In genealogy, as in so many other spheres, ‘conventional wisdom’ is endlessly repeated, with few bothering to think outside the box it is wrapped in. More is the pity, for in many cases what is accepted as fact is of little value, and is often the result of ‘ancestor grabbing’, whereby people are placed in family constructions, thus voiding them from other, more realistic, constructions – in the sense that, realistically, as in England, associations between the same families were repeated throughout successive generations. Genealogy of this period is nothing other than an attempt to recognise associations woven in the same pattern.

The brief notice that follows places families of Bryant, Dew, and Sherrer in a context that seems intuitively correct, and, through their alignment, a pathway can be deduced, by which Rachel Milly Kittrell married John Harris, who died in 1831, in Abbeville, S.C. His Will mentions his wife Milly, his sons William, Robert, John, and Thomas S., and his daughters Elizabeth, Polly, Sarah, Caroline, Peggy, Milly, and Louisa Catherine. It can further be deduced, very reasonably so, that he was a great-grandson of THOMAS HARRIS, d. 1688.

Others may disagree, so be it. All that can be asked of what follows is: does it give a sense of what may have been the case?

1. Thomas Bryant, d. Nov. 30, 1687, m. Tabitha (dau. of Thomas Wright), and sister of Elizabeth Wright, who m. William Goodwin, who, on August 1694, inventoried the estate of Thomas Joyner, father of Bridgeman Joyner, guardian of an orphan of THOMAS HARRIS, d. 1688.
1.1. John Bryant, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Bridgeman Joyner and Ann, dau. of John Hardy. “Bridgeman Joyner and wife, Ann Joyner, to his son-in-law John Bryan(t) and my daughter Elizabeth his wife for love and affection, 200 acres bounded by Maple Branch, being part of a patent for 800 acres granted said Joyner on Nov. 16, 1714. Rec. Nov. 26, 1716 (B. 2, p. 39). Bryant, John; Edgecomb Co. May Court, 1735. Wife: Elizabeth. Sons: William Bryant (tract of land known by the name of Ballards), Arthur Bryant, David Hopper. Friend: James Turner. Executors: Wm. Bryant and David Hooper. Witnesses: Robt. Redford. (Abstract of North Carolina Wills, 1690-1760).
1.1.1. William Bryant, Will rec. Edgecombe Co. May Court, 1749. (Edgecombe Co. formed from part of Bertie Co.).

1.2. James Bryant, of Bertie Co. Will rec. March 31, 1731 – son William, John Dew, Richard Brasswell, James Bryant. Extrs., John Dew, James Bryant. Wit.: Aaron Drake, John Daniel.
1.2.1. … Bryant, m. John Drake, who names father-in-law, James Bryant, in his Will, rec. Bertie Co. May Court, 1729. Wit. John Sutton, John Dickinson, whose Will, rec. Northampton Co. November Court, 1749, names daus., Mary, Sarah Daniel, Rebecca Newsom, and sons, Daniel and John Dickinson. Wit.: Joseph Jordan.

1. …
1.1. Jordan, Joseph, Will proved May Court, 1776. Sons Isaac, William, and Joseph, daughters Sarah Armistead, Prudence Maer and Margaret Reed, wife Ruth, sons Isaac, William and Joseph Exrs. Test Wm. Jordan, Stephen Buck. William Stansell and wife Africa of JOHNSON CO. to Joseph Jordan, 15 pds for 50 acres “where JOHN HARRIS JUN. now liveth“, a tract commonly called “JNO HARISS LAND“. Wit: John Harrison, John Stansell Jr., REBECCA STANSELL .* May Court, 1750.
1.1.1. Isaac Jordan.
1.1.1.1. Prudence Jordan, m. STANDLY KITTRELL. They owned property at Speller’s Ferry.
1.1.1.1.1. Isaac Jordan Kittrell.
1.2. William Jordan Sr., gent. (may have been Joseph’s cousin), and his wife, Mary, of Bertie Co., to GEORGE KITTREL, planter, of same. 70 lbs. proc. 80 A where Saml. Leget lately lived, on S side of Rocquist Creek, joining Gully Branch, James Castellow. Wit: JOHN KITTRELL, Mourning Hill. March Court, 1771. William Jordan’s spoken Will, rec. May Court, 1791. Samuel Dickinson, John Mare, and Wm. Boritz, extrs., were ordered to take the depositon of John Little, who swore he heard the dec’d tell his brother-in-law James B Jordan that he wished his executors to repair the dwelling house where he then lived and the expense should not affect his wife’s legacy.

1.2.2. Elizabeth Bryant, m. Richard Brasswell.
1.2.3. William Bryant, m. Patience Dew.
1.2.3.1. William Bryant, d. August 6, 1789, Johnston Co., m. REBECCA STANSELL, dau, of John Stansell Jr., and Sarah (dau. of Edward Smithwick, d. 1719, in Edenton, Chowan Co.), and sister of Hannah, who m. … Jordan.
1.2.3.1.1. Lydia Bryant, m. John PARNEL Barlow, d. Sept. 12, 1829, Natchez, Adams Co., Mississippi, son of William Barlow, son of John Barlow and Martha Parnell.
1.2.3.2. Elizabeth Bryant, m. Jonathon Kittrell Jr., br. of GEORGE KITTRELL, and John Kittrell (who m. Jemima Standly), father of STANNBY KITTRELL.
1.2.3.2.1. Rachel Milly Kittrell, m. John Harris, son of JOHN HARRIS JUN., it may reasonably be presumed, of JOHNSON COUNTY, and the most reasonable assumption of him is that he was the son of John Harris, recorded here: Gift from John Harris, to my sister Jane Jones, wife of Richard Jones. Land on west side Mattacomack Creek ; August 1, 1705. Test, John Chevin, Jon Wheatley. He was the son of THOMAS HARRIS, d. 1688. ‘John Harris Jun.’ is sometimes called John Harris Tyner, in that his mother is presumed to have beeen Sarah Tyner, and is thought to have d. ca. 1665, in Johnson County.

1. Thomas Parnell, cooper, m. Mildred Vasser.
1.1. Elizabeth Parnell, m. John Sherrer, witnessed the Will of THOMAS HARRIS, d. 1688, whose orphan was placed in the care of Bridgeman Joyner. John Sherrer’s deposition, age as 36 on Dec. 14, 1665. (B. I, p. 54).
1.1.1. Robert Sherrer, b. ca. 1655. Will rec. Oct. 7, 1729 in Bertie Precinct. – sons Robert and Arthur, land on Little Swamp, John, land on Poynt Land; William. Daughters: Susannah and Prudence. Wife and extr., Elizabeth. Overseers John Dew, Arthur Williams. Wit.: Henry Gay, Joseph Boon.
1.1.1.1. Susannah Sherrer, b. ca. 1680, m. John Dew. His Will is rec. in Bertie Co.,November Court, 1744, and names: sons John and Joseph, dau., Patience. Wife and extr., Susannah. Wit.: Edward and Alice Moseley.
1.1.1.1.1. John Dew.
1.1.1.1.2. Sarah Dew (d.v.p.), m. William Bridger.
1.1.1.1.2.1. Sarah Bridger, m. James Jones, son of John Jones, and Martha, dau. of Thomas Carter and Magdalen Moore, sister of Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White, parents of Avis White, whom. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of THOMAS HARRIS, d. 1688.
1.1.1.1.3. Patience Dew, m. William Bryant, extr. of his brother-in-law’s, William Bridger’s, Will, proved Bertie Co., Nov. Court, 1729.
1.1.1.1.3.1. Elizabeth Bryant, m. Jonathon Kittrell Jr.
1.1.1.2.3.1.1. RACHEL MILLY KITTRELL, m. JOHN HARRIS, great-grandson of THOMAS HARRIS, d. 1688.

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