No one will ever know for sure the identity of Sergeant John Harris of Virginia, who had deceased by Oct. 14, 1638, yet the conjecture that he was he was baptised in the Somerset village of Blagdon in 1589/90 has many merits. An even stronger case can be made for him being a kinsman of the Thomas Harris (father of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), who m. Joan Gardner, bapt. Apr. 6, 1617, in Cheddar (4 mls fr. Blagdon), sister of John Gardner, bapt. Nov. 1, 1621, in Cheddar, who m. (2) Mary Coomer, on Oct. 24, 1664. John Gardner, dying intestate admin. requested by relict, Mary. Security Thomas Joyner,* James Gardner, 1684, p. 56. *Br. of Bridgman Joyner, guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

This Thomas was the grandfather of John Harris, who m. a granddau. of George Moore, of Bristol, who stood surety, with Edward Brantley Sr. (his possible br.-in-law) for the marriage of his cousin, Thomas Moore, to Elizabeth, dau. of Giles Elbridge, of Bristol, and Elizabeth Aldworth (daughter of John Aidworth), and sister of Martha, who m. Thomas Barker,* whose relationship to Barker and Harris families in Virginia is detailed hereinafter. What can be stressed here is the shared (Brantley) association of the Harris families of Cheddar and Blagdon, thus, it is rather more to be expected as not that a descendant of Sergeant John Harris, or of his family, Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, had close associations to the Brantleys.

Neither will anyone know who Francis Derrick Jr. married, yet, in the context that nearly all Bristol seafaring, merchant partners of similar age were brs.-in-law, it is reasonable to suppose his wife was a sister of his partner, John Goninge Sr., whose son and namesake m. a dau. of John Barker (br. of *Thomas Barker); his son, Francis Derrick Jr., who bought land from the dau. of Sergeant John Harris, on Oct. 14, 1638, thus, being kinsman of these Barkers. The said. dau. of Sergeant John Harris m. John Barker (Baker), b. 1613 (it is strongly suggested, these Barkers being variously known as Baker, see as follows); br. of Elizabeth Barker (who m. the said John Goninge, son of John Goninge, part owner in 1629, with Francis Derrick Sr. and Humphrey Hooke, of the ships ‘The Hope’, ‘The Little Charles’, and ‘The Fortune’); nephew and niece of *Thomas Barker.

Claiming descendancy from Sergeant John Harris has attracted contrived accounts which are not worth repeating, which are necessarily devoid of the fact that a John Harris in 1654 witnessed a transaction of land that bordered that of Sergeant John Harris. This John Harris seems to have been the father of John and William Harris, whose grandson, Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, owning land adjoining that of the 1654 transaction; that is, most probably, the farm of Sergeant John Harris.

To the conjecture that Solomon Harris, great-grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, was a descendant of Sergeant John Harris, a caveat could be added – if the ‘Sergeant’ was he born in Blagdon, it should be noted that he had two nephews, John and William.

In what follows, I have incorporated the view of some researchers, who suggest that either John or William Harris, probably the latter, m. a sister of John Barker Jr., rather than a sister of John Barker Jr’s wife (my view).

SERGEANT JOHN HARRIS

1. John Harris, bapt. April 7, 1558, d. 1633. (Blagdon).
1.1. Joan Harris, bapt. May I, 1603. Her second husband, John Osen, was the father-in-law of James Derrick, cousin of Francis Derick Jr., bapt. March 10, 1607, in Long Ashton (9 mls N. of Blagdon), who bought land from Dorothy, “daughter of the late deceased Sergeant John Harris”, p. 113.
1.2. William Harris, m. Dorothy Bath, Nov. 17, 1628. He was involved in litigation with John Osen in 1649. Harris v Osen. Plaintiffs: William Harris. Defendants: John Osen and Joan Osen his wife. Subject: property in Blagdon, Somerset. (1649. C 6/132/98).
1.2.1. John Harris, bapt. 1633.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Jan. 26, 1654.
1.2.2. Dorothy Harris, bapt. June 1, 1636, d. June 3.
1.2.3. William Harris, bapt. Oct. 4, 1640, m. Judith …
1.2.3.1. William Harris, bapt. April 13, 1665.

1.3. John Harris, bapt. 1589/90, in Blagdon. Sergeant John Harris, 90%.
1.3.1. Dorothy Harris. Sold land to Francis Derrick Jr., inherited from George Cockett (her probable uncle), a reasonably common name around Blagdon, and, in the Bristol basin patois of the time, similar to Caucot, etc. See as follows for the Derricks.
1.3.2. John Harris, infant in 1624, witnessed a bond of Robert Mosley to John Felton in 1654, concerning land “joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes lyeing in the County of Surry in Virginia commonly called Upper Chippoakes“. (V.C.R, v. xi, p. 31). William Lea sold this land to William Simmons Sr.* May 2, 1654. “These presents shall engage us, William Lea and Alice Lea assignes to deliver to Thomas Busby (father-in-law of John Barker Jr.), one grey mare presently downe, for him to posess & his heires, greatly to enjoy for ever. And wee the said William & Alice Lea doe rattifie & confirme, by the virtue of this our act & deed, peaceable possession of the said Mare with her increase unto the said Busby & his heires as aforesaid. Further wee doe bind ourselves & our heires to warrant the sale of the said mare to defend forever in law and to acknowledge the sale to be lawfull in Surry County Court (Surry Co. Deeds, 1, p. 162).
1.3.2.1. John Harris, d. 1697/8.
1.3.2.2. William Harris, m. Elizabeth,* a possible sister of John Barker Jr.,* son of John Barker Sr., son of William Barker, bapt. on May 7, 1592, in St. Werburgh’s, Bristol; merchant and mariner. Thomas Busby’s son and namesake m. Mary Simmons, dau. of *William Simmons Sr., and sister of William Simmons Jr.,* whose land adjoined that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. *Her widow’s estate admon. by (eldest son) Henry Harris. R. June 16, 1711. Wit. John Barker Jr.*

BARKER

(1. John Barker Sr.
1.1. *John Barker Jr., m. Grace Busby, sister of Thomas Busby Jr., who m. Mary Simmons, dau. of *William Simmons Sr., and sister of William Simmons Jr., whose land adjoined that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30
1.1.1. Sarah Barker, m. Robert Lanier Jr.
1.1.2. Elizabeth Barker, m. Christopher Foster, d. 1710.
1.1.2.1. Christopher Foster, d. 1776, m. Alice Fort. (She was of a family strongly associated with the Brantleys).
1.1.2.1.1. Amy Foster, m. John Westbrook. (The Harris of Cheddar descended from a Westbrook heiress).
1.1.2.1.2. John Foster.
1.1.2.1.2.1. Sarah Foster, m. Walter Gilliam, parents of Lydia Gilliam, who m. John Watkins. Their dau., Millie Watkins, m. Solomon Harris, great-grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.3. John Barker, m. Mary Mooring, dau. of Christopher Mooring and Mary Simmons, sister of *William Simmons Jr., whose lands, to repeat adjoined those of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.3.1 Joshua Barker.
1.1.3.2. John Barker.
1.1.4. Hannah Barker, m. Walter Lashley.
1.1.4.1. Patrick Lashley. The estate of John Harris, d. 1697/1698, was administered by John Barker Jr. and Patrick Lashley.
1.2. Joel Barker.
1.2.1. Joel Barker.*
1.3. On July 6, 1685, Jethro Barker, on july 6, 1685, sold to John Harris 120 ac. located N. of his land).

1.3.2.2.1. Henry Harris. This was the Henry Harris associated with the Brantley/Norwood families: 1. Henry Norwood,* bur. April 10, 1618, Dunster, Somerset. 1.2. Richard Norwood. 1.2.1. William Norwood, bapt. Sept. 6, 1619, Dunster, d. 1702, in Virginia. “Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Branch one large pewter dish”. Elizabeth Branch (her Will was probated on March 7, 1703), was the dau. of George Branch, son-in-law of Francis England. 1.2.1.1. Richard Norwood (4th son) – appraisal by Edward Brantley, Oct. 25, 1731). Richard Norwood was the husb. of Elizabeth, whose estate was appraised by by Henry Harris and Thomas Cook (rec. Jan. 28, 1733, p. 386); the latter’s Will was witnessed by John Brantley (rec. Nov. 22, 1736, p. 186). 1.2.1.2. Lydia Norwood, m. John Sowerby. 1.2.1.2.1. Jane Sowerby, m. John Deberry, br.-in-law of John Brantley, son of Edward Brantley Sr. (For Brantley relationships, see previous notes). This Henry Harris was born no later than 1690. He owned land on Flatt Swamp, as his br., Thomas.
1.3.2.2.1.1. Benjamin Harris, d. 1774, m. Faith Smith, dau. of Lawrence Smith and Jane Regan.
1.3.2.2.1.1.1. Absolom Harris, m. Elizabeth Tarver, dau. of Andrew Tarver and Elizabeth Jordan, the sister of Priscilla Browne, who m. (2) Thomas Blunt, whose first wife was Mary Gilliam, by whom they had a dau. m. to *Joel Barker.

1.3.2.2.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, m. Hannah Judkin, d. April 10, 1739, who m. 1. Thomas Harris. 2. Christopher Clinch, d. Dec. 13, 1736, 3. Edward Brantley, nephew of Edward Brantley Sr., estate appraised by Henry Harris and Thomas Barrow, July 25, 1737. (B. 4., p. 176). In his Will, Thomas Harris names a brother, Henry Harris, son Joshua, and also an ‘unborn child wife now goes with’. (Thomas). Thomas Barrow m. Elizabeth Brantley, dau. of John Brantley, son of Edward Brantley Sr.

The farm of Thomas Harris who d. in 1729/30 was shown by his patent to have been adj. this latter “William Simmons line”, on March 24, 1725, and “adj. Herbert’s branch”, and on “both sides of the Meherrin river”. Its location is described here: A General Assembly, House of Delegates, report of 1828 gives indication of this: “That the petition of divers inhabitants of the county of Southampton, praying that all that part of the said county within the following bounds, to wit: by a line beginning at Taylor’s bridge on Meherrin river, including the said bridge; thence along the main road leading to Southampton (formerly IOW) courthouse, to the Flat Swamp; thence up the meanders of the said swamp to Harris’s old mill-pond; thence up the south fork of the said swamp known by the name of Herbert’s branch, to a black gum; thence along a line of marked trees, to a pine in Thorp’s old mill-run; thence down the said mill-run, to the Three creeks; thence up the said creek, to the Sussex line; thence along the said line, to Meherrin river; thence down the said river to the beginning, may be added to the county of Greensville, be rejected”.

1.3.2.2.2.1. Joshua Harris.
1.3.2.2.2.1.1. Thomas Harris.
1.3.2.2.2.1.1.1. Solomon Harris. The test results for a descendant (with Family Tree DNA) are a perfect match with Harris Group 4 males.

DERRICK

Francis Derrick Sr., of Long Ashton, Somerset, d. 1637,in 1632 gifted bread to the poor of St. Stephen’s, in Bristol. The same year he granted to Humphrey Hooke and others, parishioners of St Stephen’s, a yearly rent of 52s out of his tenement there. Francis Derrick Sr. was part owner in 1629 (with John Goninge and Humphrey Hooke), of the ships ‘The Hope’, ‘The Little Charles’, and ‘The Fortune’. It was almost invariably the case that merchant partners of Bristol were in-laws. John Goninge’s wife was Elizabeth, dau. of John Barker,* of Bristol, merchant. John Barker bapt. Nov. 30, 1584, 1st s. of John Barker, merchant, of Hopton Castle, Salop, m. (1) Aug. 30, 1607, Elizabeth, da. of William Spicer, merchant, of Exeter, Devon, 2s. 5 da.; (inc. Elizabeth Goninge) (2) Apr. 10, 1626, Mary, da. of John Fownes (Fones), merchant, of Bristol, wid. of Matthew Rogers of Alderley, Glos., 1s.; bur. 8 Apr. 1636. Humphrey Hooke’s dau. m., Apr. 30, 1635, Mr. Giles Elbridge, of Bristol, merchant, “a pioneer colonist in Virginia” along with Robert Aldworth. (R. Hargreaves-Mawdsley, A Record of the First Settlers in the Colonies of North America, 1654-1685).

“Giles Elbridge, son of William Elbridge, apothecary, of the City of Gloucester, was bound apprentice to Robert Aldworth and Martha his wife, of Bristol, 13 June, i6o8, and was admitted a Burgess 1 Oct., i6i5, in virtue of this service, Robert Aldworth being then an Alderman of the City, and whose partner he subsequently became. His first wife was Elizabeth Aldworth, daughter of John Aidworth, the brother of his former master, to whom he was married before 1624. He married, secondly, at St. Stephen’s, Bristol, 30 April, 1635, Mrs. Mary Hooke, daughter of Humphrey Hooke, merchant and Alderman of Bristol. She was buried 30 Nov., 1637, in the Aldworth Family vault in the Church of St. Peters, Bristol. Giles Elbridge died in 1643 and was buried, 25 Feb., of that year, in the same vault with his wife. His will was probated in the Prerogative Court at London, 19 March, 1643-4”. Clues from English Archives Contributory to American Genealogy, The New York genealogical and biographical record, vol. 91

Giles Elbridge’s son, Aldworth Elbridge, “of the city of Bristol, merchant”, Sept. 1, 1653: “Imprimis, to my cousin Thomas Moore (his executor), twenty punds of lawful English money”; meaning his br.-in-law, wife of his sister, Elizabeth, as specified in the Will. He identifies himself as son of “Giles Elbridge merchant deceased”. The securities for the marriage of Thomas Moore and Elizabeth Elbridge were George Moore, cousin, whose granddau. m. a grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, and Mr. Edward Brantley, possible br.-in-law of George Moore. *John Barker’s probable brother was William Barker, bapt. on May 7, 1592 in St. Werburgh’s, Bristol; merchant and mariner, who deposed his age to be 37 in 1629, and mate of the Hopewell, which sailed fom Virginia on New years Eve of that year for England, under Captain Richard Russell. (P.W. Coldham, English Adventurers and Emigrants, 1609-1660, p. 23, 1984). William Barker was a partner of Francis Derrick Jr: April 13, 1639: Bond of Francis Derrick (the younger), of Bristol, and William Barker, of Ratcliffe, Middlesex, to the King, in 1,000l. conditioned for the appearance of Derrick before the Council, to answer an accusation of piracy pretended to have been committed by him upon a Spanish ship in a voyage to Virginia, ca. Oct. 11, 1636’. Francis Derrick Jr.was mentioned as being in Virginia in 1639 (Passenger and Immigration List), and as dying there in 1640. His estate inventory describes him as a merchant venturer ‘who dyed beyound the Seas’ (Bristol Record Office; appraised May 7, 1640). He bought land that had been given by George Cawcott to Dorothy Harris, dau. of Sergeant John Harris, from Dorothy and her husband, John Baker, on October 14, 1638, p. 668. Given that ship manifests sometimes recorded the Barkers as Bakers, see previous notes, it is not unreasonable to conjecture that Dorothy Harris had m. a Barker.

BARKER

1. William Barker, of Hopton Castle, Salop., m. Elizabeth, sister of William Tittely, of Salop.
1.1. John Barker, d. 1607, m. Edith, da. of John Blanchard.
1.1.1. John Barker was also recorded as John Baker. In Cal. State Papers, Charles I., p. 291, he is recorded as owning “the Mary Rose of Bristol” in partnership with John Taylor and William Pitt, Jan. 2, 1627; the same for June 2, 1626. On Nov. 22, 1627, he is recorded as the owner of the Mary Rose as Baker query Barker. Earler ships manifests record him as Barker or Baker.
1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Barker, m. John Goninge, son of John Goninge, part owner in 1629 (with Francis Derrick Sr. and Humphrey Hooke), of the ships ‘The Hope’, ‘The Little Charles’, and ‘The Fortune’.
1.1.1.2. John Barker (Baker), b. 1613, m. Dorothy Harris.
1.1.2. Thomas Barker, m. Martha, dau. of John Aldworth, and sister of the wife of Giles Elbridge: their dau. m. Thomas Moore, security being edward Brantley Sr.

1.2. Richard Barker, d. 1614, m. Sarah, b. ca. 1570. Her Will, proved Aug. 25, 1637, shows her owning properties in Redcliffe Street, and the playhouse in Wine Street, which she bequeathed to her son, William. (Mark Cartwright Pilkinton, Rec. of Early Eng. Drama, Bristol, p. 40, 1997.
1.2.1. William Barker, bapt. on May 7, 1592, in St. Werburgh’s, Bristol; merchant and mariner, who deposed his age to be 37 in 1629.
1.2.1.1. John Barker, settled on Chippokes Creek in 1649. . “William Lea and Alice (Feltham), his wife, to William Heath, 150 acres … formerly Thomas Felton’s … joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes lyeing in the County of Surry in Virginia commonly called Upper Chippoakes”. Ordered that Wm. Lee pay unto Richard Taylor 350 lbs of good tobacco and cask due per a bill of his predecessor, Thomas Felton”. Richard Taylor was the br.-in-law of John Barker Sr., having married his sister, Sara, Oct. 27, 1646, in Rappahannock. He was the probable son of Richard Taylor,* son of Richard Taylor, evidenced here: Counterpart lease. 1. Hugh Smythe of Long Ashton, esquire. (Landlord of the Derrick family of that place). 2. Richard Taylor of Bedminster, sailor, and Katherine his wife. *Richard Taylor m. Mary Woodward, Sept. 2. 1602, in Long Ashton, aunt of Martha Woodward, who m. Richard Bradford, Aug. 15, 1632, in Easton in Gordano, 5 mls fr. Long Ashton; having issue: Richard Bradford (bapt. Nov. 23, 1634, in Easton in Gordano, who d. after July 14, 1716, in Westover Parish, Charles City), who m. Frances Taylor, dau. of Sara Barker and Richard Taylor.
1.2.1.1.1. John Barker Jr., the br.-in- law of John Harris. Will probated May 19, 1714. Some researchers maintain that John Harris m. a sister of John Barker Jr.
1.2.1.1.1.1. John Barker, m. Mary, dau. of Christopher Mooring and a dau. of William Simmons Jr.; the neighbour of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.

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