1744 , d. Jul. 1818 in Green County, Georgia, m. Walton Harris, b. February 6, 1739, d. Jul. 20, 1809 in Green, GA.

The significance of Richard Hynde’s Will is that it shows a relationship between him and the Yearwoods (intermarried with the King and Payne famiies), which was possibly of a familial nature. Edward Irbie m. Anne, sister of virginia Governor Sir George Yeardley; Richard Hynde was a tenant of Edward Irbie, in St Olave. It is unlikely that Ralph Yeardley was the overseer of Richard Hynde’s Will without some family connection; perhaps one of br.-in-law. If so, Dorothy (Bassano) Harris was the ‘gateway’ to all the associations to Southwark, London (held by such as Thomas Harris, d. 1688), that link to land held by Sergeant John Harris.

Thomas Harris, d. 1677, as follows, may have followed his Bennett cousins to St. Olave.

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, Somerset.
1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1616.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. 17 Feb 1587, in Mells (St Andrew). Was he Sergeant John Harris?
1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Alice West, October 1635, in Nunney (juxta Mells). Did he d. in Charles City in 1677. At a court held Sept. 13, 1677, administration of the estate of Thomas Harris, deceased, was granted to John Echols and John Hardaway, both of Westover Parish, with Samuel PHillips security.
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, da. of Michael Fulgham, whose Will, of 17 Feb. 1690, named da. Ann Harris, and was witnessed by James Benn, of St Olave, a business partner of Michael Fulgham. Susannah Fulgham, Anne’s sister, m. 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, da. of Thomas Horner esq., of Mells. 1.1. John Symes. 1.1.1. 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). 1.1.1.1. ‘John Symes late of Montserrat, West Indies’. 1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Symes (da.,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, m. Elizabeth Walton, da. of George Walton of Brunswick Co., and who was, thus, the br.-in-law of Nathan Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, and br. of West Harris).

*As I have shown elsewhere, his family derived from the same Somerset circle, centred around Taunton, from which came these Harris. The Hobbs and Councell families were intermarried from an early period (in Wedmore, Somerset), 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. It can be added that the Councell family of Wedmore intermarried with the Lancasters of that place.

1.1.1.1.1.1.2. William Harris, m. Mary Short.
1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1. William Harris. He probably m. a da. of Nicholas Thompson.
1.1.1.2.2.3.1.1.1.1. In 1756, Thompson Harris, of Bedford Co., ‘sells to William Heath’, who was a grandson of this William Heath: ‘Indenture between Wm. Lea & his wife Alice, and Wm. Heath, planter, of Southwarke Par., Surry Co., for a parcel of land, 150 acres, formerly Thos. Felton’s deceased, etc.’ (Surry B. I, 1652-1672, p. 161).
1.1.1.2.2.3.1.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, and wife, Sarah (Lane) Harris, Mary Lane and Faith Lane, sell ‘110 acres within the main Swamp and bounded by Col. John Allen’ (1741); daus. of Thomas Lane, d. in 1721 in Surry Co., father-in-law of William 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, of St Olave.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, cousin of Governor Bennett of Virginia, m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe, and second-cousin of (1) Anne Bennett, b. 1641, who m., 1st, Theodorick Bland of Westover; their son, Theodorick Bland (born 1663) m. Margaret Mann; their son, John Bland (born 8 Dec. 1698), m. Ann West; (2) Elizabeth Bennett, sister-in-law of Matilda Scarborough, who m. Lt. Col. John West.

Margaret Mann was probably a da. 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 br.-in-law) 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 27 April 1701. Witnesses: Robert Lancaster, Nicholas Sessoms, whose da. was Mary Blake, wife of William Blake.

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

1. Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, Wivelscombe.
1.1. Thomas Bennett, who was claimed in 1635 as a headright by his uncle, Governor Richard Bennett.
1.1.1. Alice Bennett, who 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. 1.1.1.1. Lucy Councill, m. Hodges Council.
1.2. … Bennett, m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in IOW adjacent to Justinian Cooper.
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 19 June 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.
1.3. 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 Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see 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 br. 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, as given, the br. of Margaret Hobbs, first wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and first wife, Eleanor George.

1.2.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.1.1.3. Edward Harris, d. 1677.

Thus, was John Harris, bapt. 17 Feb 1587, in Mells (St Andrew), Somerset, synonomous with Sergeant John Harris?

Was his son the Thomas Harris who m. Alice West, October 1635, in Nunney (juxta Mells)? If so, he would not have accompanied his father to Virginia in 1624, having already started an apprenticeship. He may have sold his father’s land.

Was his son the Thomas Harris who was bapt. 14 August 1636, in Nunney, d. 1688 in Virginia, and he who m. Dorothie Bassano, in London, in 1662, aged 26?

One thing can be said with certainty, DNA testing does not supply reliable information about the place proposed ancestors occupied within English kinship groups.

The information I have recently posted from Somerset parish registers is a prime example of marriages within a small population by custom. The extent of this is rarely comprehended. I could have given 10x more information, showing the extent of endogamy, but such would only serve to bewilder.

The physical effect is genetic astrology. Endogamous population members are related many times over in unknown ways, thus, predicted third or fourth cousins are actually sixth or seventh cousins, or even more distant. Endogamous groups show matches ‘closer than actual’. Multiple marriages between first, second and third cousins means that everyone is effectively related to everyone else multiple times over within a very short time period.
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