Wiveliscombe, Somerset.

i.
1. William Blake, bur. Dec. 4, 1636. 1.1. Thomas Blake.1.1.1. Thomas Blake, bapt. Feb. 2, 1649, d. 1709, IOW, m. Alice Champion, dau. of Edward Champion and Elizabeth Atkins, and sister of Phyllis Fort, m. to Elias Forte. (The Will of Thomas Moore, dated Sept. 28, 1696 (B. 2, p. 371), ‘imprimis, I give to Edward Champion (wife of Thomas Moore’s granddau., I suggest), Junior, my land I bought of Edward Cobb to hold to him and his heirs forever’. Wit. Thomas Giles, Phillip Brantly, John Bell (husband of Ann Bennett (as follows), John Davis (creditor of Edward Harris, d. 1677). Phillis Fort was granted administration of her husband’s estate on March 10, 1678, secured by Thomas Moore and John Newman (who is claimed to be the br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672); appraised by Edward Brantley (br. of Phillip), who was also security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. I have previously documented the Forte family of Wiveliscombe. The said Thomas Harris was a cousin of Thomas Bennett, of Lawne’s Creek, whose stepdau., Elizabeth Pierce, chose him as her guardian. 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, appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, with Edward Bechinoe), were daus. of Richard Jackson and granddaus. of Alice Bennett. (B. 1, pp. 69, 70). John Champion was a headright of Richard Jackson in IOW IN 1637. He was probably of Meare juxta Wedmore, where the Champions held part of that manor, with such as the Davis, Hickes, and Symes families (Meare deeds, Somerset Heritage Centre, DD\X\CLT/1, and certainly related to Edward Champion, bapt. Nov. 4 1633, in Meare.

ii.
1.1.1.1. William Blake, Will probated 1746 in IOW, m. Mary Sessums, dau. of Nicholas Sessums and Hannah Culmer, dau. of Thomas Culmer (reasonably supposed to be a son of Laurence Culmer, as follows). ‘Know all men present that I Thomas Harris in the 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. (B. 1, p. 149).

iii.
1.1.1.1.1. William Blake, member of Granville Co., NC militia in 1755. 1.1.1.1.1.1. William Blake, d. 1798, fought at Valley Forge. 1.1.1.1.2. Sessums Blake. Thomas Baron Jr. of Edgecombe Co. to John Myrick, dated Jan. 31, 1749, 50 ac. on the north side of the Maherrin River adj. William Lee and John Peterson. Wit: Daniel Barron, Newitt Drew, and Sessums Blake, pp. 93-96.

iv.
1.1.1.2. Thomas Blake. Thomas Blake to Joshua Claud, March 8, 1753, 290 ac. adj. the north side of Cocklins Pocoson and sd. Claud. Wit. Thomas Blake, John Person, Thomas Day, and Joshua Harris. (pp. 463-466). Thomas Day to son-in-law, Thomas Francis, Aug. 14, 1760, 243 ac. adj. Richard Taylor, side of Cockes Swamp, Joshua Claud, Thomas Blake. Wit. Thomas Day. Thomas Blake, Will R. Feb. 12, 1789. Wit. Burwell Westbrooke, p. 296.

v.
Thomas Day was the son of a namesake, son of James Day and Mary Bland, dau. of Thomas and Mary (Bennett) Bland; and nephew of Silvestra Hill, as follows.

vi.
1.1.1.3. Mary Blake, m. William Pope, son of Henry Pope, and br. of Jane Braswell. William Pope, of the Parish of St. Luke … exs. wife, and friend, Simon Harris. Wit. Rebecca Harris. R. Feb. 12, 1789, p. 294. John Harris, leg. sons Drew, Nathan, and John. Exs., son Nathan, and Edward Drew. Wit. Simon Harris. R. Dec. 13, 1764. 1.1.1.4. Hannah Blake, m. Joshua Claud. 1.1.1.5. Benjamin Blake, m. Martha Jones. 1.1.1.5.1. Martha Blake, m. Elisha Cain, son of William Cain and Sarah Braswell, dau. of James Braswell.

vii.
1.2. Johann Blake, m. Simon Hill, Sept. 6, 1623, possible br. of Elizabeth Hill, m. to Laurence Colmer (Culmer), Feb. 3, 1620; Thomas Hill, m. to Johann Prouse, Dec. 28, 1622, and Agnes Hill, m. to Richard Perratt, May 20, 1624. Nicholas Hill, appraiser of estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, was probably of this family.

viii.
1.3. Judith Blake, m. Thomas Harris, Nov. 20, 1623.

ix.
He was a grandson of William Harris, who m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562. These Westbrookes probably migrated to Virginia: Westbrook, John appraisal by Nathaniel Ridley, Edward Brantley (his son, John, m. the widow of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30), and Thomas Cook; signed by John Person, Oct. 28, 1734. (B. 4, p. 25). John Westbrooke m. Amy Foster, da. of Christopher Foster and Alice Forte.

x.
Thomas Harris was the son of Richard Harris, who m. (Oct. 8 1594), Eleanor Bennet, sister of (1) Thomas Bennett, bapt. April 2, 1570, father of Governor Richard Bennett, bapt. Aug. 6, 1609, d. 1675, in Virginia; (2) John Bennett, b. March 1, 1566, d. 1601, father of 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. (3) Edward Bennett, as follows.

xi.
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, appraiser of estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677) were daus. of Richard Jackson and granddaus. of Alice Bennett. (B. 1, pp. 69, 70).

xii.
Thomas Bennett was the father of Richard Bennett, d. 1709, whose first wife was (circumstantially) 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.

xiii.
Richard Bennett had issue, Richard Bennett, whose son, William Bennett, m. Mary Hardy, dau. of George Hardy, and sister of Martha Hardy, wife of Edward Harris, d. 1677; they having issue: Ann Bennett, a beneficiary in the Will of Mathew Fones (1704), witnessed by Philip Pardoe, who witnessed the Will of Martha, wife of Edward Harris. Mathew Fones witnessed the Will of George Hardy (1704).

xiv.
Thomas Harris, the husband of Judith Blake, was the very likely br. of Edward Harris, born 1596, who was executor of the Will of his aunt, “Judith Bennett, of St. Dunstans in the East, London, widow”, Nov. 23, 1638 (P.C.C. 164 Lee). Rice Jones patented 88 ac. in Lanc. Co., on N. Side Rappa, adj. land of Edward Harris (deceased) Sept. 2, 1652, he subsequently sold this land to Howell Powell, Jan. 22, 1652, p. 53. This land had been sold to Rice Jones by Richard Bennett, as part of his patent of Nov. 4, 1642. It is almost certain that Edward Harris also held land of this patent.

xv.
His son was almost certainly the Edward Harris, who d. 1677. Rice Jones also sold land to Howell Powell, on N. Side Rappa. adj. land of Wm. Newsome, April 6, 1653, p. 51. The last record of this William Newsome appears Nov. 1, 1657 in a promissory note to John Flower (a Bristol merchant) from William Newsome of Lower Chippoakes in James, Virginia, planter, p.111. His son and namesake received grants of land were made to him in partnership with Robert Ruffin and Arthur Allen, a Bristol merchant. (B. 6, p. 650-654). He m. a granddau. of William Spencer, alluded to here: Indenture, Wm. Cockerham to Wm. Harris, 150 acres in Hog Island granted to Wm. Spencer, late of the County, dec’d February 1, 1637. Beginning at a marked white oak very neare a saw pitt in the line twixt said Cockerham and Robt. Barham, orphan (son of Charles), associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

xvi.
1.3.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

xvii.
His Will, proved Oct. 24, 1672, names 2 sons, John and Thomas, wife Alice; Nicholas Hill, and John Jennings. 1.3.1.1. John Harris. 1.3.1.1.1. Alice Harris, bapt. June 17, 1685. Edward Bechinoe (with Richard Corsey), appraised the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677; his dau., Alice, m. Robert Kae, of Bristol. She m. (2) John Goodrich. Robert Kae’s sister, Elizabeth Kae, m. Timothy Fenn; their dau. Kae Fenn, m. John Fiveash, 1709. (B. 2., p. 509), br. of Thomas Fiveash (James Pyland witnesses his Will, dated Jan. 4, 1725), who m. (1712), Alice Harris, da. of John Harris. (B. 7, p. 288), son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

xviii.
(1. John Fiveash, m. Joyce Pettway, da. of Edward Pettway, as Will Jan. 27, 1686. 1.1. Thomas Fiveash. 1.2. Peter Fiveash, appraisal April 28, 1702 by William Thomas, John Brantley, and Richard Hardy. Thomas Harris, Will recorded Nov. 13, 1672, appointing relict Alice as exc. Security John Newman and Edward Brantley. 1.2.1. Thomas Fiveash, m. (1712) Alice Harris, da. of John Harris. (B. 7, p. 288), the son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).

xix.
(James Piland, bapt. on August 30, 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642, m. the widow of Thomas Greenwood. She next m. Thomas Edwards, who claimed Greenwood’s land, and sold 150 ac. of it to John Jennings, overseer of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. On April 28, 1720, James Piland Jr., Benjamin Hodges, and Roger Ingram witnessed the will of Robert Lancaster, whose son, Thomas, m. Elizabeth Harris, da. of John Harris, as herein given).

xx.
(Timothy Fenn, Oct. 10, 1642, 300 ac. beg. & c. on a parcel of land in the tenure of Charles Barcroft, father-in-law of George Moore, br. of Thomas Moore).

xxi.
(The Will of Richard Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, was witnessed by Thomas Moore, who named son-in-law William Seward, grandson of John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant. The Will of Francis Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, was witnessed by George Moore. John Goodrick appraised the Will of the said Richard Corsey).

xxii.
The Bechinoe’s held property in Bristol (see previous notes), as well as adj. that of Nicholas Hill (a kinsman of the Harris family, having married their Bennett cousin, and appraiser of estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Will of Nicholas Hill, the first day of January, 1674: His body to be buried as near his deceased wife and children as may be; to his wife Silvester for life my plantation in IOW with all the houses, buildings, orchards, and gardens thereto belonging, being bounded betwixt the cart path that goes from the mill belonging to Mr. George Hardy (probable father-in-law of Edward Harris, d. 1677) to son George Hill all my woodland, betwixt the aforesaid branch betwixt Mr. Briggs’ and Mr. Beckenoe’s plantations, and the old cart path that goes from the River side to Blackwater, being the bounds betwixt the land Col. Bacon bought of Thomas Harris and my land.

xxiii.
1.3.1.1.2. Isabel Harris, m. Nicholas Fulgham. 1.3.1.2. Thomas Harris. John and Thomas Harris inherited land W. of Seward’s Creek, adj. that of Thomas Blake, their kinsman. 1.3.1.2.1. Thomas Harris, Will proved March 1729, m. Hannah Judkins. His estate was appraised by Edward Brantley and John Thorpe.

xxiv.
(1. Joseph Thorpe, m. Dorothy Fenn, da. of Timothy Fenn, Sr. 1.1. Thomas Thorpe, d. 1711 in IOW Co. m. (1) bef. 1686, Martha Jennings, d. 1702, da. of John Jennings, Clerk of Court of IOW Co. and Mary Seward. (2) Mary Lewis, as follows. 1.1.1. Sarah Thorpe (by first wife), m. (1) William George, son of John George. 1.1.2. John Thorpe, appraisee of estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, with Edward Brantley.
xxv.

1.3.1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, probably the unborn child mentioned in his father’s Will, d. 1761. Thomas Harris of Granville Co. to Joshua Harris, dated Jan. 27, 1753, pp. 466-468. He m. Sarah Goodwin. 1.3.1.2.1.1.1. Solomon Harris. 1.3.1.2.1.2. Joshua Harris. 1.3.1.2.2. Henry Harris. He was this Henry Harris: John White, appraised by Thomas Cooke, Henry Harris, William Lee. R. March 22, 1730. John White was the br. of William White: William White to John Lee, Francis Lee, brothers John, Thomas, and Henry White; to Mary Bell; sister Jane Lee. Wit. Thomas Rosser, Samuel Williams. R. Feb. 23, 1729.

xxvi.
Mary Bell was the dau. of Sarah Lancaster, that is, Sarah Lewis, relict of Daniel Lewis, d. 1698, wh m. (2) Richard Bennett, d. 1709, as his second wife, (3) Robert Lancaster Sr., d. 1720. Mary Lewis, her dau., m. (3) Thomas Thorpe, (4) Benjamin Bell, d. 1722.

xxvii.
Sarah Lancaster’s Will mentions granddau. Ann Kae, and bequested to (1) Mary Mangum, the dau. of John Mangum, who had m. Frances Bennett, dau. of Richard Bennett Jr. John Mangum’s estate was appraised on Nov. 28, 1737 by John Davis, Edward Brantly, and Joseph Ward. (2) Sarah Mangum, the dau. of John Mangum. (3) Bridgett Bennett, the dau. of James Bennett. (4) Dau. Mary Bell. Wit. Thomas Rosser. R. Jan. 29, 1722. (B. 2. p.125).

xxviii.
John White’s son was: Valentine White, of Brunswick Co. He to Frances Exum, dated Apr. 11, 1750, 390 ac. on the north side of Flat Swamp (235 ac. John White, father of sd. Valentine, patented in 1727). Wit. Thomas Clifton, Henry Rose, Joshua Claud, John Megarity, and Newitt Drew, pp. 106-108.

xxix.
Newitt Drew is here seen with his kinsman, Sessums Blake: Thomas Baron Jr. of Edgecombe Co. to John Myrick, dated Jan. 31, 1749, 50 ac. on the north side of the Maherrin River adj. *William Lee and John Peterson. Wit: Daniel Barron, Newitt Drew, and Sessums Blake, pp. 93-96.
By way of clarification of ‘continuations of associations’ –

xxx.
(1. … 1.1. Edward Bennett, b. Feb. 2, 1578, in Wiveliscombe, m. Mary Bourne. 1.1.1. Sylvestra Bennett, bapt. Oct. 25, 1630, in St Olave, London, d. Jan. 9, 1707, m. Nicholas Hill, d. bef. Oct. 20, 1675. The Will of Nicholas Hill, dated April 19, 1675, named legatees: wife Silvestra; son Richard; son Ralph; daughter Agnes (a mantle that was her Mother’s and her wedding ring): da. Martha; son George; da. Mary; son Nicholas; da. Anna; da. Elizabeth; my wife and her six children to have the legacy given her by Major General Bennett; my three children by a former wife. Overseers: Major James Powell, Mr. Thomas Taberer, Mr. William Bressie & John Jennings. Witnessess: John Grayham, John Newman, & Mary Davis. R. Oct. 20, 1675. 1.1.1.1. Mary Hill, d. bef. Dec. 31, 1695, m. John Jennings, d. bef. June 9, 1698. 1.1.1.2. Elizabeth Hill, d. aft. 1700, m. William Thomas, d. aft. Aug. 18, 1710. 1.1.1.2.1. William Thomas. His Will, rec. July 27, 1741, was witnessed by Lewis Brantley. 1.1.2. Mary Bennett, d. aft. 1701, m. John Day. (She m. (2) Thomas Bland. Sept. 12, 1668, Mary Bland, widow, dau. of Jasper Bourne of Stanmore Magna, Middlesex, son of Richard Bourne, gentleman of Wells, Somerset. Mary Davis was owed money by the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1672.

xxxi.
1.2. Eleonor Bennett, m. Richard Harris, Oct. 8, 1594, in Wiveliscombe. He was the son of William Harris, who m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562. 1.2.1. Thomas Harris, who m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe. 1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1672. 1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Harris. (Not the one who m. Judith Edwards). 1.2.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Solomon Harris. 1.2.1.1.1.1.2. Joel Harris. 1.2,1.1.1.2. Henry Harris, who m. a cousin of Newitt Harris, descended from an uncle of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. 1.2.2. Edward Harris. 1.2.2.1. Edward Harris, d. 1677; of him, there is no official record of him having descendants. There are significant distances between emerging facts and lineages given by DNA test takers.

xxxii.
1.3. Thomas Bennett. 1.3.1. Richard Bennett, d. 1709. 1.3.1.1. Richard Bennett Jr. 1.3.1.1.1. Frances Bennett, m. John Mangum. His estate was appraised on Nov. 28, 1737 by John Davis, Edward Brantly, and Joseph Ward. 1.3.1.1.2. Anne Bennett, m. John Bell.

xxxiii.
(1. Richard Bell. 1.1. Richard Bell. 1.1.1. John Bell, m. Anne Bennett. 1.1.1.1. Benjamin Bell. 1.1.1.2. William Bell, nephew of Frances Mangum, etc. m. Ann Jones, dau. of Richard: Richard Jones: Of the Upper Parish – Leg. daughter Ann Bell the land on which she and her husband William Bell live; son Samuel; son Richard (m. Amy (Applewaite) Davis), dau. Elizabeth; dau. Christian; dau. Sarah; dau. Mary; dau. Martha Davis; wife Elizabeth; son Joseph; son Benjamin. Wife Extx. Friends William Bell and Thomas Harris to see my will performed. Dated May 22, 1721. Wit. William Gainer, Arthur Davis, William Allen. (B. 2, p. 85). This is Thomas Harris who d. 1729/30; a kinsman of Edward Harris, d. 1677. 1.2. George Bell, in 1687, witnessed the Will of Francis Hobbs, br.-n-law of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).

xxxiv.
1.1.1.3. William Bennett, m. Mary Hardy, dau. of George Hardy, and sister of Martha Hardy, wife (as I see it) of Edward Harris, d. 1677. 1.1.1.3.1. James Bennett. 1.1.1.3.2. Ann Bennett, a beneficiary in the Will of Mathew Fones (1704), witnessed by Philip Pardoe, who witnessed the Will of Martha, wife of Edward Harris. Mathew Fones witnessed the Will of George Hardy (1704). 1.1.1.3.3. Bridget Bennett).
xxxv.

1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1672. 1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris (not the one given as his line terminating in daus.). 1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. His relict m. John Brantley. 1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris of Granville Co. to Joshua Harris, dated Jan. 27, 1753, pp. 466-468. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Solomon Harris. 1.1.1.1.1.2. Joshua Harris. Thomas Blake to Joshua Claud, March 8, 1753, 290 ac. adj. the north side of Cocklins Pocoson and sd. Claud. Wit. Thomas Blake, John Person, Thomas Day, and Joshua Harris. (pp. 463-466). 1.1.1.1.2. Henry Harris (not necessarily he appearing in the Will of John Gibbins, 1721). This document is not a ‘Rosetta Stone’ of genealogical enquiry; it does not name a Thomas and Henry Harris as sons of an Edward Harris.

xxxvi.
1..2. Richard Harris. 1..2.1. John Harris, bapt. Feb. 18, 1624, 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).1.2.1.1. William Harris, d. bef. 1693, m. Elizabeth … 1.2.1.1.1. 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).

xxxvii.
1.2.1.1.1.1. 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 … “granddau. Mary Harris wife of Henry 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). 1.2.1.1.1.1. Drew Harris. 1.2.1.1.1.2. Nathan Harris. 1.2.1.1.1.3. John Harris.

xxxviii.
1.2.1.2. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett, aforementioned, d. 1709. 1.2.1.1.1.2. Simon Harris. 1.3. Edward Harris. 1.3.1. Edward Harris, d. 1677, the cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, whether liked or not.

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