If we imagine that a common ancestor of the various Harris families of Somerset was born in 1450, and had three sons, and each of these had three sons, then, if this pattern was repeated over each generation, he would have a large number of male descendants from whom Harris families of Virginia may have stemmed. Each of these ‘stems’ would have married into the same families, producing an almost inpenetrable ‘hedge’ of Harris and associated families.

A branch of such may have been of Taunton.

Anthony Harris/1640/Phillip Clarke/James City.
Jane Harris/1639/John White/James City.
John White/1642/ Thomas Wombwell/ James City.
Katherine White/1640/ Phillip Clarke/James City.
Thomas Wombwell/1638/ Christopher Lawson/ James City. Christopher Lawson, 400 acs. James Citty Co., 1 May 1638, p. 564. At the head of Rolphes Cr., beg. E. upon a reedy Sw. & into the woods W. Trans. of 8 pers. William Reynolds … Thomas Wombwell.

TAUNTON

1. Phillip Clarke.
1.1. Phillip Clarke, m. Rebecca Hill, Oct. 7, 1633.
1.1.1. Phillip Clarke, m. Joan Harris, Nov. 5, 1664. Her parentage can not be known, but she was almost certainly a descendant of John Harris and Agnes White, who m. Sept. 1, 1560, in Taunton; their son, William, m. Alice Christmas, Oct. 3, 1598; their son, Christopher, m. Joan Parsons, Jan. 19, 1623. A John Christmas was bapt. Nov. 22, 1640, in Taunton; son of John.
1.1.2. Thomas Clarke, bapt. Dec. 3, 1637.
1.1.3. Mary Clarke, bapt. Aug. 30, 1640, m. Richard Tucker, Sept. 7, 1658.
1.2. John Clarke, m. Elizabeth Gillett, Feb. 1638.
1.2.1. John Clarke, m. Elizabeth Herring, Dec. 25, 1663, she bapt. June 30, 1650, in Taunton, dau. of Henry, son of John Herring and Eleanor Parsons, who m. Nov. 25, 1626, in Bishops Hull, 1½ mile W. of Taunton. Henry was probably closely related to William Herring, who m. Mary Proctor, April 25, 1655, in Bishops Hull. John Herring was probably the son of John Herring and Tamsin Harris, who m. April 11, 1608, in Bishops Hull.

1. John Hearinge, m. Alice Peret, July 18, 1565.
1.1. John Herring “the elder”, m. Tamsin Harris, April 11, 1608.
1.1.1. John Herring, m. Eleanor Parsons, Nov. 25, 1626.
1.1.1.1. Henry Herring.
1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Herring, m. John Clarke.
1.1.2. Andrew Herring (d. 1636), m. Ann Shute, June 15, 1630.
1.1.2.1. William Herring, bapt. Jan. 13, 1632, m. Mary Proctor, April 24, 1655.

1.1.2.2. John Herring, bapt. Feb. 28, 1635.
1.1.2.2.1. (It is suggested) Anthony Herring, d. 1744 in Bertie Co.; in 1718 bought 150 ac. from Benjamin Joyner on Blackwater Swamp, br. of Martha Joyner who m. Thomas Turner. He m. Rebecca West, dau. of William West and Rebecca Bracewell.
1.1.2.2.1.1. John Herring B. 3, p. 19, 1618, April 5, 1720, Chowan Pct.: held land. adj. Wm. West and Robert Turner.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1. Simon Herring. Granted 200 ac. in Johnston Co. NC (B. 4, p. 1043). October 2, 1751, Granted 600 ac. in Duplin Co. NC.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1. Captain Simon Herring, listed in the Johnston Regiment of Foot; m. his cousin, Rachel.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Susanna Herring, m. John Harris, in Wayne Co., NC., his Will pr. Nov. 1824. William Harriss of Wayne Co, NC, for 16 pounds, to Simon Herring of Wayne, for L150 on the south side of the Neuse River, betw. Sleepy Creek head, and Horsepen Branch, adj. Samuel Herring, Dickson … land, which was patented to Enoch Price on Nov. 18, 1802, and transferred by deed to Wm. Harriss on Jan. 12, 1805. Witnesses: James Herring and Joseph Herring. 1823/24 James Herring was executor of the Will of John Harris Sr.m and was appointed guardian of his daughters in 1835.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. John Harris, b. Nov. 12, 1800, d, 1839, m. Oct. 31, 1822, Elizabeth Herring, dau. of James and Elizabeth Reaves.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.2. Penelope Harris, m. Bryant Lane, son of William Lane and Elisabeth Reaves.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.3. Nancy Harris, m. Thomas Reaves.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.4. William Harris. Wayne Co, B. 12, p. 536: John Harris, Sr., deed of gift to son William Harris, excepting a lifetime estate for self and after his death, for the support of all his children except son John, and for the support of his wife Sukey, during her widowhood, Jan. 9, 1823. In 1805, James Herring and Joseph Herring witnessed a deed of William Harris to Simon Herring.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.2. James Herring.

1.1.2.2.1.2. Abraham Herring, m. Mary Williams. B. D., p. 276: John Herring to Abram Herring, May 10 1736, L100 for 380 ac. on s side of ‘Bear Swamp’, part of patent granted to John Herring on Aug. 10, 1720, witnessed by Robert Warren and Simon Herring.
1.1.2.2.1.2.1. Daniel Herring. The Will of John Tomlin (son of Mathew Tomlin) was witnessed by Daniel Herring, John Harris, & Martha Tomlin. Recorded Feb. 6, 1752. Mary Fulgham’s Will, recorded Feb. 7, 1760, mentioned her br. John Fulgham, cousin Anthony Fulgham Jr., and was witnessed by Daniel Herring and Ann Harris (see previous notes).
1.1.2.2.1.2.2. Jacob Herring, m. Sophia King, dau. of Michael King, son of Henry King and Catherine Clarke.
1.1.2.2.1.2.2.1. Rachel Herring, m. Captain Simon Herring, ca. 1775, Dobbs Co., N.C.

1.1.2.2.1.3. Samuel Herring.
1.1.2.2.1.3.1. Anthony Herring.
1.1.2.2.1.3.1.1. Phereby Herring; d. 1817 in Wayne Co., m. Joshua Grantham (b. Aug. 21, 1740 in Surry Co.; d. Nov. 6, 1781, in Wayne Co.), son of Edward Grantham, d. in Dobbs Co., ca. 1760, and Catherine Proctor, dau. of Joshua Proctor and Katherine Owen, dau. of Bartholomew Owen.

1. William Harris, b. ca. 1745, d. 1817, Muhlenberg Co., NC.
1.1. William Harris.
1.2. John Harris, m. Susanah Herring.
1.2.1. John Harris, m. Elizabeth Herring.
1.3. Daniel Harris, m. Abbe Sanders in Duplin Co., Apr. 21, 1801

BIBLE OF JAMES HERRING

James Herring, son of Simon and Rachel Herring was born June 15th A.D. 1777.
Elizabeth Herring wife of said James Herring and daughter of Adam B. and Anne Reaves was born April 10th A D 1785 Married March 24th 1805.
Anne Herring daughter of Said James and Elizabeth Herring was born February 7th AD 1804.
Elizabeth Herring daughter of said persons was born 27 July 1806.
Zilpha Herring daughter of Said persons was born March 29th AD 1809.
Joel Herring son of the above persons born May 6th AD 1811.
Abigail Herring daughter of the above persons born September 5th A.D. 1813.
James Herring son of the above persons born Decr 18th A.D. 1815.
Benjamin Herring son of the above persons born July 8th AD 1818.
Edith Herring daughter of said persons was born Jan 31th AD 1821.
Edney Herring daughter of said persons was born Febry 21st A.D 1823.
Caity Herring daughter of Said persons was born Augt 18th AD 1825.
Elizabeth and Susan Lewis the daughters of John and Abigail Lewis was born 21th of July 1836.
James Daniel son of Simon & Zilphia Herring was born April 27th 1819.
Sarah Herring was born February 25 1836.
Elizabeth Herring was born July 27th 1840.
James Harris son of John and Elizabeth Harris was born March 20th 1833.
Elizabeth Herring daughter of James and Eliza Herring was married to John Harris son of John Harris Oct 31st 1822.
Joel Herring son of James Herring and Pollyet Kornegay daughter of George F. Kornegay was married March 19th 1835.
Abigail Herring daughter of James & Elizab Herring was married to John Lewis son of Urbin Lewis October 1st 1835.
Benjamin Herring and Grissella Pipkin was married September 3th 1842.
James R Parker and Edith Herring was married May the 18th 1865.
Lewis Outlaw and Catey Herring was married July the 10 day 1866.

Quite a thicket to cut through.

copyright m stanhope 2019