The surest way of determining lines of ancestry within the same family is to trace successive relationships to another family which are specific to them. As I once wrote: ‘The Norman elite can be identified when the method by which they formed familial associations is understood – “Foedus inter consobinos heredes” – inheritance (and close tenurial association) passing down non-consanguineous lines of cousins; a necessary element of colonisation in a hostile environment’. The same principle applied to English families in early Virginia, though, by this time, inheritance was also passed down consanguineous lines of cousins.

Any insight into the ancestry of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30 can only be gained by understanding his relationship to the families of George and Scott. This would have been obvious to English antiquarians of old, who would have placed neighbours as intermarried families, who witnessed the Wills of the other. They would ask: who were the respective grandparents of testators and their witnesses. In the case of the said Thomas Harris, the following points can be made:

1. He witnessed the Will of John Scott (rec. July 28, 1729, p. 171), whose father was the br.-in-law of Ruth Taberer (sister-in-law of the 2nd wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and whose grandfather was a business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

2. John Brantly, who m. his widow, was the great-grandson of of Rebecca George.

3. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, was the grandson of her cousin.

4. John Brantley’s great-grandfather witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. John Brantley and his father, Edward, farmed land adjacent to that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.

5. John Thorpe appraised the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. His grandf. m. a cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

6. Etc., etc.

HARRIS

The single, most important point, about a family of Harris of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, and Virginia, was their intermarriage to the Bennett family, of the same places. A secondary point is this: It was they which circled around other families, hoping for advantageous intermarriages, not the reverse. A third point is what many know but are unwilling to say publicly: Within Harris family ‘research’, it was they with the loudest voices (and the most contrived of genealogical constructions), who got to ‘call the shots’ (justifying their imagined ancestry). The Harris families of Thomas, d. 1672, and Thomas, d. 1688, were totally distinct – the most absolute of absurdities.

1. William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke, on Aug. 31, 1562, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset.
1.1. Richard Harris, m. (1594) Elianor Bennett, in Wiveliscombe, sister of Edward Bennett.*
1.1.1. Robert Harris, m. Mary Crumpe.
1.1.1.1. Martha Harris (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), m. John Jennings, of Bristol, merchant, d. 1679. The overseers of his Will were George Moore and his cousin, Thomas Moore.
1.1.1.1.1. John Jennings, m. Mary Hill, dau. of Sylvester Bennett (dau. of *Edward Bennett), and Nicholas Hill.
1.1.1.1.2. Martha Jennings, d. 1702, m. Thomas Thorpe Sr., 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 Bennett, 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, also atty. for “Mr. Theodorick Bland”.
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, and cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1712.
1.1.2.1.2.2. John Thorpe, appraisee of estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. His grandf. m. a cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

1.1.2. 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.
1.1.2.1. Edward Harris (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), d. 1677. His estate accounts inc. “100. Payd Coll. Bacon for rent”, land bought from Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Edward Harris was a son-in-law of George Hardy, whose wife, Mary Jackson, was a great-granddau. of *Edward Bennett. George Hardy’s land bounded that of Nicholas Hill, who m. a dau. of the said Edward Bennett.

1.1.3. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, on Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe.
1.1.3.1. Thomas Harris (cousin of Martha Jennings and Edward Harris, supra), b. ca. 1625, d. 1672, in Virginia. He was a business partner of Joseph Bridger and John Scott, in Bristol. (Bristol Record Office, Depositions). He m. (1), Eleanor George, cousin of Rebecca George, mother of Joyce, who m. Philip Brantley. Their son, Edward Brantley, farmed land adj. to that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, adj. the Maherin River, and on both sides of Herbert’s Branch. Philip Brantley was the son of Edward Brantley Sr., who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Thomas Harris was the cousin of Thomas Blake, whose lands in Virginia were adj. those of Edward Brantley Sr., Francis England, and the sons of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.  (B. 2, p. 73).

(George Moore, b. 1632 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54), m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, whose family held land in Chard, 12 mls fr. Taunton. 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 m. Susan Burgess, dau. of Katherine Moore (sister of George Moore), and 2nd husband, John Burgess. By her first husband, Katherine Moore had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England).

GEORGE, SCOTT, AND TABERER

GEORGE

1. … George.
1.1. John George gave his age as 50 in a 1653 deposition. His Will of 1678 (D.B. 2, p. 170), named his friends, James Powell and Thomas Taberer, as executors. John and Nicholas George of IOW sold their headrights to Capt. Francis Potts who obtained a patent of 1,000 ac. on Jan 24, 1653, in Northampton Co. for the transportation of 20 persons among whom were John and Nicholas George. Thomas Taberer, m. Ann Bennett, probable sister of Governor Richard Bennett, close kin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. He patented land adj. Francis England in 1652. He witnessed a land deed in 1658 between “Thomas Harris of Chipoaks (d. 1672) in the County of Surry” and Christopher Benn. He was the father-in-law of John Newman, husband of Ruth Taberer, and John Newman was the future br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, who m. (2), Alice, dau. of John Newman Sr. He was the father of Christian Taberer, who m. (Dec. 9, 1687), Robert Jordan (Quaker minister), p. 213. The sons of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, attended his Quaker meetings at Chuckatuck. Christian Jordan, dau. of Robert Jordan and Christian Taberer, m. William Scott.

John George, was probably he bapt. Nov. 6, 1603, in Pilton, Somerset, a manor of the Abbots of Glastonbury (son of John George and Mary Kynman, m. Jan. 27, 1603), tenants, likewise, being the Harris of Glastonbury and Wiveliscombe. Pilton is ca. 4 miles E. of Glastonbury and the same distance from West Cranmore, where, In 1549, Amye Kynman and the execs. of John Haryes, both endowed a chantry chapel, for the maintenance of one or more priests to say a daily mass for the good estate of the founder during life and for the benefit of his soul after death.

SCOTT

1. William Scott, mariner, d. in 1686. He had m. Hester Jones, dau. of Henry Jones, of Gloucester (C 6/133/202/C 8/58/119), and held property in Westbury upon Trym in 1662 (C 8/318/237), and Thornbury in 1649 (C 10/36/87). Joseph Bridger and William Scott were noted as being engaged in the Virginia trade here: Shippers by the Unicorn bound from Bristol for Virginia: Richard Finch, Roger Nevill, David Parry, James Millard, Richard Harris, Richard Bickham, John Boucher, William Scott, Joseph Bridger. (PRO E190/829/9).
1.1. William Scott, m. Christian Jordan, dau. of Robert Jordan and Christian Taberer, dau. of Thomas Taberer, and sister of Ruth Taberer, who m. John Newman, whose sister, Alice, was the second wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.1. John Scott, m. Joan Tooke (dau. of James Tooke, son of Thomas Tooke); their son, James Tooke Scott, m. Christian Norsworthy, dau. of Col. George Norsworthy, son of Tristram Norsworthy, of Newport Parish, and Sarah Pitt, dau. of Lt. Colonel John Pitt, and Olive Hardy, dau. of John Hardy, probable br. of George Hardy, the father-in-law of Edward Harris, d. 1677. Olive Hardy was the relict of Giles Driver, headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. John Scott, son of William Jr., witnessed a deed of March 26, 1711 (with William Bridger, son of Joseph Bridger Sr.), whereby John and Thomas Harris of the Upper Parish, sons of Thomas, d. 1672, divided the land they held in jointure, that being 250 ac. inherited from their father, and 115 ac. they had acquired from Joseph Bridger.

TABERER

1. … Taberer.
1.1. Thomas Taberer. His Will, proved Feb. 9, 1694, mentions his plantation of “Basses Choice”, bought from John Bland, br. of Theoderick Bland, husband of Governor Bennett’s dau., Ann.
1.1.1. Christian Jordan, m. William Scott, son of a business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, with Joseph Bridger.
1.1.2. Ruth Taberer, m. John Newman, 1692, p. 350, br. of the 2nd wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.1. Rebecca George, m. John Lewis.
1.1.1.1. Joyce Lewis, m. Philip Brantley, son of Edward Brantley, who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.1.1.1. Edward Brantley, farmed land adjacent to Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.1.1.1.1. John Brantley, m. the widow of this Thomas Harris.

GEORGE cont.

1.2. Nicholas George. He, Thomas Taberer, and Humhrey Clarke were granted 900 ac., on Aug. 14, 1652. Beg. at the mouth on N. side of a branch where Francis England’s land endeth, cross the branch to the great swamp, being the first branch of the black water”, p. 52. His Will was Rec. June 1 1661, and granted to his son, Nicholas, land adjoining John Edwards. Wit. John Sharp. As given, John Edwards m. Ann, dau. of Richard Braswell Sr. and Sarah, dau. of James Sampson and Elizabeth Barcroft, the sister of Jane Barcroft, wife of George Moore, etc.
1.2.1. Eleanor George (d.v.p. cousin of Rebecca George), m. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1712, second-cousin of Joyce Lewis, grandmother of John Brantley.
1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, whose widow m. the said John Brantley.

To repeat:

1. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, witnessed the Will of John Scott (rec. July 28, 1729, p. 171), whose father was the br.-in-law of Ruth Taberer (sister-in-law of the 2nd wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and whose grandfather was a business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

2. John Brantly, who m. his widow, was the great-grandson of of Rebecca George.

3. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, was the grandson of her cousin.

4. John Brantley’s great-grandfather witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. John Brantley and his father, Edward, farmed land adjacent to that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.

5. John Thorpe appraised the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. His grandf. m. a cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

6. Etc., etc.

To add:

7. Thomas Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, m. a descendant of Joseph Bridger, business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672; she being the daughter of Elizabeth Wyche, the dau. of George Wyche, son of Henry Wyche, who m. Frances Edwards, half-sister of Judith Edwards, 2nd wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1712, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

HARRIS cont.

1.1.3.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1655/60, d. 1712., m. istly …
1.1.3.1.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1690/95. Will dated Dec. 25, 1729, rec. March 23, 1730.
1.1.3.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1730, d. in 1761, m. Sarah Goodwin, dau. of Theophilus Goodwin and Elizabeth Wyche, granddau. of Col. Thomas Goodwin and Martha Bridger, dau. of Joseph Bridger. Elizabeth Wyche was the dau. of George Wyche, son 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. Solomon Harris, b. ca. 1758, d. 1837, in Mecklenburg NC. Solomon Harris m. Millie Watkins, dau. of John Watkins and Lydia Gilliam.

The test results for a descendant (Family Tree DNA) are a perfect match with Harris Group 4 males.

1.2. William Harris.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, bapt. Jan. 28, 1595, “son of William Harries”. Thomas Hampton granted land on May 9, 1637: “In Nansamund Riv., E upon same, W into the woods, S. upon two small Indian feilds”, for transp. of Richard Harris, Elizabeth Harris, Elizabeth White, John White, et. al., p. 56. Thomas Harris, d. 1672: March 2, 1658: “Thomas Harris, 1000 ac., IOW Co. upon a swamp running into the W. branch of Nansamond Riv., including 2 Indian fields”. This John White was probably he 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.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.2.1.1.1. Ann Harris, probably m. John Cogan Jr., exec. of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

We are all given the potential to only die once, however hard that may be.

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