There were many shared connections betw. the branches of the Harris family of Somerset in Virginia. Naturally so, an advantageous association made by a kinsman was an advantage to all. Yet, there are unique strands in any cut of cloth:

1. Thomas Carter (as son-in-law), and Thomas Gwaltney, witnessed to will of James Took, recorded Feb. 2, 1662, p. 4.
2. James Took …. On Oct. 26, 1646, a deed records: “James Tooke to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”. Robert Harris d. in 1659, having bequeathed land to his dau., Mary, wife of Anthony Spiltimber. In 1663, Edward Bechinoe witnessed a deed conveying this land from Anthony Spiltimber to John Clay of Surry Co. In 1677, Edward Bechinoe appraised the estate of Edward Harris.

Edward Bechinoe was the br. of Conyers Bechinoe, a London merchant, who held property in Bristol (C 7/540/16). As Conyers Bechinoe, aged 25, “of St. Michael, Cornhill, London, skinner”, he m. “Rebecca Kempson, of St. Catharine, near Tower of London, spinster, about 19, consent of father, Richard Kempson, of Anster, co. Warwick, gent”. Richard Kempson (b. 1607) was the grandson of Nicholas Kempson and Agnes, dau. of Thomas Horne of Aston-under-Edge, Gloucestershire; Agnes being the cousin of Catherine Gunne, who m. William Davies, of Carmarthenshire, br. of Rees Davis, Esquire, of Tickenham, who m. (as 3rd wife) Mary Pitt, relict of Robert Owen (Robert ap Owen, of Abergwilli, Carmarthenshire, a Bristol merchant, probable uncle of Bartholomew Owen, of Virginia). William Davies was the father of Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. Nov. 8, 1587, heir to his uncle, who m. Mary Owen, da. of Mary Pitt and Robert Owen. It is probably significant that, on July 10, 1643, John Upton (whose headright was Luke Mizelle) held 3289 ac. upon the branches of Pagan Point Creek and New Town Haven adj. Robert Pitt, Bartholomew’s kinsman.

The first wife of Rees Davis was Dorothy Rodney, dau. of Maurice Rodney, Esq., and Joan, dau. of (n.b.) Sir Thomas Dyer of Somerford, Co., Wilts, niece of Agatha Rodney, wife of Captain Thomas Hodges, d. 1583, of Wedmore (ancestor of Hodges Counsell Jr., of Virginia; and cousin of Thomas Hodges, who m. Eleanor, da. of John Rose of Shepton Beauchamp. Thomas Hodges was the father of Jane Hodges, who m. John Strachey, of Sutton Court, Somerset, d. 1674, grandson of William Strachey, Secretary of Virginia.

In Virginia, a William Rose, m. Lucy (Corker) Jordan, widow of Thomas Jordan. Bartholomew Owen sold cattle belonging toWilliam Rose, for the benefit of William, Jane, Ann and Mary Rose, son and daus. of William Rose and his wife, Ann. Rec. 1666. Wit: Luke Mizelle.

Agnes Rodney’s br., John (he bought the farm at Cheddar), was the father of Elizabeth Rodney, wife of Henry Norwood; their issue being: Henry Norwood, uncle of Elizabeth Norwood, who m. Francis Branch, grandson of Francis England.
Katherine Moore, sister of George Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake, a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England. George Moore’s dau., Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. They had issue: Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

The more cicumstances, the less the happenchance.

Robert Harris was the br. of Thomas Harris, who m. Joan Gardner, bapt Apr. 6, 1617, in Cheddar, juxta Wedmore; parents of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Joan Gardner’s br., John, was the father of a namesake, who m. Mary Coomer, on Oct. 24, 1664, in Cheddar. John Gardner, dying intestate admin. requested by relict, Mary. Security Thomas Joyner, James Gardner, 1684, p. 56. Thomas Joyner was the father of Bridgeman Joyner, guardian of William Harris, an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

Hodges Counsell Jr. was the cousin of John Counsell: Richard Jeffries, dying intestate, administration requested by John Counsell, who m. the relict of the said Jeffries, Aug. 9, 1666. Security, Mr. (Francis) England, and his son-in-law, George Branch (B. 2, p. 13). Deborah Joyner, wife of Bridgeman Joyner, gave ‘cozin’ (cousin of sister’s husband), John Counsell, a young heifer.

Daniel Boucher (of Bristol), Will rec. May 1, 1668. Leg. Hodges Counsell the younger … Elizabeth Monger the dau. of John Monger. Friends John Hardy and Thomas Taberer overseers. Witnesses: Hodges Counsell, and William Bacon. John Hardy was the likely father of (1) Debora Hardy, wife of Bridgeman Joyner; (2) Lucy Hardy, wife of Hodges Counsell, Jr.

A desc. of John Monger, Henry Monger, m. Elizabeth Harris, dau. of Henry Harris, Jan. 8, 1767, in Southampton Co.; son of Edward Harris, d. 1739 (and Mary Thorpe), son of Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

3. Thomas Pittman m. Mary Gwaltney, widow of Thomas Gwaltney, in 1666. Thomas Pittman, bapt. Dec. 24, 1613, in Wedmore, deposed to be 63 Years of age on March 5, 1677, in Surry Co.
4. Mary’s first husband was Thomas Atkinson.
5. Their issue being: John Atkinson, who m. Ann Holliman, and James Atkinson, who m. Mary Holliman; daus. of Christopher Holliman, who granted power of attorney to Thomas Pittman, on June 30, 1660. Christopher Holliman’s great grandson, Josiah Holliman, m, Ann White, niece of Avis White, who m. John Harris, aforsaid. Josiah Holliman witnessed the Will of Robert Harris, d. 1740.
6. William Gwaltney, son of Martha and Thomas m. Alice Flake, dau. of Robert Flake Jr. and his wife Margaret Marriott.
7. Thomas Carter’s son, Thomas, m. Magdalen Moore. George Moore in consideration of marriage between Thomas Carter and Magdalen, dau. of said George Moore, gives Thomas Carter 400 ac. out of my dividend of 1400 ac. on Blackwater Swamp, patent to Moore, May 12, 1669. August, 1673. George Moore appraised the estate of George Bechinoe, son of Edward, p. 33.

As given, there were unique strands in the Harris cloth. The task is one of discernment.

copyright m stanhope 2019