MELLS

A certain strand of Harris can be best viewed in their relationship (as tenants and cousins) of the Hill/Symes family of Pitminster. This strand was closely associated with other strands, and each married into the same families, making any projection of who they were in Virginia difficult. What follows is a chronological account of births, marriages, and deaths in four parishes – Hemington, Nunney, Mells, and Radstock – all within 7 miles of the other, in which Harris of one parish frequently married in a neighbouring one, depending on the relative social standing of parents. Other nearby parishes – Wedmore, Cheddar, and Wivelscombe are included, as they were also places of marriage of this Harris family. These notes are the raw data by which to form opinions; I have my own, often repeated; others may differ – the thing of importance is to approach Harris settlement in Virginia with eyes not misted over with visions of past constructs, clung to as straw.

1. Roger Hill, of Taunton.
1.1. William Hill, of Poundsford, in Pitminster Par. Somerset, m. 1. Ann Trowbridge.
1.1.1 Roger Hill, of Poundsford, m. Mary Hasard.
1.1.1.1. William Hill, of Poundsford, m. Jane Young, da. of John Young of Collumpton.
1.2. Robert Hill, of Yard, near Taunton, m. 1. Alice Clark.
1.2.1. Elizabeth Hill, m. William Symes of Chard, “merchant of Poundesford. He owned a mill in West Coker, lands in Taunton, and the manor of Barwick, where the Tooke family were tenants; the Fulghams being tenants in Pitminster. John Pyne, Esq., Roger Hill, Gent., and his bro. in l. Hugh Hill, Gent., were Supervisors of his Will.
1.2.1.1. John Symes, born 4 March 1572, Mells, m. Amy Horner, da. of Thomas Horner, of Mells. John Symes was M.P. for Somerset; and Sheriff in 1649. His Will mentions sons Henry and Thomas. He was the John Symes described in “Extract from Barwick and its Church’, by John Batten.
1.2.1.1.1.  Thomas Symes, 1621-1670, m. (3 June 1640) Amy Bridges, 1621-1662, da. of Edward Bridges Esq. (d. 1639), of Keynsham, by his wife Philippa Speke, d. 1628.
1.2.1.1.1.1. ‘John Symes late of Montserrat, West Indies’. Abstracts of Somersetshire Wills, p. 55
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Richard Symes (See N&Q, 1890). ‘Rich’d Symes, late of Bristol, mariner’.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Adam Symes. (ibid.).
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. George Sims, of Brunswick Co.; d. Sept. 1763. He bought land from his br. John Sims, on 5 Nov. 1747.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. 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.
1.2.1.2. Thomas Symes, m. Sara Harris, 10 Nov. 1622, in Radstock, da. of Robert Harris, who was bur. 1 Sep. 1594, in Portbury. He is evidenced in Dole v Symes. Plaintiffs: Thomas Dole, yeoman. Defendants: Elizabeth Symes of Radstock, Thomas Symes her son, Richard Brooke alias Richard Thomas of Barrow Gurney, yeoman, John Brooke his father, John Stibbens, yeoman, and others. Subject: Acton by the said Elizabeth Symes for a debt of the said Richard Brooke and John Stibbens, assumed by plaintiff Thomas Dole in consideration of a sale of land in Dundry, which proved to be previously mortgaged. May 1621. STAC 8/121/5. Charles Symes also held property in Radstock, see N.A. C 7/450/93, 1662.

Margery Harris, m. John Allin, 8 Jun. 1567, Mells.
John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, 10 Feb. 1569, Wedmore.
Thomas Harris, m. Elinor Butt, 26 May 1581, Cloford.
John Harris, m. Ann Holway, 3 Jul. 1581, Cloford.
Thomas Harris,* bapt. 3 Feb. 1582, Nunney, son of John.
Elizabeth Harris, m. Thomas Gibbs, 17 May 1582, Cloford.
Joan Harris, m. Robart Hurle, 28 April 1583, Cloford.
Joan Harris, m. John Beardes, 26 Nov. 1584, Hemington.
Alice Harris, m. John Tucker, 2 Jun. 1586, Hemington.
John Harris, m. Charity Luckox, 13 Nov. 1587, Mells, the Luckox family being intermarried with that of Hill – John Hill, m. Katherine Luckox, 9 Nov. 1567; John Hill m. Joan Luckox, 4 Nov. 1578, in Mells. The John Harris who m. Charity Luckox was buried in Mells in 1620. They had issue: Elizabeth Harris, bapt. 25 Oct. 1590, Mells, “da. of John”; m. George Hill, 27 Jan. 1619; Ann Harris, bapt. 29 Apr. 1593, Mells, “da. of John”; m. William Clark, 3 Jun. 1616, Mells; Joan Harris, bapt. 3 Jun. 1616, Mells, “da. of John”; m. Richard Williams, 4 Jun. 1627, Mells; Thomas Harris, bapt. 24 Mar. 1600, Mells, “son of John”; William Harris, bapt. 3 Oct. 1602, Mells, “son of John”, and father of William Harris, bapt. 12 Jan. 1637, Mells; Charity Harris, bapt. 24 Feb. 1604, “da. of John”.
John Harris, bapt. 17 Feb. 1588, Mells, “son of John”, br. of Thomas Harris, bapt. 3 Feb. 1582, in Nunney (bur. there 7 Mar. 1668), m. Mary Tomlin, 9 Nov. 1620, Mells; he had not m. Grace Hannie in 1608, she being bur. in 1643 as widow Harris. John Harris was bur. on 3 Aug. 1637, in Nunney. The Thomas Harris who m. Alice West, in Oct. 1635, was either the Thomas Harris, bapt. 24 Mar. 1600, in Mells, aforesaid, or (as perhaps a second wife) the Thomas Harris, bapt. 3 Feb. 1582, in Nunney. Either was the father of Thomas Harris, bapt. 14 Aug. 1636, in Nunney; brother of John Harris, bapt. 1640, in Nunney, who m. Margaret Beard* (1664), father of John Harris, bapt. 24 Jun. 1667; Roger Harris, bapt. 3 Jun. 1642, in Nunney; Katherine Harris, bapt. 27 Jun. 1643, in Nunney; Ann Harris, bapt. 21 Oct. 1646, in Nunney; who m. Robert Millard, May 1667, in Nunney, bapt. 11 Sep. 1625, in Nunney, the son of Francis Millard. The Millards were primarily of Wedmore, where they were intermarried with families of Lansdown (see as follows), and Voules; the Voules seam running through many families: Blake, House, Jennings, Sayard, etc. *See as follows: Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe; m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623.
Mary Harris, m. John Numan, 29 Sep. 1588, Cloford.
Mary Harris, m.John Young, 21 Oct. 1588, Mells.
Thomas Harris, m. Ursula Shepperd, 6 Feb. 1589, Cloford.
Elizabeth Harris, m. Thomas Baylye, 3 May 1589, Mells.
Richard Harris, bapt. 24 Aug 1589, Nunney.
Elizabeth Harris, m. Willyam Smale, 9 Nov. 1592, Hemington.
Richard Harris, bapt. 8 Jan. 1592, Nunney.
Richard Harris, bur. 19 Dec. 1593, Nunney.
William Harris, m. Marie Hales, 14 Sep. 1594, Hemington.
Thomas Harris, bapt. 10 Jun. 1595, Mells.
Thomas Harris, bur. 3 Feb. 1596, Mells.
William Harris, m. 16 Apr. 1599, Hemington, issue being: John Harris, bapt. 10 Aug. 1603, Thomas Harris, bapt. 11 Jan. 1609; William Harris, bapt. 7 Oct. 1610; George Harris, bapt. 17 Dec. 1613; and Edward Harris, bapt. 31 Mar. 1616.
Thomas Harris, bapt. 24 Mar. 1600, Mells.
John Harris, m. Joan Collier, 19 Jul. 1601, Nunney; issue: William Harris, bapt. 3 Oct. 1602, Mells.

Charity Harris, bapt. 24 Feb. 1604, Mells.
WilliaM Harris, bapt. 3 Oct. 1602, Mells; father of William Harris, bapt. 12 Jan. 1637, Mells.
*Thomas Harris, m. Margaret Longe, 28 Jan. 1608, Hemington.
Alice Harris, bapt. 22 May 1608, Mells, da. of John Harris.
Maria Harris, bapt. 18 Mar. 1609, Hemington, da. of Thomas.
William Harris, bapt. 7 Oct. 1610, Hemington, son of William.
John Harris, d. 1625, m. Penelope Millard, 9 Sept. 1611, Wedmore; parents of Robert Harris, father of Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, Wedmore, “son of Robert”. Robert may have been noted on Lawne’s Creek; 26 October 1646: “James Tooke to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”. John Harris was the br. of Thomas Harris, whose son was Thomas Harris, bapt. 31 Dec. 1637, Cheddar, ‘son of Thomas’. The cousins, Edward and Thomas Harris were nephews of John Harris, who m. Agnes Coomer, and, as such, were kin of the Counsell family of Wedmore, from whece almost certainly arose Hodges Counsel of Virginia; the Hodges being squires of Wedmore.
George Harris, bapt. 17 Dec. 1613, Hemington, son of William.
William Harris, bapt. 9 Jan 1614, Hemington, son of Thomas.
Christiana Harris,* bapt. 22 Mar. 1615, Hemington, da. of Thomas.
Edward Harris, bapt. 21 May 1615, Cloford, son of Thomas.
Anne Harris, m. William Clarke, 3 Jun. 1616, Mells.
John Harris, bur. 13 Oct. 1616, Mells.
Thomas Harris, bapt.7 May 1618, Cloford, son of Thomas.
Elizabeth Harris, m. George Hill, 27 Jan. 1619, Mells.
John Harris, bur. 2 Apr. 1620, Mells.
John Harris, m. Mary Tomlin, 9 Nov. 1620, Mells.
Thomas Harris, m. Sara Pope, 2 May 1622, Radstock.
Sara Harris, m. Thomas Symes, 10 Nov. 1622, Radstock.

She was bapt. 1 Nov. 1593, in Portbury, da. of Robert, who was bur. 1 Sep. 1594; and was the probable sister of William Harris, who m. Mary Jennings, 22 Apr. 1622, in Portbury; their son being John Harris, bapt. Jan. 28, 1623; a neighbour of Thomas Davis of Virginia, who m. Isabell Wallis, 27 Oct. 1624; his younger br. John Davis, bapt. at Portbury, Jan. 1612; and Mary Davis, transported in 1653 to Virginia by Richard Jennings. 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”.

Joane Harris, m. Richard Williams, 4 Jun. 1627, Mells.
Thomas Harris, bur. 21 Jun. 1627, Cloford.
William Harris, bapt. 9 Dec. 1627, Nunney, son of Richard.
Thomas Harris, m. Elenor Jefferies, 28 Jul. 1628, Cloford.
John Harris, bapt. 29 Jan. 1629, son of Thomas.
Alce Harris, m. Philipp West, 26 Nov. 1632, Hemington; thus being aligned to families of Hickes and Davis: Dorithy Hickes m. Walter West, 8 Nov. 1655; Thomas Hickes m. Mary Davis, 15 Feb. 1657; John Davis m. Marie Dowling, 26 Sep. 1594.
Mary Harris, m. Edmond Short, 29 Nov. 1632, Hemington.
Richard Harris, bapt. 6 Mar. 1636, Radstock, son of Richard and Jane.
*Christian Harris, m. Edward Edwards, 21 Nov. 1636, Hemington.
William Harris, bapt. 12 Jan. 1637, Mells.
John Harris, bur. 3 Aug. 1637, Nunney.
Edward Harris, m. Eleonor …, 15 Oct. 1640, Cloford. Edward Harris was bapt. 21 May 1615, son of Thomas Harris. He m. Elionor, 15 Oct. 1640, having issue: Edward Harris, bapt. 14 March 1645; John Harris, bapt. 6 January 1648; 3. William Harris; bapt. 3 March 1651. Edward Harris Sr. was the br. of 1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 7 May 1618. It can not be determined if he was the Thomas bur. 10 May 1664, or 14 March 1670. 2. Marry Harris, bapt. 8 Nov 1621, who m. James Beard, 9 September 1651. It can not be determined who was the Thomas Harris, bapt. 31 May 1674, son of a Thomas Harris. James Beard was bapt. 2… June 1631, in Nunney, son of James Beard, bapt. 6 November 1603, son of Roger Beard, and sister of Frances Beard, bapt. 1602, who m. Henry Stone, in 1624, in Nunney.

Thomas Bennett,* b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe; m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623, cousin of (1) Alice Bennett, who 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; their da. Lucy Hardy, m. Hodges Council; Alice bennett’s sister m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in IOW adjacent to Justinian Cooper. Their da., 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. (2) Thomas Harris, who m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe, son of Elianor Bennett, who m. Richard Harris, son of William Harris, who m. Dorothy West, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.

Thomas Harris, m. Susan Lansdowne, 9 Jun. 1656, Radstock, their son being John Harris, husbandman, bapt. 18 Aug 1664, who m. Sarah Savige, 4 Jun. 1696, their sons being Thomas Harris, bapt. 16 Oct. 1697, and John Harris, bapt. 28 Nov. 1699.
Thomas Harris, bapt. 6 Dec. 1640, Hemington, son of John and Edith.
Thomas Harris, bapt. 6 Dec. 1640, Hemington, son of John and Edith.
George Harris, bur. 3 Sep. 1643, Hemington, son of John and Edith.
Edward Harris, bapt. 30 Mar. 1656, Hemington, son of Edward and Mary.
Mary Harris, bapt. 18 Aug. 1658, da. of Edward and Mary; m. Samuel Willis, 7 Feb. 1686.
James Harris, bapt. 19 May 1662, son of Edward and Mary.

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