1. Thomas Harris of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494; landowner as tenant of Glastonbury Abbey.
1.1. John Harris, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.2. Anstice Harris, m. Robert Wolcott, 1569; their son, Robert Wolcott, m. Mary Storey, Jan. 25, 1606; sister of Alice Storey, William Bennett’s (as follows) wife.
1.3. William Harris (of Glastonbury), m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, in Wiveliscombe.
1.3.1. Richard Harris, m. Eleonor Bennett, Oct. 6, 1594, in Wiveliscombe.
1.3.1.1. Richard Harris.
1.3.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. Feb. 18, 1624, d. 1686; m. Unity. John Harris: Estate by Unity Harris, widow and admin. of John Harris. May 1687. Signed Wm Newsum, John Clarke, Wm. Newitt. (B. 3, p. 82).
1.3.1.1.1.1. William Harris, d. bef. 1693, m. Elizabeth …
1.3.1.1.1.1.1. John Harris. May 20, 1710: Thomas Ward of Lawne’s Creek Parish to John Chambers of same (his mother was Olive Ruffin; his sister, Mary, m. Richard Hardy). Witness: William Newsum and John Harris. (p. 10).
1.3.1.1.1.1.1.1. John Harris, m. Mary Drew. Will of Edward Drew, prob. March 8, 1746, SH Co. “son Newitt; grandson Newitt Harris, son of my dau. Mary Harris”. Witness, James Ridley. John Harris: Will prob. Dec. 13, 1764, SH Co. – “son Drew, son Nathan, son John, wife, son Newitt, son Thomas, dau. Ann, dau. Martha”. Ex: son Nathan and Edward Drew. Wit.: Simon Harris and Jesse Jones. (W.B 2, p. 108).
1.3.1.1.1.2. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett (as follows), d. 1709.

1.3.1.1.2. Thomas Harris.
1.3.1.1.2.1. William Harris, sonn & heire of Thomas Harris, 850 acs. Surry Co. S. James Riv. , on N.W. & S.E. sides of Sunken Marsh above & below the mill; June 2, 1668. Granted sd. Thomas Feb. 13, 1657, p. 55. Jan. 4, 1685: William Harris and wife Mary Harris, to William Newsum … 220 ac. now in the tenure of Mr. John Harris; adj. William Newett, and the Sunken Marsh Path. Wit. Robert Ruffin. R. Jan. 5, 1685.
1.3.1.1.2.1.1. William Harris was the son of of Thomas Harris, d. 1668. During his orpanage, a part of his father’s estate was leased to John Harris, d. 1686, whose Will was witnessed by William Newsum, John Clarke, and William Newitt. (B. 3, p. 82).
1.3.1.1.2.1.2. A son or dau.
1.3.1.1.2.1.2.1. Harris Taylor.

1.3.1.2. Thomas Harris, m. (1) Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, d. 1672. 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. A headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, was Giles Driver, witnessed here: Bridgman Joyner (guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688): Appraised by Thomas Mandew, Giles Driver, Andrew Griffin. Ordered in October Last past. R. Dec. 4, 1719. Signed Ann Joyner. (G.B. 23). Thomas Harris, d. 1672, was security, with John Monger, for the estate of Samuel Griffin (whose dau. sold land to John Newman in 1662, br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), recorded March 26, 1666. Mary Davis was the executor, to whom the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, as given, owed money. John Monger patented 800 ac. on the north side of the Rappahannock River on July 29, 1650, for the transportation of 16 persons, among which was a Thomas Joyner, most likely the Thomas who settled in IOW Co., who patented 1300 ac. in Cypress Swamp; father of Bridgman.

1.3.1.2.1. John Harris, m. 2. (April 13, 1689), Elizabeth Church, having issue Isabella Harris, b. April 17, 1695, according to the records of Chuckatuck Monthly Meeting; she d. after 1749, having m. Nicholas Fulgham, son of Nicholas Fulgham, d. 1736, and Martha Pitt; son of Nicholas Fulgham and Sarah Davis; br. of Michael Fulgham, whose dau. supposedly m. a son of Robert Harris, d. 1688. Chapman’s ‘Marriages’ of IOW, records that Nicholas Fulgham m. Isabella Harris, dau. of John Harris, in 1736. Chapman records that Benjamin Weston m. Mrs. Isabella Fulgham, relict of Nicholas Fulgham, in 1738.

1. Thomas Harris of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494; landowner as tenant of Glastonbury Abbey.
1.1. John Harris, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.1.1. John Harris, of Wedmore, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, in Wedmore.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, d. 1625, m. Penelope Millard, Sept. 9, 1611, in Wedmore. He m. (2) Christiana Thurston, bapt. 28 Oct. 1591, on Oct. 8, 1618; she was the great-niece of Joan Thurston, who m. (2) John Counsell, on Aug. 13, 1573. John Harris was named as a ‘Servant’ of Robert Sherwell’ (gent), husband of Maria Beard, da. of John Beard (this family intermarried with the Bennetts of Wiveliscombe). Marie Sherwell, widow of Robert Sherwell, of Blackford, Somerset, gent. Will proved Nov. 26, 1627. ‘To be buried at Wedmore. “My cousin Richard Counsell*. My cousin Margery Hodges”.** Mr. George Hodges, of Wedmore.

(The family of Thurston were established at Thornbury, Gloucestershire, along the south bank of the Bristol Estuary. As the Bridger family, they held land in Woodmancote. Edward Thurston, of Thornbury, in Chancery Proceedings, 1636, is recorded as being the husband of Judith Gwatkins, da. of William Gwatkins. In Virginia, James Bland, of Prince William Co., m. Mary Gwatkins. He was the son of Theodorick Bland and Margaret Mann, who was probably related to Elizabeth Mann: ‘Thomas Mann and wife Elizabeth Mann to Theophilus Joyner (neph. of Bridgeman, a guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, 150 acres on Blackwater River and bounded by William Mayo, Bridgeman Joyner and Hodges Counsell, Wit: William Mayo and Richard Booth. Rec. June 9, 1683).

(Daniel Boucher, Will rec. May 1, 1668. Leg. to my kinsman Robert Boucher; dau. Elizabeth; to ***Hodges Councill the younger (guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), to William the son of William Huntt; to my son in law George Williams; to Mary the dau. of William Huntt, to Elizabeth Munger the dau. of John Munger, to Elizabeth Davis the dau. of John Davis, deceased; if my dau. Elizabeth dies without issue estate to my kinsman Robert Boucher; remainder to the grandchildren of my deceased wife Elizabeth. Friends John Hardy and Thomas Taberer (related to Thomas Harris, d. 1672), overseers. Witnesses: Hodges Counsell, and William Bacon).

(1. John Cownsell, m. (1) Margaret Browning, April 28, 1567; (2) Joan Thurston, Aug. 13, 1573, relict of Thomas Hayne, m. May 24, 1565.
1.1. *Richard Cownsell, bapt. Apr. 4, 1568 (of Westham, parish of Wedmore). PROB 11/104/18, May 4, 1604.
1.1.1. **Margery Counsell, m. John Hodges, 1610. (“1590 Margeria f. Richardi Cownsell jun. de Muddeslei”, i.e. Mudgley).
1.2. John Counsell, bapt. Dec. 25, 1569. Francis & Blanche James to John Counsell, lease. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. DD\GB/83/1. 1613).
1.2.1. John Cownsell, bapt 28 Nov. 1601, ‘f. Joannis Counsell’, m. (1) Mary Coomer, Nov. 26, 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who m. John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, Feb. 4, 1635. Richard Jeffries: Dying intestate, administration requested by John Council, who married the relict of the said Jeffries, Aug. 9, 1666. R. Oct. 15, 1666. Security, Mr. (Francis) England (B. 2, p. 13), on adj. land to whom settled Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Jeffries, Richard: appraisal ordered August 11, 1666. Appraisers, John Snellock (business partner of John Jennings), Morgan Lewis, John Newman (br-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), Thomas Ward. Signed by Alice Council the relict. Sept. 10, 1666.
1.2.2. Hodges Counsell Sr.
1.2.2.1. ***Hodges Counsell Jr.).

(1. Thomas Hodges.
1.1. Thomas Hodges, m. Agatha, da. of George Rodney, of Westbury. (1. George Rodney. 1.1. Maurice Rodney, Esq., m. Joan, da. of Sir Thomas Dyer of Somerford, Co., Wilts., whose tenants were the Harris family of Mells.
1.1.1. Dorothy wife of Rees Davis* of the Middle Temple, and of Tickenham, Esq. 1.2. Agatha Rodney, m. Captain Thomas Hodges, d. 1583).

(1. Lewis Davis, of Carmarthenshire.
1.1. *Rees Davis, Esquire, of Tickenham.
1.1.1. John Davis, d.v.p., m. Alice Knight, Oct. 9. 1606.
1.2. William Davies, of Carmarthenshire.
1.2.1. Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. Nov, 8, 1587, m. Mary Owen, da. of Mary Pitt and Robert Owen, of Bristol and Carmarthanshire.
1.2.1.1. Robert Davis (involved in various litigations concerning the Owen estate), incl. against William Owen, nephew of Robert.
1.2.1.1.1. John Davis, bapt. April 17, 1637; d. bef. June 28 1714, m. Mary Green.*
1.2.1.1.1.1. Sarah Davis, d. bef. Jan. 6, 1720, m. (1) Joseph Bridger.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Mary Bridger, d. 1811, Edgecombe Co., m. Robert Pitt (b. 1738, d. 1806, Edgecombe Co.), son of Joseph Pitt.
1.2.1.1.1.1. Sarah Davis m. (2) Nicholas Fulgham, son of Anthony Fulgham. Anthony Fulgham’s 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 Counsell, son of Hodges Counsell Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Nicholas Fulgham, m. Martha Pitt.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Fulgham, m. Thomas Applewhaite, son of Henry Applewhaite.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Henry Applewhaite, d. 1739, m. Mary Counsell, da. of Hardy Counsell and Susannah Fulgham.
1.2.1.1.1.2. John Davis, m. Ann Drew, dau. of William Drew and Judith Wood, dau. of Thomas Wood, the son of Arthur Wood and Sarah Wooten. In 1668, Thomas Wood, “son of Arthur Wood, and Sarah Wooten his mother, relict of Arthur deceased,” deeded 100 ac. to “Richard Bennett of Blackwater” (as given hereinafter, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672); this said land being included & contained in a patent of 746 ac. taken up by Francis England in the year of our Lord 1645?. Richard Bennett’s first wife was named Anne, the probably mother of his children. The wife mentioned in his will was named Sarah and she subsequently m. Robert Lancaster, whose will was probated in 1720; whose son m. Elizabeth Harris, as given. Francis England’s land was adj. Capt. William Pierce. (Vol. 1, p. 857, land patents).

1.1.1.1.1. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek, October 26, 1646: “James Tooke (his family were tenants of the Symes, of Mells) to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, probably d. in 1677, in Virginia. The inventory of Edward Harris states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis, i.e. *Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, aforesaid. In IOW Court, January 11, 1672, Thomas Tooke (associated with Thomas Harris, who died in 1672), as attorney, calls John Davis “his loving brother”.
1.1.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, who m. Joan … quite possibly Joan Kirton, bapt. Apr. 15, 1621, dau. of a Thomas Kirton, presumably a junior member of the armigerous family intermarried with the Rodneys/Hodges.

(Elizabeth Rodney (of Cheddar juxta Wedmore, kin of the Hodges family of the latter place), after the decease of her husband, bef. Feb. 10, 1611, m. Henry Norwood “de medio Templo London generosus’ and Eliz. Kirton, Westcamel, widow”. They were the parents of Henry Norwood, of Virginia; br. of Richard Norwood, the father of William Norwood, whose daus. (Lydia and Elizabeth), m. (respectively) John Sowerby, and Francis Branch. On June 9, 1666, George Hardy deeded Francis England 100 ac. where George Branch formerly lived called “Shadow Rock”. (p. 545). George Branch m. Ann England, dau. of Francis, having issue: (1) Francis, who m. Elizabeth Norwood, dau. of William Norwood, aforesaid, (2) George, who m. Susan, dau. of William Corker, sister of Lucy Rose, of whose children Bartholomew Owen was a benefactor. Francis England’s land was adj. that of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, and Matthew Tomlin).

1.1.1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar.
1.1.1.1.2.1.1. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham. The Hole family intermarried with the Fulghams were probably they of Wedmore. Conveyance from Robert Hole, Wedmore, yeoman, son and heir of Marie Hole sister and co-heir of Robert Sherwell, and Temperance his wife to Richard Counsell, Heathhouse, Wedmore, yeoman : ¼ part of free chapel. Reciting letters patent April 14, 1603, grnating the free chapel to Michael Cole and John Rowdon who sold it to Robert Sherwell. April 15, 1625. (Bristol Arch. HA/D/357). Robert Sherwell m. Maria Beard, Oct. 6, 1578.
1.1.1.1.2.1.2. John Harris.
1.1.1.1.3. John Harris, m. Agnes Comer, Feb. 4, 1635, in Cheddar.
John Harris Jr. (so designated). Court roll of the Manor of Chedder Fitzwaters. Being the admission of Thomas Hickes, by Richard Hickes, Gentleman, Steward to Edward Lancaster Lord of the Manor, to One house and orchard, except sufficient plough way on the east side of the path, now in the tenure of John Harris, except ten feet of land in the North-west corner. Thomas Hickes and his wife and Thomas Hickes, the younger, their son, in survivorship. May 19, 1681. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. 10). Lovell v Lancaster. Plaintiffs: John Lovell and Frances Lovell his wife, Richard Harris and John Peters. Defendants: Agnes Lancaster, Mary Lancaster, Edward Clarke, Francis Blewett, Alfred Seaman and others. Subject: property in Cheddar, Somerset. 1688. (N.A., C 8/410/32). The Lovells were intermarried with the Counsells: John Counsell m. Rachel Lovell, Feb. 14, 1607. Mary Counsell m. William Lovell, Nov. 7, 1639, in Wedmore.

The Counsells were also intermarried with the Martins and Comers.

1. …
1.1. John Martin.
1.1.1. John Martin, bapt. Feb. 20, 1568.
1.2. William Martin, m. (1) Joan Counsell, May 10, 1567, Wedmore. (2) Alice Jennings, June 7, 1574. (3) Edith Burgess, Oct. 1, 1584.
1.2.1 William Martin, bapt. Oct. 5. 1577.
1.2.2. Thomas Martin, bapt. March 1, 1572.
1.2.3. John Martin, bapt. Nov. 18, 1582.
1.2.4. John Martin, bapt. July 8, 1585.
1.2.4.1. John Martin, m. Margery Comer, sister of Agnes, wife of John Harris, above noted, April 17, 1637.
1.2.5. William Martin, bapt. July 20, 1586.
1.3. Alice Martin, m. William Shepherd, May 29, 1569.
1.4. Richard Martin.
1.4.1. William Martin, bapt. Aug. 14, 1569, m. Alice Nichols, May 7, 1590.
1.4.2. Robert Martin, bapt. Dec. 5, 1574.
1.4.2.1. Robert Martin.
1.4.2.1.1. Robert Martin, bapt. Feb. 21, 1637.
1.4.2.2. Henry Martin, m, Jane …
1.4.2.2.1. John Martin, bapt. April 12, 1640.
1.3. Joan Martin, m. Richard Comer, April 19, 1578.

1. Thomas Harris, of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494.
1.1. John Harris, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Feb. 3, 1582; “son of John”.
1.1.2. Sergeant John Harris (it may be presumed), bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, bur. Aug. 3, 1637, in Nunney. A possible connection between the Harris family of Nunney and Sergeant John Harris concerns Francis Derrick, the Bristol Merchant, noted in 1635 as paying custom duties on booty taken from Spanish ships (Nat. Arch., ref. E 134/12Chas1/Mich39). Like many Bristol merhants, he held land in Somerset, as noted on this certificate of residence: “showing Francis Derricke (or the variant surname: Dericke, Dyricke) to be liable for taxation in Gloucestershire, and not in the hundreds of Brent, Bempstone, Portbury, and Hartcliffe, Somerset, the previous area of tax liability. 1628. (Nat. Arch., ref. E 115/128/37).
1.1.2.1. Dorothy Harris, her land was purchased by Francis Derricke,
1.1.3. Thomas Harris, baptised 1600, m. Alice West, in 1635, in Nunney, where a family of West were established. William West m. Katharine Perry on May 23, 1608, in Bath (18 miles from Nunney); their dau. being Alice West, bapt. Sept. 16, 1615.
1.1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris. bapt. Aug. 14, 1636, in Nunney.
1.1.2.1.2. John Harris, baptised in 1640, m. Margaret Beard, in 1664.
1.1.2.1.2.1. John Harris, bapt. June 24, 1667. (It can not be discounted that emigrated to Virginia with his cousins).
1.1.2.2.1.3. Ann Harris, bapt. October 21, 1646, who m. Robert Millard, in May 1667; he baptised Sept. 11, 1625, in Nunney, the son of Francis Millard. The Millards were primarily of Wedmore (20 miles from Nunney), where they intermarried with the Harris family of that place. The wife of the John Harris may have been related to the wife of Thomas Bennett, baptised on November 11, 1603, at Wiveliscombe; who m. Agnes Beard, on July 17, 1623.

THE BENNETT KEY

1. …
1.1. Thomas Bennett, bapt. April 2, 1570.

1.1.1. Thomas Bennett, bapt. Nov. 5, 1603, who m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623, and who was the headright of his br., Richard, in 1636.

1.1.2. Richard Bennett, bapt. Aug. 6, 1609.

1.1.2.1. Ann Bennett, who m. 2. Theoderick Bland, son of John Bland and Susanna de Deblere.

1.1.2.2. Elizabeth Bennett, m. Charles Scarburgh, son of Edmund, and br. of Littleton Scarburgh (whose headright was the Bristol merchant, John Watson), in 1652; Matilda Scarburgh, who m. Lt. Col. John West, Sr., of Accomack, having issue: Sarah West; John West Sr.; Anthony West; Alexander West, who m. Mary Parker, dau. of Phillip Parker and Elizabeth Scarburgh. Phillip Parker being the grandson of George Parker and Abigail Barlow.

1.2. John Bennett, b. March 1, 1566, d. 1601.

1.2.1. Thomas Bennett, b. c. 1590, listed in the 1624 census on the south of the James River, near Lawne’s Creek. In that year, Elizabeth Pierce, dau. of his wife Alice, chose her stepfather, Thomas Bennett, as her guardian. Anthony Barham (the first husband of Elizabeth Pierce) died in 1641, naming “Mother Bennett” and his brother-in-law Richard Bennett in his Will. Elizabeth Pierce m. (2) Richard Jackson, by whom she had issue (1) Sarah, who m. Arthur Smith Jr. (who with his wife gave to George Hardy deeds for the land on Blackwater, in 1666, the deed reciting that Sarah and (2) Mary (wife of George Hardy) were daus. of Richard Jackson and granddaus. of Alice Bennett. (B. 1, pp. 69, 70).

1.2.1.1. Richard Bennett, d. 1709.

1.3. Robert Bennett, bapt. April 27, 1571; d. circa 1623, in Virginia, m. Alice …, as above noted. On June 10, 1642, George Hardy received a patent for land adj. that of Alice Bennett on the easternmost side of Lawne’s Creek, IOW Co. (Nugent, p. 140). On April 2, 1644, Justinian Cooper sold to his neighbour, Alice Bennett, widow, for a cow and a calf and barrel of corn, 150 ac. in IOW, between Castle and Cypress Creeks. On July 19, 1647, Alice Bennett deeded the said 150 ac. to her granddaus., Mary (wife of George Hardy) and Sarah Jackson, daus. of Richard Jackson.

1.4. William Bennett, bapt. June 15, 1572; m. Alice Storey, Nov 9, 1603. (As per register). This is another Harris connection.

1.5. Edward Bennett, bapt. Feb. 2, 1577, m. Mary Bourne. Edward was a leading Puritan settler, and was elder of the Ancient Church at Amsterdam. He received a patent on condition that he settled 200 persons, in association with his brother, Robert Bennett, and his nephew, Richard Bennett. Edward Bennett’s dau., Silvestra, m. Nicholas Hill (as his second wife and her second husband) when he was advanced in age. Nicholas Hill appraised the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

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