Families of the South Somerset marshes continued their kinship associations in Virginia, and their dialect: Cottony (kaut-nee), v. i. To be in harmony; to agree. (Com.) Well, I never didn hear no harm by her like, but tis a poor job way em — they don’t cottony together vitty; and I be afeard he do drow up his ‘an’ a little bit too much, i.e., he drinks too much.

The families which follow may have been assigned descendants by “hunters of old”, and these soft constructs may have hardened over time to be taken as fact, but the door for alternative suggestions is is wide open.

HICKES

Bath, Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, i.e. Bath Abbey:

1. Thomas Chapman, m. Elizabeth Kinge, July 28. 1573.
1.1. William Chapman, bapt. Sept. 28, 1577.
1.1.1. William Chapman, Glover, m. Margaret …
1.1.1.1. John Chapman, bapt. Feb. 4, 1615, m. Edith Hickes, 14 Apr. 1645.
1.1.1.2. Katherine Chapman, bapt. Nov. 17, 1611, m. Richard Mayo, Oct. 19, 1640. Indenture, July 28, 1744, betw. Abigail Mayo of Brunswick, St. Andrews Par., and Michael Wall of same, £5, s side of falling Run, 100a. granted by pat. to James Mayo, Feb. 18 1722. Witnesses: Nathaniel Edwards, George Hicks, Rebecca Chapman, Thomas Rose. Indenture and memorandum proved by oath of George Hicks, gent, and Rebeccca Chapman, widow. (B. 3, p. 3).
1.1.1.3. William Chapman, bapt. Sept. 7, 1609.
1.1.1.3.1. Anne Chapman, bapt. Jul. 27, 1647, m. Walter Hickes, Feb. 4, 1676.
1.1.1.3.1.1. Robert Hickes, bapt. Mar. 13, 1683. March 6, 1738: Will of Robert Hicks, Gentleman of Brunswick, names sons Charles, George, John, James, grandson Benjamin, dau. Elizabeth Lanier. Wit. John Chapman. (ibid.). She was the wife of Thomas Lanier, son of Nicholas Lanier, half-br. of Sampson Lanier Sr., grandfather of Rebecca, wife of Walton Harris. Thomas Lanier, afors., was the br. of Sarah, wife of Robert Williams, as follows.
1.1.1.3.1.1.1. George Hicks.
1.1.1.3.1.2. Mr. John Hickes, b. ca. 1684, m. 1. Mary … His Will was pr. Aug. 20, 1729, naming son Robert, John, and Daniel Hicks, bequesting “my tract of land which I took up on Stevenss’ branch in Brunswick Co.”, also naming sons-in-law Edward Tatum and John Rose.
1.1.1.3.1.2.1. Daniel Hicks. An indenture of Oct. 19, 1745 between him and Francis Stainback of Brunswick was witnessed by Sterling Clack, Wm. Parker, and James Carter. He witnessed, with Sampson Lanier,* an indenture of Nov. 17, 1749, between Charles Sims of Brunswick Co., and John Sims of same, for part of tract granted to Adam Sims Sr. *Father-in-law of Walton Harris.
1.1.1.3.1.2.2. Samuel Hicks,* m. Frances Wyatt.

(Bath is 15 mls from Compton Martin).

WILLIAMS

1. John Williams. John Whitley. Leg.-son John; wife Ann; son Thomas 200 ac. I purchased of Capt. Anthony Fulgham, adj. the land of William Godwin; son William 200 ac. adjoining Mr. William Bressie; dau. Elizabeth; to my son-in-law John Williams. This John Williams was probably the headright of Col. Robert Pitt in 1643 (Nugent 1, p. 145). Robert Pitt’s son, John, was the bondsman for John Williams estate; his Will being proved May 2, 1687.
2. John Williams, Will recorded May 1, 1708, appraised by Peter Deberry (who m. Mary, dau. of Edward Brantley, security for the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and James Piland, his Godson, who was a great-nephew of Thomas Moore, grandfather of Avis White, wife of John Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. John Williams m. Margaret Moore, dau. of George Moore, James Piland’s aunt.
3. John Williams, m. Mary …. John Williams Sr. of Hanover Co to John Williams Jr. of Goochland, his son. Land on North Side James River on branches of Tuckahoe Creek. 425 ac. patented Oct. 31, 1716. Witnesses: Henry & Ralph Graves. Rec. March 21, 1737.
4. John Williams (m. Frances, relict of Samuel Hicks).
3. Ann Williams, m. William Rasberry, who d. 1779 (aged 71), in Bertie Co.
3. Mary Williams, b. Sept. 1, 1706 in Hanover Co., m. Henry White Graves. (1692-1745), son of Ralph Graves and Unity White.
4. Mary Graves, m. John Christmas.
4. Elizabeth Graves, m. Joshua Coffee, whose br., Peter Coffee Jr., was the father of Sarah, wife of William Harris, b. June 2, 1774, who moved to Hancock Co., Georgia; son of John Harris, of New Bern, Craven Co., N.C, d. there Oct. 31, 1801, aged 71., and Mary Gatlin.
3. Nathaniel Williams, b. Dec. 2, 1712, Hanover Co., m. (1) Mary …
4. Elizabeth Williams, b. ca. 1739, m. … Hicks.
4. John Williams, b. July 7, 1740, Hanover Co., moved to Goochland Co in 1735, d. 1804, in Orange Co. (now Caswell).
5. Henrietta Williams, m. Richard Simpson, the brother of Mary Simpson, wife of Tyrree Harris.
5. Marmaduke “Duke” Williams, b. Feb. 14, 1768, Hillsboro, Orange Co., NC, d. 1834. He m. (Nov. 4, 1790), Edith Harris (Sept. 6, 1775-Nov. 26, 1816), dau. of Tyree Harris.
4. Joseph Williams, b. March 27, 1748. d. 1827, Surry Co., N.C., m. Rebecca Lanier, dau of Thomas Lanier and sister to Sarah who m. Joseph’s br., Robert.
4. Robert Williams, b. Aug. 4, 1744, Hanover Co., d.. Oct. 10, 1774 Orange/Granville Co., NC; m. Sarah Lanier, b. Dec. 12, 1748, Lunenburg Co., Va, d. aft 1804, dau. of Thos. Lanier and Eliz. Hicks; son of Nicholas Lanier, half-br. of Sampson Lanier, Sr., whose son and namesake was the father of Rebecca Lanier, wife of Walton Harris, desc. of Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688

HARRIS

1. Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1. Robert Harris, d. 1740. (Brother of Edward Harris – titheable John Williams, 1694).
1.1.1. Robert Harris Jr. – indenture of Feb. 1733 between Robert Harris and (cousin) Benjamin Harris.
1.1.1.1. Tyree Harris, m. (2) Mary Simpson.
1.1.1.1.1. Simpson Harris (Nov. 21, 1768 – May 8, 1833), m. (Dec. 28, 1792), Mary Coffee, sister of Gen. John Coffee, son of Joshua Coffee and Elizabeth Graves.
1.1.1.2. Mary Harris.*
1.1.2. John Harris, m. Avis White.
1.1.3. James Harris. ‘Edward Lillington of Neuse River, Craven, Will proved July 9, 1736, James Harris and Dennis Sherlock (son-in-law) were executors. (N.C. Historical and Genealogical Register, issue 1, p. 478, 1998).
1.1.3.1. James Harris (ibid.), m. (cousin), *Mary Harris.
1.2. William Harris, m. Mary Short.
1.2.1. Benjamin Harris, m. Ann Eppes.
1.2.1.1. Francis Eppes Harris.
1.2.1.1.1. Daniel, Henry and Kennon Harris.
1.2.2. William Harris. B. 3. Patent 1943, p. 415, Thomas Graves, November 18, 1738, 220 ac. in Craven Co. on the S. side of Neuse River, joining Mr. Harris and James Green. Thomas Graves was the nephew of John Graves, father of Jane, who m. John Coffey, son of Edward Coffey, d. 1716.
1.2.2.1. John Harris, m. Martha Eldridge, dau. of Judith Kennon, who m. Thomas Eldridge, of Surry. Judith Kennon was the sister of (1) Sara Kennon, who m. Francis Eppes; parents of Ann Eppes, who m. Benjamin Harris (second-cousin of John Harris), bef. Oct. 31, 1745. (2) Richard Kennon, who m. Agnes Bolling (who left property in 1762 to “friend Theoderick Bland”).
1.2.2.1.1. Richard, Kennon, and Eldridge Harris.
1.3. Martin Harris, Will proved, Apr. 14, 1750, bequests to “James Harris son of James Harris” (Southampton Co., W.B. 1, pp. 10-11).

HOUSE

1. …
1. Thomas Howse, m. ‘Susana Hixe‘, May 28, 1638, in Compton Martin, Somerset.
1.1. Thomas House, m. Francis Millard, May 29, 1664, in Compton Martin, she bapt. June 10, 1628, da. of Henry Millard and ‘Alison Hickes‘, who m. on Apr. 16, 1621.
1.1.1. James House, bapt. Sept. 1, 1666, Compton Martin; his Will being witnessed by John Duke and John Taylor Duke, in Brunswick, Feb. 9, 1735.
1.1.1.1. Isaac House. His indenture of Dec. 8, 1746, to Peter Daniel of St. Andrews Parish, Brunswick, was witnessed by Lewis Parham, Roger Tillman, and Richard Lanier (B. 3, p. 257), son of Richard Lanier, uncle of Rebecca Lanier, wife of Walton Harris.
1.1.2. Thomas House, bapt. 12 Aug. 1677, in Compton Martin. His Will of Feb. 16, 1734 was witnessed by Capt. John Duke (executor), John Taylor Duke, and David Case.
1.1.2.1. Thomas House.

DUKE

I would suggest that the Dukes connection to Cannington and its various estates, such as Withiel, was the basis for future relationships in Brunswick Co. Withiel descended to the two daus. of George Tilley (d. 1590); Anne, who m. William Walton, and Elizabeth, who m. Edward Parham. (S.R.O., DD/MVB 20).

1. Edward Ducke, m. Elizabeth Stronge, Oct. 30, 1598.
2. Edward Ducke, bapt. Sept. 11, 1599.
2. Henry Ducke, m. (1) Christian …, Nov. 3, 1628.
3. Henry Dooke, bapt. Dec. 20, 1636.
2. Michael Duke, m. Mary Palmer, Oct. 15, 1632; she bapt. Dec. 23, 1612.
3. Michaell Duke, bapt. March 21, 1638
4. Michael Duke, m. Ann.
4. William Duke, bapt. March 25, 1676
4. Charles Duke, m. Frances Seaward, Jan 11, 1669.
5. Charles Duke.*
5. Mary Duke, m. William Crosse, Feb. 14, 1689.
5. Henry Duke, bapt. Dec.10, 1671. An indenture of May 7, 1725 between his relict, Elizabeth, of Martin Brandon Parish, Prince George Co., sold to Robert Hall half a tract of land on the N. side of Blackwater Swamp, ” beginning at the Corner between William Harris and the sd Elizabeth Duke; witnessed by Richard Kennon, Elizabeth Mallory, Wm. Short. In her admin. of her husband’s estate, Elizabeth deposed that what “my Father, Captain John Taylor … did in his lifetime or at the time of his death give or bequeath to me is no part of the estate of the said Henry … but that the sole right and property is by virtue of the said act vested in me the July 14th, 1719”. Francis Eppes was appointed by the Court to audit Henry’s estate.
6. Henry Duke. June 16, 1727, grant, of land to Robert Harris, 100 ac. “beginning at a corner Gum upon the New Found River belonging to Henry Duke, thence along the said Duke’s line … to a corner Hickory on New Found River. (B. 13, p. 149).
6. John Taylor Duke.
4. George Duke, m. Frances Hooke (als Grave), May 13, 1683, dau. of James Hooke, bapt. Aug. 28, 1626.
5. William Duke, bapt. Jan. 31, 1689.
5. James Duke, bapt. March 18, 1693.
3. James Duke, bapt. Jan. 7, 1649.
4. James Duke, m. Mary Byrd, dau. of Col. William Byrd.
5. William Duke, of Rocky Creek, Brunswick Co, m. Thamar …
6. William Duke, m. Mary Green, d. Jan. 7, 1794 – Warren Co., dau. of Edward Green, of Brunswick. Isaac Howze to Edward Green, both of Bute Co. 5 pds. for 100 ac. S. of Redy Creek adj. Wm. Howze, part of a Granville grant to William Howze. Wit: James Harrison, Obed. Green, William Green. (Warren Co., B. 2, p. 314). March 3, 1746: William Duke of Granville to Edward Green of Brunswick County, a tract of land on the Reedy Creek in Granville Co. in North Carolina, being a tract of land granted the sd Wiliiam Duke by patent of April 20, 1745. Witnesses, West Harris, James Rose. Probated March Court, 1746. West Harris was the son of Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, br. of Nathan Harris, who m. Catherine Walton; father of Walton Harris.
7. Green Duke, m. Mary Parham.
7. Sarah Duke, m. Thomas Christmas.
7. Merrit Duke.
4. John Duke, bapt. Apr. 25, 1634.
5. John Duke.
6. John Duke, Daniel Pugh willed 250 acs. adj. Cross Swamp to his grandson, John Duke ‘being the son & heir of his daughter Ann’, Apr. 26, 1711. John Duke and John Taylor Duke witnessed the Will of James House, as given. Oct. 8, 1750: Grant of land to John Duke, 500 ac. in the Co. of Lunenburg, Beginning at John Taylor Duke’s white oak on Flat Creek. (B. 30, p. 299). Sept. 21, 1752. Major John Duke of Dinwiddle Co. to Ephraim ‘Mabry of Lunenburg, 50 ac. of the above grant on the lower side of Flatt Creek. Witnessed by Edward Goodrich, *Charles Duke.

Vastly intertwined families.

The Harris connection was probably through the Millards.

copyright m stanhope 2019