ViRGINIA FAMILIES AS ENGLISH ‘ENTITIES’

Puritans

The level of inbreeding within English kinship groups makes DNA ‘results’ very questionable as to the closeness of proposed relationships; people being denoted as a sibling or cousin, when, in fact, a relationship as a distant cousin may be more apt. Distant consanguineous links were ‘refreshed’ by non-consanguineous marriages, producing a dense mesh of various cousinship relationships.

When asked of my opinion as to the ancestry of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, in Virginia, I reply that he was probably born in 1637, in Cheddar, Somerset. A commonly asked subsequent question is how can the evidently close association between him and the Thomas Harris, d. 1672, be accounted for? I reply that they were distant cousins (a common ancester being born ca. 1460), whose families would have intermarried, and have shared recent associations in common.

In this regard, a common and recent association between these families was the Tibbotts. Joseph Bridger, who was a business partner of Thomas Harris d. 1672, had issue: Martha, who m. Thomas Godwin, Samuel, who m. Elizabeth Godwin; Elizabeth, who m. Thomas Lear; Mary, who m. Captain Richard Tibbott; William, who m. Elizabeth Allen; Hester, who m. George Williamson, having issue: Ann Williamson, who m. John Boykin, son of William Boykin, son of Edward Boykin and Ann Gwaltney, dau. of William Gwaltney, son of Thomas Gwaltney and Mary “widow of Thomas Atkinson”. 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. Thomas Pittman, m. subsequently Lydia, relict of Samuel Judkins, and mother of Charles Judkins Sr.

Richard Tibbott was bapt. Apr. 10, 1636, in Queen Charlton, Somerset (son of Richard and Ann), ca. 4 mls on the main road from Redcliffe, Bristol. He is recorded here: Spencer v Draper. Plaintiffs: William Spencer. Defendants: Avis Draper and Richard Tibbott. Subject: money matters, Somerset. 1671. (C 6/197/76); and here: Commander: Richard Tibbott. Ship: Anne and Mary … of London. Crew: 40. Chief mate: Christopher Williams. Second mate and gunner: Alexander Goodin. Dec. 23, 1689. (Folio 76. HCA 26/1/65).

It seems likely that Richard Tibbott was of the same family as Benjamon Tibbott, of Dundry, 2 mls fr. Queen Charlton. Will of Ben. Tibbott of Dundry, gent., prov. Feb. 18, 1684 (P.C.C.), mentioning lands in Backwell, Dundry, Littleton, and Felton in Winford, wife Ruth, son Nath., son-in-law Alex. Godwin (and Alice his wife), son-in-law Walter Webb of Chewstoke (and Joan his wife), granddau. Ruth Tibbott, dau. Magdalen, sister Hall, sister Cox (and her husband Hen. Cox), sister Savage, godson Ben. Godwin, Mary and Elizabeth, daus. of bro.-in-law Nath. Freind of Westerleigh, co. Glouc. 1685. (Somerset Heritage Centre, DD\GB/136).

Just as the family of Hester Tibbott, Benjamin Tibbott was associated with the Counsell family of Wedmore (Councell v Tibbott. Plaintiffs: William Councell. Defendants: Benjamin Tibbott and John Tibbott. Place or subject: property in Barrow Gurney (2 mls fr. Dundry), Somerset. 1670. (C 7/498/23), suggesting a familial relationship. Dundry is ca. 15 mls fr. Wedmore.

1. John Councell, bapt. Dec. 25, 1569, in Wedmore.
1.1. John Councell, bapt Nov. 28, 1601, in Wedmore, m. Mary Coomer, Nov. 26, 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who m. John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, Feb. 4, 1635; daus. of John Coomer, and sisters of John Coomer, father of Mary Coomer, who m. John Gardner, on Oct. 24, 1664, in Cheddar (son of John Gardner, d. 1677). John Gardner was the br. of Joel Gardner, father of (1) Jane Gardner, who m. James Councell, June 12, 1682, in Cheddar. (2) Elizabeth Gardner, who m. George Tibbits, May 1678, in Cheddar, sister of Hester Tibbits, who m. Thomas Harris (as second wife), Apr. 24, 1679, in Cheddar; Hester Harris d. 1680, probably in childbed. Thomas Harris, d. 1688 in Virginia, is not recorded there before 1681.
1.1.1. John Councell, m. Alice, the relict of Richard Jeffries. Richard Jeffries, dying intestate, administration requested by John Counsell, who married 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 (guardian of William Harris, orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), gave ‘cozin’ (cousin of sister’s husband), John Councell, a young heifer.
Francis England’s 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.
1.2. Hodges Councell Sr.
1.2.1. Hodges Councell Jr. Daniel Boucher (of Bristol), Will rec. May 1, 1668. Leg. to my kinsman Robert Boucher; dau. Elizabeth; to Hodges Counsell the younger, … to 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.

(“Know that I Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Alice my wife doe by these presents assigne make over possess and deliver unto Mr Giles Dryver the Mill with all the appertences thereunto belonging to him his heires”, p. 117. Witness, John Hardy).

“John Gardner, dying intestate admin. requested by relict, Mary. Security Thomas Joyner,* James Gardner”, 1684, p. 56. ‘Thomas Taberer assigned a bill to John Gardner against Rebecca Izard’ (Mr. Boddie, p. 562); step-mother of Ann Izard, who m. (2) Michael Fulgham; their issue included: Michael Fulgham, who m. Mary Pitt (of the Bristol Pitts, as the wife of Joseph Bridger Sr.); Susannah Fulgham, who m. Hardy Counsell (son of Hodges Counsell Jr.); Ann Fulgham, who m. (Mr. Boddie conjectured), Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. *Thomas Joyner (father of Bridgeman Joyner, guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688).

CONNECTED FAMILIES

1. John Vasser. Thomas Harris (d. 1672), and Alice his wife, sold to John Bond 190 ac. in 2 pats. at head of Pagan Creek, one in name of John Vasser for 150 ac. dated Nov. 18, 1635, the other for 40 ac. in name of Thomas Harris, dated, Aug. 14. 1652. Witness, Henry King. Deed to John Vasser (Nov. 16, 1635) in IOW for 150 ac. … a neck of land lying upon Warsq. Creek next to the land of Nathaniel Floyd for transporting himself, wife Elizabeth, and one servant. Oct. 9, 1700. Peter Vasser, son of John Vasser, decd. to John Bell 150 ac. now in the possession of John Bell being a neck of land upon the main creek of Warrisquake adj. Nathaniel Floyd. John Vasser’s overseers (1650) were “Mr. James Pyland, and Thomas Walton”.
1.1. Peter Vasser, m. Margaret Cripps, dau. of George Cripps, and Joyce, dau. of Katherine Moore:

(1. …
1.1. George Moore, of Bristol, b. 1632.
1.1.1. Ann Moore, m. Thomas White.
1.1.1.1. Avis White, m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.2. Eleanor Moore, m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on Aug. 30, 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642. Their grandson, James Piland, m. Elizabeth Brantley, dau. of Phillip Brantley (son of Edward Brantley Sr.) and Joyce Lewis; dau. of Rebecca George (dau. of John), probable cousin of the first wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, whose estate was appraised by Edward Brantley Sr.
1.2. Katherine Moore, m. (1) … (2) Robert Flake (partner of Samuel Eldridge*).
1.2.1. Joyce, m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. George Moore’s dau., Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. Their dau., Avis White, m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688).

1.1.1. Elizabeth Vasser, m. John Carrol.
1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Carroll, m. Richard Jones “of the Upper Parish”: “Leg. dau. Ann Bell the land on which she and her husband William Bell live; … dau. Martha Davis. Friends (his son-in-law) William Bell, and Thomas Harris to see my will performed”. R. May 22, 1721. Wit. William Gainer, Arthur Davis, William Allen, p. 85. William Bell was the son of John Bell (who m. Ann Bennett, kinswoman of Thomas Harris d. 1672); son of George Bell Sr, whose spoken will of Nov. 1, 1688 named legatees, George Bell Jr., and John Harris, son of Thomas, d. 1672. In 1687, George Bell Sr. witnessed the Will of Francis Hobbs, br.-in-law of the said John Harris.
1.1.1.1.1. Joseph Jones, b. 1705, m. Amy (Applewaite) Davis.
1.1.1.1.2. Sarah Jones, m. William Bell, 1721, IOW.
1.1.1.2. Thomas Carrol.*

(1. …
1.1. Arthur Jones.
1.1.1. Richard Jones, m. Elizabeth Carroll.
1.2. Richard Jones, leased land from Joseph Bridger (business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Joseph Bridger: Leg.- wife Hester; son Samuel land bought of John and William Catlin, whereon John Cooke now lives, also one-half of plantation at Curawoak; son William land granted me by escheat of 850 A. formerly belonging to Nathan Floyd, except what is disposed of by me to Francis Hobbs (sold to John and Thomas Harris Feb. 6, 1679, to be equally divided according to their father’s will, dated last day of March 1672); Mrs. Dorothy Bond and William Blunt, also two tracts taken up by Col. Pitt, Mr. William Burgh and myself containing 3000 ac., except 600 acres sold to Lt. Col. John Pitt, part of this tract leased by me to Thomas Mandew,* Richard Parker, William Worrell, Richard Jones, Thomas Reeves, Robert Sturdy and other Wit. James Bennett, Robert Pitt, Samuel Luck, Richard Glover. R. April 9, 1685, p. 250. James Bennett was a kinsman of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

Received of Mrs. Hester Bridger, Extx of Col. Joseph Bridger, legacy left my wife Martha. Signed Thomas Godwin. Wit. John Pitt, Arthur Smith. Same acknowledgment to wife Mary. Signed Richard Tibbott. Wit. Joh Pitt, Arthur Smith. 16 July 1686. Joseph Bridger’s grandson, Joseph Bridger, m. Sarah Davis, who m. (2) Nicholas Fulgham, having issue: (1) Susannah Fulgham, who m. Hardy Councell, son of Hodges Councell Jr.; his family of Wedmore, Somerset. (2) Nicholas Fulgham, d. 1736, m. Martha Pitt. Their son, Nicholas Fulgham, m. isabel Harris, dau. of John Harris (and second wife, Elizabeth Church), son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. A headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, was Giles Driver, witnessed here: Bridgman Joyner (guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688): Appraised by *Thomas Mandew, Giles Driver, Andrew Griffin (of the family associated with Peter Hudson).

1.2.1. Richard Jones (cousin of his namesake, whose wife was great-granddau. of George Cripps and a dau. of Katherine Moore, the great-aunt of the wife of John Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), m. Jane Harris, dau. of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. The Will of John Sturdy, dat. April 14, 1701, mentions Jane Jones* for her care in looking after me in ye time of my affliction”, witnessed by Jane’s br., William. *Jane m. (2) Charles Judkins (whose Will of 1709 was witnessed by Michael Harris), the son of Samuel Judkins, who m. Lydia Gray; a dau. of Thomas Gray Sr. Michael Harris witnessed the Will of John Gray, Lydia’s br.; rec. Nov. 9, 1708. Charles Judkins was the father of a namesake, recorded in a deed of Nov. 10, 1748, concerning 250 ac. “in Albemarle Parish on south side of Nottoway River”, which showed, as neighbours, Silvanus Stokes, Charles Judkins Jr., and William Harris. (Surry Co. D.B. 5, 1746-1749, p. 324). George Piland and Michael Harris witnessed the Will of William Clements (B. 7, p. 854); grandfather of Elizabeth Boykin. Jane Harris, m. (3) ca. 1710, William Williams; he m. (2) Ann Sessums, dau. of Nicholas Sessums and *Hannah Culmer. The sons of Thomas Harris, d. 1672 inherited land adj. to that of their cousin, Thomas Blake, who m. a dau. of Edward Champion, of Somerset, their son, William Blake, m. Mary Sessums, dau. of Nicholas Sessoms and Hannah Culmer; sister of Ann Sessums, who m. William Williams.

*Dau. of Thomas Culmer. Alice Champion, was the sister of Phyllis (who m. Elias Forte), who was granted administration of her husband’s estate on March 10, 1678, secured by Thomas Moore and John Newman (who is claimed to be the br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672); appraised by Edward Brantley (br. of Phillip), who was also security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Hannah Culmer was the dau. of Thomas Culmer: ‘Know all men present that I Thomas Harris in the county of IOW for many considerable caused me thereunto moving have and do by the srest constitie and ordeyne my be beloved friend Mr. Thomas Culmore of the county of Surry my true and lawfully attorney for me and to my ame and use to ask leavy recover of receive of Robert Spencer of the County of Surry all such somes of tobacco as shall appear due unto me within the county aforesaid also giving and by the prests granting to my attorney full power to perform for me in all causes touching ye premised for revcovery of the same as if my self ewer personnal present. Tho Harris. Witness, Wm Lewer, Samll Haswell‘. R. 1660. (B. 1, p. 149). Edward Champion’s son, Edward, was a legatee in the Will of Thomas Moore, dated Sept. 28, 1696 (B. 2, p. 371), who had probably m. Thomas Moore’s granddau. Wit. Thomas Giles, Phillip Brantly, John Bell (husband of Ann Bennett), John Davis (creditor of Edward Harris, d. 1677).

(1. John Jennings, m. Mary Seward, probably the sister of William Seward, rather than his relict; children of John Seward (d. 1650), the Bristol sea captain and merchant, granted 400 ac. in IOW. on June 18, 1638, upon Warresquioke River, against the land of Nathaniell Floyd; whose land devolved to Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1. Charles Jennings, m. …
1.1.1. Elizabeth Jennings, d. July 16, 1711, in Hanover m. William Hudson, son of Robert Hudson and Mary Bowman, dau. of Robert Bowman. Robert Bowman Sr. of Roxdale in Henrico Co., planter, to Richard Kennon* of Bermuda Hundred, for £30/20 and payment of said Robert Bowman’s passage from England, two tracts of land, one 551 ac. on James R. at Roxdale, bordered by line marked by Henry Lound, Parker’s gut, Possum Meadow, Robert Bowman’s land given him by his father, Martin Elam’s line (now Mr. Stratton’s) and Joseph Tanner, as patent 9 June 9, 1671. May 2, 1711. Thomas Moore. Francis England, George Cripps. William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Driver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor, to collect from William Hudson in Nansemond. June 29, 1667.

1.1.1.1. Charles Hudson, of Hanover Co., Gent., to Michael Woods of Goochland Co., for £90. 2000 acres on branches of Joy Cr. on Rivanna R., bounded by Michael Holland and granted to said Hudson on 26 July 1735; not wits; signed Charles Hudson; rec. Sept. 20, 1737 (B. 3, p. 52). Michael Woods to Charles Hudson, for £97, 2000 ac. in St. James Parish; wit: Robert Jennings, John Wingfield, John Dabney, Thomas (Brooks; signed Michael Woods; rec. Feb. 21, 1737 (B. 3, p. 69). Michael Holland’s son, George, m. Sarah Ford, Aug. 27, 1746. Their son, George, m. Susannah George (dau. of James George Sr. and Agatha Watts), Nov. 6, 1779; the sister of Agatha George, who m. George Payne Jr. in 1754, in Goochland; br. of Robert Payne, who m. (July 20, 1762), Ann Burton, dau. of Robert Burton, of Goochland. James George Sr. was the son of Robert George, son of Isaac George, son of John George; uncle of the first wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2. Martha Jennings, m. Thomas Thorpe, d. 1711 in IOW Co.
1.2.1. John Thorpe, apraisee of the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1730 (probably the same as he who witnessed the Will of Richard Jones in 1721).
1.3. John Jennings, d. Oct. 19, 1678, m. a kinswoman of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).

(1. *Richard Cannon (son of Robert Cannon, and Mary Mumford, who m. July 3, 1628, in St Alphage, Greenwich, Kent), was a tobacco factor of William Paggen, in Virginia, who was involved in various litigations against John Claphamson, probably of a familial context: Claphamson v Paggen. Plaintiffs: John Claphamson. Defendants: Daniel Claphamson, William Paggen, and John Mumford. He m. Elizabeth Worsham, dau. of William Worsham. His mother-in-law married (2) Lt. Col. Francis Eppes (son of Lt. Col. Francis Eppes, the immigrant).
1.1. Martha Kennon, m. (1701) Robert Munford/Mumford, son of James Munford of Prince George Co.
1.2. Judith Kennon, m. *Thomas Eldridge, of Surry, who was very likely of the Bristol family of his name: June 21, 1665. Samuel Eldridge, of Bristol. Dying intestate, adm. requested by Thomas Moore, of Bristol, who m. the relict. Security George Moore (br. of Thomas), and Mr Brantlie. (AP,10). George Moore, of Bristol, aged 78 in 1710, m. Jane Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft, of Chard, Somerset. His sister, Katherine Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake (partner of *Samuel Eldridge). To repeat: by her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. George Moore’s dau., Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. Their dau., Avis White, m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.2.1. Martha Eldridge, m. John Harris (Vestryman, Southwark Parish, Surry), whose Will was proved March 19, 1771. John Harris is recorded here: ‘Drury Warren and wife Elizabeth Warren to Frederick Warren … 100 ac. bdd. by John Harris, William Pyland, *Thomas Carrol, John Wesson, Gum Branch, Hog Pen Swamp. Joseph Warren and John Harris, Wareneck Mill Swamp, Cannon’s Spring. May 21, 1771’. William Pyland was the son of James Piland Jr. and Elizabeth Piland (born Brantley).
1.3. Sara Kennon, m. Francis Eppes.
1.3.1. Ann Eppes, m. Benjamin Harris, bef. Oct. 31, 1745).

Thus, what is witnessed is:

(a) The mind-boggling complexity of this Harris family’s associations, a complexity shared by the families they intermarried with. Such associations had been repeated over each generation for centuries. What is actually being researched about this Harris family (and others) is it as an ‘entity’ – with its mass of interlocking parts making individual strands very difficult to discern.

(b) Members of kinship groups did intermarry with members of other groups, when advantageous to do so, as the Kennons and the Eppes, which provided ‘bridges of confusion’, with, in this example, two seperate families of Harris being confounded. John Harris (Vestryman)was almost certainly of the Somerset Harris.

Given the fact that kinship groups repeated the same patterns of association, my suggestion that anyone named Harris who can reliably trace their family back to 1750-1770, will only descend from the Harris family of Somerset if their family had links (5-10+) to those families associated with the Somerset Harris. Such linkages were an immutable law. I encourage all present-day Harris to make such links public.

HARRIS SURNAME TEST

copyright m stanhope 2019

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