The key to identifying a group of Harris as a singular entity is the continuation of associations in Virginia stemming from Elianor Bennett, of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, sister of Edward Bennett, marrying Richard Harris (son of William Harris and Dorothy Westbrooke), and a son of theirs, Thomas Harris, marrying Judith Blake. These early associations permeated through successive generations in Virginia.

This is a distinct family from those Harris of Blagdon (from which, very probably, came Sergeant John Harris), and of those of Cheddar/Wedmore. These families were branches of a London family, their male ancestor being of the Salman family of Essex. In that they lived in the same area as Wiveliscombe, it was natural that their paths crossed, and they shared associations with the same families.

The following is a simplified account of the likely ancestry of a Harris family, male descendants of which (branching from Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, and Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1668), sharing the same DNA profile.

Other than the fact that William Harris m. Dorothy Westbrooke in 1562, nothing can be known of him of a personal nature. Generally, as a person of his time, he would have witnessed the bitter conflicts between Catholic and Protestant factions of the gentry; probably the defeat of the Spanish (Catholic) Armada in 1588, when, distinct from Hollywood versions of history, the Catholic half of England were praying for a Spanish invasion. He certainly married into a yeoman family, and was probably of one himself, being skilled in animal husbandry and cereal crop farming. He was a part of a upwardly mobile group, including the Bennetts, whose farming profits enabled them to venture in to the merchant trades of Bristol. He would have spoken a Somerset ‘drawl’ of elongated vowels, using a vocabulary long lost to us. Dorothy, his wife, would have had all the practical skills associated with farming – bread, butter, and cheesemaking. She would have been a brewer of strong cider, and would have jigged to a fiddle on Saturday nights; a former-day version of Bluegrass clog dancing.

What follows is a simplified version of recent posts, stripped of other families, such as the Brantleys. Although it is important to show the wider kinship circles of associated families, showing how early Virginia was colonised by kinship collectives, it is equally important to give a clear account of each family, so as to offer some sense of distinct ancestry. At a later date, an account of the Brantley family will be given, concentrating on them, rather than them as part of a kinship collective.

Second-cousinship was a strong element in the mechanics of colonisation.

A.

1.William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke, on Aug. 31, 1562, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset.
1.1. Richard Harris, m. (1594) Elianor Bennett, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, sister of Edward Bennett, the Virginia coloniser.
1.1.1. Edward Harris, held land patented by his cousin, (Governor) Richard Bennett, on Nov. 4, 1642. This was adj. land held by Wm. Newsome, April 6, 1653, p. 51.
1.1.1.1. Edward Harris, d. 1677. The estate accounts of Edward Harris Jr. inc. “100. Payd Coll. Bacon for rent”, land bought from Thomas Harris, d. 1672, Edward’s second-cousin. Edward Harris was a son-in-law of George Hardy, whose wife, Mary Jackson, was a great-granddau. of Edward Bennett, great-uncle of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and Edward Harris. George Hardy’s land bounded that of Nicholas Hill,* who m. a dau. of Edward Bennett.

B
1.1.2. Robert Harris, m. Mary Crumpe, cousin of Richard Crump, b. 1628, sheriff of Bristol, merchant.
1.1.2.1. Martha Harris, m. John Jennings, of Bristol, merchant. His Will, rec. March 10, 1679, mentions daus. Martha and Mary, son John. Overseers, George Moore (probable br.-in-law of Edward Brantley Sr.), and George Moore’s cousin, Thomas Moore.
1.1.2.1.1. John Jennings, m. Mary Hill, dau. of Sylvester Bennett (dau. of Edward Bennett), and Nicholas Hill. 1.1.2.1.2. Martha Jennings, d. 1702, m. Thomas Thorpe Sr. (d. 1711, in IOW Co.), br. of Timothy Thorpe Sr., who had issue (1) Joseph Thorpe, who had issue: Mary, who m. James Barham; their dau., Martha Barham, m. Joel Harris, son of John Harris and Avis White (granddau. of George Moore); son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Another dau. of Edward Harris, Mary, m. Thomas Bland, br. of Theoderic Bland. Thomas Thorpe Sr. and Timothy Thorpe Sr. were sons of Joseph Thorpe, Sr. and Dorothy Fenn, dau. of Timothy Fenn and Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Kae, of Bristol, atty. of Theoderic Bland, whose second-cousin, Jane Bland, m. (2) John Holmwood, witnessed here: March 23, 1653. Convy. of John Holmwood, atty. for Mr. Theodorick Bland, merchant, to John Barker, son of William Barker, partner of Francis Derrick Jr., who purchased the land of Dorothy Harris.
1.1.2.1.2.1. Sarah Thorpe (by first wife), m. (1) William George (son of John George, and nephew of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1712; and (almost) certainly second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.2.1.2.2. John Thorpe, appraisee of estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, with Edward Brantley II, whose son, John, m. the relict.

C
1.1.3. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, on Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe.
1.1.3.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1625, d. 1672, in Virginia, cousin of Edward Harris, d. 1677; second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. He was a business partner of Joseph Bridger and John Scott, in Bristol. (Bristol Record Office, Depositions). He m. 1stly, Eleanor George, cousin of Rebecca George, mother of Joyce (2nd cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1712), who m. Philip Brantley (son of Edward Brantley Sr.), grandfather of John Brantley, who m. the relict of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.3.1.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1655, d. 1712., m. istly, Hannah Browne.
1.1.3.1.1.1. Thomas Harris (b. ca. 1685, d. 1729/30), witnessed the Will of John Scott, grandson of the business partner of Thomas Harris (d. 1672), and Joseph Bridger. (R. July 28, 1729, p. 171).
1.1.3.1.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Sarah Goodwin, dau. of Theophilus Goodwin and Elizabeth Wyche, granddau. of Col. Thomas Goodwin and Martha Bridger, dau. of the said Joseph Bridger. Elizabeth Wyche was the dau. of George Wyche, br. of Henry Wyche, who m. Frances Edwards, half-sister of Judith Edwards, 2nd wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1712.
1.1.3.1.1.1.1.1. Solomon Harris. The test results for a descendant with Family Tree DNA are a perfect match with Harris Group 4 males.
1.1.3.1.1.1.2. Joshua Harris. His estate was appraised by Joshua Claud, Thomas Day (of Bennett association), and Samuel Westbrooke, on June 14, 1770, p. 324.
1.1.3.1.1.2. Henry Harris, witnessed the Will of John Edwards (from IOW Co.), a Justice in Bertie Co. in 1739. N.C. R. March 7, 1750, p. 306. He was the grandson of Thomas Edwards, br. of Robert Edwards, father of Judith Edwards, who m. Thomas Harris, almost certainly as 2nd wife; step-mother of Thomas and Henry Harris. That Thomas Harris and Mary Edwards had issue, Benjamin Harris, who had issue, Mary Harris, is not in doubt. However, to use her inheritance from her great-grandfather, Robert Edwards, as ‘proof’ that Thomas Harris had no sons by a previous marriage (to Judith Edwards), is not realistic. Judith Edwards would not necessarily devise lands to (of age) stepsons, but, rather to a ‘son and heir at law’. On Dec.7, 1758, Mary Harris of Newport Parish, Isle of Wight Co. deeds all her interest in some land to Robert Tynes, of the same parish and county … Robert Edwards who died intestate leaving three daughters to whom the said land descended, one of which said daughters intermarried with Thomas Harris and departed this life leaving issue, Benjamin Harris her son and heir at law, who also departed this life leaving issue the said Mary Harris, party of these presents, his daughter and heir who inherited one third part of this land.” (D.B. 10, pp. 31-32). Wit. Joseph Bridger IV. (great-grandson of Joseph Bridger I., business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672; Brewer Godwin (great-grandson of Thomas Goodwin and Martha, dau. of Joseph Bridger I.), and nephew of Theophilus Goodwin. One third devised to Frances Edwards, half-sister of Judith Edwards, 2nd wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1712, who m. Henry Wyche, the br. of George Wyche, whose dau., Elizabeth, m. Theophilus Goodwin; their dau., Sarah, being the wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, nephew of Henry Harris.

D
1.2. William Harris.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, bapt. Jan. 28, 1595, “son of William”. (“Harries”). Richard Harris. May 9, 1637: Thomas Hampton 700 acs. Up Co of New Norf. “In Nansamund Riv., E upon same , W into the woods, S upon two small Indian feilds near adj. unto Powell’s Cr. & Nly. downward the sd. river” (p. 56), for transp. of Richard Harris, Elizabeth Harris, Elizabet White, John White,* et al. Thomas Harris, obit. 1672: March 2, 1658: ‘Thomas Harris, 1000 acres, Isle of Wight Co. Upon a swamp running into the W. branch of Nansamond Riv., including 2 Indian fields.
1.2.1.1. John Harris,* bapt. Feb. 18, 1624, “son of Richard”.
1.2.1.1.1. Elizabeth Harris, b. ca. 1662, m. Samuel Lancaster, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710; second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

1.2.1.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1688, second-cousin of (1) Edward Harris, d. 1677, (2) Martha Harris/Jennings, mother of Martha Jennings/Thorpe; great-aunt of Mary, who m. James Barham; (3) Thomas Harris, d. 1672, whose family were Quakers, attending meetings at Chuckatuck in Nansemond Co., between Nansemond River and Chuckatuck Creek; and cousin of John Harris, whose dau. m. Samuel Lancaster, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710; second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Richard Bennett’s first wife was Anne, who was, circumstantially, Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’).(4) Thomas Harris, d. 1668.
1.2.1.2.1. Robert Harris. His descendants had strong links to the Lancasters. Rec. March 14, 1760: Charles Harris, warrant of 450 ac. in Granville Co., adj. Jones Corner and Wades line. Witnesses: William Hurst, Lawrence Lancaster; one of many examples.
1.2.1.2.1.1. John Harris, m. Avis White, dau. of Thomas White and Ann (dau. of *George Moore), and cousin of the wife of Francis England.
Thomas White was almost certainly of the family of *John White, who, on July 4, 1649, patented land in IOW Co., “on a swamp running on to black water”, “on the easternmost branch pointing to Chipoaks”, later assigned to Francis England, July 26, 1652, p. 110.
1.2.1.2.1.1.1. Joel Harris, m. Martha, dau. of James Barham and Mary Thorpe.

1.2.2. William Harris, headright of John Moone (IOW, in 1637), whose dau. Mary Moone, m. Thomas Greene;* his sister m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset; their son, Nicholas Fulgham, was the grandf. of a namesake, who m. Isabel Harris, b. April 17, 1695, dau. of John Harris (by his 2nd wife), son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Nicholas Fulgham Sr. was the br. of John Fulgham, who appraised the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, ca. 1630-1668. Thomas Harris to wife Alice Harris. May 1, 1668. Power of Attorney. These p’sents Witnesseth That I Thomas Harris Planter in the Isle of Wight Planter doe Constitute Ordeyn appoint and authorize my well beloved Wife Alce Harris my true and Lawfull Attorney … Signed Sealed & deliv’ed in ye p’sence Tho: Harris. Sigill of us Jno Flower, *Jno Harris (his second-cousin).
1.2.2.1.1. William Harris. On Jan. 4, 1685, he and wife Mary Harris sold William Newsum 220 ac. now in the tenure of *Mr. John Harris, being part of his father’s grant of 850 acs. in Surry County, Feb. 13, 1657 (p. 168), on the south side of James River & N.W. & S.E. sides of the head of the Sunken Marsh, above and below the mill, northerly on the Rich Neck and land of Robert Webb and Mr. Edward’s lands, Easterly on William Carter, Southerly on Chipoaks Path to the mill and on Mr. Green’s land. 300 acres granted unto Mr. Jno. Holmwood, on Oct. 1650, and by Holmwood assigned to said Harris & 550 acres for transportstion of 11 persons. *As given, John Holmwood’s wife was the second-cousin of Theoderck Bland, whose br., Thomas, was the br.-in-law of Sylvester Bennett, mother of Mary Hill, mother of Martha Jennings, wife of Thomas Thorpe Sr.

It is all self explanatory; no need for mental gymnastics.

copyright m stanhope 2021