It seems so long ago, a vast amount of thorough research into a titled family of Harris of Essex, led by luminary Harris researchers, that has moved on to the misty Somerset marshes, peopled by a hardy race of cow-herding, cheese-making, horse-breeding, wood-working; metal-bending folk, who settled Virginia with the considerable assistance of their kinfolk; individual effort within a communal enterprise. Hollywood it was not, but the greater for that.

This set of notes commenced with a consideration of the ‘wider’ family of Hodges. Those of Virginia provenance mentioned hereinafter did not die in their English parishes.

1. John Hodges, bur. March 27, 1590, Mells. (Probably the cousin of Captain Hodges, of Wedmore, mentioned in the Will of their uncle).
1.1. Agnes Hodges, m. John Sharpe, June 1566, Nunney.
1.1.1. Thomas Sharpe, m. Katherine Rice (Rees), May 4, 1589; (2) Alice Yeoman, Feb. 4, 1597; (3) Mary White, Dec. 17, 1599 (Nunney).
1.1.1.1. Thomas Sharpe, bapt. Oct. 1, 1594.

Within this district of Somerset, within a 7-30 mls distance of each other, lies Weston Zoyland, Bishops Lydeard, Wiveliscombe; Mells, Nunney, and Wedmore/Cheddar. John Fuljames, yeoman, of Weston Zoyland, probate 11/55/485; Nov. 28, 1573, was the grandfather of Anthony Fuljames, of Pitminster (tenant of the Symes family), who m. (2) Martha Greene; having issue, Michael Fulgham, who m. Anne Izzard; their da., Anne Fulgham, m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688; her sister Susannah Fulgham, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. The Counsell family of Wedmore were tenants of the Hodges family.

Weston Zoyland was sold to Edward Dyer in 1570 (the early Harris family were tennants of the Dyers), although a lease was assigned to Thomas Moore, a Taunton merchant; father of John Moore, merchant of Bristol, father of George Moore, who m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, a London vintner; uncle of John Barcroft, of Chard, Somerset. George Moore’s brother, Thomas, was an overseer of the Will of John Jennings, dated Oct. 19, 1678 (witness of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), who named son-in-law William Seward, grandson of John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, on adjacent land to his settled Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Arthur Smith Jr., of Bristol, merchant, transported Jane and John Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1637. Anthony Fulgham transported Charles Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1650.

The John Coggan, of Chard, who m. Frances Bland, was the father of “John Coggins”, of Bristol, who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688; father of Robert Coggan, who m. Sara Greene, da. of John Green, son of Thomas Greene (br. of Martha Fulgham, wife of Anthony Fulgham, and mother of Michael Fulgham, whose da. m. a son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688).

The said John Moore is probably witnessed here: Moore v White. John Moore and Margaret Moore his wife. Defendants: Richard White. Subject: property in Bishops Lydeard, Somerset. 1621. (N.A., C 8/31/66). Bishops Lydeard is where a Richard Sharpe (d. 1658) m. Elizabeth White, on Nov. 3, 1623.

Although any relationship between the Thomas Sharpe, who m. Mary White in Nunney, and the Richard Sharpe, who m. Elizabeth White in Bishops Lydeard, can not be known, what is certain is that yeoman families followed the opportunities afforded by such landlords as the Dyers, Hodges (militant Roundheads), Symes (of Mells/Nunney), and Lancasters (of Cheddar), to acquire new holdings, which may have been the case with the Sharpes.

Another family of this region was that of Short. The following William Shorte, bapt. 1626, would have certainly known the Barcroft, Moore, Coggan, and Seward families, the guide to identifying him in Virginia.

1.Thomas Short, bur. Apr. 19, 1573, Mells.
1.1. Walter Short.
1.1.1. John Short, bapt. July 7, 1588, bur. April 4, 1658, Mells.; m. Susan Edney, bapt. Oct. 15, 1592, da. of John, Feb. 3, 1611.
1.1.1.1. John Short, bapt. Aug. 8, 1612, Mells.
1.1.1.1.1. John Short, bapt. Jan. 14, 1643, Mells.
1.1.1.2. Walter Short, bapt. Sep. 21, 1623, Mells.
1.1.1.3. William Short, bapt. Jun. 29, 1626, Mells; his granddau. m. William Harris.
(William Short sold to Thomas Greene land on the S.E. side of western branch of Upper Chippoakes (p. 329, May 4, 1668). Another sale to John Lindford describes this land as “which part is Charles City and Surry County”, witnessed by Thomas Moore, William Seward, May 6, 1573). This was land associated with Sergeant John Harris, as given in previous notes. George Moore’s da. Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. Their son was John White; his Will probated May 2, 1754 (Chapman, Wills, p. 177); great-grandfather of Avis White, who m. John Harris, the son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.1.4. John Short, m. Mary.
1.1.1.4.1. Thomas Short, bapt. May 23, 1654, Mells.
1.1.1.4.1.1. William Short, bapt. Jul. 26, 1680, Mells.
1.1.2. Thomas Short, m. Ann Sherborne, May 1, 1623, Mells.
1.1.3. Julian Short, m. William Atkins, Oct. 7, 1630, Mells, s. o. Thomas Atkins and Elizabeth Burges, m. Aug. 3, 1607, Mells, probable near relation of Edith Burges, who m. Richard Harris, Jan. 14, 1607, in Nunney.

The Shorts were associated with:

1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494. “Thomas Harrys”, a tenant of Glastonbury Abbey, who is recorded thus: Harrys v Dyar. Plaintiffs: Thomas Harrys. Defendants: Thomas Dyar, knight. Subject: Tenement in the late abbot of Glastonbury’s manor of Greinton. Somerset. 1544-1551. (C 1/1228/15-18)
1.1. John Harrys, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.1.1. Richard Harris, bur. Dec. 19, 1593, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1. Richard Harris, bapt. Aug. 24, 1589, m. Edith Burges, Jan. 14, 1607, in Nunney.
1.1.1.2. John Harris, m. Joan Collier, July 19, 1601, in Nunney.
1.1.1.2.1. William Harris, bapt. Oct. 3, 1602, Mells. Perhaps the William who was headright of John Moone (1637) and John Seward (1648) in Isle of Wight. John Moone’s da., Sarah Moone, m. Lt. John Pitt, son of Col. Robert Pitt, the Bristol sea captain and merchant. John Moone’s da. Mary Moone, m. Thomas Greene; his sister m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset; their son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard, having issue: (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.1.2.1.1. William Harris, bapt. Jan. 12, 1638.
1.1.1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Harris.
1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Nov. 2, 1696.

Perhaps ‘Sergeant’ Harris.
1.1.2. John Harris, of Nunney.
1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris bapt. Feb. 3, 1582; “son of John”.
1.1.2.2. Sergeant John Harris (it may be presumed), bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, bur. Aug. 3, 1637, in Nunney.
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Oct. 8, 1615 (in Othery juxta Greinton, d. 1677, m. Alice West, in 1635, in Nunney bapt. Sept. 16, 1615 in Bath, 18 mls fr. Nunney.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Thomas Harris. bapt. Aug. 14, 1636, in Nunney, d. 1668.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1. William Harris, m. Mary Short, grandda. of William Short.
1.1.2.2.1.1. John Harris, bapt. 1640, m. Margaret Beard, 1664.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. Feb. 13, 1670.

Hemington Harris.
1.1.3. Alice Harris/John Tucker/June 2, 1586.
1.1.4. Elizabeth Harris/William Smale/Nov. 9, 1592.
1.1.5. William Harris.
1.1.5.1. William Harris, m. Joan …
1.1.5.1.1. Ann Harris, bapt. Dec. 14, 1645, d. Feb. 27, 1659.
1.1.5.2. Alice Harris/Philipp West/Nov. 26, 1632. (Probably related to Alice West, who m. Thomas Harris in 1635, in adjacent Mells; issue Thomas Harris, born 1636. Within 10 mls. of Mells, a Nicholas West was bapt. March 7, 1621 (Norton St Philip), son of William West and Margaret. He was the brother of John West, bapt. April 14, 1625, and Richard West, bapt. May 10, 1635. Inventory and appraisal of the estate of Nicholas West, taken Jan. 20, 1667. Appraisers: John Hardy, Arthur Smith (Jr.), Richard Sharpe, George Smith. Presented by Sarah Watson, late the relict of said West. R. May 1, 1668.
1.1.5.3. John Harris, m. Edith; she d. in 1642.
1.1.5.3.1. Ann Harris, bapt. Dec. 1, 1633; m. Richard Sharpe. Jan. 15, 1700 – The will of Richard Sharpe dated named legatees: Anne Harris “in case she recovers from this present sickness”; cousin Richard, the son of my cousin Richard Reynolds the full term of my lease from Arthur Smith Jr. ; Christopher and Sharpe Reynolds the sons of my cousin Richard Reynolds. Executor: Richard Reynolds. Witnessess: Henry Applewhaite, John Hood, and John Watson. R. April 9, 1700. John Watson: Dying intestate, administration requested by Mr. Richard Sharpe and Arthur Smith Jr. in right of the heirs, Oct. 9, 1673. John Watson m. Sarah West, relict of Nicholas West in 1668. (Christopher Reynolds was listed as secretary of Edward Bennett, cousin to this regional family of Harris; Richard Jordan Sr. was his son-in-law). Matthew Tomlin, neighbour of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, m. a da. of John Watson.
1.1.5.3.2. Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 6, 1640, d. 1688. (John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, held land in Somerset at Hemington, which is 4 miles fom Mells/Nunney, and named one land grant in Virginia “New Hemington”. (Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography). Thomas Harris settled on adjacent land that had been John Sewards, and adjacent to Matthew Tomlin. (B. 7, p. 510).
1.1.5.3.2.1. Thomas Harris, named in father’s will.
1.1.5.3.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1729, m. Hannah Judkins. (Such is recorded in a family bible, detailing relatives of Michael Harris, cousin of Thomas).
1.1.5.3.2.1.2. Margaret Harris, m. William Judkins, br. of Hannah.
1.1.5.3.2.1.3. Benjamin Harris, m. Faith Smith.
1.1.5.3.3. John Harris, bapt. Feb. 8, 1635.
1.1.5.3.4. William Harris, bapt. Jan. 12, 1637; twin of Edith, d. Jan. 17, 1637.
1.1.5.3.5. Elinor Harris, bapt. Jul. 7, 1644, m. Richard Smith (br. of Arthur Smith Jr.), Dec. 26, 1664; who m. (2) Mary, relict of John Twyford, whose estate was presented by Richard Smith; appraised by Richard Jordan Jr. (March 4, 1678. B.2., p. 199).
1.1.5.3.5.1. Lawrence Smith, Sr., m. Jane Regan.
1.1.5.3.5.1.1. Faith Smith, m. Benjamin Harris.
1.1.5.4. Thomas Harris, bapt. Jan. 11, 1609.
1.1.5.5. Edward Harris, bapt. Mar. 31, 1616, m. Mary.
1.1.5.5.1. Edward Harris, bapt. Mar. 30, 1656.

Again, a tribute goes out to those Harris researchers of old, the Glenns, Marys, and Phils of this world, without whom my efforts would not have commenced.

copyright m stanhope 2018