Although the determinants of family alliances in the 17th century appear to the continuing intermarriages within kinship groups; the desire to intermarry into families of a higher social strata (very often, the squirearchy); and the attraction of alliances with the prosperous merchant class, such simple description hides what inner need those determinants served, which was that of survival.

In an overarching sense, the English kinship group of the middling order was a “Darwinian species”, within which individual members combined to promote their survival, and to adapt to their challenging environment. They feared being reduced to the ranks of the landless poor, with the attendant stigma, and the draconian “mercies” of the English Poor Law.

In the harsh world of the Somerset levels, which will be considered anon, the choice of a son-in-law was of vital importance – in families with a preponderance of daughters, they were surrogate sons, who would be expected to assist in times of need and disaster.

A Harris family were established in the Somerset levels, especially in the Wedmore/Cheddar region, which can be decribed in order to gain an understanding of the difficulties they faced.

Wedmore is a Somerset village and parish, situated on slightly raised ground (called a “burtle”) in the Somerset Levels, between the Rivers Axe and Brue, thus being known as the Isle of Wedmore. The parish consists of main villages, such as Allerton, Blackford, and Wedmore, and 14 circling hamlets. It is located 4 miles south of Cheddar, 7 miles west of Wells, and 7 miles north west of Glastonbury. These distances are somewhat misleading as to the geographic nearness of families, in that those living in a nothern hamlet of Wedmore parish looked across an hedgerow to see Cheddar.

Immediately south of Wedmore are the peat-based Tealham and Tadham Moors, part of an extensive grazing marsh, the water table of which is high throughout the the year, with winter flooding being an annual feature of the overflowing of the River Brue. Generally, the whole area is prone to fresh water (and occasional salt water) inundation, the worst recorded example of which was the Bristol Channel floods of 1607, which resulted in the drowning of over 2,000 people, with houses and villages swept away, and an estimated 200 square miles of farmland flooded, and livestock destroyed. In 2013, this area also experienced ruinous levels of flooding.

This area is an important feeding ground for birds, and includes 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which supports a growing tourism industry.

Agriculturally, about 70 per cent is used as grassland. Willow and teazel are grown commercially and peat is extracted.

Historically, Wedmore was a Saxon royal estate. Asser, in his “Life of Alfred”, described how Guthrum, the defeated Viking leader, celebrated his baptism in Wedmore.

The village of Blackford is bisected by a a tributary of the River Cam. Recent works to the riverbanks haved made flooding rarer than previously experienced. Being higher on the water-course, it was an area that supported sheep farming. By 1606 the principal farmers in Blackford were John Andrews and Richard Perry (of the West Country family of Micajah Perry of London), whose family intermarried with that of Symes. (See footnote 1.). In the Domesday Book, the manor is recorded as held by Turstin FitzRolf.

The village of Allerton (“Aelfweard’s settlement”) is situated a few miles southwest of Cheddar.

The burial records of Wedmore parish show the Harris to be the neighbours in Allerton of the families of Hodges (1569), Hutchins (1578), Millard (1606), and George (1610). In Wedmore village, they were the neighbours of the Counsells (1583) and Hobbes (1595); and, in Blackford, were neighbours of the Lancasters.

The association of Thomas Harris, deceased in Virginia in 1688, who requested his orphan to be in the care of Hodges Counsell, stemmed from such associations.  The Hodges, Lancaster, and Symes family were the armigerous local squirearchy, around which local tenant families circled, hoping to form a familial alliance.
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. (See Horner/Symes); (Somerset Families in Virginia).

It was not always the case of emigrants to Virginia wishing to sever their English connections; many sought to prosper in Virginia so as to return home to be on a more equal footing with their former lanlords.

The following genealogical tables are not constructions; the various registers consulted clearly state, in the majority of cases, the father, and, often, the mother, of the baptised.

They pose a problem of perception, in that familial associations of one branch of a family were “shared” with other relatives, a case in point being the marriage of Richard Harris and Elianor Bennett, at Wivelscombe, sister of Edward Bennett, of Lawne’s Creek; the benefits of this assciation being shared by close kin.

THE DESCENDANTS OF DARWIN HARRIS (THE TRUE HARRIS PROGENITOR REVEALED!).

1. Darwin Harris.
1.1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494.
1.1.1. John Harris, witnessed a deed concerning Mells in 1555.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1616, m. Alice, d. 1599, Mells.
1.1.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. 17 Feb 1587, in Mells (St Andrew), m. 1. Grace Haine, in 1608, in Mells; 2. Mary Tomlin, 9 Nov. 1620, and was bur. 18 Oct. 1636, in Mells.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Alice West, Oct. 1635, in Nunney (juxta Mells), 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, probable brs.-in-law of the said Thomas Harris. At a court held at Westover, on 17 Feb. 1678, John Hardaway and John Echols, on behalf of the orphans of Thomas Harris, deceased, brought suit against John Bland for 700 pounds of tobacco owed for an ox, which debt Mrs. Sarah Bland confessed to Maj. John Stith, guardian. (Ibid., p. 353).
Alice West was probably she who was bapt. 16 Sept. 1615, in Bath (St Michael), 12 miles from Nunney, and probable dau. of William West, who m. Katharin Pearce, 23 May 1608, in Bath (St Michael).
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 14 Aug. 1636, in Nunney. A Thomas Harris, on 3 March 1690, petitioned that John Echols be summoned to the next court (ibid., p. 338). This seems to be he who made a deposition in 1692 that he was 25 years old (B. 1, p. 52), and was the son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and his second wife, Alice Newman. He m. Judith Edwards, da. of Robert Edwards and Mary Hunt.* He died in 1712, his estate being appraised by Reuben Proctor, John Harrison, Philip Wheadon, and James Wilson, and was signed by Judith Harris on 23 Mar. 1712. (B. 2, p. 556). After his death his widow married … Clark. Was the Thomas Harris, bapt. 14 Aug. 1636, he who deceased in 1672?, and his son, the petitioner of 1690, the grandson of the Thomas Harris who deceased in 1677?; the potential son of Sergeant John Harris. *It may be of some significance that Nicholas Hunt married Edith Wheadon, on 23 Oct. 1593, in Milborne Port (St John the Evangelist), 20 mls fr. Nunney.
1.1.1.1.2. Elizabeth Harris, bapt 25 Oct. 1590, Mells, m. George Hill, 27 Jan. 1619, Mells.
1.1.1.2.2.1. Nicholas Hill, who, on 30 Sept. 1664, patented 750 ac. in the Upper Parish, part of the estate of Edward Bennett, of Wivelscombe, Somerset, and St Olave, London.
1.1.1.1.3. Anne Harris, bapt. 29 Apr. 1593, m. William Clarke, 3 Jun. 1616, Mells. .
1.1.1.1.4 William Harris, bapt. 3 Oct. 1602, bur. 5 Sep. 1662, Mells.
1.1.1.1.4.1. William Harris, bapt. 12 Jan. 1637, Mells, m. Mary Short, second-cousin of William Short, whose son and dau., John and Mary, m., respectively, Elizabeth Echols and Isaac Echols.
1.1.1.1.4.1.1. William Harris, probably m. a dau. of Nicholas Thompson, who witnessed a deed of Carter Crafford, of Lawnes Creek Parish, with Samuel Lancaster (see as follows), recorded 2 Nov. 1708. (B. 5, p. 401).
1.1.1.1.4.1.1.1. 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, 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 (Sergeant) John Harryes (Surry B. I, 1652-1672, p. 161). If Sergeant John Harris of Virginia was synonomous with he bapt. 17 Feb 1587, in Mells, he had remarried shortly after his second marriage, and had returned to England before his death. The connection of a Tomlin family in Virginia to the Fulghams of Pitminster, Somerset, and Virginia (see Matthew Tomlin’s Will, pr. 9 Dec. 1686), and Matthew Tomlin’s son, Matthew, holding land bounded by ‘Thomas Harris’ Corner Tree’ (B. 2, pp. 570, 571), might lend some credibility to this proposition. Furthermore, if John Harris, as ‘Sergeant’, had a son by Grace Haine, born circa 1609-1612, it is possible that he was apprenticed at the time of his father’s arrival in Virginia, and did not accompany him, and this apprenticeship was in St Olave, Southwark, London (home of the Felton family), where an influential kinsman, Edward Bennett, of Wivelscombe, Somerset, and Virginia, had established himself.
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 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, 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 the aforesaid William Harris. 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 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, 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 were William Heath, Richard Jones, and Richard Bullock. The appraisers included John Mason, Christopher Tatum, and William Heath.
1.1.1.1.4.1.1.2. 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.
1.1.1.2. Margery Harris m. John Allen, 8 Jun. 1567, Mells.
1.1.1.3. Elizabeth Harris, m. 1. John Bygges, 22 Sep. 1588, 2. Thomas Baylie, 3 May 1589.
1.1.1.4. Mary Harris, m. John Young, 21 Oct. 1588, Mells.

1.2. John Harris, of Wedmore (Allerton), m. 1. Joanna, d. 1579, 2. Alicia, d. 1585.
1.2.1. William Harris, m. Dorothy West, 31 Aug. 1562, Wivelscombe.
1.2.1.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, at Wivelscombe, sister of Edward Bennett, of Lawne’s Creek.

(1. Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, Wivelscombe, A br. of the afors. Elianor and Edward Bennett. 1.1. Thomas Bennett, claimed in 1635 as a headright by his uncle, Governor Richard Bennett. 1.1.1. Alice Bennett, m. John Hardy. Nugent, C&P vol. 1, p. 569: Mr. John Hardie 1150 acres IOW Co., 5 June 1666. Beginning at upper corner tree of Mathew Tomlin’s old land, running SSE by Wm. Westwrayer’s land &c. SW on Mathew Tomlin’s 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 Hardy, m. Hodges Counsell, of Wedmore. 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 plantation of Justinian Cooper. 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
1.
1.1. William Tucke, m. Christian Holman, 18 July 1571, at Barwick, St Mary Magdalene, Som.; 22 mls fr. West Pennard, 27 mls fr. Wedmore; 40 mls fr. Wivelscombe. Margery Holman m. John Carter, 13 Aug. 1573, at West Pennard. 1.1.1. Thomas Tucke, m. Mary Collins, 26 Jan. 1604, Barwick. 1.1.1.1. James Tooke. December 1634, William Lacey leased James Tooke 500 acres on the east side of Lawne’s Creek; 26 October 1646, James Tooke to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease. Will of James Tooke: Leg: Son Thomas, the tract on which I live being a Patent of 800 acres, also a patent called White Marsh and my seal signet ring to daughter Dorothy, the wife of John Harvey (Gov. NC) who are now at Southward; son William. Executor: Son Thomas. R. 2 Feb. 1662. Witnesses: Thomas Carter, Thomas Gwaltney. 1.1.1.2. Thomas Tooke, b. c. 1610, m. 1. Avis Mascoll, 7 June 1634, Barwick; 2. Mary … He witnessed the Will of William Ridley, with Thomas Harris, d. 1672. 1.1.1.3. William Tooke. 1.1.1.3. Elizabeth Tooke, m. Michael Ezell. 1.1.1.3.1. Elizabeth Ezell, m. John Atkinson Jr, son of John Atkinson and Ann Holliman. John Atkinson was the br. of James Atkinson, d. in IOW after 28 July 1723, who m. Mary Holman. John and James Atkinson were stepsons of Thomas Pitman, born of his third wife, Martha … by her first husb., Thomas Atkinson. Thomas Pitman’s dau, Elizabeth Pitman, m. Robert Lancaster Jr. In the list of tithables in 1702, Thomas was listed on the plantation of Richard Holman, who may have been his father-in-law, he having firstly m. Mary Holman. 1.1.2. Joane Tucke, m. William Penny, 22 Sept. 1588, Barwick. 1.1.2.1. Dorothy Penny, m. William Pitman, 10 Sep 1609 Horsington (St John); 15 mls fr. Barwick. 1.1.2.1.1. Thomas Pitman, of Virginia, b. c. 1614, by his deposition).

1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, 20 Nov. 1623, Wivelscombe. He was the 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).

1.2.1.1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1687, m. Unity …
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, 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 Sr., Nicholas Sessoms, whose da. was Mary Blake, wife of William Blake; the Lancasters being intermarried with the Counsell family, of Wedmore.

1.2.2. John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, 10 Feb. 1569, Wedmore (Blackford), bur. 27 Jan 1596, Servant of Robert Sherwell.
1.2.2.1. John Harris, of Wedmore (Allerton), bur. 31 Jul. 1599.
1.2.2.1.1. John Harris, bur. 21 Feb. 1624, m. Agnes, bur. 10 Aug. 1637.
1.2.2.1.1.1. John Harris, of Wedmore (Allerton), bapt. 13 Dec. 1612, bur. 16 Jan. 1626.
1.2.2.1.1.2. William Harris, bapt. 7 Dec. 1617, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.1.3. Christian Harris, bapt. 7 Dec. 1617, m. James Collins, 9 Oct. 1637, in Cheddar, juxta Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.1.4. Penelope Harris, bapt. 1 Nov. 1620, m. William Meade, 18 Jan. 1650, Wedmore; the Meades being intermarried with sich families as Coomer, Lancaster, Lane, Millard, and Simms.
1.2.2.1.1.5. Cybell Harris, bur. 22 Dec. 1626, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.2. Robert Harris. He was probably this Robert Harris: December 1634, William Lacey leased James Tooke 500 acres on the east side of Lawne’s Creek; 26 Oct. 1646, James Tooke to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease.
1.2.2.1.2.1. Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, probably he who d. in 1677, in Virginia.

1.2.2.1.3. Benjamin Harris, of Wedmore (Blackford).
1.2.2.1.3.1. Adrian Harris, m. 1. Francis (2. Jean, bur. 13 Apr. 1684).
1.2.2.1.3.1.1. Joseph Harris, of Wedmore (Blackford), bapt. 6 Nov 1649.
1.2.2.1.3.1.2. Mary Harris, m. John Cutler, 7 Jun. 1669, Wedmore; the Cutlers being intermarried with the Andrews.
1.2.2.1.3.1.3. Elizabeth Harris, bapt. 15 May 1652.
1.2.2.1.3.1.4. Francis Harris, bapt. 26 Mar. 1655.
1.2.2.1.3.1.5. Benjamin Harris, bapt. 27 Dec. 1658, bur. 14 Jun 1660, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.3.1.6. Susanna Harris, bapt. 8 Jul. 1661, m. Robert Carter, 16 Feb. 1681, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.3.2. Joane Harris, m. Robert Lide, 4 May 1652, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.3.3. Susan Harris, bapt.6 Feb. 1619.
1.2.2.1.3.4. Joanna Harris, bapt. 4 Oct. 1623.
1.2.2.1.3.5. Elizabetha Harris, bapt. 23 Aug. 1635.
1.2.2.1.3.6. Benjamin Harris, bapt. 8 Jul. 1638
1.2.2.1.3.7. Julian Harris, m. George Lilly, 1 Jun. 1659.

1.2.2.1.4. George Harris, m. Joan Webb, 28 Apr 1623, Wedmore; the Webbs being intermarried with the Brownings, Coomers, Martins, Millards, and Haywards.
1.2.2.1.4.1. Mary Harris, m. Thomas Haine, 13 Oct. 1655, Wedmore; the Haines being intermarried with the Cookes, Lanes, Stokes, Stones, and Pitts.
1.2.2.1.4.2. William Harris, m. Anstice Kirby, 20 Jun. 1660, Wedmore; the Kirbys being intermarried with the James.
1.2.2.1.4.3. John Harris, bur. 7 Nov. 1696, m. Dorothy, bur. 17 May 1687, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.4.3.1. John Harris, bapt. 27 Apr. 1679, bur. 1 May 1740, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.4.3.1.1. John Harris, bur. 22 Nov 1761, m. Mary Rogers, 26 Dec. 1723, Wedmore, the Rogers being intermarried with the Coles.
1.2.2.1.4.3.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. 12 Dec. 1731, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.4.3.2. Sarah Harris, m. James Hunt, 4 Aug. 1715, Wedmore.
1.2.2.1.4.3.3. Hannah Harris, m. Sammuel Trott, 21 May 1716, Wedmore.

1.2.2.1.5. Thomas Harris, m. 1 Joane. (2. Hester, bur. 24 Nov 1679), Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.5.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 31 Dec. 1637, Cheddar, probably he who d. in 1688, in Virginia.
1.2.2.2.5.1.1. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham, da. of Michael Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset. Susannah Fulgham, Anne’s sister, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Counsell and Lucy Hardy. The continuation of the family of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, is decidedly problematic, with the “curtain of charity” being the kindest of responses. It is almost certainly the case that a number of his near kin followed him to Virginia, with their offspring being mistaken for his.

1.2.2.1.6. John Harris, m. Agnes Coomer, 4 Feb. 1635, Cheddar
(1. John Counsell, bapt. 1573. 1.1. John Counsell, bapt 28 Nov. 1601,’ f. Joannis Counsell‘, m. Mary Coomer, 26 Nov 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who m. John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, 4. Feb. 1635; uncle of Thomas Harris, bapt. 31 Dec. 1637, Cheddar. 1.2. William Counsell, bapt. 5 Aug. 1610, m. Mary Hayne. 1.3. Richard Counsell, bapt. 3 Sept. 1613 (fr. Blackford), m. (1) Joan Taylor, 12 Aug. 1640, (2) Elizabeth Hix, 12 Aug. 1647, dau. of William Hix and Grace Morton, m. 23 Jan. 1625, and niece of Margaret Hix, who m. Simon Day, 14 Jan. 1632. 1.3.1. Hodges Counsell. He was the very likely son of Richard Counsell, by either his first or second wife. Richard Counsell was the br.-in-law of Susan Lancaster, and Hodges Counsell may have received his Christian name after her husband, William Hodges (a member of the very influential Hodges family, squires of Wedmore), who was probably his Godfather).  (See Hickes/Hix – From Somerset to Brunswick County).
1.2.2.1.6.1. Arthur Harris, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.1.1. Arthur Harris, bapt. 23 Jun. 1663, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.1.1.1. Robert Harris, m. Mary Hill, 29 Jun. 1695, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2. Anthony Harris, m. Martha, bur. 13 Apr. 1662, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1. Anthony Harris, bur. 2 Apr. 1708, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.1. Caleb Harris, bapt. 21 Mar 1679, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.2. Samuel Harris, bapt. 2 Jan. 1686, bur. 11 Oct. 1712, m. Hannah, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.2.1. James Harris, bapt. 5 Oct. 1707, bur. 27 Dec 1767, m. Anne Carde, 11 May 1731, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.2.1.1. Samuel Harris, bapt. 3 Apr. 1737, m. Lydia Maine, 17 Aug. 1769, bur. 2 Sep. 1772, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.2.1.1.1. James Harris, bapt. 23 Sep. 1770, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.2.1.2. Hannah Harris, m. James Maine, 9 May 1768, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.2.2. John Harris, bapt. 15 Jul. 1711, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.1.3. Martha Harris, bur. 13 Jul. 1708, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.3.1.4. James Harris, bapt. 21 Mar 1690, m. Hannah Marshal, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.3.1.5. Samuel Harris, bapt. 24 Jan. 1696, bur. 29 May 1729, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.3.1.6. Caleb Harris, bapt. 6 Oct. 1700, m. Susannah Martin, 7 Apr. 1729, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.3.1.6.1. Caleb Harris, bapt. 27 Jan. 1744, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.3.1.7. Edith Harris, m. Nimrod Martin, 10 Aug. 1732, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.2. Thomas Harris, m. Anne, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.2.1. Caleb Harris, bapt. 23 Mar 1689, bur. 26 Sep. 1728, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.2.2. Thomas Harris, bapt. 12 Jun. 1698, m. Anne Ball, 12 Aug. 1731, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3. Isaac Harris, bapt. 27 Feb. 1663, m. Dorothy Hayland, Apr. 1703, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1. Isaac Harris, bapt. 2 Nov. 1690, m. Mary, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.1. William Harris, bapt. 4 Feb. 1721, m. Jane White, 13 Jan. 1741, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.2. Jacob Harris, bapt. 25 Dec. 1731, m. Mary Meades, 2 Jun. 1756, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.2.1. William Harris, bapt. 1 May 1758, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.3. Jeffrey Harris, m. Mary Mary Star, 13 Dec. 1762, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.3.1. Jeffrey Harris, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.3.1.1. Jesse Harris, bapt. 20 Aug. 1797, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.3.1.2. William Harris, bapt. 16 Jun. 1799, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.4. Caleb Harris, bapt. 2 Apr 1735, bur. 29 Nov. 1778, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.1.5. Joan Harris, m. George Thomas, 4 Feb. 1760, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.2. Joseph Harris, bapt. 15 Nov. 1690, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.3. Robert Harris, bapt. 3 Jan. 1692, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.4. Anthony Harris, bapt. 2 Apr. 1710, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.5. Isaac Harris, bapt. 29 Mar. 1724, m. Joanna, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.5.1. James Harris, bapt. 14 Jan. 1757, Cheddar.
1.2.2.1.6.2.3.6.2. Francis Harris, m. Mary Wall, 1798, Cheddar. (See Wall and Rowe in Kinship Context).

Dancers of jigs, eaters of unpasteurised milk and cheese, drinkers of strong cider; talkers of a strange dialect; a social entity now despised.

copyright m stanhope 2016