Discerning one of the following Harris from another is like attempting to pick out peas in a stew with a thin fork.

It may be best to treat this group of people as seperate entities. We have an emphasis to treat everyone as closely connected by blood, yet, take the case of Ferdinando Gorges, who very much associated with a younger namesake, therefore the obvious conclusion is that the younger man was of close blood connection. This was not so, he was a distant cousin to whom Ferdinando was Godfather, and we know this because the Gorge family are buried in mountains of preserved records.

For families not steeped in record, the problem is assumption versus the facts on the ground of this period of history. The Thomas of 1672, the Edward of 1677; the Thomas of 1688, may have been distant cousins, but, as was standard practice, they may have married someone who was a cousin of the other; consanguineous ties being reinforced by non-consanguineous ones over each generation. This, to them, would be a very close measure of association, in which they would share many common links to other families.

The DNA testing of modern times does not take into account the extremely interbred nature of marriages of this period, thus giving a false notion of closeness.

HARRIS OF BENNETT CONNECTION

1. Robert Bennett, a tanner, of Wivelscombe, Somerset, m. Elizabeth Edney.
1.1. Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, Wivelscombe, m. Ann Spicer.
1.1.1. Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe; m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623.
1.1.1.1. 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 Tomlins old land, running SSE by Wm. Westwrayers land &c. SW on Mathew Tomlins new land.
1.2.1.1. Lucy Hardy, m. Hodges Council.
1.2.1.1.1. Lucy Hardy, m. Hodges Council.
1.1.1.2. … Bennett, m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in IOW adjacent to Justinian Cooper.
1.1.1.2.1. 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 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.
1.1.2. John Bennett, bapt. July 10, 1624 Wiveliscombe.
1.1.2.1. William Bennett, m. Mary Smith, da. of Joseph Smith, Feb. 18, 1684, at Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Virginia
1.1.2.1.1. William Bennett, m. Sarah Brumwell, da. of Peter Brumwell and Ellinor (Edwards) Jackson.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Richard Bennett, bapt. 1 May 1709, Christchurch Parish, m. Elizabeth Rice, da. of Thomas Rice and Mary Fisher; and sister of Mary Rice, b. Dec. 9, 1709, St Peter’s Parish, Hanover Co., wife of John Symes (of the Somerset family; the Tookes, associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672, their tennants in Barwick; the Fulghams, associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1688, almost certainly their tennants in Pitminster, 11 miles from Wivelscombe).
1.1.2.1.1.1.1. william Bennett, Hanover Co., m. Sarah Harris; who was she?
1.1.2.1.1.1.2. James Bennett, Hanover Co., m. Elizabeth Sampson.
1.1.3. Richard Bennett, b Aug. 6, 1609, Wiveliscombe, d. 1675, Virginia; his Will bequesting: “To William Yearret of Pagan Creek and to the wife of Mr. Thomas Taberer, to each of them two thousand pounds of tobacco”. *His da. Ruth m. John Numan. Robert Spencer married Taberer’s sister, Ann. Joshua Taberer, Will Nov. 24, 1656. “To brother Thomas Taberer all houses and lands left me by last will and test. of my father William Taberer of the county of Derby, he my brother fining a legacy to my brother William Taberer of Derby and the rest of my fathers kindred of ten pounds sterling in England. After my brother Thomas’ decease, his only dau. and heir Ruth Taberer to be possessed with all my said estate in England as my only heir and executrix forever. To my cousin Ruth Taberer al my female cattle and rest of my estate in Va. To my brother Thomas full power to recover my estate in England. Teste, William Lewer, Francis Higgins.

William Lewer was associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672: Thomas Harris, d. 1672, who was associated with Robert Spencer, as evidenced here: ‘Know all men present that I Thomas Harris ine th county of IOW for many considerable caused me thereunto moving have and do by the srest constitie and ordeyne my be beloved friend Mr. Thomas Culmore of the county of Surry my true and lawfully attorney for me and to my ame and use to ask leavy recover of receive of Robert Spencer of the County of Surry all such somes of tobacco as shall appear due unto me within the county aforesaid also giving and by the prests granting to my attorney full power to perform for me in all causes touching ye premised for revcovery of the same as if my self ewer personnal present. Tho Harris. Witness, Wm Lewer, Samll Haswell‘. R. 1660. (Surry Co. D.B. 1, p 149). Richard Bennett’s bequest to “the wife of Mr. Thomas Taberer” was probably to a sister or cousin. The Will of John Gorge, recorded Jan. 9, 1678, names friend Thomas Taberer as exec. John Dalton was transp. by Nicholas George & Thomas Taberer & Humphry Clarke. Thomas Harris, d. 1672, m. a da. of Nicholas Gorge.

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 was a nephew of Edward Bennett, who resided for a time at Delft and was largely engaged in the Virginia trade, being a member of the Virginia company. The nephew, being his partner, came over to supervise his plantations. In 1642 he had been one of’ those Virginia Puritans who had sent to New England for ministers, but in the last part of his life he became a Quaker.

1.1.3.1. Ann Bennett, m. Theoderick Bland.
1.2. Edward Bennett, bapt. February 2, 1577, in Wivelscombe; later of of St Olave, Southwark, London, and Lawn’s Creek, Virginia.
1.3. Elianor Bennett, bapt. Mar. 5, 1567, m. Oct. 7, 1594 Richard Harris, son of William Harris, who m. Dorothy West, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.
1.3.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe. It is most consistent, based on the law of common association, that this was Thomas Harris, d. 1672, first-cousin of Richard Bennett, b. Aug. 6, 1609, Wivelscombe, d. 1675, Virginia; whose associations and those of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, closely intertwined.

1.3.2. Richard Harris.
1.3.2.1. John Harris, bapt. Nov. 5, 1626, Wiveliscombe; d. 1687, m. Unity?
1.3.2.1.1. 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.

HARRIS OF SYMES (OF MELLS/NUNNEY) CONNECTION

1.
1.1. John Harris, d. 1616, in Mells.
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. If this is to be Sergeant John Harris of Virginia, he had remarried shortly after his second marriage, and had returned to England before his death. 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.
1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Alice West, October 1635, in Nunney (juxta Mells), d. in Charles City in 1677?
1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 14 August 1636, in Nunney, d. 1688 in VA?
1.1.2. Elizabeth Harris, bapt 25 Oct. 1590, Mells, m. George Hill, 27 Jan. 1619, Mells.
1.1.2.1. Nicholas Hill (I suggest) 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.
1.1.1.1.2. John Harris, bapt. 1640, m. Margaret Beard, 1664, Nunney. (N.B. Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe; m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623).
1.1.1.1.3. Roger Harris, bapt. 3 Jun. 1642, m. Anne Slade, 20 May 1669, Nunney.
1.1.1.1.4. Anne Harris, bapt. 21 Oct. 1646, m. Robert Millerd, May 1667, Nunney. (N.B. John Harris, m. Penelope Millard, 9 Sept. 1611, Wedmore).
1.1.1.2. Richard Harris.
1.1.1.2.1. Mary Harris, bapt. Aug. 1624, m. Jeffrey Coomes (Comer) 8 Nov. 1660, Nunney. (1. John Counsell, bapt. 1573. 1.1. John Counsell, bapt Nov. 28, 1601, married Mary Coomer, on Nov. 26, 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who married John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, in Feb. 1635; uncle of Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar).
1.2. Margery Harris, m. John Allen, 8 Jun. 1567, Mells.
1.1.2. Mary Harris, m. John Young, 21 Oct. 1588, Mells.
1.1.3. Elizabeth Harris, m. Thomas Baylye, 3 May 1589, Mells.

1. Richard Symes (See N&Q, 1890). ‘Rich’d Symes, late of Bristol, mariner’.
1.1. Adam Symes. (ibid.).
1.1.1. George Sims, of Brunswick Co.; d. Sept. 1763. He bought land from his br. John Sims, on 5 Nov. 1747.
1.1.1.1. 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. The Waltons were of the squirarchy of Somerset, and sat in judgement at Taunton Assizes, with others of their class – Davis, Symes, Hardy, Hodges, Horner, Lancaster, Jones, et al.

Nunney, 2 mls from Mells, 20 mls from Wedmore.

CLOSELY RELATED TO:

1. John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, 10 Feb. 1569, Wedmore
1.1. John Harris, d. 1625, m. Penelope Millard, 9 Sept. 1611, Wedmore
1.1.1. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek; 26 October 1646, James Tooke to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease.
1.1.1.1. Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, Wedmore, ‘son of Robert’; he who d. in 1677, in Virginia?
1.2. Thomas Harris.
1.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 31 Dec. 1637, Cheddar, ‘son of Thomas’, he who d. in 1688, in Virginia?
1.3. John Harris, m. Agnes Coomer.

CLOSELY RELATED TO:

(Records relate to Wrington, unless otherwise stated).

1.
2. John Harris, m. Alse Rumney, 20 May 1572.
3. Agnes Harris, m. Thomas Griffin, 20 Sept. 1595.
3. William Harris, m. Jone Andrews, 7 Nov. 1596.
4. Joane Harris, m. William Hedges, 23 June 1617 (Tickenham).
4. Elinor Harris, m. John Carter, 21 Jan. 1617.
4. William Harris, m. Mary Jennings, 22 Apr. 1622 (Portbury); their son being John Harris, bapt. Jan. 28, 1623. At Portbury: Silvester Davis m. Isabell Wallis; Apr. 22, 1622. Thomas Davis m. Isabell Wallis, 27 Oct. 1624. Mary Davis transported in 1653 to VA by Richard Jennings. Thomas Jennings transported in 1638 to Va by Roger Davis (Charles City). John Davis son of John Davis bapt. at Portbury, Jan. 1612. Edward Harris, d. 1677, VA., owed money to the widow of John Davis; i.e. Mary Greene: The inventory of Edward Harris, d. 1677, states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis, Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fuljames (Fulgham), of Pitminster. whose son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard; having issue (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy. In IOW Court, January 11, 1672, Thomas Tooke (associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1677), as attorney, calls John Davis “his loving brother”.
5. John Harris, bapt. Jan. 28, 1623.
2. Edward Harris, m. Agnis Wallis, 17 Feb, 1584.
3. Thomas Harris, bapt. 30 Mar. 1577.
4. William Harris, bapt. 19 Mar. 1613.
4. Edward Harris, bapt. 1 Oct. 1619.?
4. Thomas Harris.
5. Richard Harris, bapt. 22 Jul. 1629.
5. Thomas Harris, bapt. 4 Aug. 1633?

See notes on connection of Davis family to Wrington/Tickenham, and to the  Hodges/Counsells of Wedmore.

As said, peas in a stew.
copyright m stanhope 2017