A Shropshire family of Harris shared kinship associations with the Hollands of that place from early times; explaining such necessitates an account of the family of Williams, of Willaston. Commencing with the first six generations, as given in the Visiation of Shropshire – 1. Griffith ap Beli, of Garth. 2. Madoc ap Griffith 3. Kadwgan ap Madoc. 4. Ryrid ap Kadgwan. 5. Madoc ap Ryrid 6. Jevan ap Madoc, m. a dau. of Giffry – it may be noted that the Welsh bardic tradition, reliant on memorising oral tradition, lends weight to claimed ancestries, made more easy by a son being named as “ap” (son of) his father.

The seventh generation brings us to ‘recorded’ history:

7. Griffith ap Jevan, m. Margaret Fairford, dau. of Richard Fairford and Margaret, dau. of Hugh de Paunton, son of Hugo de Paunton and Johanna, dau. of Hugo Gerband of Trefnant and Petronilla, dau. of Peter Pigot of Willaston. Willaston (Wollaston) had been previously held by the Pigots, under the Corbets of Caus. Mr. Eyton gives notice of Ralph FitzPikot, who, in 1180, was amerced 20s., among other feudatories of Caus, for false judgment passed against Fulke FitzWarin. Howell Pigot (dominus de Willaston), great-grandfather of Peter Pigot. was living in 1282. William Valentine Lloyd (The sheriffs of Montgomeryshire, with notices of their families, 1540 to 1639, pp. 126, 127, 1876), allows further dating: “Griffith ap Jeuan, who married Margaret Fairford, the heiress of Willaston, was born 49th Edward III, 1375, died in the 30th Henry VI, 1451, and was buried in the Austin Friars, Salop. A deed drawn out on the marriage of his son David ap Griffith ap Jeuan, with Catherine, dau. of Cadwallader ap Owen (ap David, ap Adam, ap Meyrick ap Pasgen ap Gwyn, to Brockwel Ysgythrog),* bears date the 9th Henry VI, 1430.

(*That is, par Dwnn, et al.:
1. Griffith ap Beli.
2. Gwyn ap Griffith, Lord of Guilsfield (Cegidva, abounding in hemlock), m. Annest, daughter of Einion Wychan (Vichan) ap Einion ap Ieva.
3. Griffith ap Gwyn.
4. Pasgen ap Gwyn, m. Nest, verch Llewelyn Wychan (Vichan).
5. Meuric ap Pasgen, m. Gwervyl, verch Ieuan Koch ap Rhys Gwnley, Lord of Marton.
6. Adam (Adda) ap Meuric, an Official of Powys in the 1270’s.
7. David ap Adam.
8. Owen ap David.
9. Cadwallader ap Owen.
10. Katherine, verch Cadwallader ap Owen, m. (1430) David ap Griffith.
11. William ap David, m. (ca. 1460) Gwenhever, verch David Llloyd ap Sir Griffith Vichan.
12. Matilda verch William, m. William Holland).

8. David ap Griffith, m. (1430) Katherine, verch Cadwallader ap Owen.

9. William ap David, m. (ca. 1460) Gwenhever verch David Llloyd ap Sir Griffith Vichan; a kinswoman. Archaeologia Cambrensis (vol. 1, p. 47, 1846), gives account of her ancestry: “Sir John Olcastle called by the Cambrians Sion Hendy o Went Iscoed, was a native of the Welsh part of Herefordshire. Having, A.D. 1413, escaped from the Tower of London, whither he had been committed on the charge of heresy, he lay concealed for a time with some Lollard friends at Broniarth, near the residence of Sir Griffith Vaughan, lord of Burgedin. Here, in 1417, Sir Griffith and his brother, Ieuan ab Griffith, with the assistance of others, apprehended him. They then took him to Pool Castle, and delivered him over to Edward Charlton, lord Powys … “Edward Charlton, Lord Powys, to the honour of God, and in consideration of the diligence and assiduous pains taken by Ieuan ab Gruffydd ab Ieuan ab Madoc ab Gwenwys, and Griffith Vichan, his brother, in seizing John Oldcastell an heretic, and perverter of the Catholic Faith, and an enemy to our Sovereign King that now is; at the instance of the said parties — the said Lord Powys indemnifies them of all murders and other misdemeanors by them committed on that occasion; and also to the honour of the most omnipotent God, the said Lord Powys remits unto the said Ieuan and Griffith in perpetuity all suits and services, porthiant hav, and porthiant gauar, &c., for all their lands within his lordship’s manor of Soithstrad Marchell paying in lieu thereof, of all rents and services whatsoever, which they held or owed suit for, to the said Lord Powys and his heirs, one barbed arrow yearly for ever at the feast of St. John the Baptist”.

Sa. three nags’ heads erased, ar. (Brochwel Ysgythrog for Williams).
Sa. between a chevron, ermine, three lions’ heads erased, two and one, ar. (Fairford).
Or., two bars, ermine, in the dexter chief a cross flori, or. (Paunton).
Ermine, three fusils (Pigot).

“It is on record that the manor of Willaston from 1180, and doubtless long be fore, had been in the possession of the knightly family of Pigot, or in that of their descendants, through heirs female, the “ Williams’,” for a period bordering on five centuries. The only visible mark which still recalls their ownership of Willaston is the sign of the Nag’s Heads, their arms, lately hanging from a beer-house in the neighbourhood, and giving its name to a cluster of cottages”.

This allows us reasonably conjecture (on chronological grounds) that Matilda, the wife of William Holland, as follows, was a dau. of William ap David.

10. Reginald ap William (Williams) of Willaston, m Margaret Lee, dau. of Fulc Lee of Langley and Elizabeth, dau. of John Leighton of Wattlesborough, son of Sir Thomas Leighton.*
10. Robert Williams of Winington, m. Margaret Jennyns, dau. of Thomas Jennyns of Wallyburne.

THE HARRIS CONNECTION

1. Thomas Jennings, of Wallibone, m. Elianora Jay, dau. of Rowland Jay.
1.1. Rowland Jennyns, m. Elizabeth Bromley, dau. of William Bromley.
1.1.1. Thomas Jenyns Esq., m. Katherine Oteley, dau. of William Oteley, of Pitchford.
1.1.1.1. William Jennyns.
1.1.1.2. Margaret Jenyns, m. Robert Williams of Winington, br.-in-law 0f William Holland, as follows.
1.1.2. Elianora Jenyns, m. Richard Harris of Cruckton, as immediately follows.

1. John ap Harry, m. Margaret Leighton, dau. of *Sir Thomas Leighton and Anne Baker, dau. of Roger Baker of Shrewsbury.
2. Richard Harris, m. Eleanor Jenyns, dau. of Rowland Jenyns, of Wallyburne, Salop,
3. (William Harris, yeoman of Wheathill, Condover, it is reasonable to suggest, noting the ensuing shared associations of William Harris and John Harris, of Cruckton, as follows).
4. Roger Harris, of Shrewsbury.
5. Sarah Harris, m. Richard More of Linley and Larden, d. 1643, Sheriff of Shrop.
6. Thomas Moore, m. Margaret Ligon, b. 1614, great-granddau. of Richard Ligon by his first wife. Katharine Ligon, granddau. of Richard Ligon by his second wife, m. Fleetwood Dormer, Esq. He m. (2) Mary Harris, niece of Rowland Harris, and first-cousin of Thomas Harris and John Harris. Col. Thomas Ligon, who m. Mary Harris, was the grandson of a brother of the said Richard Ligon; see anon).
3. John Harris (of Cruckton). m. Eleanor, dau. Thomas Prowde of Sutton. “The family was ancient in this neighbourhood, and has been already noticed as having been tenants of a good part of Sutton under the abbots of Shrewsbury”. (Hugh Owen, A History of Shrewsbury, vol. 1, p. 408, 1825).
4. Richard Harris, obit. 1631, m. Anna Smallman, obit. 1650, dau. of Thomas Smallman of Wilderhope.
5. Mary Harris, Lady Dormer, m. (in 1673, as second wife), Fleetwood Dormer, b. May 21, 1616, son of Sir Fleetwood Dormer (obit. February 1, 1638), and Mary Isham, aunt of Henry Isham, who resided at Bermuda Hundred, Henrico Co., who m. Katherine Banks, relict of Joseph Royal; their issue being: (1) Henry Isham (obit. 1678), (2) Anne Isham, who m. Col. Francis Eppes, (3) Mary Isham, who m. Col. William Randolph, named as a ‘friend’ in the Will of Major William Harris, as was Thomas Cocke, son of Richard Cocke of Bremo. Fleetwood Dormer’s first wife was Katherine Ligon, second-cousin of Thomas Ligon, whose son and namesake married Mary Harris.
4. Arthur Harris, m. Jane Newton, of Prescot, Shropshire.
5. Thomas Harris, Esq., of Prescot, m. (1632), Alice Holland, dau. of William Holland, bapt. (1574) at Burwarton, and buried there in 1642 (Will proved P.C.C. 94 Campbell), son of Thomas Holland, bur. (1612) at Stottesden, and Alicia, ‘fil. Thomas Cocke of Pickthorne’ (Will pr. P.C.C. 19 Capell, 1613); styled ‘of Pickthorne’, great-aunt of Richard Cocke, b. 1597, in Pickthorne, Stottesdon; bapt. December 13, 1597 at Sidbury, Shropshire; obit. Bremo Bluff, Henrico, 1665.
4. Thomas Harris, bapt. 1559.
4. Rowland Harris, of Ludlow, m. Jane Langford, dau. of Thomas Langford, gent. “Charges layd out upon the reparacons of the parish churche of Ludlow by Thomas Langford and John Taylor, wardens, from the feast of Alle Seyntes anno Domini 1559, unto the seyde feast then next ensuynge viz. for one hole yere, anno Domini 1560” (Churchwardens’ Accounts). Jane Langford, bapt. Oct. 10, 1567, m. (Sept. 14, 1595) Rowland Harris, of Ludlow, ob. 1605. Jane Langford m. (2) Edward Lewis, of Sutton Magna. Thomas Lewis, aged 23 in 1623, step-brother of John Harris, b. 1604, is most likely recorded here: Hannah Boyse, da. and heir of Luke Boyse, late of Henrico, decd., patented in Nov., 1635, 300 ac, in Henrico adj. land of her mother Alice Edlowe; due 50 acres for her personal adventure and 50 ac. for the personal adventure of her father, and 200 ac. for transportation of servants, viz.: ‘Thomas Lewis, Robert Hollum, Joseph Royall, Edward Holland, and Oliver Allen’ (Virginia Magazine, v., p. 97).
5. Thomas Harris.
5. John Harris. (Cousins of Mary Harris, born ca, 1615, whose second husband’s first wife was a kinswoman of Thomas Ligon, husband of Mary Harris.
6. William Harris.
6. Mary Harris, m. Thomas Ligon. (of these, more anon).

THE HOLLANDS

1. William Holland. July 20, 1491. William Constantyne late of London Esq. grants to John. Petits gent, all his lands and tenements within the lordship of Burwarton. Witnessed by Thomas Hord arm., Thomas Cresset arm., John Hord arm., Richard Haughton gent., William Holland,
et mult. He m. Matilda, dau. of Williams, of Willaston. His descendants bore azure, a lion rampant guardant argent. (The arms, differenced, of the FitzHamons).
1.1. Thomas Holland, m. Elizabeth Wall, of Wheathill. (From whence, n.b. a family of Harris, associated with the Ligons).
1.1.1. William Holland, m. Alice, dau. of Jno. Dedington al’s Detton, of Detton. In 1562, there was a reciprocal release as to moieties of the manor, etc., of Wheathill between William Holland, of Burwarton, and Robert Detton, of Ingwardine. William Holland was buried at Burwarton in 1590.
1.1.1.1. Thomas Holland “student of ye Middle Temple de Burwarton et de Medio Templo Lond”, “had good advancemt with his wife”, Alice, dau. of Thos. Cocke of Pickthorne in Com. Salop, a man of worth and credit”; and his wife, Agnes., whom he m. in 1573. (Grandfather of Richard Cocke, of Bremo). In 1598, he made a settlement of Pickthorne, leased under Purslowe of Sidbury, on his wife and sons Michael and John. In 1603, occurs a lease for lives from Sir Henry Wallop and Dame Elizabeth his wife to Thomas Holland, William his son, and Margaret his son’s wife, of a messuage in Burwarton, occupied by William Holland. Thomas Holland was bur, at Stottesden in 1612, and his widow in 1622. In his will (proved P.C.C. 19 Capell, 1613) he is styled “of Pickthorne”.
1.1.1.1.1. William Holland, was bapt. at Burwarton in 1574, and buried there in 1642. (Will proved P.C.C. 94 Campbell). He m. Margaret, dau. of “Thos. Smalman of Wildertop in Com. Salop Esq., who was reader of ye inner Temple and one of ye Justices of ye Council of ye Marches of Wales”.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Holland, born in 1602.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. William Holland, “a Student in ye University & in ye Inns of Court”. He m. (in 1660) Elizabeth, sister of “Sr. Edw. Lutwich who was Chief Justice of Chester & of ye Councill in ye Marches of Wales & afterwards one of ye 12 Judges of England”.
1.1.1.1.1.2. Alice Holland, who was baptized at Burwarton in 1607, and was m. there in 1632 to Thomas Harris, of Prescott* (Baschurch).
1.1.1.2. Francis Holland. The estate of Francis Holland, at Burwarton, was inherited by Thomas, son of Robert Lutley. His sister, Anne, married (at Burwarton in 1634) William Lewis of Sutton (Diddlebury), the half-brother of Thomas Harris, b. 1603, and John Harris, b. 1604, his father, Edward Lewis of Sutton Magna having m. Jane Langford, the relict of Rowland Harris.

It is very probable that William Lewis and Anne Lutley were the parents of John Lewis, granted 400 ac. on the north side of the James River adj. to William Humphries, Nov. 7, 1673; he the br. of Edward Lewis, father of William Lewis, bapt. March 16, 1661, in Diddlebury, husband of Elizabeth Woodson, they the parents of Joseph Lewis, who m. Elizabeth Pleasants. “Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. For good causes to my loving grandson’s, William & Joseph Lewis (children of his da., Elizabeth Woodson, and William Lewis), 450 ac. patented to me and Richard Farris, Giles Carter, (Major) William Harris, and Roger Cummings, Oct. 21, 1687, on White Oak Swamp”. R. May 1, 1707.

1.1.1.2.1. Mary Holland, m. Robert Lutley; she the niece of Thomas Holland of Burwarton, the husband of Alice Cocke, aunt of Richard Cocke of Bremo, bapt. December 13, 1597 at Sidbury, Shropshire; obit. Bremo Bluff, Henrico, 1665, whose son, Thomas, was also named as a ‘friend’ in the Will of Major William Harris. (‘Colonial Wills’, 1677-92, p. 68).
1.1.1.3. George Holland, of Bal. Coll. Oxon, in 1583, aged 20, and of Clement’s Inn in 1595. He held an estate in Purslow (Clunbury), and was bur. at Clunbury in 1645, his will being proved the following year (P. C. C. 41 Twisse). He m. (1595) Cecilia, dau. of Adam Lutley of Bromcroft, bur. at Clunbury in 1652, by his wife, Elizabeth Cresset, dau. of Robert Cressett. Adam Lutley’s sister was Joyce Lutley.* Cecilia Lutley’s br., Robert Lutley, mar. Mary, dau. of Francis Holland.
1.1.2. John Holland, b. 1535, m. *Joyce Lutley; he being John Holland Sr., enfeoffed in Lamberhurst, Kent; father of John Holland Jr., of Lamberhurst, who m. Mary Barham; having issue: David Holland, grandf. of Michael Holland of Goochland.

(Deed to declare the uses of a fine. 1. John Lutley of Bromecroft, gent. (br. of Adam – MS), Nicholas Leighton of the Cotes, gent., Henry Whitton of Lamberhurst, Kent, gent. (married to Camela Bassano, son of Thomas Whitton of Lamberhurst, and Jane Cressett, whose sister, Elizabeth Cressett, m. Adam Lutley of Bromcroft, Shropshire, bur. Oct. 7, 1590, br. of Joyce Lutley, aforesaid); Francis Holland of Burwardyne, gent. and Thomasyn his wife. 2. Francis Cressett of Upton Cressett, esq., and Edward Cressett, gent., son and heir apparent of Franciss Cressett. A fine was levied for settling the manors and property to Francis Cressett for his life, remainder to Edward Cressett and his heirs forever, i.e.:- The Manor of Upton Cressett and lands and houses, etc. and the patronages in Upton Cressett, and all rights, etc. belonging to the Manor, late the property of Richard Cressett, esq. decd. (inc.) the messuage in which … Jurden lives in Felhampton, p. of Wistanstow. Signed: John Lutley, Nicholas Leyghton, Henry Whitton, Francis Holland, mark of Thomasyn Holland. (1605. 5460/3/1tHE 11/8.

The Whittons were a Shropshire family: Inquisition post mortem: On the death of John Whitton esq. He died seized of a messuage in Feyntree late in tenure of William Wall, another late in tenure of John Wall, another late in tenure of Roger Weyll, a pasture late in tenure of Richard Fernell, a pasture late in tenure of John Wall junior. (Of this family of Wall was almost certainly the Holland ancestress). He gave these by charter to Thomas Grey, Richard Mitton, Richard Horde and William Gattacre esqres. to the use of John Whitton and Johanna Gattacre in consideration of their marriage, April 25 Henry VIII (1533). Sept. 18, 1546. Grant: (1) Alice Lane, widow. (2) John Whitton. 1 to 2 a messuage and appurtenances in Dedulbury. Witnessed by Wm. Langford and others. 1538. (Shrop. Arch. 20/6/70).

HARRIS cont.

*Thomas Harris, of Prescott, as given, was the cousin of:

(A) John Harris (son of Rowland Harris and Jane Langford), bapt. March. 16, 1604, St Lawrence, Ludlow; his issue being (1) Major William Harris, bapt. Jan. 13, 1627. (2) Mary Harris, bapt. April 3, 1625. In 1689, Mary (Harris) Ligon gave a deposition stating her age to be 64. Major William Harris held land adj. that of his sister, Mary (Harris) Ligon, on Curles Swamp. John Harris was the br. of Thomas Harris, bapt. Sept. 4, 1603. (B) Mary Harris, associated with Col. William Randolph, who purchased, from the colonial government, the escheated lands of Nathaniel Bacon north of the James River: “The condition is that there is a parcel of land on north side of James River, between plantation called ‘Curles’ belonging to Col. William Randolph, and plantation of John Woodson where he lives, containing 200 ac. left to Mary Ligon by her father Capt. Thomas Harris, dec’d.’ (B. 4, p. 4). This land, on Curles Swamp, was adj. to that of Major William Harris, p. 386: ‘John Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co to Edward Lester, land next to Richard Cocke, next to land formerly William Harris’s on Curles Swamp, next to land given by Thomas Harris to his da. Mary Lygon’.

The Ligon connection to Shropshire pre-dated Mary Harris marrying Fleetwood Dormer; it was earler associations that brought about latter ones: 1. … 1.1. Richard Ligon, m. (1) Mary, dau. of Sir Thomas Russell. 1.1.1. William Ligon, m. Elizabeth Harwell, dau. of Edward Harwell of Besford. 1.1.1.1. William Ligon, the younger, of Madresfield, m. Elizabeth, da. and coheiress of John Pleydell, Esq. 1.1.1.1.1. Margaret Ligon, b. 1614, m. Thomas Moore, son of Richard More, of Linley and Larden, d. 1643, Sheriff Shrop. 1619, and Sarah, da. of Roger Harris of Shrewsbury, Salop, son of William Harris, yeoman, of Wheathill. 1.1. Richard Ligon, m. (2) Margaret, da. of Sir John Talbot, of Grafton. 1.1.1. John Ligon, of Arle, co. Gloucester, b. 1581, d. Sept. 21, 1644, m. his cous., Elizabeth Ligon, dau. of Arnold Lygon. 1.1.1.1. Katharine Ligon, m. Fleetwood Dormer, Esq. He m. (2) Mary Harris, niece of Rowland Harris, and first-cousin of Thomas Harris and John Harris. 1.2. Thomas Ligon, m. Frances Dennys (cousin). 1.2.1. Thomas Ligon, m. Oct. 10, 1602, Elizabeth Pratt. 1.2.1.1. Col. Thomas Ligon, m. Mary Harris.

William Langford (second-cousin of Major William Harris), m. Jane Jordan, of Stone Acton, Shropshire. (See Deed declaring the use of a fine levied by Edward Lutwyche: (1) Edward Lutwyche Esq. (as given, his dau. m. George Holland, br.-in-law of Alice, dau. of Thos. Cocke of Pickthorne), (2) William Jurden of Felhampton, Thomas Langford of Stone Acton. (3) Edward Jurden of Wooston. To hold to William Jurden for 99 years if Richard Jurden and Edward Jurden, sons of William Jurden and Jane, dau. of William, so long live at the yearly rent of £4. Whereas Edward Lutwyche, by deed of July 10, 1623, demised to Thomas Langford, Alice his wife and William their son a house in Stone Acton. December 27, 1632. (Shrop. Arch. 5001/4/1). William Langford was a neighbour of Henry and John Fleming (Nat. Arch. C 5/482/9), benefactors of Diddlesbury Church. Henry Fleming was born in 1624. His Will was proved in 1656 (P.C.C. 124 Wootton), which mentioned his “brother Fleming” and “brother (in-law) Bassett”. The salient point is that Henry Fleming’s brother was probably the John Fleming who died in New Kent county, April 27, 1686, whose son, Charles Fleming, owned land land next to his cousin, William Basset, whose Will was proved May 14, 1724.

Samuel Jordan was likely to be of the family Stone Acton: Will of Samuel Jordan of New Kent Co., probated June 11, 1719: ‘being weak of body … It is my will that my beloved friend (br.-in-law) John Fleming have the plantation of Thomas Langford dec’d, & the management of his estate & the bringing up of his son *Thomas Langford as wholely to himself … executors wife Elizabeth (Fleming) Jordan, friends Charles Fleming, John Fleming, Tarlton Woodson, and Thomas Pleasants’ (son of John Pleasants and Dorothy Jordan, relict of Robert Jordan, son of Thomas Jordan, the Quaker. John Pleasants was the br. of Elizabeth Pleasants, who m. James Cocke, grandson of Richard Cocke, of Bremo. James Cocke owned the estate of “Curies,” north of the James River. He was clerk of Henrico from 1692 to 1707, in which office he was succeeded a few years after by William Randolph. Tarleton Woodson made a deed in 1721 in Henrico county to William Randolph for land conveyed by Nathaniel Bacon to his grandfather, Robert Woodson, in 1674; this Robert being the br. of John Woodson, whose son and namesake was a neighbour of Mary (Harris) Ligon and Major William Harris on Curles Swamp; whose da., to repeat, m. William Lewis, close kinsman of (it is strongly suggested) of Major William Harris. *The lands of Thomas Langford, deceased, were determined in a report dated February 26, 1731 – ‘the line between Wm Bird esq. & Alex Cock cannot be found, Edward Hundley present for Wm Bird, present Henry Hix for Mr. Sam’l Welden, Daniel Patrick, William Harris, Jr., son of Major William Harris.

William Randolph’s land was not on the south of the river, as was the ‘Longfield’ land of Captain Thomas Harris, who died by 1646, when an act of the Assembly of Virginia of that year ordered a fort to be erected at the Falls of James River, to be called Fort Charles; an abstract being: “And, whereas, there Is no plantable land adjoynlng to fort Charles, and therefore no encouragement for any undertaker to maintnaine the same, lt is therefore, thought fitt and Inacted, that if any person or persons purchasing the right of Capt. Thomas Harris shall or will settle or inhabit on the south side of James River right opposite to the said fort, soe it be done this or the ensueing yeare. That hee or they underttkeing as aforesaid shall have and enjoy the houseing belonging to the said fort for the use of timber, or by burning them for the nailes or otherwise, as also shall be exempted from the publique taxes for the term of three years, provided that the number exceed not tenn, as also shall have and enjoy the boats and ammunition belonging to the said fort”. The Crown granted this land as an escheat, its last owner having died without issue. In Virginia, in the absence of heirs, land escheated to the Crown, which was determined by a Jury of Escheat, and it is certain that the judgement of 1700 referred to an escheat jury verdict. William Broadnax’s boundaries were given as those pertaining in 1638: ‘Thomas Harris, 820 acs. comonly known by the name of the Longfeild, Henrico Co., Feb. 25, 1638, p. 615.

Major William Harris did not inherit the Longfield estate of Captain Thomas Harris – he owned land adjacent to Mary (Harris) Ligon on Curles Swamp. A Colonial record purported to be housed in the British archives naming William Harris as the only son of Captain Thomas Harris is a fiction. The purported record of Major Harris selling Longfield is a fiction. It is far less fanciful to suggest that Mary Harris was adopted by her uncle, Thomas, a second captain of that name; or, following a well-trodden path of deception, yet another Harris fabrication.

(In passing, it can be noted that the date of the Will of Major William Harris was altered. This is nothing to do with interpretations of contrasting callendar dates; it is about the ability of anyone to amend a document (now in the Library of Virginia) as to their interpretation, a crimal offence in England, but seemingly of a de rigeur nature in Harris circles).

The Captain Thomas Harris of the 1624 Virginia Muster (died before 1646, without proof of him being an “ancient planter“), descended from a John Harryes (and thus had no connections with associates of the Cocke family of Shropshire), who is recorded as of Walton, near Aylesbury, in 1431. His descendant, John Harris, in 1535, was paying a rent of £7 6s. 8d. to the manor of Maids Moreton with the mill there called ‘Brent Myll.’ The Woodliffe family also held tenements in Maids Moreton. His son was Robert Harris, Rector of Bechampton, which is situate 6 miles east of Maids Moreton. Robert Harris succeeded as Rector of Bechampton on June 11, 1526. His son, John Harris is recorded in a legal case of circa 1560, in which he is a defendant against the executor of John Finch, son of Sir Moyle Finch, and cousin of Erasmus Finch, who sponsored Margaret Bourdman in Virginia, habitee of the Captain Thomas Harris household of the 1624 Muster. John’s sister married William Piggot, brother of Matthew Pigott, who succeeded as Rector of Bechampton. William Piggot’s sister, Ursula Pigott, married her kinsman, Christopher Pigott, of Doddershall, near Aylesbury, Bucks. Christopher Pigott’s brother, Thomas, represented Aylesbury in the 1589 Parliament before serving as county sheriff in 1593-4. Sir John Gibson married Anne, daughter of Sir John Allott, Fishmonger of Wood Street, London, and Mayor in 1590, widow of the aforesaid Thomas Pigott. Margaret Berman (Bourdman), recorded as being in the household of Captain Thomas Harris in the 1624 Muster, was a niece of Sir John Gibson on her mother’s side.

Like it, like it not.

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