The most difficult thing in determining the lineage of any Virginia settler of English stock is to disambiguate their family from that of their relatives; albeit distant cousins, made close by both divides of their family marrying into the same families, and with each other. In this sense, the Harris family of Cheddar/Wedmore can hardly be distinguished from their Wiveliscombe cousins, especially as the latter branch of Harris were intermarried with the all-powerfull family of Bennett (of which Governor Richard Bennett of Virginia originated), to which, as moths-to-a-flame, their kinsfolk gravitated.

Thus, although (I believe) the ancestry of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, can be discerned, at every juncture, they are shadowed by their Wiveliscombe kin and their associations in common; one such being the family of Kinchen (Kitchen), of which the first to be traced, I suggest, was the John Kitchen, who m. Grace Cade, Aug. 10, 1635, in Stoke Rodney, Somerset (3-4 mls fr. Cheddar/Wedmore); a descendant, Elizabeth Kinchin, m. Lodwick Alford, son of James Alford and Lucy Cade. Nov. 1, 1752: William Pace was granted 425 acres “in Granville County and in Johnston County on the S side of crooked creek, joining Lodwick Alford”; surveyed Feb. 10, 1748, chain bearers Robert Cade (stepfather of William and James Pace), and William Cade.

In the account as follows, no mention is made of the Thomas Harris who d. in 1672, who I have documented many times, and whom I suggest most strongly that he was a member of the Wiveliscombe/Bennett branch of Harris, distant blood cousins of their Cheddar/Wedmore kin, but a cousinship reinvigorated at every generation by intermarriages.

This account is not a vindication of beliefs about Harris ancestry presented as facts not to be refuted; it is, rather, an account which offers a different view; one which follows a logical pathway from one generation to the next.

THOMAS HARRIS (who died in 1688 in Virginia).

1. … It is possible to hazhard an opinion as to a progenitor, taking into account the proximity of lands settled by the Harris family to those once owned by the Arundell family; but, of that, another day.

2. John Harris, witnessed the Will of “William Sowter of Badgworth, dated July 3, 1541; m. Jone … Jone Harrys of Badgworth (4 mls fr. Cheddar/Wedmore); Will dated May, 10, 1541, names dau., “Izabell Stebbes” (Stubbs); sons Richard and Walter. They were tenants of George Rodney, whose tenement in Blackford, Wedmore, was held of his manor of Over Badgworth. 1544-1547. (C 1/1154/28).

George Rodney’s dau., Agatha, m. Captain Thomas Hodges, d. 1583, of Wedmore, and was ancestress of Hodges Counsell (English register spelling), of Virginia. Agatha’s br. John, ‘ bought the farm at Cheddar’, and by Jane (dau. of Sir Henry Seymour, brother of Edward, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector in the reign of King Edward VI.), and of Jane, wife to King Henry VIII.), had seventeen children, seven only of whom survived him; viz. three daughters’ (Mr. Collins), inc. Elizabeth Rodney, wife of Henry Norwood. These were connections of great political and social weight.

3. Richard Harris.

4. John Harris, bur. Jul. 31, 1599, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, in Wedmore.

5. John Harris, d. 1625, m. Penelope Millard, Sept. 9, 1611, in Wedmore. He was “servant”, probably steward, of Robert Sherwell (gent), husband of Maria Beard, whose Will (proved Nov. 26, 1627), named “cousin Richard Counsell”, and his dau., “cousin Margery Hodges” (wife of John Hodges, grandson of Thomas), and grandmother of Hodges Counsell of Virginia. Margery (Counsell) Hodge’s cousin, John Counsell, bapt Nov. 28, 1601, in Wedmore, m. Mary Coomer, Nov. 26, 1631; aunt of Mary Coomer, who m. John Gardner, as follows.

John Counsell’s son, John Counsell, m. Alice, the relict of Richard Jeffries, who “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 Counsell, 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, granddau. of George Rodney, afors. Francis Branch was the br. of Ann Branch, who. m. Robert Hodges Jr. (undoubtedly of the Wedmore Hodges). The W&M Quarterly, p. 741, 1982, makes George Branch the brother of a Thomas Branch, who may have been he who witnessed the Will of John Bly in Virginia (proved May 16, 1664), with John Gardner.

Robert Sherwell’s sister and co-heir, Marie, m. … Hole and was mother of “Robert Hole, of Wedmore, yeoman”, who conveyed land to “Richard Counsell, of Heathhouse, Wedmore, yeoman”. April 15, 1625. (Bristol Arch. HA/D/357). The Hole family intermarried with the Fulghams were probably they of Wedmore. John Harris may have held a position of trust through a familial relationship.

6. Robert Harris.

7. Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, “fil. Roberti”. (Of him I find nothing thereafter).

6. Benjamin Harris.

7. Benjamin Harris, bapt. July 8, 1638.

6. George Harris, m. Joan (Jacosa) Webb, Apr. 28, 1623, Wedmore.

6. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1600, m. Joan Gardner, bapt Apr. 6, 1617, in Cheddar (bur. 1660 in Wedmore), sister of John Gardner bapt. there on Nov. 1, 1621, whose son, John Gardner Jr., m. Mary Coomer (Oct. 24, 1664, in Cheddar. “John Gardner, dying intestate admin. requested by relict, Mary. Security Thomas Joyner (father of Bridgman Joyner, guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), James Gardner”, 1684, p. 56.

Joan Harris and her son, Thomas, are witnessed here: Boultinge v Harris. Plaintiffs: John Boultinge. Defendants: Joan Harris, Thomas Harris and Thomas Hill. Subject: property in Blackford, Somerset. 1658. (C 10/48/20). John Boulting had m. Hannah Counsell, dau. of William Counsell, relict of Thomas Hardwitch, of Cheddar, d. 1646.

7. Thomas Harris, “fil. Thomas and Joan”, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar, d. 1688, in Virginia, m. –

(1) Unknown. It is possible that she may have been a Martin, a belief often suggested, a descendant of William Martin and Joan Counsell, who m. May 10, 1567, grandparents of John Martin, who m. Margery Coomer, Apr. 17, 1637 (in Cheddar), sister of Agnes Comer, who m. John Harris, Feb. 1635 (in Cheddar), uncle of the Thomas Harris, who d. 1688, in Virginia, I suggest. Whomever his first wife, she was the mother of his children.

(2) Hester Tibbits (1679-1680)

(3) A sister of Hodges Counsell? That is, a sister-in-law of Lucy Hardy, wife of Hodges Counsell, whose sister was Debora Hardy, wife of Bridgeman Joyner; whose dau. m. William Kinchen (Kitchen), whose son, William, witnessed the Will of his father-in-law, John Gibbins, in IOW, in 1721, along with a number of William Kinchen Sr’s Harris kin, designated thus *** hereinafter.

8. George Harris, b. ca. 1671 (to live with John Turner 4 years).
9. William Harris. Hodges Counsell Jr. had issue: John Counsell, who sold, on May 2, 1756, to James Counsell, his son (witnessed by Nathan Counsell, br. of James), 174 ac. on the south side of the Blackwater Swamp adj. William Harris, (Southampton Co., B. 2, p. 97). William Harris sold to Nathan Counsell of IOW Co. (on Apr. 8, 1756), 100 ac. adj. Bridgman Joyner Jr., witnessed by William’s son, Simon Harris.
10. Simon Harris.

8. Edward Harris, Will probated March 25, 1734; m. Mary Turner. (1. John Turner, m. Antonia Boulting (May 6, 1574) in Wedmore. 2. William Turner, bapt. March 11, 1579 in Wedmore, m. (May 28, 1612), Jane Rodney. 3. John Turner, bapt. May 14, 1618 in Wedmore. Thomas Harris, d. 1688, placed his son, George, with John Turner and his wife, a dau. of Mathew Tomlin. 4. Mary Turner, m. Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. 4. Joseph Turner. 5. Mary Turner, m. West Harris.

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. The salient point being that land passing to descendants of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was a part of the original John Seward patent.

9. Daniel Harris, m. Jean Jordan, and moved to Edgecombe Co., NC, near his cousin, Robert.
9. West Harris, m. Mary Turner. On April 6, 1742 he purchased 225 ac. in Edgecombe Co., NC, from George Jordan (paying him “10 pounds current money of Virginia”), husband of Sarah Hunt .
9. Turner Harris, b: 25 June 25, 1745, d: Feb. 25, 1819.
10. Arthur, William, Isham, West, and Nathan.
9. Jacob Harris. Thomas Cook: Appraised by Simon Turner, Henry Harris, Jacob Harris. R. Feb. 27, 1737, p. 198. Jacob probably m. Mary Seward, dau. of William Seward, half-br. of Elizabeth Seward, who m. William Holt, parents of Thomas Holt, as follows. William Seward being a descendant of John Seward, aforesaid. See as follows, ‘William Harris, b. ca. 1671’.
9. *** Edward Harris, m. Mary Thorpe, sister of Timothy Thorpe (father of Mary Barham), and Martha, whose Will, poved Apr. 12, 1781, named granddau. Peggy Ridley, granddau. Polly Person, granddau. Martha Person, daus. of Mary Harris ad Henry Person. Timothy Thorpe admin., “grandda. Mary Barham. Wit. Edward Harris.* R. March 14, 1750, p. 37.
10. *Edward Harris.
9. *** Thomas Harris, d. bef. 1734.

8. Thomas Harris, b. 1667, d. 1712, m. Judith Edwards, dau. of Robert Edwards and Mary Hunt, whose Will, dated Jan. 17, 1727, named her dau. as Judith Clark). (This is not the son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Mary Hunt, m. (2) Owen Griffin, having issue: Sarah, wife of John Joyner, br. of Bridgman Joyner Sr., guardian of Thomas Hariss’ br., William.
9. Benjamin Harris; the land that his dau. inherited had originally been John Sewards.
9. *** Henry Harris; pre-deceased br. Benjamin; issue unknown. (This is not the br. of the Thomas, d. 1729/30). John Edwards (probable br. of Robert): Legatees: Son John; daughter Ann, the cattle bought at the widow Hart’s and widow Culpepper’s sale; daughter Mary; wife Ann. Exrs., son John and (John’s kinsman, it is suggested), Henry Harris. Brother Nathaniel Edwards, trustee. R. August 11, 1748. Wit: Chaplain Williams, Thomas Taylor (who m. Henry’s kinswoman, it is suggested), (and his son), Harris Taylor. (WB 5, p. 121). Estate appraised by Joseph Cobb, Jr., John Pope, Thomas Crenshaw. Signed, John Edwards and Henry Harris.

Circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that this John Edwards was the 2nd husband of Ann Braswell, widow of Matthew Strickland Jr.

1. George Moore, stated to be “age 78 years” when he made his will in 1710 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54). He m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, whose family held land in Chard, Somerset. Jane was the sister of Elizabeth, wife of James Sampson, parents of Sarah, wife of Richard Braswell Sr.; their dau., Ann, m. (1) Mathew Strickland Jr., (2) John Edwards. George Moore and Jane Barcroft had issue: Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White; their dau., Avis White, m. John Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

Richard Braswell Sr. had issue: (1) Robert Braswell Jr., who received one-half of his father’s 1,300 acres, m. Susan Burgess, dau. of Katherine Moore (sister of George), and 2nd husband, John Burgess. By her first husband, Katherine Moore had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. The Will of Joyce Cripps (1679) named Susan Braswell “my sister’s daughter”, who she ‘Cut off with a shilling’.

8. William Harris, b. ca. 1671, m. (1) … (2) Margaret, relict of Edward Taylor; her Will probated April 19, 1721. Edward Taylor was a Surry Co. tithable on June 10, 1678; he and his son John Taylor were tithables in 1700-1703; son John Taylor was age 16 in 1699-1700, so Edward Taylor m. Margaret bef. 1684; she being born ca. 1668. She named in her Will “son Thomas Taylor, Mary the wife of Thomas Taylor”. Thomas Taylor, b. ca. 1686, m. a dau. of William Harris, not granddau. (as clerk’s wrong transcription), born ca, 1695, who m. Thomas Taylor in ca. 1710, having issue: “Harris Taylor, grandson”, named in Will of William Harris, pr. April 19, 1721, which named Thomas Holt as “friend”. Margaret (Taylor) Harris named in her Will “daughter Mary, wife of James Vaughan” (his executor, 1731, William Seward; his named “friend”, Thomas Holt).

John Taylor, son of Margaret (Taylor) Harris and Edward Taylor, d. 1725 in Surry Co.; his widow Ann … Taylor m. (2) Nicholas Maget, whose Will, pr. July 16, 1754, Surry Co., named children, Arthur, Benjamin, Williamm, John & Margaret. On Feb. 13, 1755, Arthur Taylor of Edgecombe Co. NC sold 75 ac. in Southampton Co. which Joseph Strickland had sold him on Feb. 24, 1728. On July 14, 1730, Arthur Taylor and Joseph Strickland witnessed the Will of Matthew Strickland Jr. On Jan. 23, 1737, Arthur Taylor, Thomas Taylor and Robert Pitman (of the Wedmore family), appraised the estate of Augustine Nixon of IOW. Jacob Strickland (son of Matthew Strickland Jr. and Ann Braswell (who m. (2) John Edwards) was paid money from the estate of Augustine Nixon on Aug. 20, 1738. Thus, there were associations in common between the family of George Moore (grandfather of the wife of a grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), and those associated with Margaret (Taylor) Harris, whose second husband was likely a son of the said Thomas Harris.

8.***Robert Harris, b. ca. 1671. (His father willed him to live with John Fulgham for three years). His Will was probated April 28, 1740.

9. John Harris, mentioned in his uncle Martin Harris’ will, m Avis White. John Harris wills land to son Benjamin: ‘I give and bequeath to my loving wife Avis Harris the use of my Land and plantation whereon I now live during her life and after her decease I give my said land to my son Benjamin Harris forever but in case my son Benja depart this life in his non-age or without lawful issue of his Body then I give this said land to my son Joel Harris and his heirs forever … I give to my Loving wife Avis Harris all the remainder of my estate not heretofore mentioned to her and her heirs forever … I constitute and appoint my son Howel Harris my whole Executor of this my last will and testament revoking and making void all former wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 11 day of May Anno Dom 1771. John X Harris (Seal),

9. Robert Harris. February 28, 1759. Southampton County: ‘Robert Harris & wife Ann of North Carolina to Burwell Williamson of Southampton County’. Deed of Bargain & Sale, proved October 11, 1759, ‘125 acres adj. John Harris, Thomas Holloman, Banbergan Branch, and Joseph Williams, a certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred & twenty five Acres S: Robert Harris and Ann Harris, Witnesses James Harris, John Kitchen, Matthew Harris, and Mary Harris’ (D.B. 2, 1753-1760, pp. 289-290).
9. ***Mathew Harris.
9. James Harris.

8. Martin Harris, b. ca. 1672 (to live with brother Edward 5 years). Will proved Apr. 14, 1750, bequests to ‘my cousin James Harris son of Robert Harris the plantation whereon I now live … James Harris son of Edward Harris … Mathew Harris son of Robert Harris … and I do appoint John Dunkley, Joseph and William Jones Executors of this my last Will and Testament … In the Presence of us Catherine Dunkley, Joseph Monger … Memorandum: It is my Desire that James Harris on my Giving him my Land to make over to his brother Mathew Harris his part of the land given him by his father Robert Harris’. (Southampton Co., W.B. 1, pp. 10-11).
A logical pathway from one generation to the next.

copyright m stanhope 2019