I have been asked to ‘flesh out’ that portion of my notes on Edith Cripps by Harris researchers who believe there was a strong connection between Edward Harris, d. 1677, and Thomas Harris, d. 1688. My view is to the contrary, seeing them to be distant cousins, whose families intermarried (probably with each other) and into the same families. However the case. Notes concerning the (I think probable) ancestry of Edward Brantley are included.

1. Richard Harris, m. Eleanor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594, in Wiveliscombe; the sister of Edward Bennett, business partner of Edward Robins (whose attorney was Thomas Joyner (whose son was the guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), and father of Silvestra Bennett, who m. Nicholas Hill, who (with Edward Brantley) witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Edward Brantley’s son, Phillip, m. Joyce Lewis, dau. of Thomas Lewis and Rebecca Pardoe, half-sister of Phillip Pardoe Sr: Phillip Pardoe’s estate was appraised by John Brantley, Phillip’s brother, March 27, 1721. (G.B. p. 71). Phillip Pardoe was security for the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1672, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe. He and Thomas Tooke were overseers of the Will of William Ridley, with Charles Barham (William Ridley’s br-in-law) being the executor. Thomas Harris was a security of the estate of Samuel Griffin (rec. March 26, 1666), with John Monger, p. 12. Daniel Boucher (of Bristol), Will rec. May 1, 1668. Leg. Hodges Council the younger … Elizabeth Monger the dau. of John Monger. Friends John Hardy and Thomas Taberer overseers. Witnesses: Hodges Counsell, and William Bacon (probably related to Nathaniel Bacon; to whom Thomas Harris, d. 1672, sold land, a portion of which was rented to Edward Harris, d. 1677. John Hardy (the likely br. of Thomas Hardy) was the father of (1) Debora Hardy, wife of Bridgeman Joyner; (2) Lucy Hardy, wife of Hodges Counsell, Jr. (3) Olive, wife of Giles Driver. Bridgeman Joyner was the guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688; he witnessed the Will of Giles Driver, headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Giles Driver was security for the estate of Robert Williamson (son-in-law of Arthur Allen, of Bristol, merchant), whose Will names Nicholas Hill as “friend”, and which was witnessed by John Hardy, p. 85.

1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1688. He held land in lower par. IOW Co. on borders of Blackwater to the bottom of Pig Neck (B. 7, p. 510), which had been granted to Mr. John Seward (of Bristol, and Hemington, Somerset), on April 16, 1648, who had patented land in 1638 “upon Warresquioke River”, against the land of Nathaniell Floyd, whose widow m. Francis Hobbs, whose dau. m. John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

(1. …
1.1. Francis Hobbs, born c. 1600. (Tanners v Hobbs. Plaintiffs: William Tanners. Defendants: Francis Hobbs, Mary Hobbs his wife, Edward Knight, Robert Webb, Walter Tanners and Edward Tanners. Subject: property in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. 1661. (C 6/48/118). (Joseph Bridger’s grandmother was Gillian Tanner). Tetbury, from whence the family of Cripps.
1.1. Francis Hobbs, born 1624. Francis Hobbs, aged 40, and Robert Kae, aged 36, deposed about John Askew, Aug. 9, 1664. Francis Hobbs m. 2. 1674, Mary Floyd, relict of Nathaniel Floyd. The sons of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, John (son-in-law of Francis Hobbs Sr.) and Thomas Harris, held land which had beem Nathaniel Floyds: 365 ac., Upper Parish of IOW Co.; on north side of the Ashen Swamp, near the head and on west side of Seward’s Creek, April 20, 1685, p. 441. 250 ac., part granted Nathaniel Floyd, Nov. 20, 1637, and conveyed to said Harris’ father, by Captain Francis Hobbs and his wife, who was the relict and administratrix of said Floyd, Jan. 13, 1659; and among other lands found to escheate; granted to Honorable Colonel Joseph Bridger, July 22, 1678, who sold to said John and Thomas Harris the Feb. 6, following (1679), to be equally divided according to their father’s will, dated last day of March 1672. 115 ac. being waste land; and the whole beginning by a marsh near the head of Seward’s Creek; near Colonel Bacon; due for the transportation of 3 persons. Nathaniel Floyd’s headright was Mathew Tomlin; his land being adj. that of Thomas Harris, d. 1688: B. 7, p. 299 – Mathew Tomlin, 1227 acs., Low. Par. of IOW Co., on brs. of the Blackwater, Apr. 27, 1686. 781 acs. being part of 1200 acs. granted Mr. John Seward,* Apr. 15, 1648 … adj. Mary Turner and Thomas Harris; to the bottome of Pig Neck. *John Seward’s headright was Edward Brantley.
1.1.1.1. Francis Hobbs, born c. 1650, m. (1) Elizabeth Bridger, Oct. 9, 1671, Tetbury. His Will was recorded on June 9, 1688, leaving a legacy to “cousin John Davis”, and “brother John Harris”; the former being a lender to Edward Harris, d. 1677, as given in the estate inventory, overseen by his wife Mary Davis, i.e. Mary Greene:

(1. Thomas Greene, m. Mary Moone; her sister, Sarah Moone, m. Lt. John Pitt, son of Col. Robert Pitt, the Bristol sea captain and merchant.
1.1. Mary Green, m. John Davis, desc. of Rees Davis, Esquire, of Tickenham. (Estate of Edward Harris ).
1.1.1. Sarah Davis, d. bef. Jan. 6, 1720, m. (1) Joseph Bridger, son of Joseph Bridger Jr. (2) Nicholas Fulgham. Joseph Bridger Sr. was an headright in 1652 of *Colonel Nathaniel Bacon.
1.1.1.1. Susannah Fulgham, m. Hardy Counsell, son of Hodges Counsell Jr.; his family of Wedmore, Somerset.
1.1.1.2. Nicholas Fulgham, d. 1736, m. Martha Pitt.
1.1.1.2.1. Nicholas Fulgham, m. isabel Harris, dau. of John Harris* (and second wife, Elizabeth Church), son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.1.2. Margaret Hobbs, m. John Harris. (B. 2, p. 280).
1.2. John Hobbs, m. Joan Alloway, Aug. 24, 1631.
1.2.1. Hannah Hobbs, m. John Driver, Jan. 25, 1651).

(1. Robert Driver.
1.1. Robert Driver, of Avening, 6 miles fr. Tetbury., m. Elizabeth Browning, Feb. 4, 1604.
1.1.1. Giles Driver (pale indented argent & azure, 2 lions rampant combatant countercharged), m. Dorothy Bayley, of Wheatenhurst, dau. of John Bayley. Giles Driver’s Will was probated 2 July 1639 (PROB 11/180/571).
1.1.1.1. John Driver, bur. June 12, 1681, in Avening, m. Elizabeth Bridger, bapt. Slimridge 5 Aug. 1638, bur. 28 Jan 1675; cousin of Joseph Bridger, of Woodmanscote, in Dursley, 10 mls from Avening, who m. Hester Pitt. One of his tenants in Woodmanscote was Thomas Pitt, probably he who was his headright he in Virginia, in 1666. (Driver v Body. Plaintiffs: John Driver. Defendants: James Body, Hannah Body his wife, Susannah Driver, Anne Driver … and others. Subject: property in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. 1680. (C 8/335/153).
1.1.1.1.1. John Driver, m. Hannah Hobbs, Jan. 25, 1651.
1.1.1.2. Robert Driver.
1.1.1.2.1. Giles Driver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), husband of Olive Hardy, cousin of the wife of Edward Harris, d. 1677).

1.1.1.1. Robert Harris. He witnessed a writ by which William Skinner (Jr.) of Bristol, merchant, partner of Thomas Thorpe, appointed (1688) Robert Kae his “atty” to recover 5,500 lb. of tobacco from Francis England; whose grandson, Francis Branch, m. Elizabeth Norwood, niece of Henry Norwood, son of Henry Norwood and Elizabeth Rodney, of Cheddar, kin of the Hodges family of adjacent Wedmore. Francis Branch was the br. of Ann Branch, who. m. Robert Hodges Jr. (undoubtedly of the Wedmore Hodges). Thomas Pittman, bapt. Dec. 24, 1613, in Wedmore. Probably he who deposed to be 63 Years of age on March 5, 1677, in Surry Co., m. “Lidie” Gray; a da. of Thomas Gray Sr., the relict of Samuel Judkins. “Lidie” Gray was Thomas Pittman’s third wife; he had m. (1) Frances; (2) Martha, relict of Thomas Atkinson and Thomas Gwaltney.

1.1.1.1.1. John Harris, m. Avis White, granddau. of George Moore, who was the uncle of Joyce …, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. Joyce’s sisters: Susanna, m. Thomas Atkinson Jr. Mary, m. (2) Richard Skinner. George Moore’s br., Thomas, m. the relict of Samuel Elbridge: June 21, 1665.

Samuel Eldridge (Elbridge), merchant of Bristol. Dying intestate, adm. requested by Thomas Moore who m. the relict. Security: George Moore and (Edward) Brantlie, p. 10. The Elbridge and Moore families were engaged in the Jamaica sugar trade, as Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and his partner, Joseph Bridger.

Samuel Elbridge was the uncle of John Elbridge, b. 1672, who was apprenticed to his cousin, Thomas Moore (probably of George Moore’s family) in 1684, in Bristol. The Elbridge family established their wealth through the marriage of Giles Elbridge to Robert Aldworth’s niece, which included a share in the Spring (sugar) Plantation in Jamaica. (Donald Jones, Bristol’s Sugar Trade and Refining Industry, Bristol Historical Association).

On Sept. 25, 1663, George Moore was claimed as a headright of John Harvey (who was patenting along the Carolina border – Nugent, I, 191, 427 – the son-in-law of James Tooke, whose will was witnessed by Thomas Carter ( Feb. 1, 1659), the son-in-law of George Moore.

In 1675, George Moore was the bondsman for Sarah Bressie, relict of John Bressie, whose estate was appraised by Thomas Moore, p. 132. It is reasonable to assume a close relationship betw. the said John Bressie and William Bressie, d. 1701, the guardian of William Cary, son of Miles Cary (the Cripps connection). William Bressie’s Will was witnessed by his dau., Elizabeth Elbridge. William Bressie was a Quaker. They held meetings at the house of William Yarrett at Levy Neck as early as 1663. George Fox wrote in his journal: “Another very good meeting we had at William Yarret’s at Pagan Creek”; meetings attended by such as Thomas Tooke (1679). “During the Heat of this Persecution (against Quakers) at Worcester, the Mayor and other Magistrates of the Borough of Evesham proceeded with severity (Jan. 1660) … And on the 27th, the following fourteen were taken out of a Meeting, and also committed, (inc. Anne Brantly, wife of John Brantley*).

A number of Harris researchers have asked, in what capacity did Edward Brantley stand security for Thomas Moore? Was he married to a Moore? If so, he was connected to both Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and Thomas Harris, d. 1688; that is, to father and son?

EDWARD BRANTLEY

1. William Brantley, bailiff of Evesham, a town were Lady Russell of Strensham held patronage, and whose attempt to appoint a bailiff met with the resistance of “these recreant champions (degenerate scions of the “Brantley” stock), who (upheld) “their ancient customs” upon the altar of an imperious female’s will” (George May, History of Evesham, p. 172, 1834).
1.1. Robert Brantley, alderman of Evesham, m. Joan Goodrich,* Oct. 16, 1589, in St. Mary, Cheltenham, 15 mls fr. Evesham. Robert Brantley had evidently m. into the Goodrich family of Ham. The manor of Ham was a parcel of the manor of Cheltenham, and was granted to Robert Goodrich; by 1574 Robert and Edith Goodrich were in possession and Thomas Packer agreed to pay £400 for the property, described in 1576 as the ‘Farme of Hame’. William and (his son) Henry Norwood were chief stewards of the manor. Henry’s br., Richard, was the grandfather of a namesake, whose estate was appraisal by Edward Brantley, Oct. 25, 1731.
1.1.1. Edward Brantley: Teckeridge v Staples. Plaintiffs: Thomas Teckeridge, younger son of Thomas Teckeridge, son and executor of Nicholas Teckeridge (Tickeridge), gent. Defendants: Alexander Staples, gent, William Byddell, yeoman, William Byddell, his son and Robert Brantly, yeoman, Edward Brantly, his son and Edward Bickerson, his servant. Subject: Forcible entry and damage at Evesham by colour of a sham Chancery injunction. Worcestershire. June 1607. (STAC 8/283/22).
1.1.1.1. Edward Brantley, b. ca. 1615, headright of John Seward (ship-master/merchant, of Bristol), in 1638. Joseph Bridger’s Will was probated May 8, 1686, and bequested 850 ac. formerly belonging to Capt. Upton and 300 ac. formerly to Mr. Seward. The location of this land is identified in the Will of his son, William Bridger, recorded March 9, 1705, 170 ac. in the Upper Parish between the land of Thomas Tooke, Francis England, and Thomas Blake (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), whose sons inherited adjacent land), and Edward Brantley. (B. 2, p. 73). To repeat, Joseph Bridger’s cousin Elizabeth Bridger, bapt. Slimridge on Aug. 5, 1638, bur. there Jan. 28, 1675, was the wife of John Driver, bur. June 12, 1681, in Avening; parents of John Driver, who m. Hannah Hobbs, Jan. 25, 1651; second-cousin of Margaret Hobbs, who m. John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. John Driver was the cousin of Giles Driver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), husband of Olive Hardy, cousin of the wife of Edward Harris, d. 1677.
1.1.2. Richard Brantley, bapt. 1592.
1.1.2.1. *John Brantley.

*I suggest that John Goodrich Sr., of Virginia, was of the family of Joan Goodrich, and that he m. a sister of Robert Flake, a factor of Bristol tobacco merchants. His son and namesake m. Anne Bechinoe, dau. of Edward Bechinoe (whose family held property in Henbury, Bristol); who appraised the Will of Edward Harris, d. 1677. His son, John Goodrich, m. Ann Cripps, dau. of George Cripps, and, to repaeat, former wife of Francis England. Katherine Moore, sister of George Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake, aforesaid. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps.

1.1.2. John Harris, m. (1), a dau. of Francis Hobbs, who sold Edward Brantley 675 ac. adj. Thomas Took, in 1669.

1.1.2.1. John Harris, m. (April 13, 1689), Elizabeth Church.

1.1.2.1.1. Isabella Harris, b. April 17, 1695, m. Nicholas Fulgham, son of Nicholas Fulgham, d. 1736, and Martha Pitt; the latter Nicholas being the nephew of John Fulgham, overseer of the Will of Thomas Harris, 1688.

1.2. Edward Harris of St. Dunstan in the East, London, merchant, aged 45, named in the Hubberday v. Penniston court case of 1641, which stated he received tobacco from Virginia with Captain Thomas Cornwallis, associate of Richard Bennett. Edward held land patented by his cousin, Richard Bennett, on Nov. 4, 1642. This was adj. land held by Wm. Newsome, April 6, 1653, p. 51.

1.2.1. Edward Harris, d. 1677, m. Martha Hardy (dau. of George Hardy, who appraised Edward’s estate), and sister of Mary Hardy, who m. William Bennett, grandson of Richard Bennett, d. 1709 (br.-in-law of Charles Barham), and great-nephew of Eleanor Bennett, afors

1.2.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1677, tobacco associate of kinsman, John Bland, br. of Theoderick Bland, husband of Ann Bennett, great-niece of the said Eleanor Bennett.

The Bressies and Carys must be links.

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